The Glencairn Youth Camp, a 300 hectare paradise of fynbos-covered mountainside, on the fringes of the Atlantic ocean is one of the best kept secrets of South Africa’s great out doors.
It is a special place in the Southern Cape Peninsula where young people, from all walks of life, come together in a spirit of adventure to appreciate the beauty of our unspoilt nature.
The camps were started 58 years ago by William Haines, a physical training teacher at the South African College School (SACS) who saw the need for establishing a rural recreation camp where kids, ordinary and underprivileged, could holiday in an environment that would uplift their spirits and heighten awareness of the natural world around them.
When Hains died in 1942 he bequeathed the land to The Gordon’s Missionary Society and to the Rotary Club of Cape Town.
Smuts Hostel
The Rotary Camp Organization, which was formed to run the camp for the benefit of the youngsters, built the camp’s first fully equipped Smuts Hostel which accommodated 68 children in two dormitories and their supervisors in a separate rooms.
Happy Haven
A second building, the Happy Haven Hostel, was built by soldiers returning from World War 2 under the auspices of the MOTH organization and caters for 54 children.
Both of these hostels have multipurpose halls suitable for dining, assembly, discussions and games activities.
Allan Jeffe’s
The Wynberg Rotary Club helped build the Allan Jeffes Camp which can accommodate 30 people in the three cabins (each with ten beds) serviced by a large hall, kitchen and ablution block
Roberts Camp
Furthermore there is the Roberts Camp a scenic camping site in a secluded wooded area, with adjoining ablution facilities
It has proved particularly popular with a guides and scout groups. In 1987 – 600 Girl guides camped here and in 1988 and 1995 150 Boy Scouts set up camp in this delightful spot.
Nature trails
The camps and hostels are surrounded by undulating mountains. It is a Fynbos area traversed by well market nature trails where you can hike and listen to the sounds of nature. And the Neddickies, Sunbirds, Sugar birds, Starlings, Bomakaries, Cape Robbins, Bulbulls and many other species are indigenous to this area and provide excellent bird watching opportunities
A natural stream meanders through this wilderness area and there are stunning views of the ocean, sand dunes, and kopies that fall away to a fragile wetland region and then to the sea
Sports Facilities
Besides the Nature Trails the camp has sports fields, kiddies play area, three swimming pools.
Visiting groups invariably take that the short 1.5km hike to the Glencairn Beach, one of the many golden beaches on the False Bay Coast between Fishhoek and Simonstown.
The suburban train stops at Glencairn Station and offers a reliable shuttle service. The camp is open to young people of all ages .
Bookings well in advance is essential.
