Natural Swimming Pool
A mountain pool experience right on your doorstep
One of the true joys of a Cape summer is swimming in cool, clear rock pools fed by mountain streams. While those hidden gems often require a long, hot hike to reach, at Phillipskop you can enjoy that same refreshing experience—just steps from your chalet.
Working with nature
To create something special
- Beautiful natural swimming pool nestled just below the self-catering accommodation.
- Blends seamlessly with the landscape.
- Generous swimming area featuring a shallow end with easy-access steps and a deeper section for full immersion.
- Deck with stunning views across the Klein River valley.
- Perfect place to cool off, relax, and enjoy nature at its best.
Chemical free
Crystal clear
- No chlorine or salt, which dry out the skin, irritate the eyes, or damage the hair.
- Water circulates through a tranquil filter pond filled with water lilies, waterblommetjies, bulrushes, and other aquatic plants that naturally purify the water.
- Filtration pond area provides a habitat for many animals, such as frogs and dragonflies.
- Great for the environment as no chemicals are discarded when it comes time to empty and clean the pool.
- The pump is directly powered by solar panels, so only green energy is used.
Mountain pool experience
Without the hazards
- Combines the experience of a mountain pool with the convenience of a swimming pool.
- Gentle steps to climb down into the water and no hidden rocks to graze knees.
- Decking surrounding two sides to dry off in the sun after the swim.
- Kids will enjoy jumping into the deep end.
- Water just like a fynbos mountain pool, with a brown colour from the plant tannins.
- You may be joined in your swim by a frog or dragonfly.
- Panoramic views as you swim.
- We hope you’ll enjoy it as much as we do.
Continually evolving
And becoming part of the landscape
- The pool continues to be a work in progress as the planting develops to fit naturally in with the landscape.
- Construction was finished by February 2020 and planting continued over the following winter.
- Wherever possible seeds and cuttings have been harvested from Phillipskop itself.
- We continue to sow and manage the plantings so that the pool becomes a part of the ecology of Phillipskop itself.
How we made
a unique environmentally friendly pool
- For those who are interested in finding out more about our natural swimming pool, how we designed and constructed it, the challenges we faced and our planting aims, please see our blog:
- We hope you’ll enjoy it as much as we do.
