The well-known Cape Town luxury resort, Tintswalo Atlantic Lodge, says it may take at least five months to repair the damage caused by a fire that broke out on Tuesday.
The fire erupted in the early hours of the morning at the hotel, situated along Chapmans Peak Drive near Hout Bay.
Tintswalo CEO Lisa Goosen says while the guest rooms were spared in the blaze, the main lodge was completely gutted.
Hotel management has relocated current guests and will make arrangements to accommodate immediate guests for the next few weeks at other Cape Town establishments.
Goosen says the resort will have to close for business during the rebuilding process.
It's the second blaze to hit the lodge in the space of just a few years.
In March 2015, 80% of the lodge was destroyed in a vegetation fire. It took eight months to rebuild.
A forensic investigation is underway to determine the cause of the latest fire and the extent of the damage is being assessed.
Most of our main lodge is gone... most of the rooms are intact.
— Lisa Goosen, CEO - Tintswalo Lodges
We thought we were well prepared for any fire, but this caught us by surprise. It was inside the building and took over quite fast.
— Lisa Goosen, CEO - Tintswalo Lodges
For the foreseeable future, I say we'll be closed completely for at least 5 months. A full rebuild will have to happen.
— Lisa Goosen, CEO - Tintswalo Lodges
Listen to the update on The John Maytham Show:
