Download our Carmel Newsletter with highlight of ministry activity in 2011.

Please click on one of the links below to gain access to our planned programmes for 2012.

Carmel Program Calendar 2012 (Feb-May) Carmel Program Calendar 2012 (Jun-Dec)

About Carmel Program Events

WHY COME TO CARMEL?

Our location in the heart of the Garden Route assures you of all that this magnificent part of South Africa provides for all its guests:

- towering Outeniqua mountains and its rolling foothills,

- endless white sandy beaches and rhythmic pounding waves,

- fascinating old passes and meandering streams flowing below lovely old bridges.

Our mission statement “sharing the restoring love of Christ” is constantly in our minds, and we strive to do this in every way possible; from our tranquil gardens and well-kept rooms to our popular home style menus.

Whether you come as a family, with a friend, or alone, Carmel is ready to surround you with a sense of well-being and an awareness of God’s presence.

WHY COME TO A CARMEL PROGRAM EVENT?

Our programs have been put together to make an easy, ready-made, value for money holiday experience that suits the needs of a wide variety of people. Whether your interest is physical and recreational, romantic or relational, family value content, good company, great scenic memories, the wonder of creation, clear bible teaching or fun & laughter, we have tried to include them all. Please peruse our program calendar!

Other benefits from coming to one of Carmel’s programs include:

Friendship and communication.

Many long-standing friendships have started around our communal meal times, providing easy opportunities to chat meaningfully with other guests and the Carmel team.

Prayer and reflection.

Our programs recognize the need for a personal retreat, communion with God and reflection on their spiritual lives. Our programs provide suitable input and time for this with several quiet places that assure you of that possibility.

Speakers and leaders.

Easy to talk with and fun to be around as they have been carefully chosen with a view to being people who have a good understanding of God’s Word and enjoy people!

Fun and laughter

You can be assured that you will find reason for a good few laughs!



It was sun, glorious sun, day in and day out. And there was just sufficient cloud to make some of the days bearable and to give the sun burned skin a break.  The guests all reported their best holiday weather ever. Three holiday teams, each with its own flavour, organized a program of activities for each day of the Western Cape holiday period.  Mark and Heike Moore and their young team led the first 10 days, followed by “Pirate Pete” and Rene Meissner and a team from Pinelands Baptist. Ron and Bev Mallory from His People with their team took us the end of the holiday period.

The Carmel Easter Experience was yet again a hit with our guests. The two week long experience was full of fun activities led by Eddie and Carin De Jager and their team of young ministry workders for kids. Sand Castle building on Victoria Bay Beach, Kite building and many other activies filled the days for the kids. Parents and adults spend their days relaxing by the pool or enjoying some of the great food and coffee’s available at “Coffee @ Kaye’s” – Carmel’s latest addition to it ever expanding family friendly facilities.

Our speaker Ashley delivered very practical messages which allowed for wonderful times of ministry not only after each session, but also during the course of the day. He was really well liked by our guests and his ministry was well received. The music lead by Alun Davies was also very special and personal and balanced. This was great because of the wide variety of Christian breakgrounds and experiences.

Our Easter Sunrise Service with communion, took on a different feel this year. Because of the rain and cold we had to move it from our traditional venue on the front lawns overlooking Victoria Bay, to the Barn, with blankets and easter eggs for the children. The service was followed by hot cross buns and hot beverages in rounding off the celebration of our risen Saviour.

Thirty enthusiastic seniors attended our Prime Plus program event this May. Most had visited Carmel previously but we were excited to meet some new folk and to introduce them to the “Carmel family”. We were privileged to have Joe and Christine Bell with us. Joe, retired Bishop of the Church of England, shared from the Psalms on the “The wars within us”. The teaching was practical, helpful and encouraging.

One of our guest’s wrote: “Yes, many of my questions were answered in the chapel on the subject of Joe’s talks.” Andrew was assisting with this program and opened each session with some thoughts on the “Armour of God”, another practical application when we are faced with these wars of depression, anxiety, doubts, old age and suffering in sickness.

Andrew’s sister Pat had decided to visit him at Carmel this week with her new husband Colin Sylvester, and happily agreed to lead the sung worship times on the piano.

One of the highlights of the week was a visit from George artist, Tony Noble, who shared a powerful message of God’s moulding and refining work in our lives through the medium of a pottery demonstration.

Another lovely comment from a guest: “A wonderful assurance that God is with me in all that I do for him and a keen awareness that with the Holy Spirit within, there is still much, despite my age and widowhood, that I can do. Praise the Lord!”

The weather was almost perfect with only a little mist to bother us at times. Great delight was expressed by many in the varied program organized throughout the week: a steep walk for the energetic followed by a picnic tea on “Wolf Island”, the hill opposite Carmel overlooking the beautiful Wilderness coastline; a scrumptious tea at a restaurant on the Wilderness coast with an amble at the water’s edge to lose the calories gained; a superb banquet served by Lynnie and her team to the sound of the waves at Victoria Bay beach; a walk in the gardens with Barbara and finally an enjoyable workshop which culminated in the evening with the sound of battles cries and songs and colourful banners held aloft.  A time of sharing and ministry of prayer, a final summary by Andrew on the Armour of God and sharing together in an informal communion , remembering all that God has done for us, brought the event to a beautiful close.