Tree Felling Camps Bay

Tree Felling Camps Bay is steep-erf work under the Twelve Apostles. Nothing gets dragged, timber goes up or down to the street, and the wind off the slope stops climbing more often than in the suburbs.

Tree Felling Camps Bay is access-limited work. Building lines run close to the street, plots step steeply up or down from the road, and there is frequently nowhere to park a chipper — all of which costs more than the felling itself.

What the Job Involves

Getting the timber out is the job. On a stepped erf everything is lowered or lifted to street level in manageable pieces, and on some properties a MEWP or crane is the only practical option. Both need space in the road, which can mean scheduling around traffic and arranging for the vehicle to stand legally.

Wind exposure is severe. Crews do not climb in a strong south-easter, so bookings in the windy months carry more risk of moving by a day.

Trees We Get Called To

• Coral trees and other soft-wooded garden trees — Prone to limb failure over paving and parking.
• Norfolk Island pine — Tall, exposed and heavy. Almost always sectional, often with a MEWP.
• Palms — Very common. See palm tree trimming for the maintenance side.
• Cypress and conifer screens — Usually removed as a row, which changes the pricing.
• Pine and bluegum — On the upper slopes, where wind damage is routine.

Tree Felling Camps Bay Price Guide

Job	Indicative range	What moves it
Small tree, up to 5 m	R850 – R2 500	Open access, one drop zone
Medium tree, 5 – 10 m	R2 500 – R6 500	Whether it can be dropped whole
Large tree, 10 – 20 m	R6 500 – R15 000	Rigging, roof and wall clearance
Very large tree, 20 m+	R12 000 – R25 000+	Crane or MEWP hire if needed
Sectional dismantle near a structure	+30% – 60%	Every piece lowered on ropes
Stump ground out afterwards	R600 – R3 000	Diameter and machine access
Green waste removal	R650 – R3 500	Bakkie load through to truck load

What Pushes the Price Up in Camps Bay

• Distance timber has to be moved from the tree to a vehicle
• Steep or stepped erven where nothing can be dragged
• Body corporate approval on sectional-title properties
• Whether a MEWP or crane is needed, and whether there is road space for it

Permits and Protected Trees

Three separate rules decide whether a tree can legally come down in Camps Bay. Species protected under the National Forests Act need a permit from the national department before removal, whoever owns the land. Trees on verges, pavements and other municipal ground belong to the City of Cape Town rather than to the adjoining owner, so those are a call to the municipality and not to a contractor. Declared invasive species run the opposite way — there is a legal duty to control them, which is why bluegum, Port Jackson and rooikrans removals are rarely refused.

Estates, body corporates and homeowners' associations frequently add their own approval process on top of the municipal one. Check which of the three applies before booking, not after.

Other Work in the Area

Camps Bay is one area within the wider service coverage. For the full breakdown of methods, species and pricing, start at Tree Felling Cape Town.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does tree felling in Camps Bay cost?

Most residential jobs land between R2 500 and R15 000. The band depends far more on what is underneath the tree than on the tree itself — a 12 m tree with a clear drop zone is a fraction of the cost of the same tree overhanging a roof, because the second one has to come down piece by piece on ropes.

Can a tree be felled close to my house?

Yes, but not by dropping it. It gets climbed or reached with a MEWP and taken down in sections, each piece roped and lowered rather than allowed to fall. That is slower and costs more, and it is the correct method when there is a roof, a boundary wall, paving or a pool underneath.

Do you take the wood away?

Ask before you accept a quote — this is the most common reason two quotes differ. Some include full removal of timber and brush, some leave the wood stacked on site, and some charge separately for haulage. Get it in writing either way.

What about the stump?

Felling normally leaves a stump at ground level. Grinding or excavating it out is a separate line item. If you are going to pave, plant or build over the spot, deal with the stump in the same visit — bringing a machine back later costs more than doing it while the crew is on site.

Who authorises a tree on a sectional-title or shared property?

That is a body corporate matter rather than a tree matter. If the tree stands on common property, the body corporate normally instructs and pays, and a single owner cannot authorise the work alone. Get the trustees' decision in writing before booking, because a contractor who removes a tree on the say-so of one owner leaves everybody exposed.

How do I get quotes for Tree Felling Camps Bay?

Describe the tree once — rough height, what is underneath it, and how close a vehicle can get — and add a photo taken from a few metres back so the whole tree is in frame. Companies covering the area receive it and quote you directly. It is free and there is no obligation to appoint anyone.