Lakeside is squeezed between the mountain and Zandvlei, with Boyes Drive above and the railway line and Main Road running through the middle. Having both a mountain slope and a big vlei on your doorstep means you get pests from two very different directions.
The local picture in Lakeside
Mosquito bites are the most common complaint here, especially for homes with a view of the water. Fleas from pets pick up after a warm, damp spell.
Zandvlei and the wetland around it are a breeding ground for midges and mosquitoes when the water warms up. Up the other side, Boyes Drive and the Silvermine section of Table Mountain National Park bring fynbos, rocks and the odd scorpion right to people's back walls. The South-Easter blows hard here in summer, and the winter rain soaks the lower roads near the vlei.
Homes range from older cottages and family houses on the slopes to townhouses and small complexes nearer the vlei. A lot of the older houses have suspended timber floors and big trees in the garden, which gives rodents and borer something to work with. Garden flats and outside rooms are common and are usually the first place a pest problem gets noticed.
Expect mosquitoes and midges near the water, rats along the railway reserve, and ants almost everywhere in summer. Fishmoths and silverfish like the damp in older houses close to the vlei. Spiders and the occasional scorpion are more of a thing on the mountain side.
From the technician
A technician's first job on removal day is to check that preparation was done properly. Unwashed bedding or full drawers next to the bed can undo a lot of good work.
Signs to look for
- Bugs have started appearing in a second bedroom or on the couch where someone moved to sleep.
- Bed bugs have already been confirmed by an inspection or a clear photo of the insect.
- Bites keep appearing even after you have washed all the bedding and sprayed with a shop product.
- Clusters of dark droppings and shed skins are building up in the joints of the bed base.
- A neighbouring flat or guest room has reported bed bugs and you are now seeing bites.
How the treatment works
The day before, you strip the beds and hot-wash and tumble-dry all bedding, curtains and clothes from the affected rooms, then bag them in sealed plastic until treatment is done. We pull the bed away from the wall, stand up the mattress and base and treat every seam, joint, screw hole, headboard and bedside drawer with a residual insecticide, followed by a fine insecticidal dust in voids, behind skirting and in plug point surrounds where needed. Mattresses that are in good condition are treated and then sealed in a bed bug-proof encasement rather than thrown out. We place interceptor monitors under the bed legs and return after about two weeks to treat again and catch nymphs that hatched from eggs. You get a written report after each visit.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our bed bug removal service works.
Stopping a repeat visit
- Do not move to another bed or the couch during treatment; keep sleeping in the treated bed so bugs come out and contact the product.
- Avoid store-bought foggers during and after treatment, as they push bugs into wall voids and neighbouring rooms.
- Keep washed clothes and bedding sealed in bags until the final visit is done, and only unpack what you need.
- Leave the mattress encasement on for at least a year, because adult bed bugs can survive a long time without feeding.
- Do not drag infested furniture outside unwrapped; wrap it in plastic first or ask us before moving it.
Pricing, honestly
The price depends on the number of rooms and beds being treated, how much furniture is involved and how severe the infestation is. Rooms that are well prepared are quicker and more effective to treat, which can reduce the need for extra visits. The quote includes the follow-up visit, and we give it free after inspection or photos.
Removal work runs all year because bed bugs live indoors, but in Cape Town's hot summer months their eggs hatch and nymphs develop faster. That means the follow-up visit matters even more between December and March. Guest houses often schedule removal in the quieter winter months when rooms can be taken out of service.
Frequently asked questions
Can you treat on a weekend?
Yes, weekend and after-hours visits can be arranged on request, which suits guest houses and working families.
Are the mosquitoes in Lakeside coming from Zandvlei?
Mostly, yes. Zandvlei and its wetland edges are prime breeding water in warm weather, so homes nearby notice the swarms on calm summer evenings. Clearing standing water at home and treating resting spots like dense shrubs cuts the numbers down.
Do I have to throw out my mattress?
Usually not. A mattress in good condition can be treated and sealed in an encasement; only badly torn or heavily infested ones may need replacing, and those must be wrapped before being removed.
Why do you need to come back?
The eggs are protected and hatch over the next one to two weeks. The return visit kills those nymphs before they can breed.
I live near Boyes Drive. Should I worry about scorpions?
You may see the odd one, mostly after rain or in late summer when they move about. Keep rock piles and woodpiles away from the house and check shoes left outside, and call us if they keep coming indoors.
Do you come out to Lakeside for bed bug removal?
Yes. Lakeside is part of our regular South Peninsula route, along with Muizenberg, Marina da Gama, Kirstenhof, Steenberg. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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