Camps Bay has the beach, the palms and the Twelve Apostles towering behind it, and plenty of homes that are let out to visitors for part of the year. From our side, it is a suburb of big glass houses on steep plots, busy restaurants on Victoria Road and a mountain that sends rodents and insects downhill.
Rats in Camps Bay: mountain, pines and Victoria Road
Camps Bay has two rat populations. Roof rats live in the pine trees near the Glen and on the Twelve Apostles slopes and climb into roofs and garages, often on houses at the top of the suburb. Brown rats work the refuse areas behind the restaurant strip on Victoria Road and move along the stormwater channels, especially when winter runoff floods their burrows.
Houses stepped into the hillside have basements, garages and pool rooms that stay cool and damp, which rats like. We trap in roofs and lower levels, bait outside in lockable stations, and seal the gaps where they get in.
The Twelve Apostles and the Glen at Kloof Nek border the suburb, so fynbos, pine plantations and Table Mountain National Park are right on the doorstep. The South-Easter blows hard through summer, but the suburb can be still and hot in the late afternoon. Winter brings heavy rain off the mountain, and runoff through the stormwater channels pushes rodents out of their burrows.
Which rat is in your Camps Bay home?
Brown rat
Rattus norvegicus- Norway rat
- Sewer rat
- Family Muridae
- Body
- Heavy and thickset
- Nose
- Blunt and rounded
- Ears
- Small, furry, close to head
- Tail
- Shorter than its body
- Weight
- 250 to 500 g
- Droppings
- Up to 2 cm, blunt ends
- Burrow holes along walls, under paving and sheds
- Greasy rub marks low down along skirting and walls
- Gnawed bins, compost heaps and pet food bags
- Coming up through drains and broken sewer pipes
Black rat
Rattus rattus- Roof rat
- Ship rat
- Family Muridae
- Body
- Slim and agile
- Nose
- Pointed
- Ears
- Large, thin, almost bare
- Tail
- Longer than its body
- Weight
- 150 to 250 g
- Droppings
- About 1.2 cm, pointed
- Scratching and running in the ceiling at night
- Droppings in the roof space, cupboards and on beams
- Chewed cables, insulation and ceiling boards
- Running along fences, power lines and tree branches
ActiveBusierPeak, as rats move indoors in the cold, wet winter
Tell-tale signs
Tick every sign you have noticed. It takes ten seconds.
A note from the field
Rats are neophobic, which means they avoid new things. A trap that has not been touched for a few days is not a failure; it often works after they get used to it.
Tenants often find the rats, but the fix is usually structural, a broken vent or a gap under the roof. That is a landlord job, and a report from us helps sort it out.
How we handle rat control in Camps Bay
First we identify the rat and track its route, because a roof rat problem is solved at the roof line and a Norway rat problem at ground level and in the drains. In the roof and inside the house we prefer heavy-duty snap traps, so there is no smell from a rat dying in the ceiling. Outdoors we use lockable, tamper-resistant bait stations, positioned along runs and fixed so they cannot be moved, and we do a bait risk assessment where pets, children or owls are around. Then we proof: steel mesh over vents, sealing gaps around pipes and cables, and advice on trimming branches. Burrows are treated and collapsed after the colony is dealt with.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our rat control service works.
Stopping a repeat visit
- Do not leave building rubble or wood piles against the house for months.
- Keep compost in a closed bin and do not add meat or cooked food.
- Pick up fallen fruit, avocados and pet food every evening.
- Fit drain covers and check that old drain pipes are not broken underground.
- Trim back trees and creepers at least a metre from the roof, because roof rats jump from them.
How much will it cost?
Price depends on the size of the property, which rat species you have and how many entry points need proofing. A roof rat problem with lots of overhanging trees takes more proofing work than a single burrow in the garden. Follow-up visits are part of most rat jobs and are included in the free quote.
Rat calls peak in Cape Town's rainy winter months, when burrows flood and rats head for dry roof spaces. Roof rats are busy again in late summer and autumn when fruit trees are loaded.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if it is rats or mice?
Rat droppings are much larger, roughly raisin-sized, and rats are noisier. Send a photo of the droppings on WhatsApp and we will tell you.
Can you treat a Camps Bay holiday villa between guest bookings?
Yes, we can plan the visit for a changeover day and use odourless products where possible. Ask about after-hours or weekend visits if your turnaround is tight.
Why do I hear rats in my Camps Bay roof after heavy rain?
Winter runoff off the mountain floods burrows and stormwater channels, so rats look for dry shelter in roofs and garages. Checking the roof and sealing gaps before winter cuts this down.
Can you get rid of rats near a river or canal?
Yes, but properties near water usually need ongoing stations and good proofing, because new rats keep arriving.
Is there a guarantee?
Yes, our treatments carry a minimum 3-month guarantee.
Do rats in Camps Bay come down from the mountain?
Some do, especially roof rats living in the pines near the Glen and on the Twelve Apostles slopes. Others live around restaurant refuse areas, so we look at both before placing bait and sealing gaps.
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