“Those who are planted in the house of the Lord Shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing.”
Psalm 92: 13-14
Greetings from Carmel
Greetings from Carmel
Faced with circumstances and evidence of a broken world, it can often be challenging to hold on to the Lord’s promises as truth. Particularly in the areas where the promise is:
- not just of survival, but thriving
- not just growing but flourishing
- not just life, but abundance
Looking at a few verses, we can recognise that we flourish when we are planted in the house of the Lord (Psalm 92: 12-15). We will not fear harsh circumstances, if we trust in the Lord, and place our hope in Him. If our roots seek His living water, we thrive and yield fruit (Jeremiah 17: 7-8). We receive abundant life when we know our Shepherd’s voice and follow Him (John 10: 7-16).
With this encouragement, we pray that you will choose to remain in the house of the Lord, rooted in Him, learning His voice and following Him at every step.
Along this theme, we would love to welcome you to our renewed restaurant, Flourish at Carmel.
Carmel will be hosting our wonderful, family-focused holiday programme for guests and day visitors from the 15 December to the 11 January. The theme will be looking at our story as part of His story. There will be many events, activities and crafts for the whole family to enjoy. These include a potjiekos competition, Bingo, movie nights, prophetic art, hikes, bush crafts, campfire worship, slip n slide, and lots more. Please follow us on Facebook or Instagram for more details. We would love to see you there.
GOD bless and keep you all,
Suzanne Mackay
The Carmel Trustees
Experience School Holidays in 2025
December/January Holidays: 15 December 2025 – 11 January 2026
School Holidays are a special time at Carmel, for all to come together for rest and a good amount of holiday fun.
The school holiday period is almost fully booked. Be sure to book your camping or B&B accommodation soon, to ensure you don’t miss out on these memorable times at Carmel.
On select days, the Carmel team run daily activities for kids of all ages and adults too… and for rest and restoration, our garden walks, many quiet spaces and chapel are perfect to gain the rest you may need (spiritual, emotional and physical).
To experience School Holidays at Carmel, watch our December holiday highlights video below.
To book your camping or B&B accommodation, contact the office on 044-889-0019 or email bookings@carmelmail.co.za
Experience Carmel Camping
Looking for your next camping adventure this summer!
Enjoy the beauty of Carmel’s Camping and Caravan Park, while soaking in the magnificent Victoria Bay and Outeniqua mountain views, resting in our quiet spaces and many activities too.
Experience Carmel Camping by watching our video below. For bookings, contact reception on 044-889-0019 or email bookings@carmelmail.co.za
Experience our Group Hospitality
Break away from the bustle of life to experience Carmel for your next group retreat, conference or day-event.
Come together for a time of restoration, networking and growth. Make your group visit an experience to remember through our range of accommodation, dining and meeting venues, while enjoying our breath-taking Victoria Bay views, beautiful gardens and quiet spaces too.
Contact our team to discuss your group retreat and to experience Carmel’s group hospitality. Contact us on 044-889-0019 or email bookings@carmelmail.co.za
Greetings from the Ministry Team
We continue to run our Pastor’s Appreciation Retreat through the regular season and the Pathfinder-Impact Gap Year programme is also open for 2026 registrations. You can read more about these programmes below.
All are welcome to our Ministry programmes, it would be our privilege as a Christian community to welcome you to Carmel.
God bless,
The Carmel Ministry Team
Giving thanks for Prime Plus
We desire to show our appreciation for the integral role of all pastors in spreading the ministry of Christ, our Saviour to the world. During the regular season, we welcome all pastors and their spouse to take a time of rest (emotional, physical and spiritual) at Carmel to restore and reconnect.
There is a special rate offered for a 2 night stay, including Sea View accommodation, breakfast and dinner for 2 people sharing.
The time is not a organised retreat but a time for you to take rest at a time that suits your schedule, within the loving community of Carmel.
If you are a pastor or would like to sponsor a couple’s retreat, please contact the Carmel office on 044-889-0019 or email bookings@carmelmail.co.za to find out more.
Based on Romans 8:37: “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us”, our vision is to awaken a generation to thrive through traditional family values and be empowered to lead well in life through a Biblical foundation, identity and clear purpose. We do this through facilitating a personal development gap year program for young adults built around transformative lifestyle discipleship, vocation and life skills, disciplines, and team adventure experiences, helping them to become the leaders of tomorrow with faith and a Biblical Kingdom worldview.
A Journey of Growth, Faith, and Purpose
The year is in full swing, and what an amazing journey it has been with our current group of students! Over the past months, we have witnessed incredible growth in their lives as they step into a deeper understanding of who they are, who God has called them to be, and how they can impact the world around them….identity and purpose.
From laughter-filled adventures and team-building activities to heartfelt moments of worship and reflection, our time together has been life changing.
The Pathfinder-Impact students have enjoyed a wide range of experiences this year, from hiking, surfing, and exploring the beauty of the Garden Route to learning practical skills like leatherwork, beadwork, woodworking, and Farming God’s Way gardening. In the classroom, they have focused on identity in Christ, renewing the mind, and living out their salvation, with deep times of worship and devotion. Students have also served others through street evangelism and community outreach. The growth and fruit in their lives is evident as they continue to blossom. With more adventures planned, including a possible mission trip to Lesotho, the journey ahead promises to be exciting and impactful.
The testimony of these students is why we believe the Pathfinder-impact season of a gap year is a unique opportunity for young adults. It is a safe place to prepare between home and ‘the world’.
We are excited to tell you that registrations are open for February 2026!
You can find out more at https://pathfinder-impact.com, email us at info@pathfinder-impact.com or call on 071-183 2631
Please share If you have children, grandchildren, friends or church communities with young adults who need a transformative year in their life.
With much love and blessings
Gavin, Nicky and Johann
Rest, reflect & reconnect
View our latest video to get a glimpse into what makes Carmel so special. From the peaceful gardens and Vic Bay views to the chapel, and space to truly rest, restore and reconnect.
Group retreats, weddings, school holiday activities & break-away holidays, we welcome you to experience all that Carmel has to offer.
It will be our privilege as a Christian community to welcome you to Carmel Coastal Retreat.
Carmel Prayer Group
If you would like to be a part of the Wednesday Prayer Group, we pray in the chapel every Wednesday morning from 07h00 – 08h00.
We pray that God may continue to fill our guests with renewed hope, enthusiasm and restoration.
We pray that Carmel will continue to be fruitful place, bringing the much needed restoration our guests are seeking and that God’s blessings may be poured over them. May God’s presence be at Carmel as it is in heaven.
We would love for you to partner with us in prayer for Carmel. Please continue to hold the staff of Carmel and the Carmel Community in prayer.
To join the Prayer WhatsApp group, click the link below:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/DMcmOaIO0WREi5m3I2yiK4
To join the Prayer Newsletter Group, click the link below:
https://carmelcoastalretreat.co.za/prayer_group/
Carmel's ongoing legacy
The shared testimonies over the many years of Carmel’s history inspire confidence. God continues to be at work and use Carmel for His ministry. So many leave rested, encouraged, and restored, by the love of Jesus. The ripple effects of Carmel continue into eternity. All praise be to God!
In being able to continue the work of Carmel for future generations to come, we are seeking our valued guests and friends of Carmel for donations or bequests, in leaving a legacy into Carmel’s future. There are many specific projects we have on our hearts to implement the mission of Carmel, and many ways in which to become involved.
If being a part of Carmel’s legacy is on your heart, we would love to share our vision and projects with you in more detail and how you can be a part of Carmel’s bright future.