In the Western Cape, travellers are seriously spoilt for choice when it comes to fabulous getaways for locals who are venturing out on a roadtrip post-COVID. In every direction there are options galore for people who are self-driving and don’t want to travel to the ends of the earth to find a winsome destination. Consider some of the following getaways that locals will love in Western Cape.
Agulhas Country Lodge will put you up in 4-star comfort on your trip to the southernmost tip of Africa. This lodge is set on a hillside in L’Agulhas, the place where two oceans meet, and looks out over the ocean. L’Agulhas boasts the second oldest working lighthouse in South Africa, and it is also known for excellent whale watching. There are several wine routes and nature reserves to visit in the area, and much to see and do. Mail us.
Arniston Spa Hotel is a pretty two-hour hop from Cape Town, travelling through the Overberg. It’s not hard to lose your heart to Arniston, a gem of a place set perfectly between the Indian Ocean, a quaint fishing village and harbour, and stunning sand dunes. Spacious rooms provide a range of comforts, with convenient options for families. Swim and bodyboard, walk for miles along bleach-white beaches, and explore awe-inspiring coastal caves at low tide. Cape Agulhas and De Hoop Nature Reserve make pleasurable day trips. The hotel offers 4-star comforts and dining with sea views. Mail us.
Make your destination the forest edge of a beautiful wine farm in Franschhoek, and feel right at home at La Cotte Forest Cottages. Here you can do your own thing by self-catering in a luxury cottage that looks out on vineyards and majestic mountains. Franschhoek town is not far away, if the many delights of the village happen to beckon. One- and two-bedroom cottages are available, the accommodation enhanced by exquisite Indian fabrics and charming features of farm-style lodgings. The cottages have sun-drenched patios and appealing open-plan living spaces that overlook a swimming pool and vine-covered pavilion area. Mail us.
Kagga Kamma Nature Reserve is concealed in a spectacular rocky wilderness to the south of the Cederberg Mountains. View ancient Bushman rock paintings several thousands of years old, enjoy guided game and nature drives with scenic sundowner stops, as well as hiking, mountain and quad biking, and star-gazing at a mini-observatory. Stay in charming circular huts or cave suites built between massive sandstone rock formations, or at the open-air Star or Sky Suites. Mail us.
For a fynbos fantasia, go to Kapensis Guesthouse set on a fynbos farm on the outskirts of Pringle Bay. The coastline and unique fynbos of the area bestow unrivaled views that stretch across a vast landscape. The area has much to offer visitors, including hiking and biking, whale and penguin viewing, wine routes and beaches, and local delights in the small seaside village of Pringle Bay. Mail us.
Karoo Art Hotel in Barrydale has such a wonderfully quirky vibe! The hotel is vibrant and has an engaging collection of art showcased throughout, but particularly in the restaurant. Each of the hotel’s 15 en-suite rooms is distinctively decorated and provides an appealing haven for visitors to quaint Barrydale. The pool-garden has its own delightful eccentricities and is a secluded cooldown spot for warm Klein Karoo afternoons. Mail us.
Be utterly charmed by the Montagu Country Hotel, a classic hospitality gem providing Art Deco-style comfort in pretty Montagu. Sporting a mix of Victorian and Art Deco styles, the hotel accommodates its guests in old-world luxury, the atmosphere enhanced by chauffeur-driven American Dream Cars and ‘golden oldies’ played on a Baby Grand. The hotel has a lush garden and modern spa. Explore a multitude of attractions in the town itself and in surrounding areas. Mail us.
In the Stanford area Mosaic Lagoon Lodge is an ecological utopia situated between sea and mountains and offering idyllic waterside scenery, and fabulous beach and land adventures. Five stone-and-glass suites are secluded among milkwood trees on the edge of the Hermanus Lagoon and offer stunning mountain views. Bathrooms have large romantic tub, copper sink and a private outdoor shower for an “African bush” experience. Tree-canopied boardwalks lead to the central leisure and dining areas. Mail us.
Mail us to book these and other getaways in Western cape and throughout South Africa.