Want to get away from the city but unsure where to keep warm? From hiking through the Cederberg to whale watching from the comfort of a 5-star villa, these are some recommendations for planning an ideal winter getaway in the Western Cape.
Enjoy the famous hot tubs of Kolkol
A trendy hotspot in the Cape Floral Kingdom, and only 90 minutes from Cape Town, Kolkol has a mix of traditional log cabins and “fynbos pods” winding down the Bot River. The accommodation is earthy, tranquil, and cosy, making it a great option for enjoying nature whilst it’s cold out.
The mountain cabins are especially well-suited to this weather, as they are all fitted with indoor fireplaces and wood-fired hot tubs to keep guests warm. Each is set within its own distinct landscape, offering visitors a wide array of options. The fynbos pods are a unique Kolkol offering, each named after a variety of the gorgeous indigenous flowers that surround them. Their open designs give guests a terrific view of the natural scenery, whilst inside, the same cosy luxuries help fight off the winter.
Cost: From R2800 per night (Fynbos pods) | From R2200 per night (Cabin stays). Bookings available on the website.
Where: Van Der Stel Pass Rd, Bot River, Western Cape
Website: kolkol.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 076 913 6014
Facebook: @KolkolMountainLodge | Instagram: @kolkollodge
Whale watch along the Garden Route
The start of winter means it’s whale-watching season as Southern Right Whales migrate to the Indian Ocean from the cold Antarctic waters. Mosselberg on Hermanus’ famous Grotto Beach offers a great perspective on the ocean, perfect for the time of year.
Many rooms come equipped with indoor fireplaces, ensuring a cosy stay while the weather isn’t behaving. Bedrooms have direct ocean views, meaning guests don’t have to leave their rooms to spot the marine migration if they want to stay warm indoors. The boutique hotel’s other 5-star facilities include a heated swimming pool, a games room, on-request laundry service, and a small library for quiet moments.
Mosselberg is near the rest of Hermanus proper, with its award-winning restaurants like Lizette’s and Char’d Grill & Wine Bar. Guests can choose between 3 winter-specific promotions, all of which saves 50% on the usual price.
Cost: From R3495 per night (for 2 adults). Book now on the website.
Where: 253 A 10th Street, Voelklip, Hermanus
Heating up in Citrusdal’s hot springs
Found atop natural hot springs that heat water beyond 40˚C and in the pristine setting of Citrusdal, The Baths Natural Hot Springs provides natural spring water that is perfect for a relaxing getaway and healthy to drink.
The springs feature a diverse range of housing options for all budgets and preferences: standalone chalets in the middle of the valley, a premium Cape Dutch manor with six units, over 24 camping sites near the baths, and much more.
Situated at the base of the Cederberg Mountains, Citrusdal is a great place to immerse yourself in the Olifants River Valley while hiking, exploring ancient San rock paintings, and ending the day in a hot rock pool.
Cost: Various prices. Book now on the website.
Where: The Baths Farm, The Baths Road, Cape Town
Website: thebaths.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 022 921 8026
Facebook: @TheBathsCitrusdal | Instagram: @thebaths.citrusdal
Witness the fynbos superbloom in Gansbaai
After a series of fires, Grootbos Nature Reserve near Gansbaai is experiencing a complete floral revival. During this ‘Superbloom’ season, the landscape transforms as orchids, fire lilies, proteas, and ericas resprout in an event that occurs only once every several decades.
Guests to the Grootbos series of lodges and villas get to experience this phenomenon firsthand, while freely roaming a 1000-year-old Milkwood Forest and enjoying panoramic views of both the fynbos and the ocean. There is a choice of nearly 30 freestanding suites, each capable of hosting either couples or small families for an oceanview getaway, home to freely roaming mammals and thriving plant species.
Each stay is highly customisable with a wide range of activities, including: botanical tours, whale watching, horse riding, short flights, cruises, and more. Guests can also indulge in award-winning local wine tastings and seasonal multi-course meals.
Cost: From R24 200 per night (couples booking for Superbloom Special). Bookings available on the website.
Where: R43, between Stanford & Gansbaai, Western Cape
Website: grootbos.com | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 028 384 8008
Facebook: @Grootbos | Instagram: @grootbos
Get in touch with nature in the Cederberg Mountains
This beautiful mountain valley landscape is a favourite among South Africans for its vast open spaces, indigenous flora and fauna, and quiet stillness. Visitors often plan their days around taking morning strolls through the mountains and checking out the unique rock formations that dot the terrain, while evenings are spent around the relaxing comfort of a campfire.
There are many accommodation options available, from large villas with jacuzzis and cliffside balconies to small tented suites with direct overhead views of the constellations at night. Amenities vary by package, although most offer wood-fire hot tubs, warm fireplaces, coffee and tea facilities, and balconies with great views.
Guests can book day activities, such as guided hikes, clearwater canoeing, mountain biking, and even photographic workshops focused on capturing the starscape. This mountainous retreat also has its own restaurant, Old Mill House, where you can enjoy morning breakfasts or post-adventure lunches.
Cost: From R1878 per night (2 adults at Peperboom). Book now on Nightsbridge.
Where: Grootrivier Farm, Breede River DC, Western Cape
Website: mountceder.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 023 317 0848
Facebook: @MountCederGuestHouses | Instagram: @mountceder
Stay on an organic farm near Robertson
At this private Wine Route getaway on an organic farm, couples get to wake up to freshly grown, sun-ripened plums and lemons less than a 2-hour drive from the Mother City.
The various houses and cottages are spacious, accommodating up to 14 people (including children), making them an ideal destination for families looking to get away this winter. The Fig Tree House & Cottage includes five total bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms, a braai, cleaning facilities, a pool, and patio views of Doornkloof’s Nature Reserve. Meanwhile, the romantic Stone Cottage is great for couples and is surrounded by fynbos in the middle of the valley.
Tucked away for a private getaway but close enough to Robertson to still be in touch with the world, you can enjoy the pristine peace of the farm and its surroundings or take a trip into town. There, families can engage in activities like putt-putt, hiking and biking trails, or take a boat ride down the Breede River.
Until 31 August, guests can take advantage of a special winter offer: stay for 3 nights and pay for 2.
Cost: From R2100 per night (Quince & Pepper Tree Cottages). Book now on Nightsbridge.
Where: Tierhoek Organic Farm, Noree Valley, Robertson, Cape Town
Website: tierhoekorganic.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 023 626 1191
Facebook: @tierhoekcottages | Instagram: @tierhoekorganic
Staying in South Africa’s third-oldest town
Just two hours’ drive outside of Cape Town, Swellendam is a historic town with scenic nature, acclaimed food, rolling vineyards, heritage sites, and many art destinations. Arumvale Country Retreat, situated in Hermitage Valley just north of the town centre, offers many self-catering suites and cottages in rolling gardens that seem to never end.
Arumvale’s accommodation options are perfectly suited for small families, with the double-storey Anneline Cottage sleeping up to six with a fully equipped kitchenette, a free-standing fireplace, and a balcony with commanding views of the picturesque landscape. Other units, like the Malette Suite, feature cosy rooms that open up to the countryside and the nearby Langeberg Mountains.
There are a couple of highly rated restaurants in Swellendam, including the French-flavoured Christelle’s Bistro, as well as beloved art galleries and thriving local businesses. Nature lovers can make a day trip to Marloth Nature Reserve for hiking trails, birdwatching, horse riding, and family picnics. Both knowledgeable about and appreciative of their surroundings, the Arumvale team has equipped every bedroom with a bird book and wild birdseed so that guests can get to know the 70+ indigenous bird species.
Cost: From R1200 per night | Special discount: pay for 2 nights & stay for 3. Book now on Nightsbridge.
Where: Bethel Street, Hermitage Valley, Swellendam, Cape Town
Website: arumvale.com | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 028 5143545
Facebook: @Arumvale | Instagram: @arumvale
Living under the stars in Southern Yurts
Southern Yurts is situated on the Porcupine Hills Guest Farm in the beautiful Overberg, an ideal getaway retreat and home to both a small olive-growing operation and a nature conservancy. A short 90-minute drive from Cape Town, there are several Yurt accommodations, each equipped with private wood-fired hot tubs, self-catering kitchens, bathrooms and braai areas.
Each cabin has its own selling point. The Forest View Yurt is positioned for the perfect sunrise and sunset on a gently sloping hill overlooking the nature conservancy, and is accompanied by a distinctive self-catering kitchen cabin with an indoor fireplace. The River Cabin is right in the middle of the small forest, where guests can unwind to the sound of rushing water and rustling leaves in a wood-fired hot tub.
Those who prefer a glamping site can choose between Kestrel and Malachite, each accommodating up to four guests under the Overberg star-scape – the preferred choice for anyone who wants to truly immerse themselves in the natural tranquillity of the area.
Each site is equipped with its own private wood-fired hot tub, bathroom, all the necessary braai materials, and a stylish kitchen cabin with a small indoor fireplace and daybed.
All Yurt accommodation is equipped with linen and towels, fire supplies, toiletries, spices, filter coffee, sugar, tea and the farm’s homegrown organic olive oil. Pets are allowed on the property, ensuring no family dog or cat gets left behind at home. Guests are required to bring their own food and drinks, although meal baskets are on offer.
Cost: From R1500 per night (midweek glamping rates). Book now on the website.
Where: 113/7 Van der Stel Pass Botrivier, Cape Town
Website: southernyurts.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 076 060 7424
Facebook: @southernyurts | Instagram: @southernyurts
Retreat into peace and quiet in the mountains
This self-catering accommodation is situated atop the Groot Toren mountain, and is only accessible by off-road vehicles, making it perfect for those needing a real break from everything and everyone.
Affectionately known as the Klipspringer Berghuisie, it’s a short drive from McGregor) and is a picturesque two-hour drive from Cape Town through Paarl and Worcester. Guests are perfectly positioned to watch over the Riviersonderend Nature Reserve, known for its diverse bird species and endemic fynbos, as clouds roll over the hills and valleys.
Overnight stays are very affordable, although guests need to dress warmly and pack extra layers, as the accommodation is not equipped with electricity but has a cosy indoor braai, a gas stove, and solar panels.
Cost: R1530 per night (couples stay for 2). Book now on Lekkeslaap.
Where: Groot Toren, Olifantsdoorn, McGregor
Email: [email protected] | Tel: 076 481 0675
Facebook: @KlipspringerMcGregor
Indulge in good wine at Spier
Those not wanting to stray too far from home can book a stay at the famous Spier Wine Estate in Stellenbosch.
Spier Hotel’s rooms have views of the quietly flowing Eerste River and are surrounded by fynbos gardens. Guests choose from five options, ranging from intimate rooms for a couple’s getaway to family-friendly rooms or suites that accommodate kids. Finally, the private villas offer the ultimate luxury stay: three en-suite bedrooms, walls furnished with South African art, a heated pool, and access to a private chef and butler.
Spier’s main attraction is its wide range of daily activities: visitors can walk the farm’s flower-filled landscape, relax in the state-of-the-art spa facilities, and book several exclusive wine-tasting events featuring the estate’s terroir-driven wines. Another favourite is the curated and build-your-own picnics, suited for families wanting to spend the day outside, regardless of the weather.
Being a short drive away from Stellenbosch also lends Spier a unique selling point, with the historic town known for its award-winning restaurants, family activities, and buzzing nightlife.
Cost: R23 325 for three nights (two people sharing). Book now on the hotel website.
Where: Spier Wine Farm R310, Baden Powell Dr, Lynedoch, Stellenbosch
Discover more getaways across the Western Cape
