Four Rosmead Boutique Guest House

Cape Town: 4 Nights

Nestled at the foot of the majestic Table Mountain and bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Cape Town is consistently voted amongst the top cities in the world to visit and it is no surprise that this wonderful city is one of the highlights of a holiday to South Africa. The climate is Mediterranean, with mild winters and hot summers.

One of the main tourist attractions is the tastefully restored V&A Waterfront with its many shops, bars and restaurants. There is also an aquarium and one of the largest craft markets in Southern Africa. Boats offer tours of the harbour from the quayside and the whole place is always buzzing with life and activity. The City Bowl is home to many museums and historical buildings which can all be viewed from a 'topless' hop on/hop off tourist bus, complete with interesting commentary as you ride around the city.

The adventurous can climb up (or abseil down) Table Mountain, windsurf or kitesurf at Bloubergstrand Beach, dive in shark tanks, or do any one of a dozen more adrenalin pumping activities. For a more relaxed pace of life, there are miles of sandy beaches for soaking up the African sun, or enjoy a quiet stroll through the beautiful Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.

Four Rosmead is situated on the slopes of Table Mountain in the tranquil and leafy suburb of Oranjezicht.  This boutique hotel, originally built in 1903, enjoys 360º views of the mountain, Lions Head, Signal Hill, Table Bay and the city, and is within walking distance of the vibrant Kloof Street, which is well known for its restaurant and cafe culture. The Victoria & Albert Waterfront and the beautiful beaches of Camps Bay and Clifton are just 10 minutes by car.

Ten bespoke en-suite bedrooms are individually decorated to reflect the tasteful style which is evident throughout the house. Some rooms include outdoor seating areas and wonderful city and mountain views. 

Landscaped gardens and a patio with sun loungers around the heated swimming pool create an elegant urban sanctuary where you can relax and unwind. The guest house also features selected artwork by local South African artists, which guests are welcome to purchase.

Mont Rochelle Hotel and Mountain Vineyards

The Cape Winelands: 2 Nights

Nestled on the slopes of the majestic Klein Dassenberg mountain range, the 5* Mont Rochelle is a stunning 26 bedroom Cape-Dutch style hotel, just under an hours drive from Cape Town in the town of Franschhoek. Famously known as the French Corner of the cape, this traditional vineyard town is considered to be the' food and wine capital' of South Africa.

Occupying 39 hectares of vineyards and hills, the hotel produces wine on-site and guests can tour the cellars or wander the paths between vineyard plots. Mont Rochelle also offers daily activities including private wine tasting and cellar tours, as well as walking and mountain biking trails and horse-riding. Mountain bikes can be hired free of charge. A favourite activity for many guests here is having a picnic on the estate – the kitchen can arrange a well-stocked picnic basket with a chilled bottle of wine (or two!).

Mont Rochelle has two dining options - MIKO is their flagship restaurant boasting a prime location with impeccable 180 degree views of the Franschhoek valley and mountains. Adjacent to the winery is the more casual Country Kitchen, an ideal place for light lunch as well as wine tasting.

The main outdoor heated pool is surrounded by sun loungers and has fantastic views of the Franschhoek mountains. The spa has two dedicated treatment rooms and the hotel bar is perfect for pre or post meal drinks as well as light bites throughout the day.

Named after locally grown wines, the rooms and suites span over 3 separate wings. The smaller of the room types, the Shiraz Rooms feature courtyard and valley views. The Merlot Rooms are slightly larger, and also boast valley views. The Cabernet Rooms include a private terrace overlooking the valley, and the even more spacious Pinotage Suites feature a separate lounge and fantastic views. The Cap Classique suites are the largest rooms, and each suite has a separate lounge, private terrace and a heated private plunge pool. 

For complete privacy, the Manor House is located a short walk from the main hotel and can be booked on an exclusive basis. This beautifully appointed 4 bedroom villa comfortably sleeps 8 adults and boasts a cosy bunkroom that can sleep up to 6 children. Throughout your stay you can enjoy the stunning views, spacious common areas, kitchen, outdoor heated swimming pool and gym, not to mention the services of a chef who can prepare meals from the villa’s dedicated kitchen.

Tilney Manor

Sanbona Wildlife Reserve: 3 Nights

Sanbona Wildlife Reserve is 58,000 hectares of undulating mountains and plains, indigenous fauna and flora, rock formations and rock art, and is an experience and a destination not to be missed.

Traverse the landscape of the reserve with a qualified ranger in comfortable open Land Rovers. Numerous species of plants, animals, big game and birds can be seen during the morning or afternoon drives. Sundowner evening drives offer spectacular displays of light as the evening sun sets over the Little Karoo. Returning back after dark, nocturnal animals can often be seen.

Guests can also enjoy a boat safari, in search of hippos and birds such as fish eagles, grey herons and Egyptian geese.

At Tilney Manor, comfortable lounges with fireplaces for winter nights, private verandas, romantic freestanding baths and carefully sheltered outdoor showers are just a few of the pleasures that guests can enjoy. Other comforts include air-conditioning, satellite television, private bars and tea/coffee making facilities.

The fully equipped Spa offers guests the opportunity to recover from the rigors of the outside world and restore their sense of inner harmony.

Tilney Manor has 6 luxuriously appointed rooms, and this exclusivity ensures that guests can experience personal service and world-class cuisine in an atmosphere of privacy and tranquillity.

Cape Georgian decor draws on the natural colours of the surrounding stone and vegetation, with subtle touches of San culture influencing the design throughout the guest rooms and conference facility.

The lush oasis setting of Tilney Manor is surrounded by carefully laid out indigenous gardens, which include a rim-flow pool.

Views Boutique Hotel & Spa

Wilderness: 3 Nights

The small town of Wilderness, only 50 km from Knysna, is a wonderful place to base yourself to explore the Garden Route from. Vast expanses of pristine golden beach run along the coastline, where you can frequently spot dolphins, and whales during the whale watching season.

The small picturesque village itself has a well-earned reputation for hospitality, not to mention several excellent restaurants where you can sit and enjoy a leisurely lunch, or a relaxing candle lit dinner with a bottle of wine.

Canoeing on the Touw River Lagoon is a popular and relaxing past time, or for the more adventurous, there are other activities on offer such as mountain biking, abseiling, paragliding and hang gliding, flat water tubing, horse riding and windsurfing.

The 2,500 hectare Wilderness National Park covers nearly 20 km of unspoilt coastline, and has 5 rivers and 5 lakes.

It is a nature lover's paradise, with good hiking and bird watching opportunities.

The warm Indian Ocean waters play at the feet of the serene Views Boutique Hotel & Spa. An idyllic paradise from which to unlock the secrets of South Africa's famed Garden Route, and a mere 20 minutes from George Airport, this luxury hotel perches high over the spectacular coastline of Wilderness.

The heated rooftop pool is the perfect place to soak up the plentiful South African sunshine, and the luxurious loungers are ideal for enjoying those languid, endless summer days. The Views Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, sundowners and dinner, and is open 7 days a week for guests and the general public. The Views Wellness Emporium comprises of a spa, a hydro lounge, and a gym.

The hotel has 26 exquisitely furnished suites designed for absolute comfort. Natural light floods through frameless floor to ceiling windows, bringing the outdoors in - offering spectacular views of either the Indian Ocean views to the south or the Outeniqua Mountains to the north.