Editor's pickWilderness, Garden Route
Nima Lodge Sand Cabin
Hot tubsOutdoor bathsFireplaces
South Africa
Romantic getaways in Western Cape
Vineyards, mountain passes, wild coastline and wide Karoo skies: the Western Cape has more romantic hideaways than anywhere else in the country. These are the ones we would choose for two.
The Cape Winelands are the obvious starting point, with cottages on wine farms in Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Wellington and Tulbagh, all within two hours of Cape Town. Head east and the Breede Valley around Robertson and Montagu is sunnier and quieter, while the Overberg (Stanford, Bot River, Gansbaai and the Hemel-en-Aarde valley) mixes fynbos, mountains and the sea.
For something wilder, the Cederberg has orange rock, clear rivers and some of the darkest skies in the Cape, and the Klein Karoo around Calitzdorp and De Rust is all big landscapes and silence. Along the coast, the Garden Route has forest cabins near Wilderness, George and Knysna, and the West Coast around Yzerfontein is quiet and windswept.
A lot of what makes the Western Cape special for couples is the small stuff: wood-fired hot tubs, outdoor baths, fireplaces and private decks. Winters (May to August) are cold and wet, which is the perfect excuse for a cosy weekend; summers are hot, dry and made for long lunches and swimming.
45 hand-picked stays
Cape Winelands (11)Breede Valley & Route 62 (6)Overberg (11)Garden Route (6)West Coast (3)Cederberg (4)Klein Karoo (4)
Editor's pick
Editor's pickHemel-en-Aarde Valley, Overberg
Thuúla Hidden Haven
A secluded mountain retreat with a wood-fired hot tub in Hemel-en-Aarde.
Editor's pickFranschhoek, Cape Winelands
Camp Canoe
Luxury glamping tents with private hot tubs on Boschendal Wine Estate.
Hot tubsFireplacesMountain views
Wilderness, Garden Route
Sand Cabins at Nima Lodge
Architect-designed hilltop cabins with private hot tubs and mountain views
Hot tubsMountain viewsFireplaces
Bot River, Overberg
Copia Eco Cabins
Off-grid eco cabins with wood-fired hot tubs and hilltop views
GlampingHot tubsSecluded stays
Cederberg, Western Cape
GlenDonald Cottage
Stone cottage with wood-fired hot tub and river pool near Prince Alfred Hamlet
Secluded staysMountain viewsHot tubs
Klein Karoo, Western Cape
Aardvark Bioreserve
Private game reserve with hot tub cottages and mountain views
Hot tubsMountain viewsSafari
Calitzdorp, Klein Karoo
Tula Retreat
Exclusive dam-side glamping with wood-burning hot tub, accessible by boat
GlampingHot tubsSecluded stays
Stanford, Overberg
Waterblom at Stanford Valley Country Lodge
Whitewashed cottage with water-edge hot tub and meadow views
Hot tubsMountain viewsWeekend escapes
Yzerfontein, West Coast
!Khwa ttu Fynbos Cabins
Nature reserve cabins with hot tubs and game drives on the West Coast
Hot tubsSecluded staysSafari
Malmesbury, West Coast
Wheat Cabin at Dassenheuwel
Hilltop offgrid cabin with hot tub and mountain views
Hot tubsFireplacesMountain views
Rooi-Els, Overberg
Klein-Hangklip Eco Cabin
Secluded eco cabin with hot tub and False Bay views
Hot tubsMountain viewsSecluded stays
Gansbaai, Overberg
Fynbos Suites at Farm 215
Eco-friendly suites with wood-fired hot tubs in a private nature reserve
Hot tubsFireplacesSecluded stays
Wilderness, Garden Route
AfriCamps at Oakhurst
Glamping on a dairy farm with private wood-fired hot tubs
GlampingHot tubsFireplaces
Caledon, Overberg
Black Eagle Lodges
Stone-built mountain lodges with natural stone hot tubs
Hot tubsMountain viewsSecluded stays
Knysna, Garden Route
Forest Valley Cottages
Treetop cottages with jacuzzi hot tubs and mountain views
Hot tubsMountain viewsSecluded stays
George, Garden Route
Boomhuis
Off-grid forest hideout with hot tub and treehouse ambiance
Hot tubsForest staysSecluded stays
George, Garden Route
Boshuis
Indigenous forest sanctuary with hot tub and stream sounds
Hot tubsSecluded staysForest stays
Ceres, Cederberg
Mount Ceder
Mountain estate with hot tub villas, river views and on-site dining
Hot tubsMountain viewsFireplaces
Yzerfontein, West Coast
The Salt Mine
Solar-powered cabins with hot tub in a 1760-hectare game reserve
Hot tubsPrivate poolsSafari
De Rust, Klein Karoo
Aardts Nightfall Cabin
Underground stone cabin with hot tub, firepit and stargazing views
Hot tubsFireplacesMountain views
Klein Karoo, Western Cape
Suidster
Modern barn cottages with wood-fired hot tub in the Karoo
Hot tubsStar-gazingFireplaces
Cederberg, Western Cape
Ananda Cabin at Ashanté
Offgrid stone cabin with hot tub, fireplace and river access
Hot tubsFireplacesSecluded stays
Montagu, Breede Valley & Route 62
Leopard's Kloof at Wolwehoek
Offgrid Karoo retreat with fairy-lit hot tub and mountain views
Hot tubsSecluded staysMountain views
Clanwilliam, Cederberg
AfriCamps at De Pakhuys
Glamping tents with wood-fired hot tubs nestled among boulders
GlampingHot tubsFireplaces
Franschhoek, Cape Winelands
La Roche Estate
Luxury vineyard suites with hot tubs and wine tastings in Franschhoek
Hot tubsWine farm stays
Swellendam, Overberg
Melozhori Treehouse
Off-grid treehouse on game reserve with hot tub and wildlife views
Hot tubsSecluded staysSafari
Stellenbosch, Cape Winelands
Heavens View Luxury Villa
2-bedroom villa on wine estate with wood-fired hot tub and vineyard views
Hot tubsWine farm staysWeekend escapes
Tulbagh, Cape Winelands
Bergsicht Country Cottages
Unique couples cottages with wood-fired hot tubs on fruit farm
Hot tubsMountain viewsWine farm stays
Wolseley, Cape Winelands
Orchard Stay
Plantation-style cottage on pear farm with hot tub and mountain views
Hot tubsMountain viewsWine farm stays
Franschhoek, Cape Winelands
Gîte
Self-catering suites with hot tubs on a vineyard estate
Hot tubsWine farm stays
Stanford, Overberg
Rivergate Guest Farm
Farm cottages with hot tubs, river access and country charm
Hot tubsFarm staysFireplaces
Swellendam, Overberg
Melozhori Eco-Pods
Designer eco-pods on game reserve with wood-fired hot tubs
GlampingSecluded staysHot tubs
Tulbagh, Cape Winelands
Vrolikheid Landgoed
Romantic cabins on fruit farm with hot tubs and valley views
Hot tubsOutdoor bathsMountain views
Bot River, Overberg
KolKol Mountain Lodge
Mountain cabins with wood-fired hot tubs, fireplaces and mountain views
Hot tubsMountain viewsFireplaces
Stanford, Overberg
AfriCamps at Stanford Hills
Glamping tents with wood-fired hot tubs on a wine farm.
GlampingHot tubsWine farm stays
Stellenbosch, Cape Winelands
Camissa Farm
Off-grid Scandi cabins on stilts with hot tubs overlooking dam and mountains
Hot tubsMountain viewsWine farm stays
Rawsonville, Breede Valley & Route 62
Opstal Stay
Modern mountain cabins with wood-burning hot tubs on a wine farm
Hot tubsMountain viewsWine farm stays
Montagu, Breede Valley & Route 62
Olive Stone Farm
Three stone cottages with hot tub and plunge pool in private gardens
Hot tubsFireplacesSecluded stays
Wellington, Cape Winelands
Untether on Olive View
Eco-pods with wood-fired hot tubs in olive grove setting
Hot tubsFireplacesMountain views
Breede Valley & Route 62, Western Cape
Penhill Farm
Historic cottages with private pools, hot tubs and mountain views in the Winelands
Private poolsHot tubsMountain views
Wellington, Cape Winelands
Bainsview Olive & Guest Farm
Modern cottages in olive groves with hot tub, plunge pool and mountain views
Hot tubsPrivate poolsFireplaces
Robertson, Breede Valley & Route 62
Middelpunt Branch
Minimalist luxury cottages with private hot tubs and mountain views on a fruit farm.
Hot tubsMountain viewsFarm stays
Worcester, Breede Valley & Route 62
Uitzicht Cottage
Private cottage with hot tub on dam edge, fireplace and mountain views
Hot tubsFireplacesMountain views
Tulbagh, Cape Winelands
Bergsicht Outpost
Adults-only outpost cottages with mountain views and wood-fired hot tubs
Hot tubsMountain viewsFireplaces