When you’re ready to shake off the frosty shackles of winter, why not book a special getaway for spring? South Africa is totally in its prime come springtime. It’s an excellent season to travel, when the weather is pleasant, nature bursts back into life and you can make the most of the joys of travelling off-season. Staycation, holiday at home, mini-break – call it what you will, there’s never been a better time to explore our own shores, and all that lies between them.
Editor’s pick: La Petite Ferme
For us, picking luxury hotels is less about the most expensive price tag, but more about a state of mind. Is it the best quality out there? How does it make you feel? Ask yourself those questions. There’s so much to love about Franschhoek, beguiling travellers as much for its award-winning restaurants, as for its bucolic countryside that’s characterised by dark mountains, grassy vineyards and Cape Dutch farmhouses dating back to the 16th century. For anyone looking for an escape from the cities in the springtime, Franschhoek is the place to go – and La Petite Ferme is the place to stay. After extensive renovations, the venue has been lovingly outfitted with individualistic room decor and serious personality. Maintaining a luxury vibe whilst remaining a home away from home, the boutique offering is everything we look for in a contemporary hotel – personal service included. In other words, the definition of modern luxury. Book one of La Petite Ferme’s all-new Winery Suites, featuring names inspired by their wine labels. A former wine cellar has been stylishly converted, now forming five deeply comfortable suites that are tastefully integrated in the spirit of quiet luxury. There’s something palpably elegant in the Viognier suite, designed to eschew any distractions from its natural environment. Swathed in rich teal, soft greens, grey, beige and taupe, the room boasts a freestanding tub (with all the lotions and potions by TheraVine) and double doors that open onto a balcony overlooking the central courtyard and the glass-like pool. The open-plan room and bathroom is best suited to guests who are very comfortable together. Oh, and there’s a truly fantastic king-size bed, a smart TV, a coffee machine with Terbodore coffee capsules, a complimentary minibar, a rain shower, heated floors and towel racks, air conditioning and high-speed Wi-Fi for good measure. The panoramic views of Franschhoek are visible from every room – nearby vineyards drenched in warm sunlight sparkle from one distant hill to another. You’ll see ‘wild’ baboons in the foothills. Days are filled by a rich combination of pleasures: Sauntering around in the morning, admiring the manicured vines, then raising a glass at sunset under the trees on the outdoor terrace. The wines range from the La Petite Ferme Verdict Cape Blend, notable for a perfume of cassis and blue fruits supported by fine chalky tannins, to a highly aromatic viognier – once one of the rarer grape species, which now thrives in Franschhoek’s microclimate. Meanwhile, refined gourmet offerings can be enjoyed at La Petite Ferme Restaurant, which has local ingredients and wine as its backbone. Devour fried bobotie balls in a pool of cilantro mint yoghurt sauce before slurping curry seafood chowder laced with mussels, prawns and line fish, topped off with refreshing desserts like almond cake with muscadel poached pears. Finally, sink into your (turned down, while you were at dinner) bedsheets in your beautiful bedroom. Wake up to the best breakfast spread you’ve ever encountered – delivered to your door or served fresh in the restaurant. La Petite Ferme’s divine daily breakfast is a highlight: There’s a mini buffet of fruit, cereals, baked goods, smoothies and mimosas, but concentrate on the hot dishes – the likes of smoked trout eggs Benedict and a traditional English breakfast. Book in advance, as the hotel fills up quickly due to its popularity with Capetonians and international visitors alike.
Lambrechts Road (Franschhoek Pass), Franschhoek
021 876 3016
Lily Pond Country Lodge
Lily Pond Country Lodge, a member of Cape Country Routes, has gained many excellent reviews, far and wide. Perhaps it’s the winning blend of cosy-cool bedrooms with king-size beds, calming natural colour palettes and all the home comforts, overlooking the water-lily ponds. When it’s time to get some sleep, a quiet night’s slumber at Lily Pond Country Lodge is just the tonic. Then there’s the location, enveloped by refreshing greens of garden and forest, right next to Tsitsikamma National Park and Nature’s Valley Beach. This is somewhere to stargaze and beachcomb. The proof in the pudding? The dining experiences at Lily Pond Restaurant. It makes the idea of a Plettenberg Bay trip more tempting than ever before, as great food is a key component of a sensational stay. Bronwan and Randall run a tight ship as a general manager and head chef couple and their deep knowledge shows. What’s truly evident is their passion for what they do. Lily Pond Country Lodge is a four-star destination that brings calm from the outset. There are currently 10 individually designed rooms, including four Garden Rooms, two Luxury Suites and three Luxury Garden Suites with outdoor showers. The private Honeymoon Suite features a jacuzzi bath. With a distinct sense of privacy, all rooms have a slightly different view and a very personal touch. Cream, grey, darker woods and Afro Zen motifs give them an unfussy and clean aesthetic. The brushed concrete floors feel soothing under bare feet. But there’s nothing else to distract the eye from those mesmeric views. The room is stocked with tea and coffee-making facilities and the mini-fridge is replenished daily. Plump white cotton bedding and fluffy robes await your return after a long day exploring. The pièce de résistance though, at least for those looking to unwind, is the outdoor swimming pool surrounded by a sun deck. Inside, guests cluster around the crackling wood fire – the epicentre of the lodge. In the evenings, they migrate towards Lily Pond Restaurant. It’s a down-to-earth space that fills it characterful corners with red curtains, swirly carpets, African art and potted plants. So much consideration has been put into every fine detail here. The four-course dinner menu rotates regularly, but the standout was the fall-apart tender springbok loin served with cranberry jus, Hasselback potatoes and seasonal vegetables. The traditional South African milk tart was a dreamy ending.
R102 Nature’s Valley Road, Tsitsikamma
082 746 8782
Samara Karoo Lodge
To be among some of South Africa’s most captivating wildlife and untouched landscapes is a feeling far unmatched by a cityscape. But striking the balance between creature comforts and adventure isn’t always easy. Samara Karoo Reserve, located in the remote Great Karoo, has mastered the art of delivering champagne-popping safaris without compromising on the thrill of waking up in the wild. Its latest project, the reimagined Samara Karoo Lodge, is a prime example. The reserve has been a 27-year passion project for Mark and Sarah Tompkins, involving three high-end properties, as well as land restoration and conservation initiatives focusing on animals such as elephants, cheetahs, black rhinoceroses, lions, and herds of elands, hartebeests and springboks. Fresh from a seven-month, no-holds-barred renovation, Samara’s flagship Karoo Lodge now accommodates up to 24 guests in a stylish sprawl of 10 standalone suites. This encompasses eight Karoo Suites for two guests each and two Karoo Family Suites for four guests each. To re-envisage the converted farmhouse to honour its Karoo heritage with authenticity, elegance and unrivalled romance, the team collaborated with architect Peter Whitlock, civil engineer James Bisdee, interior designer Amy Kidger, creative director Paul Duncan and horticulturist Arthur Mennigke. Every soul-stirring scene is designed to enchant, with tactile interiors and unexpected curios at every turn. But more than that, it reflects the Tompkins’ ongoing love affair with the Karoo. Guests can enjoy a range of new spaces, including a dining room, kitchen, wine cellar and bar, as well as a courtyard, library, gift shop and story room. Suites at Karoo Lodge are more magical than ever, layered in natural clay, khaki and sand-coloured linens that bathe the room in a syrupy glow. The mood is further set with modern pottery, four-poster beds fit for royalty, indoor and outdoor showers, roll-top baths and log-burners. But it’s all just a backdrop for the main view of golden plains – flanked by spekbooms, aloes, indigenous grasses and jacket plum trees – that bleed into distant mountains and a cloudless sky. Like on most top-notch safaris, you’re fed well here. Hearty and plentiful meals, accompanied by locally-sourced wine and spirits, are masterminded by former Rust en Vrede Restaurant chef Faith Marisa. Four-course dinners might start with ricotta melanzane and potato leek soup, followed by venison steak or salmon puttanesca, finished with lemon curd parfait.
Petersburg Road (off the R63 to Pearston), Graaff-Reinet
049 940 1111
