Favourite Weekend Getaways Cape Town

Looking for ideas for a great weekend getaway?

These weekend getaways Cape Town are some of my favourites. I've lived in Cape Town for 30 years and over the years have stayed in countless places on short breaks from Cape Town. The list I've made here is my shortlist. I go back to these time and time again.

Kaaimans River, Wilderness, Garden Route

Imagine stepping out of your front door and into a rowing boat.

You have packed a picnic breakfast and you spend the morning on a private beach with green tidal water flowing past

During the heat of the day you row up river to the start of a world class river gorge and spend two hours swimming and boulder hopping.

After returning back to the cottage, you have champagne sundowners in the shadow of a stunning waterfall.

Welcome to the Kaaimans River!

If you are a fan of the outdoors, you can't beat this. Within canoeing distance you have a pristine huge beach, an unbelievably beautiful waterfall, world class kloofing and a river running past the front of your cottage. This cottage is only accessible by boat (provided by the establishment).

Click here for more about Kaaimans River and Accommodation

Weekends in the Swartland (Riebeek Kasteel, Riebeek Valley & Malmesbury)

Without a doubt, my favourite holiday accommodation is De Langenhof Guesthouse in the Riebeeck Valley. When I visit the Riebeek Valley, I invariably stay at this elegant guesthouse. It is a favourite discovery of mine and perfectly rounds off a weekend in the area.

Activities in this area are more or less Riebeek Kasteel centric. However if you venture further afield, you can always go hiking, cycling, wine tasting, paragliding and more.

Click here for more about De Langenhof Guesthouse

Langebaan Lagoon & The West Coast

Langebaan Lagoon on the West Coast has always been one of my favourite weekend getaways from Cape Town. It is so easy to get to, the lagoon is incredibly beautiful, and for watersport lovers, it can't be beaten.

When looking for Langebaan accommodation it's probably a good idea to always try and stay as close to the Langebaan Lagoon edge as possible for the best weekend experience.And of course it's always a bonus if you can bring your dogs with on your holiday - so check out this list of Pet Friendly Weekend Getaways in Langebaan

If you get to August / September and find that you don't have time to do a full length Namaqualand Flower Trip, don't forget that you can usually see just as good Namaqualand spring flowers at Postberg, on the west side of the lagoon in the West Coast National Park. This can be a day trip from Cape Town if needs be. Just make an early start to avoid the crowds!




There are also a bunch of other great destinations on the West Coast. You can visit the little town of Paternoster which was originally a local fishing village. It has grown quite a lot in the past and you can easily find some fantastic places to stay there.

Or visit windswept Brittania Bay, Lamberts Bay, Elands Bay, St Helena Bay or Jacobsbaai. If you enjoy crayfish diving, the West Coast is the place to be.

Then moving inland is the little town of Darling, famed for Pieter Dirk Uys's Theatre.

Overberg Weekend Getaways

Encompassing Hermanus - famed for whale watching, the Kleinmond / Betty's Bay area, Pringle Bay (at a push) and Greyton, the Overberg is a popular weekend getaway destination from Cape Town.

Accommodation can range from budget options to top hotels. There are also many places that are pet friendly, so you don't need to leave your pooch standing sadly in your hallway at home as you pack up for a fun weekend trip. My favourite place to stay is Oewerzicht Camp and Cottages outside Greyton.

Popular activities in the region vary from wine tasting, snorkeling for crayfish, to hiking and lots more.

Weekend Getaways Winelands

The Cape Winelands are well known worldwide and for good reason. If you are looking for a weekend trip that includes fine dining, world class wines, spectacular scenery and is readily accessible from Cape Town, then a winelands weekend is definitely an excellent choice. The destinations range from under an hour to two hours drive from the peninsula.

The most popular getaway towns are Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. Base yourself in the one or the other or on a wine farm in between, and you'll be able to spend the weekend enjoying an unhurried, world class lifestyle.

And yes surprisingly (at least, I was surprised), there is plenty of dog-friendly self catering accommodation to choose from.

Namaqualand Flowers

Although probably a little further afield that can be realistically achieved in a weekend, a Namaqualand Spring Flower trip is an unforgettable experience. The Namaqualand desert is carpeted with daisies at spring time, usually around August and September.

If you can't take the time for a few extra days then an abolutely ideal option is to go and see the Namaqualand daisies at the Postberg Nature Reserve in the West Coast National Park. Postberg is open during the flower season for this specific reason. Click here for Spring Flowers at Langebaan

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I hope this page of Western Cape Weekend Getaways and self catering accommodation in the Western Cape has been of use to you. If you have any favourite self catering accommodation or guesthouse recommendations, drop me a mail, as I'm keen to build my list of good weekend holiday accommodation in the Western Cape near Cape Town.

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