Weekend getaways are perfect for those of us who feel like we need to break away from our tedious routine.
We’ve found places close to your city for you to enjoy:
Cape Town
Harbour House Hotel in Hermanus
Not too far out of Cape Town lies the little town of Hermanus. Although small in size, Hermanus offers a tranquil place for you to clear your head and get some much needed rest.
The Harbour House Hotel, located in the Old Harbour area, has views of the sea and town, and offers guests a choice of staying in the old Manor House, which was built in 1920, or in the New Wing and Harbour Square.
While staying at the hotel, you will be within reach of whale watching sites (in season), markets, restaurants, and other sites, which you can easily explore on-foot or by bicycle, rented from the hotel.
Where: 22 Harbour Road, Hermanus
Cost: From R2 600 per night (bed and breakfast)
Distance: Just over an hour and a half from Cape Town
Contact: harbourhousehotel.co.za or 028 312 1799
Kloofzicht Estate Country Guesthouse in Tulbagh
The Kloofzicht Estate Country Guesthouse, situated in a valley in Tulbagh, offers great self-catering accommodation for those looking for a quiet getaway from the city life.
The guesthouse is made up different extensions, including: The Farmhouse, The Loft and two Cottages.
As a visitor to Kloofzicht, you won’t run out of things to do as the activities are endless: horse riding, mountain biking, fishing and hiking. You can also explore the small town and its many Cape Dutch and Victorian-style buildings or restaurants and museums, or even do a wine tasting at Rijk’s Private Cellar.
Where: 61 Van Der Stel St, Tulbagh, 6820
Cost: From R350 per person per night (excluding VAT)
Distance: Just over an hour and a half from Cape Town
Contact: kloofzichtestateaccommodation.co.za or 023 230 1742
Durban
The Cavern Drakensberg Resort & Spa
If you don’t mind the longer drive (or if you’re that keen to escape), you can drive to the Northern Drakensberg for a proper weekend break.
Surrounded by mountains, next to the Royal Natal National Park and the World Heritage Site, the Amphitheatre, you’re bound to get lost in the sheer beauty of the area.
The Cavern Drakensberg Resort & Spa is a comfortable place to lay your head for the night, and the resort offers guided hikes, horse rides, fishing and mountain bike trails to its guests.
Some rooms are set in the lush gardens while others have fantastic views of the mountains in the surrounding area.
Where: End of D119 Road, Northern Drakensberg, Bergville, 3350
Cost: From R2 400 per night (full board – includes three meals per day)
Distance: Just over three hours from Durban
Contact: cavern.co.za or 036 438 6270
Ubizane African Safari
Zulu for ‘the place of calling’, Ubizane is calling for you to break free from your rut and join them in this wildlife reserve away from all your problems.
You can choose whether you want to stay in the Tree Lodge or in the Safari Lodge, but either choice will see you surrounded by nature and breathing in fresh air.
Naturally, the best thing to do while staying at Ubizane is to take part in the game drives. You can choose whether you want to do the game drives in the Ubizane Game Reserve, or venture a bit further and do them in the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi National Park (all game drives are an extra cost).
Where: 1020 Main Road, Hluhluwe, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
Cost: From R2 110 per night (dinner, bed and breakfast)
Distance: Just over two hours and 40 minutes from Durban
Contact: ubizane.co.za or 035 562 1020
Johannesburg
Askari Game Lodge and Spa
Found on the Plumari Africa Game Reserve in the Magaliesberg, the Askari Game Lodge and Spa is a wonderful weekend getaway for people who want to get away from the city and be surrounded by nature.
The lodge is located on a malaria-free reserve and offers game drives, elephant experiences and petroglyph hikes to its guests (all at an extra cost), which means you are never lost for things to do.
If you just want to relax, the spa on-site offers great treatments. Besides being a place where you can relax, the Askari Lodge is steeped in history, housing one of the largest private collections of ox wagons from 1800 to 1900, many stone and iron-age artefacts from the Boer War, and San Bushmen rock carvings.
Where: R560, 1 Doornspruit Road, Magaliesberg
Cost: From 2 960 per night (dinner, bed and breakfast)
Distance: Just over an hour from Johannesburg
Contact: askarilodge.co.za or 086 114 8866
Castle in Clarens
There is no better way to break away from your routine than to submerse yourself in complete fantasy in the town of Clarens. The Castle in Clarens is a magical place where you can truly feel like a king or queen.
The décor of this self-catering unit is inspired by the fairy tale of Rapunzel, and you will see various allusions to this story throughout the Castle. The unit has two rooms and can sleep four people.
Dinner and breakfast can be included at an extra cost and upon request. It’s the perfect place to make you forget where you come from and what awaits you when you return home.
Where: Off the R712 near Bokpoort Farm, Clarens, Free State
Cost: From R1 000 per person per night – maximum of four people
Distance: Approximately three to three and a half hours from Johannesburg
Contact: castleinclarens.co.za or 083 268 0497
