10 Best Hotels in The Western Cape and Winelands, South Africa

Set on a 500-acre working farm that is among the oldest on the Cape, Babylonstoren is a bucolic lodging with a dozen lovingly renovated thatched roof-cottages gazing up at the dramatic Drakenstein Mountains. They overlook lush fruit and vegetable gardens containing more than 300 types of produce. One of the newer additions is the Farmhouse, which has nine suites centered around a courtyard with a glimmering swimming pool, sauna, and salt room. Other than the bright and delightful rooms, there's a multitude of perks to staying here: guests can join in activities like bread-baking and wine tasting. This gorgeous oasis will both delight and restore.

This Victorian guesthouse offers luxurious accommodations and excellent food in the middle of 17,000 acres of rare renosterveld scrubland, home to the endangered geometric tortoise. There's also plenty of springbok, rhebok, bontebok, wildebeest and other creatures around the mountains, streams, and plains. Watch sheep shearing in action, or you can hike, bike, swim, or paddle. Rooms have thick comforters and crisp linens. Ask for one that opens onto the verandah, especially in summer. Rates are full-board, and include brunch, afternoon tea, sundowner drinks, dinner and two daily activities. There are also two self-catering houses that are ideal for families or groups. 

The stark beauty of the mountains, the incredible rock formations, and the tumbling waterfalls of this nature reserve were probably as attractive to the San of long ago as they are to visitors today. More than 130 San rock-art locations can be seen on a tour with a trained guide, and you can also go hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and canoeing. Only game endemic to the area has been reintroduced, including wildebeest, zebra, eland, and the endangered bontebok. The food is exceptional, including the legendary springbok loin. The attention to detail in rooms is astonishing: an artist's sketchbook and paints in your room and an African tale for a good-night story at your bedside.

The gorgeously landscaped grounds at this dramatically located hotel—featuring a mix of indigenous and exotic species that create an opulent yet grounded feel—are scattered with enormous "lodges," each with their own butler's kitchen and private heated pool. Then there's the estate's excellent spa, cinema, and truly inspiring art collection, which includes some of South Africa's biggest names. (Vladimir Tretchikoff's iconic painting Chinese Girl greets you in the foyer.) And if that's not enough, you can enjoy Delaire's impeccable wines (sampled from an appropriately majestic tasting room), and the estate's two restaurants—its eponymous flagship and the newer Indochine, both seriously impressive.

In a gorgeous Cape Dutch manor house that dates from the mid-18th century, the hotel sits amid acres of vines beneath Paarl Rock, overlooking the Drakenstein Mountains. Suites are either in the nicely renovated stables and other historic structures or in attractive newer buildings constructed in traditional Cape Dutch style. Rooms are a tasteful mix of modern and antique: reed ceilings and thatch comfortably coexist with heated towel racks and other creature comforts. As you might expect, there is also an excellent restaurant on the premises.

A 30-minute drive from Hermanus, this luxury lodging sits on 2,500 acres overlooking Walker Bay. Privacy is paramount in the soothing suites, which have fireplaces, sunken bathtubs, and private sundecks opening onto mountains as far as the eye can see. Rates include breakfast, lunch, and a five-course dinner, plus activities such as horseback riding and trips to a nearby coastal cave. Children will delight in the playground, petting zoo, and treasure hunts at the reserve. 

Part of the Leeu Collection—which seems to own half the town these days—this classy guesthouse exuding privacy and peace is a Winelands favorite. Rooms in two-story whitewashed cottages face a pool deck and central garden exploding with flowers. Upstairs rooms have timber beams and mountain views, and suites have private pools. Be sure to book in advance for a table at Protégé or Épice, the latest restaurants from the team at the multi-award-winning La Colombe in Cape Town. 

The ultimate luxury getaway, this renovated Victorian manor house—with original ceilings, wooden floors, and antique furnishings—manages to seamlessly combine five-star decadence with unpretentious family hospitality. Rooms are set in the lush gardens behind the main house and have king-size beds with goose-down bedding, wool carpets, and restored Victorian baths. The restaurant, in the conservatory of the main house, serves lavish three-course breakfasts and delicious dinners featuring dishes like saffron pasta with black garlic and cinnamon pork ragu.

The edge of the spectacular Botrivier Lagoon is where you'll find the luxurious Arabella Hotel & Spa. Your private balcony gazes down on this birder’s paradise, and you just might spot rare species on the water’s edge. Rooms are crisp and modern, with huge windows letting in lots of light. The 18-hole golf course is among the best in South Africa, the spa is known for its soothing treatments, and the pool is surrounded by lush greenery. For all the luxury, the hotel is also very child-friendly, with extensive child-care programs.

One of the Southern Hemisphere's most spectacular seaside properties, The Marine has an incomparable clifftop setting. Perched on the cliffs overlooking Walker Bay, the sumptuously decorated rooms provide whale-watchers with grandstand views over the ocean. All rooms keep you toasty with underfloor heating, and some have private balconies. The two restaurants tempt you with sophisticated menus. The Marine is surprisingly child-friendly and activities can be arranged, including whale talks by a local expert and cooking classes with a chef.