Cape Town, Franschhoek and the Sabi Sand in ten nights
Three nights above the Atlantic in Cape Town, three among the vineyards of Franschhoek, then four in the Sabi Sand for leopard. Little jet lag from the UK and a good first safari for couples.
La Residence
A 30-acre estate of vines and orchards below the Franschhoek mountains, with bold interiors, its own wine and suites with private pools for families.
Why we love it
La Residence sits on a 30-acre estate on the edge of Franschhoek, ringed by the Franschhoek and Drakenstein mountains, with its own vineyard, orchards and kitchen garden. The interiors are loud in the best way: chandeliers, European antiques, Victorian floor tiles and more than 150 works of art. It is the opposite of a white-walled boutique hotel, and that is the point.
Days are easy. Walk the estate, taste its wines and the valley's, cycle into the village by e-bike, or hike one of the trails in Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve. The Franschhoek Motor Museum at L'Ormarins is a surprise hit with car lovers, and the hotel can arrange helicopter trips to the coast in whale season. Lunch in the Loggia overlooking the pond is worth staying in for.
It suits couples finishing a safari who want three slow days, and families, since the five Vineyard Suites take children of all ages and some have private pools. The main hotel is for over-10s only. Rates are bed and breakfast, so budget for lunches and dinners, and remember it is about 75km from Cape Town: combine it with a city stay rather than day-tripping.
Rooms and villas
Superior Suite
A spacious double with mountain or vineyard views, a bath, a private balcony or veranda and air conditioning. Guests over 10 only.
Luxury Suite
Larger suites in the main hotel with views across the valley and bathrooms with bath and shower. Guests over 10 only.
One-Bedroom Vineyard Suite
A romantic suite among the vines with a living and dining area, covered patio and private garden, with a loft version that adds a twin-bedded children's room.
Two- and Three-Bedroom Vineyard Suites
Family suites with a living and dining area, covered patio, private garden and private pool, the larger one with a small children's room.
Franschhoek House
An exclusive-use villa with six bedrooms on the estate, for families or groups of friends, where children of all ages are welcome.
Dining
Seasonal menus draw on the estate's working farm, served for breakfast, lunch and dinner in the Great Hall, on the terrace, by the pool or on your deck. Afternoon tea is a fixture, and the Cellar Door evening is a private five-course dinner in the candlelit wine cellar for four to ten guests.
Wellness
Treatments take place in a double treatment room, in your suite or on your balcony. It is a small wellness offer rather than a full spa, so book in advance, as the hotel advises.
Children and families
Children over 10 are welcome in the main hotel. Children of all ages are welcome in the five Vineyard Suites and Franschhoek House, with farm activities, cooking, crafts and flower arranging for younger guests.
The facts
| Estate | 30 acres of vineyards, orchards and gardens |
|---|---|
| Distance | About 75km from Cape Town |
| Board | Bed and breakfast, with minibar, house wines and local drinks included |
| Included | Laundry, Wi-Fi and transfers to Franschhoek village |
| Children | Over 10 in the hotel; all ages in Vineyard Suites and Franschhoek House |
| Check-in | From 14:00; check-out 11:00 |
Where it is
Franschhoek, Cape Winelands, South Africa
Nearby
A few of the things we plan for guests in South Africa.
Leopards in the Sabi Sand
The Sabi Sand shares an unfenced border with Kruger, so animals move freely, but vehicles are few and guides can drive off-road. Leopards here are unusually relaxed around vehicles. Morning and evening drives last three to four hours, with a bush breakfast or sundowners. Three or four nights is ideal.
Table Mountain and the Cape Peninsula
Take the cableway or hike up Platteklip Gorge early, before the tablecloth of cloud rolls in. Then drive the peninsula via Chapman's Peak to Cape Point and the penguins at Boulders Beach. The fynbos here belongs to the Cape Floral Region, one of the richest plant kingdoms on Earth.
Estates and lunches in the Winelands
An hour from Cape Town, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch sit beneath granite mountains, with Cape Dutch homesteads and restaurants among the vines. A driver lets you taste properly. Harvest runs from about February to March; autumn colours follow in April and May.
Journeys with La Residence
Ask about La Residence
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. We will check availability, suggest the right room and send a price.