WARMING UP FOR WINTER

Our 3 hottest winter weekend getaway spots

Baby, it’s cold outside! And inside, for that matter. Winter is coming, and with it, our desire to flee to cosy hotels and safari lodges where you can savour the season’s pleasures – crisp air, snowy mountains, crackling fireplaces and toasty, cheerful atmospheres. If you’re looking for some winter travel inspiration, look no further than these properties that shine in the colder months. Below, three of the best places in South Africa to travel during the winter of 2023 –from a boutique boltholes to an ultra-modern safari lodge and an idyllic slice of farm life.

SIP, STROLL AND SINK INTO VELVET SOFAS AT LEEU HOUSE FRANSCHHOEK

Heading to Wine Country for the weekend? While the majestic natural beauty of the Cape Winelands and the delights of Franschhoek are well known, there’s one spot along the main road that’s managed to escape the crowds. This Cape Dutch-style gabled mansion has been respectfully restored and reimagined as a modern-day boutique hotel by founder Analjit Singh and interior designer Beverley Boswell. Leeu House’s 12 rooms – each tastefully decorated with plenty of cream, sand and grey – are airy, open, uncluttered and tremendously soothing. They include wood accents, pristine white linens as well as natural materials like sisal and jute. Although on first sight it appears minimalist, there’s more detail than meets the eye – including original pieces of furniture or artwork, a complimentary wine and fruit platter, a Nespresso machine, a flat-screen TV, slippers and bathrobes, wardrobes that glow with soft light when opened and convenient extras. Request a room with terrace access if you want (trust us, you do). If you’re looking to socialise, the radiant fireplace lounge makes a beautiful hangout spot, as does the furnished pool area resplendent with tall cypress trees. Breakfast is served daily in the glass-walled The Conservatory with its checkerboard floors and lilac-coloured glasses.

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK:

A dip in the heated pool … a long lunch … a snooze in the shade … and some very good local wine. Franschhoek done right. Take a trip to Paserene, a unique vineyard that’s had a lot of love put into it. From the highly contemporary steel-and-glass tasting room, you can see all the surrounding mountains and vibrant vineyards. Come for a tasting of the top-notch Elements range, stay to sample a variety of small plates. The pork bitterballen, smoked Franschhoek trout, cured charcuterie creations from Neil Jewell and luxurious cheeses – served with fynbos honeycomb from Paserene’s Tulbagh farm –are particularly impressive.

12 Huguenot Street, Franschhoek 021 492 2221 reservations@leeucollection.com www.leeucollection.com

TAKE PART IN ONE OF LIFE’S GREAT ADVENTURES AT LONG LEE MANOR AT SHAMWARI PRIVATE GAME RESERVE PATERSON

You might be surprised to come across a stately, striking Edwardian manor in this corner of the Eastern Cape. But despite the grand exterior and botanically perfect landscaping, Long Lee Manor is the absolute antithesis of a fussy hideaway – it’s an elegantly modern manor house. The renovation of Shamwari Private Game Reserve’s 15-room lodge didn’t skimp on a thing. Inside, rooms have been reimagined in clean, contemporary style. Earthy tones (beige sofas, sage-green headboards), warming woods, mid-century touches and impossibly heavy drapery abound, emanating an Edwardian country house hotel with a tremendous sense of panache. Still, you’ll be hard-pressed to have the motivation to leave the infinity pool overlooking the acacia-studded plains. Top-tier rooms, like the suites, come with balconies and panoramic sunset views. They’re filled with natural light then softened in the evening with a dim amber glow. Days are full, with reliable sightings of the Big Five (and the rather elusive cheetah) and fireside tea, coffee and cake. However, this is much more than an immersive safari. It’s a backstage pass to participate in Shamwari’s hands-on conservation. Complimentary activities include visiting the wildlife rehabilitation centre and observing game captures – a must-do.

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK:

The absurdly tasty menu at the restaurant is focused around seasonal, sustainable produce – salmon tartare and spinach and feta börek, followed by chocolate marquise with clouds of torched meringue. Lunch is a series of tapas so guests can eat as little or as much as they want. There are make-yourown salads, freshly baked baguette, beetroot arancini, barbecued broccoli with satay sauce, classic fish cakes, lemon and herb chicken with toasted cashews, juniper-crusted venison fillet and coffee ice cream. In winter, sitting outside with a glass of red wine is a joy. It’s worth saving space for high tea, too!

Shamwari Private Game Reserve, Paterson 042 203 1111 reservations@shamwari.com www.shamwari.com

Embrace Outrageous Snugness

Atop The Beach At The Bungalow

Plettenberg Bay

If you’re staying at The Bungalow, you can pretty much guarantee you’ll spend a lot of time horizontal. This under-the-radar hideaway in Plettenberg Bay is completely relaxed and blissfully quiet. As the name suggests, all of the accommodation here is bungalows, so there’s plenty of room for you and yours to stretch out and unwind. The veritable surf and sand playground surrounded by milkwood trees sits right on Hobie Beach, with every room looking out to the shell-strewn beach with that blue sea always visible. Guests are young and mainly stay bundled up in the bright bedrooms. And it’s not hard to see why –they’re adorned with the vivid blend of blue and green, splashy fauna and flora patterns, wicker and rattan furnishings as well as zigzag rugs. The Cove comes with a private veranda, doors that slide wide open and a shower with probably the most sensational views. In the morning, the restaurant and bar – which boasts a fantastic terrace and sea views – makes for a light-flooded breakfast room. This is also a great place for quality sushi and seafood, cocktails of impossible colours and gastronomic guilty pleasures in cheerful and friendly surroundings. At night, the place looks dreamy; that indescribable light at sunset and the palm trees twinkling with string lights.

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK:

A haven for foodie pub fans, Barrington’s is a rare find. They have brilliant brews and a terrific taproom, but also classic dishes with elevated, modern twists. The vibey alfresco space lends itself to lazy lunches with friends or enjoying one too many. A marvelously scented Thai red curry or their legendary smash burger with a refreshing cold pint? Don’t mind if we do. The menu favours fresh flavour profiles such as pork dumplings swimming in Chiang Mai dressing and fresh coriander; jalapeño poppers stuffed with a herbed cream cheese mixture; grilled trout with a soft herb salad; and mushroom and thyme tagliatelle.

5 Meeding Street, Plettenberg Bay 044 533 1864 res@rawafricabc.com www.rawafricaboutiquecollection.co.za