franschhoek

If you follow me on any of my social media platforms you will know that I love a girls’ weekend away. I love any weekend away really, but there is something about getting your besties in one house and drinking all the wine in the land. That’s what we do, anyway. I have spent all my life in Cape Town, barring a six month stint in Wyoming (but that’s for another post), and so I know some of the best spots to go to that are no more than an hour outside of the city. Here are five that I can seriously recommend. There are so many more, but I will save them for another post (keep you coming back, you see?). One of the things I love about all of these places, are the roads that lead me to them. You cannot compete with some of the spectacular roads our country has to offer. You should really take advantage of these roads. FIVE GIRLS’ WEEKEND GETAWAY SPOTS JUST OUTSIDE OF CAPE TOWN: 1. GREYTON This is probably my number one destination just outside of Cape Town. Greyton is a quaint village with majestic mountains that recharge your soul like no other place I know. That sounds super deep, but it is true. Ask anyone. It’s perfect both in winter and in summer. In summer you can hit the waterfalls and rivers, while in winter you can enjoy a cosy spot in front of a fireplace, red wine in hand. The road to Greyton is a favourite of mine. Not the N2, obviously, that sucks. But once you turn off the dreaded N2, the sweeping planes that surround you are breathtaking. Not to mention the fact that you can have quite a bit of fun in the twisty corners. 2. PICARDI PLACE, RAWSONVILLE Another beautiful road to enjoy, especially once you’re through the Huguenot tunnel on the N1 and you are cocooned by the mountains on the other side. Not far from the tunnel, you take the Rawsonville turnoff and you will find a hidden gem called Picardi Place. If you enjoy cooking or if you just enjoy drinking wine while someone else cooks, this is the place for you. My girlfriends and I had the most fantastic weekend learning how to cook pasta from Jaco, Picardi Place’s incredible host. We also learnt how to forage in a garden, we weren’t too good at that though. What we were fantastic at, was chilling, drink in hand. 3. SOUTH HILL, ELGIN Every single year we head to South Hill for a wintry weekend away. It might not involve an enjoyable road, but once there, the surrounding Hottentot Hollands, Kogelberg and Groenberg mountain ranges provide a backdrop like no other. South Hill Vineyards in the Elgin Valley is one my favourite places to stay because not only does everyone get to have their own ensuite bathroom, but it has a wine tasting room about 10 metres from the front door. What more could you want? 4. KRAALBAAI If you can’t afford to fly to a tropical island, then Kraalbaai is a place for you. In fact, it is even better than some of the islands I have been to. Sparkling blue, warm water is nestled among the West Coast Nature Reserve. You will struggle to find a place quite as beautiful. It can be tricky to find a reasonable house in Churchhaven, but then just stay in Langebaan or Yzerfontein and do a day trip to the beach. It is, needless to say, a summer spot. Picture it: cozzies, watermelon, umbrellas, braais and crisp white wine. I’ll take that, thank you very much. 5. AUBERGE LA DAUPHINE, FRANSCHHOEK This is about to become a favourite of mine, I can tell. I have a girls weekend planned there for next month and I could not be more excited. Not only is the town of Franschhoek rich in wine tasting experiences, but it also offers some of the best restaurants in the country. Perhaps before you hit the bottle though, take a drive over the Franschhoek Pass and take in the incredible views. Auberge la dauphine is a quaint and beautiful guesthouse that offers reasonably priced accommodation you would struggle to find in Franschhoek. Plus you get an enormous English breakfast cooked for you as well. Nothing like a little egg and bacon to cure a hangover, hey? What are your favourite girls’ weekend away spots? Send me your list of best getaways in the comments section below or on my Facebook or Instagram pages.