Grootbos Forest Lodge

The main building has a 1970s vibe, with high reeded ceilings, huge windows, wooden floors and chairs placed carefully to take in the views. There's a large dining area, with a menu of locally farmed meat, the freshest of fish, and fruit and vegetables from the hotel’s Growing the Future project – whereby produce is purchased from local women growers. The chef makes the best Eggs Benedict! There's an excellent wine cellar and a wooden deck with a pool, loungers and firepit.

Sixteen separate brick-and-timber suites are reached via paved pathways that snake through the forest. Each has spacious lounge with a cosy wood-fire heater, which is lit while you're at dinner on cold winter evenings, a separate bedroom with a romantically draped four-poster bed and a bathroom with a large tub set against the windows (your privacy is ensured!) to catch the views. The rooms are indubitably luxurious – some even have a private pool.

Walk through the forest and fynbos on your own or with a knowledgeable local guide who has been trained on one of Grootbos Foundation's amazing community development projects. Visit the cliffs at nearby De Kelders and the Klipgat cave, one of the earliest sites of human habitation. Visit the nearby villages of Gansbaai and Hermanus, go whale-watching or shark-cage diving (only for the very brave) or sit on your veranda to soak in the peace and the views.