Bonnievale Snapshot
Nice down-to-earth farming folk in this little town, who seem genuinely interested in your well-being. Driving off the N2, the approach towards Bonnievale is a scenic one, marked by aloes – the punks of the botanical world, we thinks – crusty mountains and terraced vineyards. The village itself is nothing to look at, but when you can float down the Breede River with the warm morning sun on your back, who cares about a town?
Bonnievale is getaway Mecca and there is no need to compromise. Most of the cottages described here are either on the Breede River or very close to it; others are on the slopes of the Langeberg, accurately referred to as Little Switzerland.
Things To Do
- A weekend on the Breede River is a chapter from Huckleberry Finn. Find yourself a spot under a shady willow, and canoe, swim, cast a lazy line, or simply close your eyes and float…
- If you can muster the energy, pack the sarmies and head into the Langeberg foothills. There is wide scope for arduous hiking but most will be content with a stroll among the vines. Your quickest access to the Langeberg is via Leopard Trail Guestfarm – the farm holds a permit to a section of the mountain.
- For mountain biking androids, Leopard Trail Guestfarm is again the way to go, while mere mortals will find the dirt roads around Bonnievale loaded with far easier informal possibilities. The same applies to weekenders in 4x4s.
- Bonnievale is home to seven of Robertson Wine Route’s 23 estates and co-ops.
- Pop into the local cheese factory and buy a little something for your pet rat.
- Visit the charming Myrtle Rigg Memorial Church, built in 1921. The key can be collected at Bonnievale's tourist office.
- Book a ‘Trip ‘n Braai’ on The Breede River Goose (tel 023-616 2175), a square barge described as, “not your average ugly duckling”. Trips are dependent on weather and river conditions.
Blue Gum Cottages
Bonnievale, Western Cape
About 5km out of Bonnievale, Blue Gum Cottages is a laid-back and family-friendly spot with two cottages spread along the banks of the Breede. First off is Blue Gum Cottage itself - a private ...
Rate Guide
From R950 nightly for Blue Gum, From R850 nightly for Die Stal
Die Houthuis, Die Wyntenke & A Snoozer's Cottage
Bonnievale, Western Cape
As far as rustic weekend getaways go, Die Houthuis is the last of a dying breed – a place where not even Triple-X Gel can keep the hair up. It’s the oldest getaway in Bonnievale, dating ba...
Rate Guide
From R500 to R2650, depending on unit, guests and time of year
Breede Escape
Bonnievale, Western Cape
An experience close to nature, right on the Breede River, on a working farm. The Breede Escape River Camp offers options for camping and accommodation. The HutCamp with cute tiny huts, each with a do...
Rate Guide
HutCAMP in season @ R300 / adult / night, school going children @ R150 / night, minimum rate of R1200 / night. Camping @ R200 / adult / night, school going children @ R100 / night, minimum R400 / night per stand / night or R2000 / night for The Camp Exclusive option. All week nights out of school holidays and not part of a long weekend half rate.
Bordeaux River Cottages
Bonnievale, Western Cape
Surrounded by orchards and vineyards in the broad Breede River valley, and eight kilometers from Bonnievale, lies the farm Bordeaux and its three rustic timber cottages. It's the type of weekend spot...
Rate Guide
R820/night for the first 2 people and R100/pp thereafter. Peak season rate is R1300/night for the cottage.
Leopard Trail Guestfarm
Bonnievale, Western Cape
Perched high on the Langeberg slopes, Leopard Trail Guestfarm offers an action-packed nature weekend. Walks, hikes, kloofing, mountain biking and three 4x4 trails, six farm dams for swimming and fis...
Rate Guide
R380pp for the farmhouse (R200pp kids under 12); R350pp for the open barn-style cottage (R200pp kids under 12); R150pp for the bush camp (R80pp kids under 12)
Oppikoppie Self-catering Guesthouse
Bonnievale, Western Cape
Oppikoppie is a built-to-order group getaway that consistently receives a mountain of glowing feedback. True to name, Oppiekoppie perches on a hill above a fruit and wine farm, 14km from B...
Rate Guide
From R1500 nightly for the house. Depending on number of guests.
Taaibos Views
Bonnievale, Western Cape
The setting: A working farm gazing out across a rural landscape. The accommodation: A simple and spacious farmhouse set amongst plum orchards and vineyards with vistas second-to-none from the front st...
Rate Guide
R2400 nightly for the house
Smitten Guest Cottages
Bonnievale, Western Cape
This cottage accommodates 4 people in 2 bedrooms and offers an indoor fireplace, wood-fired Hot Tub, built-in Braai on the verandah as well as a firepit. The Glamping Tent accommodates 2 people and a ...
Rate Guide
From R1488 to R2210, depending on unit, guests and time of year
Where You'll Also Find Us
Barrydale • Beaufort West • Betty's Bay • Bonnievale • Bot River • Bredasdorp • Caledon • Calitzdorp • Cape Agulhas and Struisbaai • Cape Town area • Ceres • Citrusdal • Clanwilliam & Cederberg • Darling • De Rust • Franschhoek • Gansbaai • George • Grabouw & Elgin Valley • Greyton • Heidelberg • Hermanus • Knysna • Ladismith • Laingsburg • Lamberts Bay • Langebaan • Malgas • Matjiesfontein • McGregor • Montagu • Mossel Bay • Napier • Oudtshoorn • Paarl • Paternoster • Plettenberg Bay • Prince Albert • Pringle Bay, Betty's Bay and Kleinmond • Riebeek West and Riebeek-Kasteel • Riversdale • Riviersonderend • Robertson • St Helena Bay • Stanford • Stilbaai • Strand, Gordon's Bay and Somerset West • Swellendam • Tulbagh • Velddrif • Vermaaklikheid • Wilderness • Witsand • Worcester & Hex Valley • Yzerfontein • Baviaanskloof • Cape St Francis & St Francis Bay • East London • Graaff-Reinet • Hogsback • Jeffreys Bay • Makhanda (Grahamstown) • Middelburg • Nieu-Bethesda • Rhodes • Sutherland