Winter in the Cape strikes fear into the hearts of many for reasons we can’t understand because we think that afternoons filled with warm winter sun, goblets of pinot noir and evenings cold enough for log fires are the best thing since the invention of wine.

Cape winters are misunderstood – the outcast of seasons. Poor things. But think about these little notions: The smell of rain on the earth while walking in the forest. Horseback rides in the morning with mist and drizzle. Gluehwein and whales in the bay… Give us a little winter any day of the year! And romanticism aside – the pièce de résistance has got to be the slashed accommodation rates in the Cape, usually from May until September.

But don’t take it from us – we asked a few top Overberg lovers why they enjoy this chilly season, and this is what they shared…

Michael van Rooyen, from Xplorio, a community website for your town, raves about the winter surf:

When the sun does eventually come out in winter, I enjoy hiking in the fynbos- covered mountains and breathing in the fresh, crisp air. It’s also a great time to take advantage of the prevailing North-Westerly winds and the big winter swells for the surf spots that prefer these conditions (you’ll have to do your own homework). Sometimes when the swell is really huge, just sitting on the rocks and watching the enormous waves smash against the rocky coastline can be quite a spectacle.


Natalie Roos, who we all know from her blog Tales of a Mermaid, uses the area as her great escape.

My favourite thing about winter in the Overberg is the opportunity to just relax and unwind. When the rain is bucketing down outside, it’s the perfect place to snuggle up in front of the fire with a glass of wine from the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley.

Natasha Clark from lifestyle blog The Rabbit Haus, has made Grootbos her family’s winter retreat:

Grootbos is a treat in winter. With the flowers in bloom and ponchos and blankets provided on the nature drives, you’d be in for a visual treat! The kids are also given blankets and hot water bottles in the kids lounge and gaming room, where they have a large selection of children’s movies and activities for indoor winter fun. Think Twister, stories, waffle making station, puzzles, board games, pool, table tennis and even foozeball. The lodges have fireplaces which are always lit upon your return after dinner. If it’s a warmer winter night, they set up dinner in the boma and all the guests are given blankets to dine outside next to gas heaters. Very romantic.

Di Brown tells her travel stories on The Roaming Giraffe, and she will make you want to watch sunsets for ever.

I love the Overberg in winter. The cooler weather makes walking the many trails comfortable, and I find I am far more energetic I winter. Sunsets in the Overberg during the winter months are even more astounding than during the rest of the year, as the cloud formations add depth and contrast to the pinks and oranges that signal the end of the day.

The amazing guys over at Grootbos decided that to help convince you that the Overberg is the perfect place to visit for a winter getaway, being only 2 hours from Cape Town, they’d offer one lucky couple two nights at Grootbos, and a runner up couple can win a pamper session in their Bloom Forest Spa, followed by a three course lunch at Forest Lodge.

All you need to do to enter is head over to their Facebook page, like it and tell them what you would enjoy about Grootbos during winter. If you follow them on Instagram and Twitter, let them know in your comment and you’ll receive another two entries.

The winners will be selected by 1 June 2015, the judge’s decision is final and accommodation is subject to availability. We hope you’ll be warming yourself at their fireplaces this winter. Good luck!