Paarl, South Africa

Warm Hospitality in a Picturesque Setting

I stayed at Cape Winelands Villa with two friends on a girls' getaway trip to South Africa. Our days were spent visiting wineries, sightseeing, fine dining, and exploring the region. The villa and its surrounds were breathtakingly beautiful- this home and property is well maintained and cared for. Jadrick and Lise were fabulous hosts and made sure we had everything we needed. Caretakers Rachel and Andrew made us feel so at home and welcome. The house itself is very spacious and well appointed. Each bedroom is large with a massive ensuite bathroom. There are several indoor and outdoor dining and entertaining spaces. The views of the vineyards are stunning! Security is top notch in this gated community. The only low on our trip was having to leave! We enjoyed our time in this special place and each of us hope to return someday soon. I highly recommend reserving a week at this home if you want the best Cape Winelands region experience! For members interested in booking this home, below are some brief highlights of our activities on this trip: -Tour of Robben Island (former political prison where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 imprisoned years) -Dining/shopping at the VA Waterfront -Morning safari at Aquila Private Game Resort -Wine tasting at Babylonstoren -Franschhoek Wine Tram (We visited Grande Provence, Eikehof, Leopard’s Leap, and Franschhoek Cellar. We especially loved the wine and chocolate pairing at the Franschhoek Cellar and our cheese and fruit platter at Eikehof!) -Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point (long, uphill walk to the lighthouse at the top but completely worth the views!) -Viewing African Penguins along the beach in Simons Town -Table Mountain Aerial Cableway (unbelievable views!) -Wine tasting and lunch at Vrede en Lust Thank you to Lise and Jadrick for being perfect hosts on this trip of a lifetime!”

Just perfect

We arrived to be greeted by the most charming full time house keeper Rachel and a wonderful hamper including premium sparkling wine. We were given a thorough briefing on the villa and its facilities by the estate manager. Very arty, very clean with all the mod cons. Each of the four couples had their on luxurious en suite rooms. Surrounded by vineyards and high mountains the scenery is truly breathtaking. Ten minutes from the historic town of Paarl we we easily able to visit the nearby attractions at Franschhoek and Stellenbosch less than 30 minutes away. There is just so much to see and enjoy in this area. You have access to many of the homesteads that are over 300 years old with beautiful Cape Dutch architecture. Many of them are now as famous for art collections and dining experiences as they are for the wine tasting. Frankly, in all my travel there is nothing anywhere quite like the winelands of the Cape and this villa is dead centre.”

Wonderful private house in a private Winelands location.

We spent a week at Villa Donkerkloof in January of 2016. The villa is as advertised, a luxury well appointed house in a secluded location just outside Paarl, South Africa. The staff is helpful and courteous. The bedrooms and baths are five star and very private.. The view of the mountains and the valley is wonderful and the opportunity to visit various areas a round Cape Town, including the Winelands, is easily done via nearby highways. All in all a wonderful vacation for our family and friends.”

The most breathtaking view ever and the best location

We could not have had the most perfect. The outstanding welcome both from the owners and their staff. They all worked very hard at making our stay the most perfect ever. The house is just beautiful and has everything one could wish for down to the minute details. Nothing was too much for Jadrick, the owner, who came quickly to our rescue late at night when my husband was seriously unwell and to help us take him to a very good hospital. He waited with me and my children to make sure we got home ok. The area where the villa is located is simply perfect to tour the vinyards and enjoy the amazing retaurants that can be found everywhere in the area. I could not rececommend it highly enough. We will absolutely stay there again.”

Our South African trip

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Cape Winelands Villa. The owner and staff of the property were extremely helpful. On the day of our arrival, they offered to pick us up in Cape Town, where we stayed at a B&B, and took us directly to the property. They went out of their way to make our stay even more enjoyable. The spacious and very comfortable villa is right in the middle of where one wants to be to visit key wineries and restaurants in Paarl, Franschhoek, and Stellenbosch.”

Great family vacation

Villa Donkerkloof near Paarl is a wonderful escape from the hectic city life but close enough to civilization that you never feel isolated. The property is near a wide range of wine farms, historical sites, curio shops, and other entertainment. The house is spacious, very well equipped and located in a stunning setting on a small lake. Once settled in, you will be tempted to stay and enjoy the tranquility. The hosts were very kind and made sure everything was perfect. It was an absolutely wonderful stay and we definitely want to return. ”

The best way to start 2014

Perfectly located for touring the wonderful wine estates in the Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franshoek areas, this magnificent property provides guests with an oasis of comfort, calm and tranquility. The house fronts on to a small lake with an abundance of bird life and also enjoys spectacular mountain scenery. It is very well furnished and appointed with all modern amenities. The owner could not have been more helpful and considerate and this added immensely to our enjoyment of our time there. All in all a 5 star experience and a great start to 2014!”