Cape Town and Countryside, Hotels: Birkenhead House

The luxurious Birkenhead House is enthroned on the cliffs of Hermanus and the terrace offers unique views of the raging ocean and the Voelklip Beach. Here you can snuggle up in soft blankets on the deck chairs on cold days and dangle your feet in the pool on hot days. The lovingly designed villa, which is managed by Liz and Phil Biden together with their son Matt, has eleven guest rooms. Each has a different design, a skillful mix of old and new and all very spacious, most with lake views and private balconies or terraces. In the mornings and evenings you meet in the cosy dining room for breakfast and dinner. And if you want to move away from your comfortable deckchair, you can borrow a kayak or surfboard from the family. If you come to the whale season, you are lucky that the huge animals swim by right in front of the front door.