Saturday, 6 June 2026 – URC Semi-Finals

Friday, 5 June 2026 – HSBC SVNS Bordeaux

Saturday, 6 June 2026 – HSBC SVNS Bordeaux

Sunday, 7 June 2026 – HSBC SVNS Bordeaux

The big local focus will be the Blitzboks in Bordeaux, followed by a massive URC double-header on Saturday afternoon as the Bulls and Stormers chase places in the final.

The main request was simple: something secluded, romantic, preferably with a wood-fired jacuzzi or hot tub, and ideally under about R2,000 per night for two people. Think mountain cabins, farm cottages, yurts, treehouses, river chalets and wine farm stays.

Romantic Weekend Breakaway Ideas Near Cape Town

Underhill Farm – Overberg
Underhill Farm was suggested as a relaxed farm stay option with a private countryside feel. It was also mentioned as being pet-friendly, which could make it a good choice for couples who want to bring their dog along for the weekend.

Hoogwater Farm – Wolseley
Hoogwater Farm came up as a good option for a cottage-style stay for two. One of the big selling points mentioned was the private hot tub, with fruit picking possibly available in season. A rate of around R1,650 per night was mentioned in the discussion, but it’s worth checking current pricing before booking.

Goudmyn River Chalets – Robertson
Goudmyn River Chalets was suggested for couples looking for a quiet river setting with hot tubs, braai areas and nearby wine farms. Robertson is also a great area if you want a mix of relaxation, views and wine tasting.

Krakeelpoort – Western Cape
Krakeelpoort was described as an amazing romantic option, although it may sit slightly above the R2,000 per night budget depending on the unit and dates. Still, it could be worth checking if you’re flexible on price.

Vindoux Tree Houses – Tulbagh
Vindoux Tree Houses is a great one to look at if you want something a little different from a normal cottage. The treehouse-style accommodation gives it more of a romantic getaway feel, and the honeymoon tree house was specifically mentioned.

Starry Starry Night – Montagu
Starry Starry Night was recommended for its views, quiet setting and wood-fired hot tub. Montagu is also a great breakaway town if you want mountains, open space and a slower weekend.

Montpellier Wine Farm – Tulbagh
Montpellier Wine Farm was suggested as a romantic wine farm stay in Tulbagh. This could be a good option for couples who want a countryside setting with wine farm atmosphere rather than a fully off-grid cabin experience.

11 Mountain Stream – Gordon’s Bay
11 Mountain Stream was recommended as a great nearby option, especially if you don’t want to drive too far from Cape Town. Gordon’s Bay makes it easy to feel like you’ve escaped the city without committing to a long road trip.

Cottages Near Saggy Stone – Robertson
The cottages near Saggy Stone were mentioned as rustic and private, with wood-fired hot tubs. This could be a good pick if you want something simple, quiet and close to the Robertson wine route.

Somerset Gift Farm – Swellendam
Somerset Gift Farm was recommended as a place that ticks many of the boxes for a secluded romantic break. Swellendam is a bit further out, but it’s a lovely option if you want a proper countryside weekend.

Southern Yurts – Botrivier
Southern Yurts was suggested as a special couples’ getaway option, with yurts, nature and wood-fired hot tubs. It was also mentioned as being within budget, making it one of the more interesting options for something a bit different.

Where to Look for Deals

A few booking platforms were also mentioned in the discussion, including Wikideals and LekkeSlaap. These can be useful if you’re looking for discounted stays, last-minute specials or more budget-friendly options.

A Few Notes Before Booking

Prices can change quickly depending on the season, weekend demand and minimum-stay requirements, so it’s worth confirming the latest rate directly before booking. Also check whether the jacuzzi or hot tub is private, whether firewood is included, and how secluded the unit really is, as “private” can mean very different things depending on the property.

For a romantic anniversary-style trip, the best options from the discussion seem to be the places with a private wood-fired jacuzzi or hot tub and fewer neighbouring units, especially around Wolseley, Robertson, Botrivier, Montagu and the Overberg.

Has anyone here stayed at any of these spots recently? Which one would you recommend for a quiet couples’ weekend away from Cape Town?

Because the tournament is being hosted across the United States, Mexico and Canada, kick-off times vary quite a bit for South African viewers. Some matches land nicely in the evening, while others will require a very early alarm.

Below is a South African-friendly guide to the opening fixtures, with kick-off times converted to South African Standard Time (SAST).

Where to watch the World Cup in South Africa

South African viewers should have a few options for watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

DStv and SuperSport: SuperSport is expected to show all 104 matches live across DStv packages and DStv Stream, making it the most complete option for fans who want access to every game.

SABC and SABC Plus: SABC is expected to carry selected free-to-air matches, including key fixtures and Bafana Bafana games. SABC Plus should also be useful for streaming selected games without a DStv subscription.

SportyTV: Some listings also include SportyTV as a streaming option in South Africa, so fans may have another digital route for selected or full tournament coverage.

Best fixtures for South African fans in the opening week

For local fans, the big one is obviously Mexico vs South Africa on Thursday, 11 June at 21:00 SAST. It is the opening match of the tournament, and it gives Bafana Bafana a massive stage against one of the host nations.

There are also some excellent neutral fixtures at reasonable South African times. Germany vs Curaçao kicks off at 19:00 SAST, Netherlands vs Japan is at 22:00 SAST, Spain vs Cape Verde is at 18:00 SAST, France vs Senegal is at 21:00 SAST, and Portugal vs DR Congo is at 19:00 SAST.

The late-night and early-morning matches will be tougher, but some could be worth staying up for. Brazil vs Morocco kicks off at midnight, while Argentina vs Algeria is a 03:00 SAST start.

Which opening fixture are you most excited for: Bafana vs Mexico, Brazil vs Morocco, France vs Senegal, or England vs Croatia?

Below is the full Bafana Bafana group-stage schedule converted to South African Standard Time (SAST), along with the venues and where South Africans should be able to watch the matches live.

Where to watch Bafana Bafana in South Africa

South African viewers should have a few options for watching Bafana Bafana’s World Cup matches:

Free-to-air TV: SABC is expected to show Bafana Bafana’s matches, with coverage across SABC 1, SABC 3 and SABC Sport.

Streaming: SABC Plus should be available for viewers who want to stream the matches without a DStv subscription.

Paid TV: SuperSport and DStv are expected to carry the World Cup, including all 104 matches from the tournament.

Radio: SABC radio stations are also expected to provide coverage, which is useful for fans who are travelling, working, or unable to watch live.

Quick thoughts on the fixtures

The Mexico opener is a big one. Not only is it Bafana’s return to the World Cup, but it is also the opening match of the tournament against one of the host nations. A 21:00 kickoff is perfect for South African fans.

The Czechia game is probably the most convenient fixture from a viewing point of view, kicking off at 18:00 SAST. That one could be massive for the group standings.

The final group match against South Korea is the tough one for local fans, with a 03:00 SAST kickoff. Depending on how the first two games go, though, it could be worth setting the alarm.

Which fixture are you most excited for: the Mexico opener, the Czechia evening game, or the early-morning South Korea decider?

Here are the URC fixtures for this weekend, with times listed in South African Standard Time.

The two big local matches will be the main focus for many South African supporters, with the Bulls kicking off the Saturday action at Loftus before the Stormers take on Cardiff in Cape Town. Later in the evening, the Lions will need a huge performance away from home against Leinster.

Fixture times can still be subject to late changes, so it is worth checking closer to kick-off, especially for broadcast details.

Based on current publicly available pricing and local player discussions, most padel courts in Somerset West sit around the ±R400–R500 per hour mark for a full doubles court booking.

Most clubs work out to roughly:

• ±R100–R125 per person in doubles

• Cheaper off-peak weekday sessions

• Higher pricing during evenings and weekends

Current pricing can still change depending on:

• Peak vs off-peak bookings

• Indoor vs outdoor courts

• Discovery Vitality or membership discounts

• Playtomic promos and wallet specials

PadelX Somerset West is currently one of the more popular value-for-money options in the Somerset West area and is located at Somerset Crossing.

Virgin Active Padel & Pickleball - Lourensford is another very popular choice because of the wine estate setting and newer facilities, although pricing can vary depending on whether you’re a Virgin Active member. 

General South African padel pricing currently averages around R400 per hour nationally, according to multiple local padel sources and player discussions. 

From the latest publicly available pricing, ClubPadel Stellenbosch appears to be one of the cheapest regular options in the area, especially for doubles groups splitting the court fee.

Most padel clubs around Stellenbosch currently sit in the ±R400–R500 per hour range for a full court booking, which usually works out to about R100–R125 per person when four players split the cost. Pricing can change depending on:

• Peak vs off-peak hours

• Indoor vs outdoor courts

• Discovery Vitality discounts

• Playtomic promos or specials

• Public holidays and weekends

ClubPadel Stellenbosch currently advertises court bookings “from R400 per hour,” which is why many players consider it one of the better-value options in Stellenbosch right now. 

Other popular places to play include Africa Padel Stellenbosch, Cape Crusade Padel, and PadelX Devonbosch, especially for social games and league matches. 

The Barbarians match is a non-cap warm-up fixture before the new Nations Championship begins in July. The England, Scotland, and Wales matches will form part of the inaugural Nations Championship competition.

Later in the season, the Springboks will also play a massive four-Test series against New Zealand, including matches in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and the USA.

Here are the confirmed fixtures for Saturday in South African time (SAST):

The biggest fixture of the weekend is probably Orlando Pirates vs Durban City as Pirates continue pushing for the league title.

Kaizer Chiefs also face another important clash away to AmaZulu, while Stellenbosch FC will look to strengthen their top-half finish at home against Orbit College.

With the season nearing its conclusion, every point matters now.

The South African sides are still heavily involved near the top of the table:

• The Stormers are chasing a possible top-two finish and home playoff advantage.

• The Bulls can still secure a home quarter-final.

• The Lions remain in the hunt for a strong playoff position.

• The Sharks are already out of playoff contention.