By the Benguela Cove Team | October 2026 

You know the look. Suitcase open on the bed, dog on the floor beside it, watching every shirt you fold. Then you start searching the winelands and find that some of the Cape’s best-known wine estates don’t take dogs at all. 

We do. Six of our twelve villas welcome up to two dogs, at R350 per dog per night, on a 200-hectare working wine estate in the Overberg, just outside Bot River and twelve minutes from Hermanus. There’s a 12 km trail, 2.7 km of lagoon and ocean frontage, and fynbos and vineyard between the houses, so the walk starts at your front door. 

It’s about 90 minutes’ drive from Cape Town. No kennel to book, no dog-sitter to brief, and nobody left at home. 

Find your dog-friendly villa: check dates and availability → 

Milk and Honey: our pick for two people and two dogs 

Of the six, Milk and Honey (Villa 192) is the one we’d choose for a couple travelling with dogs. Three bedrooms set over two levels among the vines, a master suite with its own balcony over the estate, and a wood-fired hot tub for when the walking is done and the dogs are asleep by the fire. 

Sleeps: six, in three king bedrooms with three and a half bathrooms. 

Cooking: an indoor braai for when the Walker Bay wind gets up, an outdoor braai for when it doesn’t, and a fully equipped kitchen. 

Inside: indoor fireplace, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, smart TVs and a washing machine. 

Outside: private pool and a wood-fired hot tub. 

Practical: inverter backup power, daily housekeeping, a private garage and 24/7 estate security. 

Dogs: two welcome. 

The two-level layout is worth knowing before you book. If anyone in your party, two-legged or four, would rather skip the stairs, Sea Whisper is a single-level, wheelchair-friendly house, and Lavender Dreams has two ground-floor bedrooms. Both take dogs. 

All six dog-friendly villas 

Sleeping six: Milk and Honey, Sea Whisper. 

Sleeping eight: Lavender Dreams, Oceanique. 

Sleeping ten: Vine and Vale, Swallows Rest. 

Our other six villas (Azure Retreat, Coastal Retreat, Lagoon Ocean Lodge, Oceans Away, Tidesong and Utopia) and Benguela Manor don’t accept dogs. Mention your dogs when you book rather than on arrival, and we’ll make sure you’re in the right house. 

What your dog gets out of it 

• A 12 km trail for walking and running around the estate, with parkrun every Saturday morning if your dog likes company. 

• 2.7 km of lagoon and ocean frontage, with the lagoon’s calm water rather than surf. 

• Fynbos and working vineyard between the villas, so every walk starts at the door. 

• Secure outdoor space at several villas, including the walled hot tub garden at Swallows Rest. 

• A place at the table. Well-behaved dogs on a lead are welcome in the tasting room, on the terrace, in the courtyard and in our other outdoor spaces, so you can enjoy a tasting or a meal together. 

One thing to know. We work with the Cape Leopard Trust to monitor the estate’s wildlife, and caracal, honey badger and porcupine are among the animals that move through the fynbos, mostly after dark. Keep dogs inside at night and on a lead at all times. The estate is home to more than 100 recorded bird species, and the wildlife was here first. 

The practical side 

Cost: R350 per dog per night, two dogs maximum, settled with your security deposit before you’re given access to the villa. 

Vets: Hermanus Animal Hospital is about twelve minutes away, with a 24/7 emergency line on 082 958 7925. 

Food and supplies: Whale Coast Mall on the R43 towards Hermanus has supermarkets for anything you’ve forgotten, from dog food to poo bags. 

Dining: Moody Lagoon and Blackbeard’s Diner are both on the estate, and dogs are welcome on the terrace. 

House rules: dogs on a lead at all times, and please clean up after them. No parties or events, a maximum of two day visitors who leave before midnight, and quiet from 22:00 to 09:00. 

When to bring your dog 

Spring (September to November): the best of it. Mild days for long walks, fynbos in flower, and whales still in Walker Bay. 

Summer (December to February): hot and busy. Walk early and late. The 20 December to 5 January peak carries a seven-night minimum stay and books out first. 

Autumn (March and April): warm, settled and quieter, and a close second to spring. 

Winter (May to August): cool walks, a fire in the evening, and whales arriving from June. 

Frequently asked questions 

How many dogs can we bring, and what does it cost? 

Two per villa, at R350 per dog per night, at six of our twelve villas. Mention your dogs when you book, and read the booking conditions for the house rules that apply to your stay. 

Can I leave my dog alone in the villa while we go out to dinner? 

Yes, if your dog is comfortable being left alone in a new place. Our villas are calm, private and quiet, with plenty of space to settle, so most dogs relax quickly. Bring their bed, a favourite toy and something that smells of home to help them feel safe. Keep them inside rather than in the garden while you’re out, because wildlife moves across the estate after dark. And if you’d rather not leave them at all, the terrace at Moody Lagoon is right on the estate. 

Are dogs allowed on the beds and furniture? 

No, please keep dogs off the beds and furniture. It’s part of our booking conditions, and it protects your security deposit. Bring their own bed and a throw for the sofa, and they’ll settle in just as well. 

Do you supply dog beds and bowls, or should we bring our own? 

Please bring your own. Every dog is different, and nobody knows what yours needs better than you do, whether that’s a particular bed, a favourite bowl or the toy they won’t sleep without. Familiar things from home help them settle faster, and a towel by the door is handy after a lagoon walk. If you forget something, Whale Coast Mall is on the R43 towards Hermanus. 

Can my dog explore the garden, and is the pool safe? 

Outdoor spaces differ from villa to villa, so keep your dog on a lead outside, in line with our estate rules, and ask reservations about your villa’s garden when you book. Keep an eye on your dog around the pool and hot tub, especially if they love a swim and aren’t used to steps or deep edges. Pools and hot tubs are used at your own risk. 

Can my dog swim in the lagoon? 

Yes. The lagoon is calm water rather than surf, so it’s a gentle place for a paddle. Keep your dog on a lead, including at the water’s edge, because the lagoon is home to more than 100 recorded bird species. Bring a towel for sandy paws on the way back to the villa. 

Can dogs come to the restaurant or the tasting room? 

Yes, well-behaved dogs on a lead are welcome in the tasting room, on the terrace, in the courtyard and in our other outdoor spaces. Under Overstrand Municipality regulations, dogs are not allowed inside the restaurant, but guests dining with a dog are welcome to sit on the terrace instead. The adventure golf and splash course are dog-free for hygiene reasons. 

What happens if my dog damages something? 

A refundable security deposit applies to every villa booking, and damage is deducted from it. The current amount and terms are in the booking conditions, which reservations will send you before arrival. 

What if only half our group is bringing a dog? 

That’s common with two-family bookings. Six of our twelve villas take dogs, so a group splitting across two houses can still stay on the same estate and eat together each evening. 

Is there anywhere to walk off the estate? 

Yes. Hermanus is twelve minutes away, with the Cliff Path and the Grotto and Voëlklip beaches. Overstrand by-laws require dogs on a lead in all public places, and some beaches restrict dogs in season, so check the signs before you set off. 

Which villa works best for a large or elderly dog? 

Somewhere without stairs. Sea Whisper (sleeps six) and Oceanique (sleeps eight) are single level, and Vine and Vale (sleeps ten) is single level and wheelchair-friendly. Lavender Dreams has two ground-floor bedrooms. 

Are assistance dogs welcome? 

Yes. Assistance dogs are working animals, not pets, and they’re welcome at Benguela Cove. Please let reservations know when you book so we can make sure your stay is set up for you and your dog. 

Where’s the nearest vet, including after hours? 

Hermanus Animal Hospital is about twelve minutes away in town and runs a 24/7 emergency service. Call (028) 312 3065 during practice hours or 082 958 7925 after hours. It’s worth saving the number before you arrive. 

Bring the whole household 

Six villas, two dogs each, and 200 hectares to share between you.