Just 45 minutes drive from Cape Town is the scenic Winelands region, a collection of historic towns, little hamlets and Cape Dutch farmsteads whose wines are internationally renowned. Unsurprisingly, the Winelands is also fast turning into a fabulous foodie hub with many first class eateries. The most popular and well-known wine routes pass through Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, with Paarl and Constantia also worthy of a visit.
Regarded as the nation’s wine capital, Stellenbosch has an easy elegance with oak-shaded streets lined with cafes, restaurants, boutiques and art galleries. In addition, some 150 wine estates decorate the vine-swept landscape, many of them with achingly beautiful Cape Dutch manor houses, gardens, hotels and fine-dining restaurants.
Originally settled in 1688 by French Huguenot refugees who introduced their age-old wine and food culture, today picturesque Franschhoek is one of the world’s gastronomic capitals with more award-winning restaurants than anywhere else in the land. Hop on the wine tram to tour the variety of cellars, from small boutique wineries to large estates, and be sure to browse the shops and galleries along the town’s quaint streets.
The Paarl Wine Route, renowned for its rich, full-bodied, spicy red and crisp white wines, is the second oldest in South Africa. Foodies will also find lots of tempting dining venues, from unpretentious family steakhouses to gourmet offerings and everything in between. The surrounding area offers hiking and biking trails, rock climbing, horse riding and more.
Just 15 minutes from Cape Town city centre, Constantia is quite spectacular. Its wines are grown on the slopes of Table Mountain with a unique blend of centuries-old homesteads and new stylish boutique wineries to seek out.
Just outside the Winelands is Hermanus, an attractive fishing village rich in wonderful scenery and endless adventure options. From June to November, Hermanus offers the best land-based whale watching in the world.
GMT +2 hours
South African Rand
All of the towns in the Winelands region are around 45 minutes driving distance of Cape Town, while Hermanus is 1½ hours drive from Cape Town.
The Winelands are located within the Western Cape and can be visited throughout the year. The peak season is during the summer when you can expect fine weather, from around October to March. From around June to August the weather can be cold and rain can be expected, however as most of the hotels have welcoming log fires you can still enjoy the wine!
South Africa has relaxed its requirements for travelling with children under the age of 18. Visa exempt children (including UK Nationals visiting for tourism purposes) entering South Africa accompanied by an adult are required to present only a valid passport on arrival, regardless of whether the child is travelling with both parents, one parent, or an adult who is not a biological parent.
There are other requirements for children travelling unaccompanied. For more information, contact the South African High Commission www.southafricahouseuk.com or the South African Department of Home Affairs www.dha.gov.za.
This fully narrated hop-on hop-off tour is one of the best ways to discover the true essence of Franschhoek. A combination of tram and tram-bus transports you around a loop of stops, be it wine tasting, a cellar tour, lunch or simply a stroll through the vineyards. Transfers not included.
From £19
Sample the flavours of Stellenbosch, a 335-year old university town, known as the City of Oaks or Eikestad in Afrikaans and Dutch. You’ll enjoy top quality, locally produced artisan food during a leisurely walk and along the way you’ll get to meet some of the passionate food artisans of this beautiful town. Transfers not included.
From £49
Learn from the animal carers what it takes to look after these incredible creatures on a daily basis. What you’ll do will vary according to the schedule but could include helping to prepare meals, assisting the carers on feeding rounds, enrichment activities and cleaning. You’ll also join staff and volunteers for a home-cooked lunch overlooking the Drakenstein Mountains. Transfers to/from sanctuary not included. Lunch as stated included (except weekends)
From £79
Imposing in size, white sharks are known for their graceful beauty and powerful predatory behaviour. See this majestic animal in its natural environment inside a cage below the waves. For the less courageous, the boat has a large viewing platform. Transfers not included and children below 6 years not permitted. Must be over 11 years to go in the cage.
From £135
Copyright © 2018 Premier Holidays Ltd
Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.
