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Winelands
(South Africa)
The Cape’s fertile winelands are about an hours drive inland from Cape Town. The famous towns of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl, the heart of the Winelands, are full of delightful vineyards and manor houses where you may spend a night or two exploring the region.
Some of the best wine in the world is produced in the Cape Winelands, and certainly the best wine in South Africa. There are hundreds of wine estates scattered around the region, each offering their own unique blends for you to taste. Designated ‘wine routes’ link the various wineries, making them far more accessible.
The scenery is also stunning. In this fertile land, rolling fields and green corduroy-patterned vineyards stretch out to the bases of dramatic purple mountains. Houses are designed in typical Cape Dutch style – whitewashed with thatched gabled roofs - and many open their doors to travellers offering wonderful accommodation. The region has been proposed for consideration as a World Heritage Cultural Landscape.
Around the Winelands
You can spend the day sampling fine wines at one of the numerous wine estates along the various wine routes. Enjoy a leisurely lunch at one of the many fantastic restaurants, or alternatively, the Winelands are a perfect setting for a picnic. For the more active we recommend mountain biking, hiking, horse-riding and kloofing in the mountains.
Many of the wine estates also offer cheese and olive tasting, horse-riding, and there are a number of golf courses in the region.
Accommodation in Winelands (South Africa)
Franschhoek Country House and Villas
Set in the picturesque wine-producing valley of Franschhoek, and surrounded by vineyards and mountains, this restored manor house and former perfumery dating back to 1890, is a perfect place from which to enjoy the Western Cape.
Grande Roche is a five-star estate hotel situated in the scenic and historic town of Paarl, in the heart of the Cape Winelands.
Set in the beautiful Franschhoek valley, Klein Genot offers farm-style hospitality in an atmosphere of calm relaxation.
Le Franschhoek is an historic residence in the centre of Franschhoek, regarded by many as the most charming and picturesque town in the Cape Winelands.
Le Quartier Francais is a small, privately owned auberge situated in the French Huguenot valley of Franschhoek.
A beautifully renovated missionary station dating back to 1888, Residence Klein Oliphants Hoek provides its guests with a relaxing informal atmosphere and traditional South African hospitality.
River Manor comprises two historical houses set in a picturesque Oak-lined avenue, across from the Eerste River, and a mere two minute stroll from the centre of Stellenbosch with its museums, street cafes, restaurants and galleries.
The Spier Hotel, built in 2000, is part of the extensive Spier estate. It provides four-star comforts in a charming village-style setting with comfortable, spacious bedrooms grouped around six private courtyards and individual pools.
Other regions in South Africa
Situated on the south-western tip of Africa, Cape Town is regarded as one of the most beautiful and diverse cities in the world, boasting a rich past, stunning location, and a host of city attractions.
The Eastern Cape is one of the most diverse regions of South Africa, geographically and culturally.
A scenic coastal region also known as the Cape Floral Kingdom.
Despite being the smallest province in South Africa, Gauteng is one of the most densely populated regions of South Africa with a number of major cities situated in the region.
South Africa's most well known and largest game reserve.
KwaZulu Natal is a major cultural hotspot on the east coast of South Africa.
A region north of the Swartberg mountains home to the largest Ostrich population in the world, as well as the well known route 62 tourist route.
Mpumalanga is one of South Africa’s most unique destinations. The region is divided in half by the Drakensberg Mountains, with expansive grasslands to the west and savannah to the east.
The North West province of South Africa is home to the Pilansberg National Park, Sun City and the Cradle of Mankind world heritage site.
The Northern Cape is the largest yet most sparsely populated region of South Africa, known for its desert, rocky coast, endless flatlands and rugged mountain ranges.
Generally regarded as the bread basket of South Africa, the Overberg's countryside is largely dominated by rich pastures, fruit orchards and huge wheatfields.
The famous towns of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl, the heart of the Winelands, are full of delightful vineyards and manor houses where you may spend a night or two exploring the region.
