Cape Winelands, Western Cape

Franschhoek

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Franschhoek

The French corner of the Cape, Franshoek lies in one of the most beautiful wine valleys in the world, just 45 minutes’ from Cape Town and within half an hour of the Stellenbosch, Paarl, Wellington and Somerset West wine ... franschhoek information

Groot Drakenstein

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Cape Winelands

The valley known as the Groot Drakenstein lies in the shadow of the mountains with the same name, on the back side of the Hottentots Holland Mountains, part way between Franschhoek and Paarl. Some great historic Cape ... Groot Drakenstein information

Klapmuts

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Cape Winelands

Klapmuts, just off the R45 between Kraaifontein and Paarl, is a rather small village in the heart of the Cape Winelands. Klapmuts is also not very well known amongst tourists - an added bonus as the area offers the chance to ... Klapmuts information

Paarl

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Paarl

The town of Paarl has a unique character, not least because vineyards still grow in between residential neighbourhoods maintaining a country feel to a town virtually the size of a small city, but also because it is here that the struggle ... paarl information

Pniel

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Pniel

Situated within easy access of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl, the picturesque village of Pniel was founded in 1834. The beautiful congregational Church, built over 150 years ago, as well as the old oak trees on the banks of ... pniel information

Simondium

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Simondium

The little hamlet of Simondium lies at the upper point of a triangle with Stellenbosch and Franschoek on the R45 and, because it is the lesser known of the three, tends to be described in terms of the other two towns, with ... simondium information

Stellenbosch

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Stellenbosch

The name ‘Stellenbosch’ is almost synonymous with the Cape wine industry. Not only does it have the oldest wine route in the country, and arguably the most famous, but the town has one of the most modern experimental wineries ... stellenbosch information

Wellington

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Wellington

Nearby is the smaller and very attractive town of Wellington. Visit the Wellington Museum in Church Street and the Dutch Reformed Church. Beyond Wellington is the Bain's Kloof Pass which is a historical monument. Built by Andrew Bain ... wellington information

Tulbagh

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Tulbagh

Just 80 minutes' drive north of Cape Town, at the northern edge of one of the most beautiful fertile valleys in the country, lies the historical town of Tulbagh. The village nestles in amongst the Winterhoek, Witzenberg and ... tulbagh information

Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve

Just outside Stellenbosch, lying in the beautiful Jonkershoek Valley, is Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve. It is a particularly scenic nature reserve set on the Eerste River with the Stellenbosch Mountain in the background and SAFCOL plantations and vineyards the immediate neighbours to the reserve ... more information

Afrikaanse Taal Monument

Known simply as the Taal monument or Afrikaans language monument, the most famous Afrikaans icon, die Afrikaanse Taalmonument, sits on Paarl rock, erected in 1975 to commemorate the semi centenary of Afrikaans as an official language, separate from Dutch, overlooking the farmlands of Stellenbosch ... more information

Afrikaanse Taalmuseum

The Afrikaanse Taalmuseum (language museum) in Paarl, set on the banks of the Berg River, and roughly 50 kilometres north east of Cape Town, is at once associated with the Afrikaanse Taalmuseum, and a dedication to the Afrikaans language. The Afrikaans Taal museum offers a contemporary exhibition on the origins of ... more information

Bottelary Hills Wine Estates

Nestled amidst the idyllic beauty of the Cape Winelands is the Bottelary Hills region, home to a number of acclaimed wine farms as well as to the Bottelary Hills Renosterveld Conservancy. This area (including Stellenbosch) was founded by explorer Simon van der Stel (the first ... more information

Burgerhuis Museum

The Burgerhuis, a cultural museum in Stellenbosch, is one of a group of historical buildings that surround the village green, also know as the Braak. Stellenbosch’s village green was laid out as early as 1703 as a parade ground that today lies at the heart of the oak-lined streets, water canals and beautiful ... more information

Butterfly World

Butterfly World, the largest butterfly park in South Africa, lies at the cross roads of Paarl, Stellenbosch and Wellington, just off the N1 at exit 47, near a little village known as Klapmuts. A visit to Butterfly World is a stop that takes little effort, and is invariably richly rewarded with sightings of butterflies from as far ... more information

Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve

Lying within the Western Cape's Cape Floral Kingdom, the 322 030 hectare Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve (CWBR) lies roughly 40 km east of Cape Town. It was officially registered by UNESCO in September 2007. The Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve is bordered in the south by ... more information

De Zalze Golf Course

The De Zalze Golf Course situated within the Spier Wine Eastate in the Cape Winelands was designed by Peter Matkovich who has made the most of the stunning setting and created a course that places a premium on accuracy. The course has an excellent mix of parkland holes with its main defences coming ... more information

Devonvale Golf Course

The magnificent 18-hole Devonvale championship golf course needs little introduction offering a regular challenge to both local and international golfers. The original layout, designed by Ken Elkin, who designed many of the Capes better known courses, has seen several improvements of late. The introduction of ... more information

Du Toitskloof Pass

Du Toitskloof Pass lies on the R101 between Paarl and Worcester, although these days most people are not even aware they're on the pass for they opt to use the Huguenot Tunnel, which means you shave a significant 11 kilometres off the original drive. You can still scale the heights of this impressive pass that ... more information

Franschhoek Motor Museum

If you are even vaguely into cars, then the Franschhoek Motor Museum is worth a visit. Over 400 vehicles that range from the Beeston Motro Tricycle (1898) to the 2003 Ferrari model, there is something to make everyone drool, even if you're not an ardent fan of the automobile. Museum it might be, but forget the ... more information

Franschhoek Wine Estates

Franschhoek has been one of South Africa’s chief wine-making regions for centuries, and this history permeates every element of the town. Historical architecture adds to the experience of sampling some of the world’s finest wines for a truly memorable time. The valley itself is practically ... more information

Franschhoek Wine Route

The Valley of the Huguenots, as Franschhoek is also known, became home to a community of French Huguenots who fled their country from religious persecution. The Huguenots soon recognised that this valley had very similar weather to the wine growing regions in France. Today, over 300 years later, this ... more information

Franschhoek Wine Valley Food and Wine Route

Franschhoek Wine Valley Food and Wine Route includes the restaurants and wine estates that fall into the Franschhoek valley, even if these borders have relaxed somewhat to include the R45 between Klapmuts and Simondium. Already regarded as the 'gourmet capital' of South Africa, the map ... more information

Greater Simonsberg Wine Estates

Greater Simonsberg is a wine region within Stellenbosch, which remains one of the world’s top wine producing destinations. Being situated within the idyllic beauty of the Western Cape and its Winelands, Greater Simonsberg is ultimately beautiful, and the views never fail to impress... more information

Groot Drakenstein Prison

The Groot Drakenstein correctional facility (the former Victor Verster maximum security prison near Simondium, between Franschhoek and Paarl) is a working prison that was renamed in 2000. It is on the map chiefly because this was the last place in which Nelson Mandela was incarcerated and it was through ... more information

Helshoogte Pass

Helshoogte Pass, one of the most loved and travelled roads in the Western Cape, links Stellenbosch with the Drakenstein Valley, a scenic pass that transports one over the saddle that separates Simonsberg from the Jonkershoekberge and wends its way past fruit farms and vineyards en route. The ... more information

Huguenot Memorial

The Huguenot Monument is dedicated to the cultural influences that French Huguenots have brought to the Cape Colony after their immigration during the 17th and 18th centuries. The Memorial Museum neighbouring the monument elaborates on the history of the French Huguenots who settled in the Cape ... more information

Jonkershoek Nature Reserve

The beautiful Jonkershoek Nature Reserve lies in the Jonkershoek Valley just above Stellenbosch. Surrounded by the magnificent Jonkershoek Mountains, part of the Boland mountain range, this is the place for wonderful hikes within their peaks and never-ending kloofs. In total, the Jonkershoek ... more information

Limietberg Nature Reserve

Lying in the Du Toitskloof Mountains close to Paarl, Limietberg Nature Reserve is a beautiful space in which to spend time, particularly if you are a hiker. There are nine separate hiking trails that wind through fynbos, indigenous forest, rugged and steep kloofs, and valleys through which the Breede and Berg rivers ... more information

Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve

Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve lies in part of the UNESCO Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve on the Franschhoek Pass. Described by visitors as 'incredible' and 'beautiful', the reserve is extremely popular with hikers and day visitors who head to the reserve to enjoy the views and ... more information

Paarl Vintners

Paarl Vintners has earned its place as the world’s first ‘red route’ because of its focus on wines such as Roodeberg, Cabernet Sauvignon, port and Shiraz. The Paarl district includes the wards of Franschhoek and Wellington as well as the newer wards of Simonsberg-Paarl and Voor-Paardeberg. more information

Paarl Wine Estates

This route combines world-class wines with breath-taking scenery to create an idyllic destination for just about anybody. The sweltering, dry summers and chilly winters give Paarl the perfect climate for an array of wine varieties. Whether red white or rosé, sparkling or dessert, Paarl’s ... more information

Stellenbosch Wine Routes

Where to Stay: Stellenbosch Accommodation

Bottelary Hills lies on the slopes of the Bottelary Mountain range with most of its vineyards facing north thus producing excellent red wines. This area is considered at the forefront of viticulture and viniculture when it comes ... more information

Stellenbosch Berg Wine Estates

Stellenbosch is an integral part of the Cape Winelands, being the home of a vast array of the wines that have earned this region such acclaim amongst wine connoisseurs. It has a mountainous topography, with a number of the exquisite wine farms situated both in the valley and in the ... more information

Stellenbosch Valley Wine Estates

Well-known wine labels along the Stellenbosch Valley Wine Route include Zevenwacht, JC Le Roux, Amani, Bottelary Hills, Meerlust, Bergkelder, Oude Libertas, Spier, Neethlingshof, and Welmoed. However, there are many more estates, each offering something ... more information

Theewaterskloof Dam

On the Sonderend River close to the little town of Villiersdorp lies Theewaterskloof Dam. It is a large, sprawling, remarkably unround dam that lies on the R45 that links Villiersdorp to Franschhoek. Parts of the drive past the dam are almost surreal with the heads of ... more information

Tulbagh Wine Estates

The wineries of Tulbagh range from intimate homely cellars that produce honest wines to boutique estates known for their award-winning labels. Twee Jongen Gezellen is known for being the first night harvesting estate in the country. Soon afterwards, a number of other local ... more information

Wellington Wine Route

Only 45 minutes outside of Cape Town, the Wellington wine route is one of the youngest wine routes in the Cape, although the viticultural heritage dates back to the French Huguenots of the late 1600s. Officially launched in the mid 1990s, the predominantly working but charming farms produce some top quality red ... more information

Wellington Wine Estates

This area is an ideal wine-growing region owing mainly to its soils and the suitability of its climate. Grapevines are known to flourish under tough conditions, and Wellington has just the right combination of sunshine and rain to produce some really noteworthy wines and brandies. The hospitality ... more information

Wijnland Auto Museum

There are those who live in Cape Town and its surrounds who have not even heard of the Wijnland Auto Museum, one of the most interesting places to visit that not only contains an unbelievable amount of history, but one of the most incredible collections of vintage cars you will ever see. Whilst this is a ... more information

Visit the Drakenstein Lion Park

Where: Between Paarl & Stellenbosch
How much (per person): R1 to R100

The Drakenstein Lion Park is a Sanctuary for captive born predators. Drakenstein Lion Park was established in 1998 to provide lions in distr ... more information

Wine Tasting at Rickety Bridge Winery

Where: Franschhoek
How much (per person): R1 to R100

Rickety Bridge Winery celebrated its 200th anniversary in 1997. The cellar is situated on the temperate slopes of the Franschhoek valley, co ... more information