Few cities in the world possess its beauty and style. It’s by far far South Africa's most urbane, civilized city. You could spend a week exploring just this city and peninsula- and a lifetime discovering the nearby wonders of the Western Cape, including the Winelands, one of the great highlights of a trip to South Africa.
In the heart of the mother city is Greenmarket Square, abuzz with flea markets, stalls, restaurants and cultural voyeurs. West of the city is one of Cape Town’s most exotic districts – The Bo-Kaap. Here winding, narrow streets are flanked by restored early 18th and 19th century cottages painted in pastels. Cape Town is alive and bubbling with a laid-back ambience filled with music, restaurants, museums, theatres, nightclubs and much more.
The V&A Waterfront is based in the oldest part of the harbour and emerged into a multi- faceted playground crammed with shops, craft markets, up market hotels and quay-to-quay pubs and restaurants, all below the spectacular backdrop of Table Mountain. It is no doubt the most successful tourist development of its kind in South Africa.
Robben Island, the world-famous place where Nelson Mandela was condemned to life imprisonment is today protected as a nature reserve and the old jail buildings now function as a museum dedicated to the struggle against apartheid.
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens grace the eastern slopes of Table Mountain show casing its magnificent flora before blending into natural protea fynbos and yellowwood forests on the mountain slopes.
Cape Town is rapidly becoming one of the best destinations in the world to visit and the Western Cape is a widespread area with mountains, rivers, art, food and golf-enthusiasts has a great variety of excellent golf courses with panoramic views. Taking a drive around the Cape Peninsula’s coastline comes highly recommended. Stopover in Hout Bay for spectacular scenic views and pop in at Boulders near Simon’s Town to see the African penguin colony, and then experience a wine tasting in Constantia.
Given Cape Town’s seductive summer climate, visitors enjoy the beautiful beaches of Clifton, Camps Bay and Llandudno.
The traditional centre of Cape viniculture, and home to its highest concentration of vineyards today, is the mountainous region situated immediately northeast of Cape Town itself. Known as the Boland (Highland), this region – studded as it is with literally hundreds of wineries, and distinguished by some beautiful montane landscapes and elegant Cape Dutch architecture – begs extended exploration over a few days.
If you are interested in classic Cape Dutch ambiance and memorable mountain scenery, then concentrate on the venerable estates that grace the footsteps of Hottentots Holland Mountains around Somerset West, Stellenbosch and Franschoek – all of which can easily be visited as a day trip from Cape Town. On the other hand, serious wine-tasters looking to ship home a few bargains might prefer to head for the relatively remote and untouristed routes centered on Wellington, Worcester or Robertson.
Stellenbosch
An obvious first port of call in the Boland is Stellenbosch with its sublime countryside, high mountains, green valleys and award-winning wine estates. Excellent restaurants and scenic golf courses with luxury guest houses and hotels are renown for their grand ornate architecture. Founded in 1679 by the Dutch Governor Simon van der Stel, this architectural jewel is the second oldest town in South Africa, and lies at the heart of the winelands. Stellenbosch’s wine route, the oldest in the country, now actually consists of five different routes embracing almost 200 estates with superlative settings in tranquil gardens and award wining wines.
Franschoek
The wine route leading through the Franschoek Valley, framed by its lofty mountain peaks, is spectacular too. This “French Corner”, a reference to the Huguenots who settled here in the 18th century, recalled the history of the Protestant refugees persecuted by Louis XIV because of their religious believes Only 45 minutes from Cape Town and 30 minutes from Stellenbosch this small, picturesque village is known for its fine food and wine and boasts with 8 of the top 100 restaurants in the country and is host to about 30 wine cellars. Franschoek is is an ideal place to settle for that all fresco lunch and tempting award wining wines, while the vintners of Cabriere will ply you with no fewer than five different sparkling wines.
Paarl
Yet another little town in the Cape Winelands, Paarl with its polished granite domed mountain that rises behind it, offers not only fine wines, but also a whole series of first-class restaurants. The Paarl Valley itself is full of history of European settles who brought their architectural and agricultural savoir faire to South Africa. A good place to begin a tasting tour is in the central town with KWV Cellars or at the vast Nederburg Estate on the outskirts of the town - probably the best known of all South African wineries.
Helderberg Wine Route
A sub-route of the Stellenbosch Wine Routes, the Helderberg route is only 15 minutes’ drive from Cape Town’s airport and is near the town of Somerset West. These vines lie on the slopes of the Helderberg and combine the influences of both a mountain and maritime climate, producing some very unique wines.
The 25 members of the Helderberg route follow distinctly different methods of growing grapes, from a 300-year old historical cellar to state-of-the-art boutique wineries and visiting the wide range of family-owned estates and grand manor houses is a superb weekend or day’s outing. Helderberg wineries include Vergelegen, Ken Forrester Wines at Scholtzenhof Vineyards, Morgenster Estate, Post House Cellar and Western Cape Tourist Attractions.
Constantia Wine Route
One of the very few appellations in the world just minutes outside of a city, the Constantia wine route includes five producers, each with a rich history and wine making that dates back to late 1600s. The original Constantia farm was cultivated by Simon van der Stel and today the smaller farms, into which the original was divided, produce unique, award winning wines that benefit from the cool sea breezes blowing across False Bay just a few kilometres away.
The Constantia valley, just 20 minutes outside of Cape Town’s city bowl, is breathtakingly beautiful, with vineyard rows that stretch up the eastern slopes of the Constantiaberg mountainside. The route is an easy morning or day trip and the farms provide quality restaurants for lunches and tea. Rich in heritage and beauty, Constantia Wine Route is made up of three famous wine estates, namely Buitenverwachting, Groot Constantia and Klein Constantia. Constantia was one of the first wine-producing areas of the Western Cape.
Groot Constantia is one of the first and finest examples of Cape Dutch architecture. The homestead is exquisitely furnished with antiques. The Wine Museum has a number of interesting exhibits, including stoneware dating from 500 BC to the present day. Wine can be sampled and purchased on the estate. There are two restaurants on the estate, and wine tours are conducted daily.
Buitenverwachting is famed for its fine wines and an elegant restaurant and Klein Constantia also has an old Cape Dutch homestead, open to the public for wine tasting and sales.
In less than two hours you can reach most of the provinces highlights from Cape-Town – including the wine centres of Stellenbosch, Franschoek and Paarl – making the city an ideal base from which to explore. If your time is limited in the Cape-Town area, you might want to join one of the many tours to the Winelands. Let us know and we will gladly assist with your Cape-Town and winelands experience.
In the heart of the mother city is Greenmarket Square, abuzz with flea markets, stalls, restaurants and cultural voyeurs. West of the city is one of Cape Town’s most exotic districts – The Bo-Kaap. Here winding, narrow streets are flanked by restored early 18th and 19th century cottages painted in pastels. Cape Town is alive and bubbling with a laid-back ambience filled with music, restaurants, museums, theatres, nightclubs and much more.
