Cape Winelands - The Cape is renowned for its fine wines and there are lots of wine estates (more than 200 cellars) to visit and sample their products. Some of the towns in The Cape Winelands and Route 62 are Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franschhoek.

 

This beautiful area is bordered by the majestic Boland Mountains, inland from the Cape Peninsula. Day tours are offered from Cape Town or spend a few nights.

Route 62 is the longest wine route in the world and meanders between Cape Town, Oudtshoorn, the Garden Route and Port Elizabeth, offering a shorter, better alternative to the main N2 highway. This scenic route includes the wine estates of Paarl, Wellington, Tulbagh, Worcester, Breedekloof, Robertson and Klein Karoo.

For the adventurous traveler, there are lots of activities to choose from such as canoeing, 4x4 trails, hiking, mountain biking, abseiling, kloofing, horse-back safaris, Hot Air Ballooning and game viewing.

Some of the towns in the Cape Winelands are:
Franschhoek is a charming Cape Winelands village with a strong French flavor left by the Huguenot's. Situated 85km's from Cape Town, it is often referred to as the 'Gourmet capital of South Africa'. Franschhoek has recently launched the Cap Classique route and there are nine cellars within a 4km radius. Franschhoek has 2 museums, the Huguenot Museum and the Huguenot Memorial. There are a collection of art and antique shops and galleries and the main street is lined with restaurants and coffee shops. Paragliding offers magnificent views of the valley and surrounding areas, Mountain biking, horse-riding trails or wine-tasting on horseback, helicopter flights, hiking and golf (Pearl Valley Signature Golf Estate & Spa - a Jack Nicklaus designed course) are all on offer in this area.

Stellenbosch is a beautiful, historical university town, surrounded by the Stellenbosch Mountains. The main road is Dorp Street and it boasts some of the most beautiful surviving examples of Cape Dutch, Georgian & Victorian architecture. Stellenbosch is the second oldest town in South Africa and is also known as the Elkestad which means 'city of oaks'. Stellenbosch has approximately 100 wine estates and produces some of the finest red wines in South Africa. There are excellent hikes/walking trails in the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve area. There are several museums and historical buildings in the town and strolling around Stellenbosch is easy and very interesting. You will also find a Toy & Miniature Museum located behind the Information Bureau which is the only one of its kind in South Africa. A visit to Spier is a must if you are in this area. Here you will find a Cheetah Outreach Programme (where you can get up close and touch a cheetah if you want), Eagle Encounters Raptor Rehabilitation Centre (flying demonstrations are held daily), restaurants, wine tasting, horse riding, walks and trails and beautiful surroundings. There are also 2 excellent golf courses in the Stellenbosch area, namely; Stellenbosch Golf Course and De Zalze Country Club at the Spier Estate.

Paarl is a mere 1 hour’s drive from Cape Town and boasts a unique attraction, The Afrikaans Language Monument, the only language monument in the world! The picturesque town is cradled between Paarl Mountain and Du Toitskloof Mountain range. The 11km long main road, Main Street, is a trip down memory lane with its picturesque Cape Dutch, Victorian & Georgian architecture, antique and artsy stores. Some of the activities on offer here are walking trails, trout fishing, horseback riding through the vineyards or golf at Boschenmeer Golf & Country Estate.

There are lots of other towns/villages in the Cape Winelands which offer great activities and some of the finest wines in the world.

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