Things to do in Cape Winelands

Meet your guide at Hey Joe Brewing Company in Franschhoek, a village with centuries-old vineyards and historic regional architecture. Learn how to ride your e-bike, adjust the seat post, and grab a helmet. Cycle through the countryside following picturesque trails and roads. Take in the breathtaking scenery while avoiding the main roads. Visit 2 wineries and cycle through vineyards, tasting wine at each spot. Take pictures of lovely Franschhoek Village and the surrounding mountains from different angles. Listen as your informative guide fills you in on the rich history of the area.

Explore the “village of the oaks" with its shady oak avenues bordered by the water furrows of the Mill Stream. Admire the charm and harmony of the Cape Dutch Architecture and listen to tales about the colorful inhabitants across the four centuries of the town’s existence. Discover where Simon van der Stel, the town’s colonial founder, set up camp on the Eerste River, and where the river got its name. Perhaps you'll meet an angel at the "Angel Factory," or a ghost in the graveyard of the ”Moederkerk.” Amble The Braak, or village green, with its historical buildings surrounding it on 3 sides, and Dorp Street, the oldest residential street in South Africa. Learn about the famous graduates of Stellenbosch University, who include prime ministers and sportsmen alike. Over the course of the 1.5-hour tour, gain local insights into one of South Africa’s most historic towns.

Uncover the lush beauty of the Franschhoek Valley on a hop-on hop-off tram and bus tour. Travel by air-conditioned bus from Cape Town and hop aboard the tram which stops at wine estates. Savor a range of wines while you take in the views from the tram. 8:30 AM - Navy and Burgundy Line: After the guides stop at the last pickup point, you will depart Cape Town at 8:30 AM and head to the Franschhoek Valley. Arrive at the Groot Drakenstein station in the Franschhoek Valley by motor coach and board your choice of tram line (clockwise and counterclockwise) stopping at Zorgvliet, Vrede and Lust, Sols Delta, Plaisir de Merle, Camberley, Le Pommier, Boschendal, or Allee Bleue. 9 AM - Pink and Grey Line (from December 26th - January 2nd): After the guides stop at the last pickup point at 9 AM, depart Cape Town for Franschhoek Valley. Arrive at the Franschhoek Terminal by motor coach and board your choice of tram line (clockwise and counterclockwise) stopping at Chamonix, Dieu Donne, Franschhoek Cellar, Grande Provence, Haute Cabriere, Klein Goederust, Leopard's Leap, and Rickety Bridge. The circular routes stop at any of the 8 wine estates with the tram or tram bus passing every 60 minutes. Hop-on-hop-off at your preferred wine estates. Wine-tasting fees are excluded and payable on the day. Each of the lines has a wide selection of wine estates to visit, from boutique to marquee estates, and offers a unique perspective on the Franschhoek wine experience. At 4:45 PM, head back to the bus for your return to Cape Town.

Start your tour at 9 AM at the tour operator's shop to collect a bicycle or E-Bike and helmet to suit your size. The guide will carry saddle panniers for those who would like to buy wine en route. Set off on your ride around interesting historic sites in Stellenbosch Town. Then, cycle further along the scenic Jonkershoek Valley where the mountains form part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. Follow a winding road through oak and poplar forests which leads to a wine estate nestled in the valley bottom. Here you can take in the stunning views while enjoying a wine tasting of some award-winning wines. On the way out of the valley, stop at another wine estate which sports beautiful grounds and historic Cape Dutch architecture. Participate in a private cellar tour before you sit down for a chocolate and wine pairing that will make your taste buds tingle. After the tasting, head back into Stellenbosch Town via the famous Stellenbosch University before ending the tour back at the tour operator's offices. There are some variations on this guided bike tour for varying levels of difficulty so the tour can be tailored to suit your cycling ability. The tour lasts between 4-5 hours.

Get your adrenaline pumping with a tandem skydive in arguably South Africa's most scenic skydiving location. Marvel at panoramic views over the Cape Peninsula and Winelands. Upon arrival at the local partner's skydiving center, you'll get a full safety briefing before boarding their dedicated aircraft for a 20-30 minute plane ride to altitude. Then, jump out of the plane with your tandem instructor and enjoy a thrilling freefall for 30–35 seconds. Once your instructor has deployed the parachute, float back down to the ground as they talk you through all the local viewing highlights. On solid ground, have a look through the HD video and high-quality photos produced during your skydive and, if you want, purchase them to share your memories with friends and family.

Join this guided tour to explore the 3 wine regions of Paarl, Franschhoek, and Stellenbosch. Be treated to chocolate, a wine tasting, and a cellar tour at Rheboksloof wine farm near Paarl. Drive through Paarl and then enjoy a photo stop at the Drakenstein Prison. Arrive at Franschhoek and spend some time exploring the town on your own. Enjoy lunch or indulge in an extra wine tasting. Afterward, take a scenic drive over the impressive Helshoogte Pass to the picturesque town of Stellenbosch. Have a walk around Stellenbosch before heading off to Simonsig. Take part in an afternoon wine tasting with cheese at Simonsig in the Stellenbosch region before heading back to Cape Town. Your wine guide will highlight points of interest along the way and will be on hand to answer any questions you have about the route or wine farms.

Uncork the Cape winelands and get drunk on its rich history, culture, and scenic vistas on a day trip from Cape Town with a guide who takes the terror out of terroir. Travel in a spacious bus and enjoy tastings of wine, cheese, and chocolate. Take in the countryside with a vineyard lunch. Hop aboard spacious and airconditioned bus in Cape Town and take in the wine country views on the way to the Paarl wine region which is famous for its cheese and wine tastings and great views. Continue to the Franschhoek wine region, a historic French enclave and the granddaddy of South African viticulture. Admire stunning mountain views as you make your way to the to student-settled Stellenbosch for home-cloned Pinotage and award-winning farms. Stop for a delicious a la carte lunch with vegetarian options. Visit a1688 French-run slave farm which was turned into a 21st century community-driven wine project. Immerse yourself in the facinating story of the region with a local guide. Travel along Cape Town's high roads and back roads tasting and learning about South Africa’s bubbly Cap Classique, heady ports, sweet dessert wines, and plenty of red and white wines.

Explore Stellenbosch's world-renowned wine region on a bus tour from Cape Town. Visit the Stellenbosch Wine Estate to savor two wine tastings and a wine and cheese pairing. Learn about the fascinating history of the town on a guided walking tour.  See for yourself why South Africa is so famously known worldwide for making crowd-pleasing and award-winning wines on this winelands tour. Be picked up from your hotel in Cape town and head straight to the cradle of the country's most beautiful wine region, Stellenbosch. Learn how the South African wine industry arose from refugees from France. Find out how they applied their skills in Stellenbosch and transformed the region into the center of the South African wine industry. Arrive at the Stellenbosch Wine Estate and discover the winery's fine wines during a wine tasting, as well as a wine and cheese pairing tasting. Afterwards, embark on a guided tour of the charming town of Stellenbosch. Learn about its historical Dorp Street and DeBraak. Continue to the cellars for a guided tour. Take in the ambiance created by vast barrels of wine ageing. Next, enjoy a second wine tasting to sample more local notes and flavors before heading back to Cape Town.

Day 1: Oudtshoorn (Travel about 400 km) Start with morning pickup from your accommodation in Cape Town or Stellenbosch. Set off along the famous Route 62, where you'll capture the beauty of high mountains, twisting passes, vast Karoo plains, vineyards and orchards. Pop in at one of the many farm stalls along the way, stocked with locally crafted delights before arriving in Oudtshoorn, the ostrich capital of the world. Delve deep underground to the magical Cango Caves’ limestone chambers, alive with drip formation stalactites and stalagmites and remnants of Khoikhoi paintings. Opt for the easy-going guided Heritage Tour or by contrast, the Adventure Tour allows you to wiggle your way through limestone on a daring underground route. You’ll spend the evening in Oudtshoorn at leisure. Join locals for an optional outdoor braai (similar to bbq) including South African favourites, such as ostrich kebabs and pot brood. Overnight at (Saver) Uthando Backpackers or someplace similar. Day 2: Wilderness(Travel about 450 km) As the dawn breaks in the dusty Klein Karoo, opt for a close encounter with Mother Nature and join elephant guides on an optional Elephant Observation Nature Walk. Gentle giants (Jabari, Malaika and Bulelo) made Buffelsdrift their home after their parents were poached. Follow 3 rescued elephants as they roam freely in a natural habitat. You can take photos and ask questions to learn about them. Then, take to the water for a leisurely afternoon paddle along the reed-lined banks in Wilderness National Park region. It’s not until you stop paddling and let the gentle current guide you, that the abundance of birdlife becomes apparent.  The adventure continues as you reach Bloukrans Bridge, the world’s highest commercial bridge bungy jump. Opt in to hurtle face-first down the 134 (216 m) drop or those who'd prefer to keep their feet on solid ground will visit the nearby forest area near Tsitsikamma. Spend the evening soaking in the slow town way of life in Sedgefield or Wilderness, subject to your accommodation location. Feel the white sand between your toes as you sip on cocktails and enjoy dinner. Overnight at (Saver) PiliPili Beach Backpackers or someplace similar. Day 3: Garden Route (Travel about 400 km excluding safari drive) Start the day in the heart of the African bush. On your first stop of the day, spot some of Africa’s wild animals from the back of an open 4x4 vehicle in the malaria-free Botlierskop Private Game Reserve. Search for giraffe, white rhino, kudu, lion, elephant, zebra, and wildebeest, just to name a few. The game drive is led by an experienced game ranger, sharing his knowledge of the local wildlife; including antelope species, birdlife, and insects. End the day with a journey through the landscape of rolling farmlands as you say farewell to the Garden Route on your way back to Cape Town or Stellenbosch.

Day 1: Route 62Travel about 400 km Start with a morning pickup from Cape Town and Stellenbosch, between 6 - 7 AM.Travel along Route 62, the longest wine route in the world, with a wine-tasting stop (non-alcoholic tasting available too) before reaching Oudtshoorn in the semi-desert Klein Karoo in the late afternoon. For a close encounter with Mother Nature, opt in to join rangers on an Elephant Educational Bush Walk (at extra cost) as they follow 3 lovable rescued elephants along the waterhole, learning about these gentle giants' background. Then, spend overnight at Uthando Backpackers (if you choose the Saver Dorm package), at 88 van Rheede (if you choose the 3* Comfort package), or Buffelsdrift Lodge (if you choose the 4* Deluxe package). Day 2: OudtshoornTravel about 250 km Visit a working ostrich farm to learn about the largest, flightless bird in the world. Next, head to the mountains to go deep underground in the illuminated wonder world of the Cango Caves. Explore the vast halls filled with ancient stalactites before traveling onward to the Addo region. Spend overnight at Avaco Cabins, Gerald's Gift (if you choose the 3* Comfort package) or Addo Wildlife lodge (if you choose the 4* Deluxe package). Day 3: Addo, Jeffreys BayTravel about 250 km An early morning start allows the best option to spot wildlife as the bush awakes in Addo Elephant National Park, the 3rd largest national park in South Africa. You can join the optional 4x4 game drive (with extra cost).  Next, go on the included 2-hour safari with your guide. Navigate the park in the tour van in search of some of the Big Five animals, including 550 elephants, buffalo, lions, black rhinos, and zebras. Spend your afternoon relaxing with free time at Jeffreys Bay's beach.  Choose between surf lessons, beach horseback riding, or sand boarding (all optional at extra cost). Spend overnight at Island Vibe, Sea Whisper (if you choose the 3* Comfort package), or On The Beach lodge (if you choose the 4* Deluxe package). Day 4: Tsitsikamma, SedgefieldTravel about 250 km Experience the highest Bungy Bridge Jump in the world or Waterfall Zipline over waterfalls in the nearby Tsitsikamma forest (optional at extra cost). Next, see Tsitsikamma National Park. Take a short walk to the suspension bridges before a photo stop at Knysna's lagoon en route to Sedgefield. Spend overnight at Pili Pili Beach Cabanas, Fairy Knowe (if you choose the 3* Comfort package), or Dolphin Dunes Lodge (if you choose the 4* Deluxe package). Day 5: WildernessTravel about 450 km Take to the water for a leisurely canoeing session to a secret waterfall along the rivers of the Wilderness region. On the journey back to Cape Town, spot wildlife on a 4x4 Botlierskop game drive (at extra cost) or relax at Mossel Bay's Diaz Beach after walking to the Cape St Blaize lighthouse. Your adventure ends with an evening drop-off at your Cape Town or Stellenbosch accommodation between 8 - 10 PM.