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South Africa

7

Reasons To
Visit South Africa

  • Self Drive

    The most economical and by far the most popular way to experience South Africa is on a self drive. The roads are good, traffic tends to be light and driving is on the left.

    Self Drive

  • Wine Tasting

    Within easy driving distance of Cape Town, the valleys of Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek have become known as 'The Winelands'. Here you can admire the manicured rows of green and russet vines and even stop to sample the local tipple.

    Wine Tasting

  • Cape Town

    Cape Town – one of the world’s great cities, Cape Town has excellent accommodation, is easy to explore and is the gateway to the Wine Regions and Garden Route. Cape Town is an ideal place to start your trip around South Africa.

    Cape Town

  • Whale Watching

    Hermanus and Walker Bay, near Cape Town, are perhaps the best places in the world to spot whales from the shore (Jun-Dec). Whale watching trips from boats are also popular in South Africa.

    Whale Watching

  • Battlefields

    Learn how Ghandi, Paul Kruger and Winston Churchill were all involved in the battle of Spioenkop, during the Boer War, or how a hundred British soldiers held off some 4,000 Zulus at Rorke’s Drift, and how nearly 1,800 were killed a few hours earlier at the battle of Isandlwana.

    Battlefields

  • Big Cats & Safari Wildlife

    South Africa offers some of the best safari in the whole of Africa. One of the best places are the private reserves of Kruger Greater Park, where you can see the 'Big Five' (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo).

    Big Cats & Safari Wildlife

  • Scenery

    South Africa boasts some spectacular scenery across the whole country. These include the imposing Drakensberg Mountains, coastal views along the Garden Route, the impressive Blyde River Canyon and the vast Karoo.

    Scenery

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South Africa

South Africa

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Excursions in South Africa: Winelands Tour

The Winelands encompasses an area containing the towns of Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, the earliest European settlements outside the Cape colony.

View from Paarl Rock
The prison Mandela was released from just outside of Paarl

Winelands Tour

Constantia, South Africa
  • Culture & History
  • Food & Wine

The Winelands encompasses an area containing the towns of Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, the earliest European settlements outside the Cape colony. Those early settlers soon realised the local soil and climate were excellent for cultivating vines, and with the arrival of French Huguenot refugees bringing advanced viticulture techniques the region began to produce the quality vintages it is now famous for.

The tour begins at Paarl, the town that is the spiritual heart of the Afrikaans language, for it was here that the first Afrikaans newspaper was published and where many significant developments in the language took place. Above the town, perched on Paarl rock and enjoying superb views over the mountains, fields and vineyards is the Afrikaans Language Monument.

From Paarl you continue to Franschhoek, pausing en route to visit well-known estates for the chance to sample fantastic local wines. At Franschhoek you visit the Huguenot Monument and Museum before continuing to Stellenbosch, the oldest Winelands town, where Victorian street frontage is shaded by avenues of 300-year old oaks.

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Further reading:
South AfricaRegions of South AfricaWhen to GoItinerary IdeasPlaces to GoThings to DoAccommodationAbout South AfricaCountry Guides

Other countries in Africa:
BotswanaKenyaMadagascarMalawiMauritiusMozambiqueNamibiaRwandaTanzaniaThe SeychellesUgandaZambiaZanzibar ArchipelagoZimbabwe

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