Winelands Overberg
5
Day Itinerary •
South Africa
Five days in the Cape Winelands and Overberg gives you the full extraordinary depth of the finest wine and coastal wildlife destination in Africa, from the remarkable Stellenbosch Cape Dutch estates and the extraordinary Franschhoek valley to the fine Hermanus whale watching, the remarkable Great White Shark cage diving at Gansbaai and the extraordinary Bontebok National Park saving a species from extinction. This extended route covers the Winelands and Overberg completely. Stellenbosch and Franschhoek on Day 1, Hemel-en-Aarde and Hermanus on Day 2, Greyton and Robertson on Day 3, Stanford village and the extraordinary Gansbaai shark cage diving on Day 4, and the remarkable Swellendam, Bontebok Park and Montagu Hot Springs on Day 5.
Best Time To Visit
September to November for whales and sharks, March to May for harvest
Getting There
Fly into Cape Town (CPT)
Getting Around
Hired car essential throughout
Budget Per Day
Approx 700 to 3,000 ZAR per person per day
Difficulity
Easy, optional shark cage diving
DAY 1
WINELANDS
MORNING
STELLENBOSCH WINE ROUTE AND UNIVERSITY TOWN
The extraordinary Stellenbosch, the finest wine town in South Africa and the second oldest European settlement in the country, where the remarkable oak-lined streets, the outstanding Cape Dutch architecture, the fine Stellenbosch University campus and the extraordinary wine estates surrounding the town create the most complete Winelands experience. The remarkable Dorp Street with its fine 18th-century Cape Dutch buildings is the finest historic street in the Cape Winelands. The outstanding Delaire Graff and Tokara estates give the finest combined wine and view tasting. 30 min drive
MIDDAY
FRANSCHHOEK FRENCH CORNER AND WINE TRAM
The extraordinary Franschhoek, the food and wine capital of South Africa and the finest gourmet destination on the continent, settled by the remarkable French Huguenot refugees in 1688 who planted the extraordinary vineyards that produced the Cape's first great wines. The fine Franschhoek Wine Tram hop-on-hop-off through the extraordinary valley gives the finest accessible wine estate tour in the Winelands with the remarkable Huguenot Memorial and the outstanding Franschhoek Pass viewpoint. Tram approx 400 ZAR. 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
PAARL ROCK AND BERG RIVER VALLEY
The extraordinary Paarl Rock, the second largest granite rock in the world after Uluru, a remarkable 3km granite dome rising above the fine Berg River valley with the outstanding views of the Drakenstein and Franschhoek mountains and the extraordinary wine estate mosaic of Paarl below. The remarkable Afrikaans Language Monument on the adjacent koppie is the finest monument in the Cape Winelands.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Babylonstoren farm estate between Paarl and Franschhoek, a remarkable 200-year-old Cape Dutch farm with the finest garden in the Winelands, eight extraordinary themed garden sections, the fine farm shop with the most remarkable range of estate-grown produce and the outstanding Babel restaurant serving the finest farm-to-table cuisine in South Africa, is the finest hidden gem in the Cape Winelands. The remarkable garden tour and lunch is the finest half-day experience in the Winelands. ourhiddenearth.com
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Stellenbosch hotel Outstanding Stellenbosch breakfast at one of the fine cape Dutch guesthouses. Extraordinary local homemade jam and remarkable rusks. | Lunch: La Petite Ferme, Franschhoek The finest lunch view in South Africa at the extraordinary Franschhoek Pass restaurant. Fine wine estate cuisine. | Dinner: The Tasting Room, Franschhoek The finest restaurant in Franschhoek. Extraordinary multi-course South African tasting menu. Book weeks ahead.
DAY 2
OVERBERG
MORNING
HEMEL-EN-AARDE VALLEY AND WALKER BAY WINES
The extraordinary Hemel-en-Aarde Valley near Hermanus, the finest cool-climate wine region in South Africa producing the most remarkable Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on the continent from the extraordinary shale soils 10km from the Indian Ocean. The fine Hamilton Russell Vineyards, the outstanding Bouchard Finlayson and the remarkable Storm Wines are the finest boutique producers in the valley. The extraordinary combination of cool ocean air and the fine mountain amphitheatre make this the most distinctive terroir in South Africa. 1 hour drive
MIDDAY
HERMANUS WHALE WATCHING FROM THE CLIFF WALK
The extraordinary Hermanus, the finest land-based whale watching destination in the world, where the remarkable Southern Right Whales nurse their calves in the extraordinary Walker Bay from July to December within metres of the cliff walk. The fine Hermanus Cliff Walk along the remarkable coastal fynbos gives the most extraordinary close-range whale watching accessible anywhere in the world. The fine Hermanus whale crier, the only official whale crier in the world, announces sightings by blowing a kelp horn. 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
ELGIN APPLE VALLEY AND OVERBERG DRIVE
The extraordinary Elgin Valley, the finest apple-growing area in South Africa and the most remarkable wine appellation for Sauvignon Blanc in the country, where the fine Apple Valley dams, the outstanding Shannon and Paul Cluver estates and the remarkable Elgin Pass give the most extraordinary mountain valley scenery between Cape Town and the Overberg.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary De Hoop Nature Reserve east of Hermanus on the Overberg coast, the finest whale nursery on the South African coast and the most important nature reserve in the Western Cape, protects the remarkable fynbos biome and the extraordinary whale tail beach at Koppie Alleen. The fine whale watching from the De Hoop vlei and the remarkable Cape vulture colony on the cliffs are the finest hidden wildlife in the Overberg.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hermanus or Hemel-en-Aarde Good breakfast before the Hemel-en-Aarde wine tasting. | Lunch: Hermanus Harbour House Outstanding fresh fish and extraordinary Southern Right Whale views from the remarkable Hermanus harbour restaurant. | Dinner: Creation Wines, Hemel-en-Aarde The finest wine pairing dinner in the Western Cape at the extraordinary Creation estate. Book ahead.
DAY 3
ROBERTSON
MORNING
GREYTON VILLAGE AND MORAVIAN MISSION COUNTRY
The extraordinary Greyton, the finest small village in the Overberg and the most charming country town in the Western Cape, where the remarkable whitewashed Moravian mission church, the outstanding thatched cottages and the fine oak-lined main street create the most extraordinary small-town character in South Africa. The remarkable Greyton to McGregor trail through the fine Boesmanskloof kloof is the finest day hike in the Overberg. 30 min drive
MIDDAY
ROBERTSON WINE VALLEY AND RIVER DRIVE
The extraordinary Robertson Wine Valley along the remarkable Breede River, the finest value wine region in South Africa and the most productive wine valley per hectare in the country, where the outstanding Springfield, Graham Beck and the fine Excelsior estates produce the most remarkable Shiraz and sparkling wine in the Cape inland valleys at extraordinary prices. The fine fruit stalls along the Robertson Valley road are the finest agricultural produce markets in the Western Cape. 1 hour drive
AFTERNOON
BAIN'S KLOOF PASS AND RETURN TO CAPE TOWN
The extraordinary Bain's Kloof Pass between Wellington and the Huguenot Tunnel, the finest mountain pass in the Western Cape built by convict labour between 1848 and 1853 under the remarkable Andrew Geddes Bain, with the outstanding views over the extraordinary Wemmershoek mountains and the fine Breede River headwaters. The remarkable pass is the finest engineering heritage road in the Cape Winelands.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary McGregor, a fine Moravian mission village preserved almost entirely intact from the 19th century, with the remarkable whitewashed cottages, the outstanding dried fruit industry and the extraordinary Ronnie's Sex Shop roadside bar, the finest eccentric roadside stop in South Africa, is the finest hidden village in the Robertson valley. The remarkable Boesmanskloof overnight trail from Greyton to McGregor is the finest 2-day hike in the Overberg.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Greyton village cafe Outstanding country breakfast in the extraordinary Greyton village. Fine homemade brekkie and remarkable coffee. | Lunch: Robertson valley wine farm Outstanding cellar door lunch at a fine Robertson wine estate. Extraordinary fresh bredie stew and remarkable local wine. | Dinner: Cape Town or Stellenbosch farewell Fine farewell dinner on return. Extraordinary Jordan Restaurant or the remarkable Terroir in Stellenbosch.
DAY 4
GANSBAAI
MORNING
STANFORD VILLAGE AND KLEIN RIVER LAGOON
The extraordinary Stanford, the finest small fishing village in the Overberg on the remarkable Klein River, with the fine Victorian cottages, the outstanding craft brewery Birkenhead and the extraordinary bird life on the remarkable Klein River lagoon where the fine African spoonbill, the outstanding pied avocet and the remarkable African fish eagle are the finest residents. The fine Stanford cheese maker and the extraordinary olive oil producer are the best artisan food producers in the Overberg. 30 min drive
MIDDAY
GANSBAAI GREAT WHITE SHARK CAGE DIVING
The extraordinary Gansbaai, the Great White Shark Capital of the World, where the remarkable Dyer Island channel attracts the highest concentration of great white sharks in the southern hemisphere. The fine cage diving tour from Gansbaai gives the most extraordinary close encounter with the remarkable apex predator in the ocean. The outstanding African penguin and Cape fur seal colonies on the remarkable Dyer Island are the finest wildlife addition to the extraordinary shark experience. Tours approx 2,500 ZAR. 45 min drive
AFTERNOON
DE KELDERS SEA CAVE WALK AND WHALE WATCHING
The extraordinary De Kelders, the finest whale watching shore on the South African coast after Hermanus, where the remarkable Southern Right Whales nurse their calves in Walker Bay so close to the extraordinary limestone cave system below the cliff that the remarkable blowing and breaching are visible from metres above. The fine De Kelders Cave Walk above the extraordinary kelp beds is the finest coastal walk in the Overberg.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary White Shark Projects and Marine Dynamics operators from Gansbaai are the finest shark cage diving operators on the South African coast. The remarkable shark activity is highest between May and October when the extraordinary seal colony on Dyer Island is at its peak. The outstanding Gansbaai fishermen's harbour is the finest working harbour in the Overberg.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Stanford or Hermanus hotel Good breakfast before the Gansbaai shark cage diving. | Lunch: Stanford village Outstanding fresh oysters and remarkable Klein River trout at a fine Stanford village restaurant. | Dinner: Hermanus seafront Outstanding seafood dinner at the extraordinary Hermanus Harbour House or the fine Bientang's Cave restaurant.
DAY 5
SWELLENDAM
MORNING
SWELLENDAM AND BONTEBOK NATIONAL PARK
The extraordinary Swellendam, the third oldest town in South Africa and the finest Cape Dutch town in the Overberg, with the remarkable 1747 Drostdy building and the outstanding Swellendam Museum complex. The fine Bontebok National Park adjacent, the smallest national park in South Africa, was established specifically to save the extraordinary bontebok antelope from extinction after the population fell to just 17 animals. The remarkable bontebok herd and the fine Cape mountain zebra are the finest wildlife in the park. 1 hour drive
MIDDAY
MONTAGU HOT SPRINGS AND ROUTE 62
The extraordinary Montagu Hot Springs, the finest natural thermal resort in the Western Cape, on the remarkable Route 62 inland wine route through the extraordinary Langeberg mountains. The fine hot spring pools fed by the remarkable natural thermal water and the outstanding rock climbing routes on the extraordinary Montagu cliffs create the finest activity combination on Route 62. Entry approx 150 ZAR. Route 62 is the longest wine route in the world. 1.5 hours drive
AFTERNOON
RETURN TO CAPE TOWN VIA HUGUENOT TUNNEL
The extraordinary return to Cape Town through the remarkable Winelands via the fine Huguenot Tunnel under the Du Toitskloof mountains, passing the outstanding Wellington wine estates and the fine Paarl Berg nature reserve. The remarkable last view of the extraordinary Winelands valley through the Du Toitskloof mountains before the tunnel marks the finest farewell to the Cape Winelands.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary McGregor, a fine Moravian mission village preserved almost entirely intact from the 19th century, with the remarkable whitewashed cottages, the outstanding dried fruit industry and the extraordinary Ronnie's Sex Shop roadside bar, the finest eccentric roadside stop in South Africa, is the finest hidden village in the Robertson valley. The remarkable Boesmanskloof overnight trail from Greyton to McGregor is the finest 2-day hike in the Overberg.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Swellendam hotel Good breakfast before the Bontebok park. | Lunch: Montagu Hot Springs Simple outstanding lunch at the extraordinary Montagu hot spring resort cafe. | Dinner: Cape Town farewell Fine farewell dinner at Terroir in Stellenbosch or the remarkable Overture restaurant in Hidden Valley.
Where To Stay
Stellenbosch or Franschhoek Lanzerac or Le Quartier Francais. Approx 3,000 to 12,000 ZAR. Hermanus Marine Hotel or Birkenhead House. Approx 2,500 to 10,000 ZAR per night. Budget Guesthouses and B&Bs. Approx 800 to 2,000 ZAR per night throughout.
Top Tips
1. Gansbaai shark cage diving is weather dependent. Book a morning slot and have a backup day.
2. Hermanus whale watching peaks August to October. The free cliff walk gives extraordinary encounters.
3. The Bontebok National Park conserved the species from near extinction. The story is remarkable.
4. Never drink and drive on Cape wine routes. Book a designated driver service for wine tasting days.
5. Book The Tasting Room Franschhoek and Babel at Babylonstoren weeks ahead.
6. Route 62 is the finest inland alternative to the N2. Allow extra time for wine stops.
Total Budget
1,300 to 15,800 ZAR/day