South Africa is a stunningly beautiful and fascinating country to visit with world-renowned wildlife and cosmopolitan cities such as Cape Town and Johannesburg. The country has a huge number of national parks which offer all those who visit a broad range of things to do and see with diverse fauna and botanical sights, alternative climates and a landscape that lends itself to a wide variety of outdoor activities.
With a population of over 40,000,000 speaking more than 10 languages, South Africa is thankfully past its previous problems with racial segregation. And with an ever-improving infrastructure, the country is fast becoming one of the more popular tourist destinations. Its landscape varies from arid deserts to tropical beaches and impressive mountain backdrops.
As the oldest town of Southern Africa, Cape Town is definitely one of the must-see cities in the world. Located 40km from the Cape of Good Hope, the city boasts a spectacular setting. The impressive Table Mountain dominates Cape Town, while a couple of minutes away stunning white beaches line the cliff-hugging coast. The city centre, spread around the foot of Table Mountain, includes the historic centre, residential districts, the Waterfront and the modern harbor. The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is a main hub, an old harbour that has been redeveloped and provides a large variety of shops, restaurants and entertainment.
The notorious Robben Island where Nelson Mandela spent much of his incarceration, the Cape Malay quarter, Bo-Kaap and the superb and exclusive beach of Camps Bay are just some of the additional 'not to be missed' attractions that Cape Town offers. With its energy and cosmopolitan ambience, this is a unique city that is perfectly situated to allow visitors to explore the greater Cape region.
Those who do should seek out the Cape Winelands, a picturesque and quaint region that is home to some of the best wines in the world. Known as 'The Winelands', the valleys of Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek offer perfect conditions for wine production. The region boasts hundreds of wine estates and small pretty towns set amongst beautiful mountainous scenery.
Another popular destination is the Garden Route, a 600km stretch of small towns, wineries, farms and sea villages spanning the coastal region of the Western and the Eastern Cape Provinces. From Cape Town along the coast to the Tsitsikamma Forest, the route is a rich tapestry of freshwater lakes, impressive sandy beaches, indigenous forests and deep gorges. It is a place of breathtaking landscapes where visitors can enjoy the great outdoors, fine dining and relaxation on pristine beaches or even an ocean safari in pursuit of dolphins and whales.
Select a car from Wine Route Car Rental and tour the Stellenbosch Wine Route. Touring through Stellenbosch is like teleporting back to 14th century Italy – with the added bonus of experiencing superb South African hospitality. Founded in 1971, today the Stellenbosch Wine Route brand is home to over 200 wine and grape producers in the region.
Plan your travel route according to the area that you would like to explore, or the wine you would like to sample. There is nothing more satisfying than mapping out the best wine farms, or the ones that hold a distinctive kind of merlot, your wine of choice. The route itself can be travelled many times according to whatever preferences or experiences you would like to take home with you.
The Wine Route is divided into five sub routes, each one occupying a separate area in the Stellenbosch Winelands. Explore the Greater Simonsberg, Stellenbosch Berg, Helderberg, Stellenbosch Hills, and Bottelary Hills Wine Routes at your leisure.
These five routes feature a multitude of cellars that offer daily wine tasting, cellar tours and on-premises wine sales. Many of these wine farms have restaurant and picnic facilities that are ideal for families looking for a memorable outdoor day-trip. Remember that selected cellars offer tasting by appointment only.
Be sure to visit local gems like the Boschendal Wine Estate that holds one of the Wine Routes most established restaurants – with a wine list to match. Indulge in the vibrant local history of Spier Wine Estate that serves authentic African dishes at their internationally acclaimed restaurant. Don’t miss the award winning Van Loveren Vineyards where you can wine taste, hike and spend the day or hold a special function for a loved one. Wherever you choose to go, if you stop at one of these top estates you can’t go wrong.
Wine Route Car Rental