The Western Cape is known for its many wine farms, pristine beaches and vast amount of outdoor and adventure offerings. But there are a few off-the-beaten-track experiences that you may not know about. Caro Malherbe reports.
1. Underground city centre tours
Tunnel exploration is a new urban activity below the City of Cape Town. According to Matt Weisse from Good Hope Adventures, parts of the underground canals and rivers date back to 1652 and used to supply the passing ships with fresh water. During this time Cape Town was known as ‘Little Amsterdam’ as these canals acted as routes of travel. Later, these rivers flowing through the city became walkways shaded by oak trees with bridges crossing them. As the years passed and the city expanded they were eventually covered up and forgotten.
These tunnels , approximately two metres in diameter, are under the busy streets of the CBD and now help with storm water drainage and channel fresh run-off water from Table Mountain into the sea. Tours are accompanied by a qualified guide and a professional rescue medic, and each explorer gets a permit and a hard hat.
To find out more, click here.
2. Franschhoek Wine Tram
The Franschhoek Wine Tram is a unique tour that lets tourists hop on and off at various wine farms in the Franschhoek Valley. The open-sided tram and open-air tram-bus should this be trolley bus? stops at some of South Africa’s oldest and most distinguished wine estates, while narration focuses on the history of Franschhoek and wine cultivation.
Stops include wine tasting, a cellar tour, lunch or a stroll through the vineyards, before hopping on to continue the tour.
“Tourists are continually looking for new ways of experiencing a location, whether by foot, road or rail, and no other wine-growing area in the world can boast its own rail and road-based tram system, giving tourists direct access to wine estates; this truly is a unique project. The service will provide another hugely popular and distinct reason to visit Franschhoek, further strengthening Franschhoek's appeal locally and internationally,” says David Blyth Co-Owner of the Franschhoek Wine Tram.
For more information, click here.
3. Farmer Redbeard
Located in Langeberg, 90 minutes from Cape Town in the Cape Robertson wine valley, Farmer Redbeard offers a hands-on farming experience where guests can participate in daily farm work, such as making their own wine, preserves and honey.
“We walk together, we talk, we learn together. We pride ourselves on being a traditional South African fruit and wine farm where guests can enjoy the adventures and seasons of farming and living without having to quit their day jobs – harvesting the fruit; making their own wine, mampoer and preserves; bee-keeping, hiking, bird watching, swimming, mountain biking, bush braais and fun tractor rides into the mountain,” said Albertus van Zyl, Farmer Redbeard.
According to Van Zyl, the guest houses date back to the 1700s when the Farmer Redbeard story began. “The Van Zyl and Le Roux families united in marriage and settled in the valley of Wilde Paarde Kloof at that time. Our renovated Red Bush bus can be found under eucalyptus trees in the mountain, close to the original settlement of the Van Zyls, and their ox wagon tracks. Adventurous guests can sleep in it and enjoy the night sounds.”
During the summer months, guests harvest fruit orchards and vines, experience hands-on beekeeping and practise the art of smoking the bees, retrieving and spinning out the honey. Taste buds get to explore the different types of honey produced in this area.
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4. Rooibos tea experience
The Rooibos Route in Clanwilliam offers tourists the opportunity to visit a Rooibos farm and factory where they see the process behind cultivating and making this South African tea. Guests can also go hiking, cycling, or go on a 4x4 adventure.
Sanet Stander from the Rooibos Route says: “After experiencing the nature, sink your teeth into the mouth-watering rooibos dishes. Stop for a tea tasting or buy cosmetic products and rooibos treats.”
After a long day you can stay over on a rooibos farm or in a guesthouse where you will be treated to more rooibos hospitality. Want to look beautiful and fresh? Then book a rooibos pamper at a salon.
For more information, click here.
5. Inverroche Gin Distillery
Inverroche Gin Distillery is near the small fishing town of Stillbay, surrounded by vineyards, olive groves and fynbos. Guests can enjoy gin tasting and see the distillery in action where sprits are made in small batches and distilled by a custom made, wood fired, copper pot.
For more information, click here.
6. Cape Town stadium tours
Green Point Stadium in Cape Town offers an hour-long tour on Tuesdays to Saturdays. It includes information about the construction of the stadium as well as its event hosting capabilities and the opportunity to see the field up close. The Green Point Urban Park provides guests with an experience that the whole family can enjoy, with its children’s facilities and Biodiversity Garden.
The garden is separated into ‘people and plants’, ‘wetlands’ and ‘discovering biodiversity’ where plant beds are planted according to vegetation type, letting guests see which plants typically grow in different Cape terrain such as sandveld, renosterveld, mountain fynbos, and coastal thicket. There is also a lawn garden, where visitors can test the softness of various indigenous water-wise grasses between their toes.
For more information, click here.
7. A Rastafarian experience at Judah Square
The Judah Square community is truly a unique community, according to Lana Curran, who manages the discovery of new experiences at Wesgro.
Judah Square is a Rastafari community in a small valley in Khayalethu South in
Knysna. Here visitors can meet the friendly people of Judah Square and learn the culture that shaped their way of life. Visitors can also stay at one of the bed and breakfasts for a unique experience and look further into the lives of Rastafarians.
For more information, click here.
8. Noetzie Castles
Ten minutes east of Knysna is a secluded cove and a hidden beach. Here you’ll find a large array of indigenous flora and fauna, in the midst of which lie the Noetzie Castles – like something out of a fairy tale, said Curran. “No ancient battles or kingdoms are in the Noetzie Castles’ history but rather the spirit of pure fun and carefree holidays.”
Noetzie started out as a holiday destination for families living and working in Knysna and Oudtshoorn and it still attracts holiday makers and locals to its sandy shore for either a few nights’ stay or just a few hours spent on the beach sunbathing, bird watching, canoeing or hiking.
For more information, click here.
9.) Aphrodisiac Shack
Set on banks of Theewaterskloof Dam, Aphrodisiac Shack’s main feature is the Charcuterie, which produces hot- and cold-smoked meat products, as well as a variety of cheeses and other gourmet foods.
Tours are held to experience the process of smoking and smoked products can be purchased. The Deli features all the smokehouse’s premium products, where guests can purchase smoked goods. Picnic baskets can be bought and are packed full of snacks from the deli, freshly-baked bread and seasonal organic salad from the garden.
According to Sean Hormann, the Chef at Aphrodisiac Shack and who has mastered the charcuter’s art of smoking: “The founding practice of our business is to ‘love’ our product from start to finish – and you will too!. We ensure that our suppliers use only the most environmentally respectful farming methods and any waste generated by the product is recycled back into the farming structure or the community. All our meat products are also chemical-, hormone-, preservative- and additive-free, traditionally free range and 100% organic.
The Aphrodisiac Shack is all things smoked in an old traditional way, from salt to chocolate to various meats.
For more information, click here.
10.) Kraailbaai Houseboats
Just an hour’s drive from Cape Town, the Kraalbaai Houseboats are permanently moored at Langebaan Lagoon in the West Coast National Park.
This is where Eve’s Footprint was discovered on the nearby shore, thought to be from 117 000 years ago, the oldest known footprint of modern mankind; where naturalist, sailor and writer, Frank Wightman, sought refuge for many years on his yacht Wylo, described by author Lawrence Green as a giant in hiding; where local traditional fishermen still ply their trade, and fresh harders on the coals are a delicacy; where crayfish, oysters, perlemoen (abalone), black mussels and fish are in abundance; where tourists visit during spring to enjoy the beauty of one of the great floral kingdoms of the world; and where activities such as water skiing, fishing, sailing, mountain biking, hiking, and picnicking are enjoyed in nature.
For more information, click here.
