A new wine tourism experience, the Durbanville Wine Safari, has been introduced in the wine region near Cape Town as it prepares for peak season. The safari offers visitors a hop-on-hop-off service between wine farms.
Cofounder Joss Terry told Tourism Update the idea for the safari emerged from a practical need while he and business partner Henri Nimb were wine tasting in the Durbanville region. “Like many good ventures, it started from a need we wanted to fulfil for ourselves,” Terry said.
While visiting the Durbanville region, they struggled to find e-hailing services, which is a common issue in the area. This sparked the idea of a service that would safely transport people between wine farms.
The Durbanville Wine Safari operates with two 22-seater safari vehicles and a tour guide. Routes start and end at Burgundy Sports Club and Durbanville Town Hall where it’s easier for visitors to find transport to and from the region.
Designed to enhance the experience in a smaller region with fewer farms (the Durbanville wine route has 13 farms), the safari concept incorporates estates with game on their properties. “Having done the Franschhoek Wine Tram four times, I saw the real opportunity was as much in the experience as in the wine tasting,” Terry said. “We offer an experience-based concept; not a charter or a taxi.”
The two vehicles currently run separate circular routes. The Northern Line visits Groot Phesantekraal, Diemersdal, Canto, Meerendal, Bloemendal and D’Aria while the Southern Line stops at De Grendel, Durbanville Hills, Klein Roosboom, Nitida, Maastricht and Bloemendal.
The business plans to expand operations as it grows, including the introduction of more vehicles and a shuttle service from Cape Town’s central business district, which is about 20 minutes from Durbanville. “The whole idea is to grow together over a three to five-year period,” Terry added.
The safari aims to support local wine farms by increasing visitor numbers and participation in tastings, meals and other activities. “Bringing more visitors to wine farms will further support farmers in the region,” Terry said.
While the Durbanville Wine Safari targets international and local visitors, building relationships with international markets will take time, he added. “At the moment, we’re focusing heavily on social media and primarily targeting the local market. It’s great to attract international tourists but you need local support.”
The venture is supported by the Durbanville Wine Route and its farms. “The safari is a fantastic way to discover and explore our stunning vineyards,” said Durbanville Wine Route Manager Natasha de Villiers. “Its arrival ahead of our 200th anniversary celebrations next year makes it not just a win for tourists but also for our wine producers who will benefit from increased visibility and engagement.”
Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth James Vos also praised the initiative, highlighting its role in promoting local businesses. “It’s encouraging to see small businesses add to the diversity of our product offerings.”
