The Coastal Journey

Discover the earliest forms of art and technology

Nestled between towering mountains in the beautiful Cape Winelands lies the magnificent Franschhoek Valley.

This is the food and wine heartland of the country, where splendid wines are grown and world-renowned chefs create international cuisine with breathtaking scenery as a backdrop.

Franschhoek’s award-winning wine estates encircle the village. Here, acclaimed winemakers create glorious vintages. Enjoy tastings overlooking the vineyards where the grapes were harvested ... each exceptional experience is enhanced by the setting – arguably the most beautiful wine valley in the world. So glorious this place is, in fact, that getting married in Franschhoek is popular with couples from all over the world.

The main street, lined with shops, specialist stores, arts and crafts studios, and galleries, is the heart of this vibrant village. Even better, visit during one of the numerous annual festivals, such as the Franschhoek Bastille Festival, the Franschhoek Literary Festival, Franschhoek Uncorked or the Franschhoek Cap Classique & Champagne Festival.

When it comes to accommodation, the options are myriad, suiting all tastes and budgets. Decide between boutique hotels, lavish five-star country lodges, cosy bed-and-breakfasts, pleasant guesthouses or comfortable self-catering options.

Highlights

Award-winning wine farms
Franschhoek Wine Tram
Chocolate tasting
Scootours
Franschhoek Motor Museum
Cape Winelands Riding Experience

Cape Town

50km to next stop

Cape Town is a fusion of diversity. It is a city overflowing with attractions for visitors interested in history, art, culture and a beautiful environment.

Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden | Stellenbosch

6km to next stop

The seven-hectare Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden in Paradyskloof, Stellenbosch, is set among lush indigenous vegetation. The project was born in 2009 when its creator, the artist Dylan Lewis, started shaping the contours of the garden.

Dine with a local | Stellenbosch

420km to next stop

The ‘Kayamandi Township Tour’ and ‘Dine With a Local’ experience offer visitors to Stellenbosch the chance to dine with locals from different backgrounds and learn about their daily lives, listen to their stories, and hear of their hopes and aspirations.

Cango Caves | Oudtshoorn

93km to next stop

The Cango Caves is one of the world’s great natural wonders, sculpted by nature through the ages to create limestone formations in a wide variety of colours. Visitors can explore the spectacular underground wonders, including the finest dripstone caverns, vast halls and towering formations.

Dine with locals | George

95km to next stop

Book a two-hour ‘Dine with a Local’ experience through the George Tourism office to share a home-cooked meal with locals and enjoy music, poetry or dancing together. Diners can experience traditional cuisine, and supporting this local development project.

Nelson Bay Cave | Plettenberg Bay

141km to next stop

Make your way to the spectacular Robberg Nature Reserve to track some fascinating archaeological discoveries at Nelson Bay Cave. The site preserves archaeological materials from the Middle and Later Stone Age and thus dates from more than 40 000 years ago up to recent San occupation.

Cape St Blaize Cave | Mossel Bay

9km to next stop

The cave at Cape St Blaize, below Mossel Bay’s lighthouse, is the site of some of South Africa’s first Middle Stone Age archaeological excavations. More recently, parts of the cave were explored by scientists as part of the Mossel Bay Archaeology Project, which was also conducting excavations at Pinnacle Point Site Complex.

Pinnacle Point | Mossel Bay

110km to next stop

At the archaeological site of Pinnacle Point, an international team of researchers has found some of the earliest evidence for modern human behaviour.

Blombos Cave | Still Bay

29km to next stop

Blombos Cave is a world-famous archeological site, overlooking the sea and located in a private nature reserve not open to the public. Archaeologists have uncovered some of the first evidence of symbolism, cognitive thinking and technological advancement, traits used to define modern human behaviour.

Tidal Fish Traps | Still Bay

218km to next stop

At Still Bay at least 25 stonewalled fish traps represent the technological and economic evolution of early fishing practices in the area. These traps were built at the correct height to trap fish during a falling tide.

Waenhuiskrans Cave | Arniston

110km to next stop

Continue your exploration at the picturesque seaside town of Waenhuiskrans, also known as Arniston, about 25km from Bredasdorp. Here, discover – though only at low tide! – the massive limestone Waenhuiskrans Cave, falling within the Waenhuiskrans Nature Reserve.

Klipgat Cave | De Kelders

30km to next stop

Klipgat Cave is located close to the seaside village of De Kelders and it is accessed via the Walker Bay Nature Reserve, managed by Cape Nature. Here visitors will be welcomed by dramatic ocean views.

Phillipskop Mountain Reserve | Stanford

160km to next stop

The Phillipskop Mountain Reserve lies 10km east of Stanford. This is one of the few sites with rock art in the Cape Overberg region and the only known site in the Cape Whale Coast.

Cradle of Human Culture

The Coastal Journey

The Coastal Journey

Discover the earliest forms of art and technology