The Coastal Journey

The Coastal Journey

Discover the earliest forms of art and technology

Stellenbosch

The historic university town of Stellenbosch, situated in a magnificent valley, boasts a mild Mediterranean climate and is the ideal destination from which to explore the Cape Winelands and further afield.

Stellenbosch is without a doubt one of the prettiest towns in South Africa, with spectacular natural surroundings and rich history. The town and farms around it boast many finely preserved examples of the elegant traditional Cape Dutch architectural style.

This visual effect of Stellenbosch is compounded by the spectacular mountains surrounding the town, and its world-famous wineries attract local and international travellers.

Home to world-renowned Stellenbosch University, the town bustles with students, professionals and visitors, and has a vibrant food and art scene. Seek out the many markets, bistros, fine-dining restaurants, art galleries and boutiques lining its old oak-lined streets. This is a top spot to visit on a day trip or longer.

Highlights

  • Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden
  • Dine with locals
  • Award-winning wine farms
  • Oldest wine route in South Africa
  • Cape Dutch architecture
  • Cape Cycle Routes: Cross Cape

The Coastal Journey

1
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.

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2
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.

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3
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.

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4
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.

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5
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.

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6
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.

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7
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.

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8
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.

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9
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.

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10
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.

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11
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.

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12
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.

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13
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.

Read more See map Stanford