All Things To Do
Elephant Encounters
Appreciate nature from an elephant’s perspective. Walking besides these gentle giants will allow you to observe the elephant’s habits in their natural surroundings. This Elephant Encounter Excursion is about learning and becoming familiar with one of Africa’s most stately, intelligent mammals – the African Elephant. It is an adventure of relaxed interaction with the three rescued, tame elephants, enjoying the beauty of the area and of getting acquainted with these gentle giants in a meaningful way.
Elephant Whispers
Get up close and personal with these magnificent creatures! This experience allows you to touch, exchange trunk greetings and offer tasty treats to elephants in Hazyview on the banks of the Sabie River. Several different types of excursions are available, so contact us for full details.
Eseltjiesrus Donkey Sanctuary, McGregor
Visit the gorgeous Western Cape village of McGregor with its traditional whitewashed, thatched cottages, quiet country streets, mountains, birdlife and wine, and you must certainly pop in to the Eseltjiesrus Donkey Sanctuary which provides a place of refuge for ill-treated and old donkeys. (more…)
Featherbed Eco Experience
Featherbed is a privately-owned, registered Nature Reserve and a South African Heritage site, No.59. It is a pristine piece of paradise situated on the Western Head of Knysna and is accessible by ferry only. This spectacular four-hour eco-experience includes a return ferry trip, nature drive and guided walk, ending with a sumptuous buffet lunch at the Food Forest Restaurant.
Franschhoek
Franschhoek Wine Valley lies deep in the Cape Wine lands and is South Africa’s very own “French Corner”. Here, amidst luscious vineyards and gracious Cape Dutch farmsteads, a picturesque village emits proud, ever-present memories of a 17th century Huguenot culture. A place towards which, an emancipated Nelson Mandela turned, as he began his long walk to freedom. Enjoy a horseback ride, take a stroll, or make your choice to visit over twenty-nine wine farms. Or simply amble among an array of art shops, galleries and specialist stores that grace the village centre. To satisfy more adventurous spirits, the valley provides the idyllic setting for walking trails, hiking, cycling, horse riding, fly-fishing and golf. What’s more, paragliding offers the brave and free-spirited a stunning bird’s eye-view of the area!
Franschhoek
South Africa’s Food & Wine Capital, Franschhoek, bursts at the seams with eateries, all along the spectrum from fine to funky. But there’s plenty else to do besides pleasing the palate, and here are some of the options:
Chocolate tour
Huguenot Fine Chocolates offers a ½ hour chocolate tour for small groups, covering the history of chocolate, a chocolate-making demonstration, and choc tasting. Book in advance. Tel: 021 876 4096.
Cycling
Bike along a 7 km off-road tarred path starting at De Villiers Street opposite Franschhoek Cellars and continuing to the Wemmershoek/Berg River Dam crossroads.
Manic Cycles in Franschhoek has bikes to rent and offers bike tours of the area.
There are bike, wine and picnic tours, as well as customized tours. Families with young children are catered for too. Tel: 021 876 4956.
Fishing
The Wemmers River runs through La Ferme estate, bringing brown and rainbow trout.
There are also four dams stocked with trout, bass and carp. Spend some time fly fishing on the farm, and bring your own picnic basket along. Tel: 021 867 0120.
Horse riding
Solms Delta wine estate offers outrides in the winelands for riders 12+ and adult beginners. Tel: 083 300 4368.
Paradise Stables offers wine tasting on horseback and scenic tours. Outrides are for experienced riders 12+. Tel: 021 876 2160.
Val de Vie Wine & Polo Estate has pony rides for children on Saturdays and Sundays between 12:00 and 14:00. Tel: 021 863 6174.
Madiba Statue
View a statue of Nelson Mandela at the entrance to the Groot Drakenstein Correctional Facility. This is where Mandela walked out to freedom after 27 years in prison.
Museums
Huguenot Memorial Museum in Lambrechts Street. Huguenot history, furniture, social aspects of early life in Franschhoek. Open 9 to 5 and 2 to 5 on Sundays. Tel: 021 876 2532.
Motor Museum at L’Ormarins. Open 10 – 5 Tuesdays to Fridays and 10 – 4 over weekends. Tel: 021 874 9065.
Museum van de Caab on the Solms Delta wine estate. This small museum highlights valley history from the Stone Age, as well as the slave history of the farm, recordings of San people talking and singing, and ceramic artefacts. Open 9 to 5 Sundays and Mondays, 9 to 7 Tuesdays to Saturdays over the festive season. Entrance free. Tel: 021 874 3937.
Picnics
Mont Rochelle offers picnics at tables in the garden or provides blankets under trees overlooking the dam. There are also walks through the vineyards to enjoy. Tel 021 876 2770.
Rickety Bridge. Tel: 021 876 2016.
Solms Delta wine estate. Tel: 021 874 3937.
Walking
Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve Hiking Trails. Details and a map of walks and trails through fynbos and into the mountains, ranging from short and easy to a strenuous day trail. All of them start at the main gate at the top of the Franschhoek Pass and the views are unsurpassed. Permits are obtainable at Info, the Protea Hotel or the Huguenot Museum.
La Motte offers a guided tour of the historic buildings on the estate, from 10:00 to 11:00 on Wednesday mornings. The tour starts at the La Motte Museum, proceeds through La Motte’s rose garden and pauses at several national monuments: The La Motte Manor House, The Jonkershuis, The La Motte Historic Cellar, The Water Mill. The event includes the milling of stone-ground flour by the oldest operating mill in the Franschhoek Valley, followed by a tasting of locally baked breads. Tel: 021 876 8000.
Explore the Rond & Bont Route to see how the locals live.
Mail us for accommodation bookings or call +27 21 797-7122.
Franschhoek Rond en Bont Route
Franschhoek has long been adored for its sensational Food & Wine Route, but now there’s even more to delight visitors to this wonderfully diverse and scenic area: the Franschhoek Wine Valley has launched Franschhoek ‘Rond en Bont’. What you can now look forward to year-round, is getting out and about – not only in the central town itself, but also in neighbouring regions – to experience a colourful array of local heritage delights. (more…)
Gaming and Entertainment
The extravagant Sun City Lost City hotel and entertainment complex ‘in the middle of nowhere’ is known the world over.
It was built over 20 years ago in the former homeland of Bophuthatswana when gambling was not permitted in South Africa under the apartheid government. Sun City remains an icon of family fun and entertainment.
The Lost City is the obvious highlight of the Sun City complex and the Palace of the Lost City – with its extravagant lost-world theme and spectacular African feel – is one of the most famous hotels in the world.
Golf
South Africa’s weather conditions and diverse countryside, makes this an ideal place to plan your next golfing getaway! There is a wide selection of world class golf courses in Gauteng. Travel within an hour of the Sandton area and you will find 36 of the Top 100 golf courses in South Africa. A little further out of the city, will take you to Sun City and the world renowned Gary Player Country Club – where there is something for the amateur as well as the more experienced golfer.
Golf
Plettenberg Bay is well known for its beautiful golf courses:
Plettenberg Bay Country Club 18 holes
Rietvlei Mashie Course 9 holes
Goose Valley Golf Course 18 holes
