Western Cape Article - South African Vacations

4x4 Routes: Several routes in the area guarantee picturesque views, especiallyof the mountains.Heron Hiking Trail: The route leads over a flat landscape to two dams, ideal for bird-watching.Kleinberg Hiking Trail: This trail offers magnificent views of McGregor and the surroundingplateau.Mountain-biking: A challenging mountain-biking route zigzags through a local reserve.Rooikat Hiking Trail: The challenging trail winds through the Elandsberg Mountains.ART AND CRAFTSArt and Crafts: Many venues exhibit and sell the works of local artists. Malmani Craftsfocuses on African crafts, Mill Stone Pottery produces translucent handcrafted porcelain,unique to the area, and Roy Reycraft crafts and sells solid brass sundials.Waldorf Market: The Waldorf School organises a morning market on the first Saturday ofeach month.CUISINEMcGregor Winery: The winery is open for wine-tasting and sales.FAUNA AND FLORAKrans Nature Reserve: The reserve is blessed with a beautiful natural environment with manyspecies of birds and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding hills.Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve: The reserve is located 5 km outside the town.MONTAGUMontagu was named after John Montagu, a former Colonial Secretary, and was founded in1851 on the farm Uitvlucht. The town is the gateway to the Little Karoo and lies on Route 62.Situated in an important fruit-growing area, Montagu has the reputation as one of the bestpreservedlate Victorian villages in the Cape. Many believe in the healing qualities of naturalhot-water mineral springs and those at Montagu are popular among many visitors.ADVENTURE AND SPORT4x4 Route: The mighty roar of the 4x4 often resounds along the popularWaboomsberg, Witkwas and Wagon Wheel Routes.Hiking: The hiking trails in the area include the Bloupunt and Cogman’s Kloof trails which offerovernight accommodation.Rock-climbing: This is another popular activity in the area.CUISINEPotjiekos and Tractor Rides: An attraction peculiar to the area is a ride up the LangebergMountains and the opportunity to taste the traditional South African dish, potjiekos.Wine-tasting: The three wine cellars in the area produce excellent wines and are definitelyworth a visit.27