WINE DINE AND TRAVEL SUMMER 2020 -- SOUTH AFRICA
What to do with a gap between two travel adventures - the end of our thrilling Kenyan safari and the start of an exotic cruise from Cape Town? What else but explore another of the world’s iconic wine regions. Since we met three decades ago, whenever possible, my husband and I seek out wine country pleasures - bucolic views, charming inns, leisurely tastings and casual fine dining. If trips bring us near vineyards - Virginia to Oregon, France to Australia, we visit for an afternoon or several days. This time our wine country destination was South Africa, one of the oldest wine-making regions outside of Europe, where Dutch and French settlers began tending vines in the mid-1600s. For a week, including Valentine’s Day when we celebrated our 31st anniversary, we explored the stunningly beautiful Winelands of the western cape, less than an hour drive from Cape Town.
What to do with a gap between two travel adventures - the end of our thrilling Kenyan safari and the start of an exotic cruise from Cape Town? What else but explore another of the world’s iconic wine regions. Since we met three decades ago, whenever possible, my husband and I seek out wine country pleasures - bucolic views, charming inns, leisurely tastings and casual fine dining. If trips bring us near vineyards - Virginia to Oregon, France to Australia, we visit for an afternoon or several days. This time our wine country destination was South Africa, one of the oldest wine-making regions outside of Europe, where Dutch and French settlers began tending vines in the mid-1600s. For a week, including Valentine’s Day when we celebrated our 31st anniversary, we explored the stunningly beautiful Winelands of the western cape, less than an hour drive from Cape Town.
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KwaZulu Natal
My home province! Major languages spoken
here are English and Zulu. The major city, Durban,
is an ocean lover’s paradise with a never ending
summer. Enjoy water sports like surfing, skiing,
paddle boarding and kite surfing all year long. For
a change of scenery, visit the beautiful Drakensberg
Mountains, only a two and a half hour drive
away, and the majestic Amphitheatre Mountains,
a four hour drive, but worth it. History buffs
might enjoy a Midlands Meander that brings you
to the outskirts of Howick where Nelson Mandela
was arrested in August 1962.
Eastern Cape
Avid hikers will want to take a walk along the
Wild Coast, a breathtaking stretch of coastline
that snakes its way along the Eastern Cape. If
you’ve ever taken a cruise along the South African
coast you’ll remember the rough seas here that
rocked your ship and gave the area its name. Hikes
start at Kob Inn, near East London, and continue
for 6 to 9 days until you reach Chintsa. Stops along
the way let you unwind and rest for the next daily
4-12 mile segment. Another beautiful stretch of
the Eastern Cape coastline is Transkei, where
you’ll see the famous Hole in the Wall and herds of
cows on the beach. Adrenaline junkies need look
no further than Bloukrans Bridge Bungee Jump,
the world's highest commercial bridge bungee.
Thrill seekers in full body harness, drop an insane
708 feet from the bridge accelerating up to 72
miles per hour towards (and hopefully not into)
the Bloukrans river below. I may give this one a
miss!
Western Cape
The final stop of our journey is the beautiful
province of Western Cape and the “Mother City”
of Cape Town. Main languages spoken are Xhosa,
English and Afrikaans. No stop here is complete
without a trip in the revolving cable car to the top
of the most iconic landmark in South Africa, Table
Mountain. On a clear day, views there will leave
you speechless. For the shopaholics, there’s V & A
Waterfront loaded with high-end, big name retail
outlets. Wine enthusiasts have hit the jackpot too.
Wine routes lead to impressive estates producing
Durban Surfers by Ron James
some of the world’s best wines. Nature lovers will
thrill to the thundering waves at Cape Point that
have claimed many ships over the years. Head a
little farther south to Cape Agulhas and you can
boast that you have stood at the most southern
point of the African continent. Finally I think it’s
only fitting to end our journey with a poignant
visit to Robben Island. The father of our Rainbow
Nation, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (affectionately
known as Madiba or father in Xhosa), was imprisoned
here from 1964 to 1991. At this museum,
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WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE 2020
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