Garden Town Stellenbosch is back, and this year nature and wine lovers have even more to celebrate!
From botanical displays and workshops to garden tours and outdoor adventures, this garden-lifestyle festival has something for everyone. One of the highlights of the week is a chance to discover the Bottelary Hills Renosterveld Conservancy (BHRC) – a hidden gem in the Cape Floral Kingdom.
• On Friday 31 October and Saturday 1 and 8 November the Bottelary Hills 4×4 Wine Adventure takes place. Climb aboard a vintage military truck and enjoy exclusive wine tastings at family-owned farms Zevenwacht, Kaapzicht, and Mooiplaas. This guided off-road adventure is a new offering on the menu and the ideal way to explore; sit back, relax and soak in nature. Includes a charcuterie platter, chocolate/biltong pairing, and unforgettable views. Limited spots are available at R1 295 p.p with the adventure taking place from 10:00 to 15:00. Get tickets at here.
• On Saturday 1 November hikers have to chance to take part in the Koopmanskloof Guided Hike. Hike through a 98-hectare private nature reserve to the highest point of the Bottelary Hills (476 m) with panoramic views of Table Mountain, False Bay, and Stellenbosch’s mountains. Includes a wine tasting in the historic Koopmanskloof cellar with winemaker Stephan Smit and a bottle of wine. The hike is limited to 30 guests, with tickets at R250. Tickets available here.
• The next day, Sunday 2 November, there will be a chance to slow the pace with the Devon Valley Vineyard Walk. Explore the charming Devon Valley with its vineyards, orchards and olive groves. Enjoy tastings and treats along the way. Tickets (R250) include snacks, bubbly, and wine. Proceeds support Froggies Aftercare NPO based in Devon Valley. The walk starts at 08:00 and is limited to 100 walkers. Book your ticket here.
• Thrill seekers can take a ride through the Zevenwacht’s vineyards and Renosterveld and enjoy wines as part of the Zevenwacht 4×4 Wine Adventure from Sunday 2 to Sunday 9 November. Enjoy a scenic 1-hour 4×4 adventure followed by a wine tasting and charcuterie platter. This family-run farm produces top-quality wines in an environmentally friendly manner. More than 80 ha of the farm comprises natural veld that mostly consists of critically endangered Swartland Granite Renosterveld. Sit down for a wine tasting and charcuterie platter after your adrenaline-rich adventure with stunning views. Drives take places from 09:00, 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00, as R515 p.p.
Get your tickets here.
• If walking and talking is more your speed join Lynda Muller founder of Discover Renosterveldfor an insightful discussion on Renosterveld conservation, followed by a guided walk and high tea at the Devon Valley Hotel. The Discover Renosterveld Walk & Talk takes places on Wednesday 5 November. Learn more about why conserving this critically endangered vegetation type found nowhere else on earth is important and how you can make a difference. The talk takes place from 14:30 to 17:00. Tickets are R250 pp and includes a shopping bag. Tickets are available here.
• On Saturday 8 November guests can take walk the 5,6 km circular trail through Mooiplaas’s private nature reserve with owner and WWF Conservation Champion Tielman Roos. The Mooiplaas Renosterveld Hike takes places in the nature reserve, which was registered in 1995. In 2020, Mooiplaas became the first WWF Conservation Champion in the Bottelary wine ward. Enjoy a wine and cheese tasting after the guided three-hour hike with beautiful views. The hike is limited to 40 hikers and tickets are R350 pp. Get your tickets here.
• Runners looking for a first-of-its-kind trail adventure can join the Garden Town Vineyard Run taking place on Saturday 8 November for the first time. TrailFun’s Garden Town Vineyard Run starts and finishes at the Neethlingshof Wine Estate. Choose from 7 km, 15 km, 25 km or 35 km routes that wind through vineyards, forests, Renosterveld and working farms. With flexible “Relaxed Run” start times between 07:00 and 09:00, this is more than just a run; it is a journey through wine country as you’ve never experienced it before. Entries from R220 include a special pair of event socks and a wine tasting. Slots limited.
For more information visit https://gardentown.visitstellenbosch.org/workshops-talks-tours-events/
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