Sketch of Table Mountain and Capetown.

The joy of visiting South Africa is terrific and we long to return there as soon as we can!

It is a wonderful place to stay, with great friendly people, delicious food and some of the World’s finest wines. Now that is a recommendation!

Here are  a few specific spots here that we love, starting in Fransceok, about an hour and a half from Capetown.

FRANSCHOEK

The accommodations in and around Fransheok are very good, and it is a lovely town surrounded by mountains and Vineyards. We really enjoyed staying at the Franschoek Country House and Villas, where the rooms are delightful and the food and service is great. We took a great  half day wine tour that they organised for us taking in some really excellent local wineries all run by the nicest of people.

We really love Thelema red wines but there are so many great wines  to choose from all over the area. One small but brilliant vineyard was Stony Brook and a wine there called The Max, wow!

Restaurants in Franshoek are all good but we did enjoy an evening especially at The Restaurant at The Grand Provence Estate, but everywhere we ate was terrific. If it is special occasion I cannot recommend highly enough a great Jewellers Shop in Franschoek too. It is called Tracey’s Diamonds! Just the most helpful people.

Wherever you look the scenery is stunning ,so here are few of watercolours of the area and the distinctive houses..

Watercolours of the area around Franschoek

If you can drive over the the  Franshoek pass Route 45 , or take the road to Thelema Vineyard and visit Stellenbosch Town.

THE GARDEN ROUTE

Herolds bay on the Garden Route

Travel East from Capetown and head for Hermanus(enjoy lunch at “Burgundy” restaurant if you can), from there you will be beginning the beautiful and spectacular Garden Route. It is a long journey to George and beyond and there are many diversions to extend your journey but it is very worthwhile and from George the coast is beautiful with great places to stay and see.

We love staying at the Fancourt Hotel, but then we are golfers and it has three great courses and views to make them very spectacular to play.

Three watercolours of Fancourt

The Town of George boasts some great Restaurants too, two of our favourites are The Town House, and Fat Fish.

From George Herolds Bay and Knysna are not to far and Wilderness beach is amazing.

Wilderness Beach on the Garden Route

Sailing at Knysna Heads

We have eaten a few times at a fabulous restaurant at Wilderness called  “Serendipity”, one of my all time favourites, well worth a visit.

CAPETOWN AND THE CAPE

Table Mountain and Capetown.

There is so much to see and do in and around Capetown, including the must do visit to Robben Island and to find out more about the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela, the father of modern South Africa.

There are great restaurants too, at the Waterfront and all around the area. We especially liked “96 Winery Road” at Somerset West where the Kudu and Steaks were amazing and great value too.

A visit to the Cape area is well worthwhile , maybe to see the Penguins at Boulders Bay or to see the Twelve Apostles Mountains towering over Camps Bay

Penquins at Boulders Beach on the Cape.

Two watercolours of The Twelve Apostles Mountains at Camps Bay

South Africa is vast and a superb holiday location,. I haven’t even mentioned the Safari opportunities, more of that some other time.

Happy Travelling

Brian