Winelands Meander Volume Three

we invite you to of the cape winelands take a tour Nelson Mandela spent his last years in captivity and where he completed his long walk to freedom. The town has many fine examples of Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian and Cape Dutch buildings that compete for space with the wide variety of fine restaurants and coffee shops spread out along the twelve-kilometre-long Main Road. Wellington was founded in 1840 and was named after the Duke of Wellington. The Wellington region is renowned for its beautiful Cape Dutch homesteads and gardens. The historic Bain’s Kloof Pass, with its unsurpassed vistas, indigenous flora and fauna and crystal-clear rock pools is the perfect spot for hikers, while closer to town wine-walks and horse-trails through farmland and fynbos can be enjoyed. The dried fruit industry is synonymous with Wellington and the town is surrounded by fruit orchards, wine estates and olive groves. Enjoy true country hospitality, award winning wines and tranquil stayovers to suit a variety of amenities and budgets. The bigger towns provide excellent conferencing venues and some of the most idyllic destination wedding venues in the CapeWinelands. Youcan revel inbeautiful fynbos- rich walks and hiking trails, superb mountain biking trails or take a relaxing drive through the countryside to enjoy the spectacular scenery and a leisurely lunch washed down with some of the region’s award-winning wines. Situated to the north of Wellington, the villages of Saron (originally a mission station), Gouda and Hermon are spread out amid rich farmlands in the shadow of the Elandskloof and Winterhoek Mountains. IN THE HEART OF THE CAPE WINELANDS, YOU WILL DISCOVER THE BEAUTIFUL TOWNS MEANDERING ALONG THE BERG RIVER. The Drakenstein municipal region stretches from Simondium to Saron and includes the historical towns of Paarl and Wellington. The towns of Paarl, Wellington, Hermon, Gouda, Simondium and Saron are situated along the Berg River corridor – one of the Cape’s most important rivers. The Berg River plays a vital role in the region’s agriculture, particularly in wine and grape production, which are the area’s primary agricultural outputs. In addition to its agricultural importance, the river is a popular recreational destination, most notably hosting an international renown event annually - the Berg River Canoe Marathon, a major event in the Region. The picturesque beauty of both Paarl and Wellington compels visitors to explore the many scenic routes in the valley and surrounding mountains. Visit the ‘pearl’ of the CapeWinelands, Paarl and its Wine Route - a town that takes its name from the huge granite outcrop that stands proudly on the crest of Paarl Mountain. Paarl was founded in 1687 and is the third-oldest town in South Africa. The town is a mere 45-minutes’ drive from Cape Town. The iconic Afrikaans Language Monument on the southern slopes of Paarl Mountain pays homage to the birth of Afrikaans as the World’s youngest language. Just outside Paarl is the Drakenstein Prison, where the late