The Western Cape winelands are a welcoming place for children of all ages and a worthwhile addition to any Southern African Safari itinerary. While wine tastings and tours remain the major focus in this region, there is much for the younger set and teetotaler to enjoy, like unique activities, wonderful food and gracious hospitality.
These gloriously green and fertile valleys and fields, backed by picturesque mountains afford excellent opportunities for relaxation. Within easy reach of Cape Town the area can either be explored on an organized tour or in your hire car. Treat your kids to a ride on the Franschhoek Tram for a hands-free hop-on-hop-off wine lands experience.
Beautiful manicured grounds provide ample space for children to play and explore along with organized activities to keep them busy while you sample the outstanding world-class wines which are produced here.
Young Fun
Spier Estate in Stellenbosch offers a taste sensation of their very own for younger children. An interesting range of grape juices and wine gums are provided for the little ones while they have fun coloring and learning all about the insects of the vineyards. Another exciting activity at this estate is a trip to see the eagles’ flight display at Eagle Encounters.
Children also enjoy more earth-bound animal antics at Fairview Estate in Paarl, the home of award-winning goat cheeses, where members of the thriving goat herd put on quite a show of acrobatic skills, clambering energetically up and down the famous Fairview tower.
A comical parade of short-winged Indian runner ducks waddling among the vineyards of Vergenoegd, also in Stellenbosch, is another source of amusement for the kids, while adults will love sampling the delicious array of prestigious red wines on a cellar tour. Tours of a different kind and varying durations are another popular option for those that are 10 and over. Glide around the vineyards on a Segway (two wheeled transporter) and visit the re-cycling and re-energising initiatives that form part of Spier’s sustainability plan.
Further animal adventures abound among the winelands, with gorgeous butterflies fluttering their stuff among reptiles and rodents at Butterfly World in Klapmuts. Farmyard fun can always be had at Middelvlei and Del Vera Agri-Village, and the Cheetah Outreach program in Somerset West allows you close contact with cheetah's.
Apart from these and many other organized children’s activities, the winelands offer a host of fun opportunities for energetic kids to scramble in sandpits, climb on jungle gyms and bounce on trampolines, while the adults enjoy some fine wine sampling.
Chat to us about designing a specialized daytrip to the winelands which meets the needs of your family.
