Taylored Trips – Out and About – Cape WinelandsWe like to meander a bit when we take a drive and that generally leads to seeing some interesting places.Take Klapmuts for example. No-one really stops there unless you need fuel or you’re popping

into POTBELLY.

POTBELLY/Deli-cO/Bali Trading

But take the Klapmuts Hotel for example. It must have been quite something in the old days. People generally only see the front

view and some people get to see the inside of the bar but there’s more to it than that.

Klapmuts Hotel

The front of the building has been updated and renovated over the years but the back of the building, which was the front in

the heyday of the steam train, when travelling by rail was considered prestigious, is still Victorian style just like the Railway Hotel in Wellington.

The front, er, back of the Klapmuts Hotel

Classic hey! The Klapmuts Station

is just across the road. It’s painted nicely, well maintained and in good nick.

Klapmuts Station

Then just down the road at Floréal Brasserie at Marianne,

Floréal

they have a windgat peacock who doesn’t know whether he looks better from the front or the back, much like the Klapmuts Hotel.

Front view Back view

Equally impressive I’d say.Just over the hill towards Stellenbosch is Delvera – The outdoor village in the

vineyards, home of Dirtopia Trail Centre and lots more. During the summer months they have a full moon hike to the top of Klapmuts Koppie where you watch the sunset over the vineyards and Table Mountain and then the moon rises over Simonsberg.

Delvera

We took a right turn at the Koelenhof turn-off and pulled into Simonsig Wine Estate. It was all started by Frans Malan who was one of the co-founders of the iconic Stellenbosch Wine Route.

Today it is still run by the second and third generation of Malan’s.

Simonsig Tasting room

From Simonsig, over the level crossing towards the R304 and at the intersec

tion, there’s a mall! The Devon Place Shopping Centre, complete with an outdoor/hunting shop, a to-do butcher, a Bali shop, a bottle store and the Red Roof Diner, where we had something to eat.

Red Roof Diner - Devon Place

After leaving Devon Park, we drove through Stellenbosch and took a right to go past the station and the Stellenbosch Farmers Winery or what’s it called now-a-day? Further down the road Baden Powel Drive forks off left

from Adam Tas Drive and Vredenheim is on your left. We turned in there. Wow, this place has evolved into a multi-faceted spot. The old manor house is out-of-bounds but there is a picture of it in the foyer.

Vredenheim

The restaurant and venue, Barrique, is still there, as well as their vast selection of animals with game drives but then there is Hudson’s, also a restaurant and party/wedding venue, the Classic Cats Gin Bar, as well as

The Farm Shop and Port tasting. Quite something.

Barrique Restaurant and function venue

Hudson’s, Restaurant - Weddings - Parties - Picnics

Classic Cats - Gin Bar and some classic cars

The Farm Shop and Port style tasting

Right next door to Vredenheim is

the historic and world-renowned Van Ryn’s Brandy Distillery, home of multiple Best Worldwide Brandy awards.

They’ve got cellar tours, tasting and even their own coopers. I could pitch my tent right here on the

lawn and comfortably spend the rest of my days here. I think they’d object to the coke mix though.

Van Ryn's Brandy Distillery

The cellar tour is short and sweet but Nevil the cooper is a true artisan. He has been plying his trade for 39 years already and he makes beautiful music on his vats.

Nevil, a master at work

Just a bit further south along Baden Powel

Drive is one of the oldest and also one of the best-known wineries in the Cape, Spier. It has been going since 1692, jeez, that’s only 40 years after Van Riebeek arrived. Sprawled out on the banks of the Eerste River, as is Van Ryn’s and Vredenheim, it is a must-see destination for local visitors as well

as those from abroad.

Spier with their own private train station across the road

I am not even going to try to mention all the “things-to-do” because there is a multitude of them, so you had better get down there and have a look yourself. We had a

bit of a walk-about and here are some of the things we saw.

Bridge over the Eerste River Check out the skeleton and its depiction across the bridge

Tasting wine Tasting food

On the Spier premises, in the north-eastern corner, is a Wildlife Rescue – Rehabilitation – Conservation - Education & Eco-tourism NPO Centre called Eagle

Encounters. The land was donated to Hank and Tracy Chalmers in 2001 and they have been going strong ever since.This is not a place to just pop in and look around. This is a place where you will get an experience that will blow your hair back. They have four live shows daily as well as persona

l eagle encounters and lots, lots more.

Their shows are at 11.00am, 2.00pm, 3.00pm and 4.00pm so you can plan your day accordingly. Your entry ticket covers them

all. Each show is different with different birds and different disciplines. It is amazing to see the intelligence of the birds and the interaction that they have with the guides. The birds are clever enough to come when they’re called, go when they’re sent and come sit on your hand when they’re told, with a little coaxing

from some titbits.To watch a jackal buzzard, owl, secretary bird or chanting goshawk go through their routine is really something to see.

Chanting Goshawk

It is a fantastic experience to

have these massive birds of prey so close to you.

Jackal Buzzard

A special treat was to see a secretary bird with a prosthetic leg attack a rubber snake. The accuracy, force, speed and power is amazing

and you can see that in the wild, the snake won’t have much chance against this chappie. Quite by chance, the secretary bird and the vet who made the prosthetic limb on a 3D printer was featured in the newspapers the week after we were there.

'Legs' the secretary bird

We were fortunate enough to have our own owl encounter which was quite a hi-lite.

Owl Encounter

What a treat!Just a bit further down the road, at Lynedoch is a huge strawberry. Here the Zettler family have turned a service station into quite an attraction. Pop in and check it out.

So, the next time you’re cruising around the Cape Winelands wondering what to do, now you know. There are

multiple options.Until next time, “Keep on Tripping!”