ITINERARY
Day 1: Cape Town to Paarl : Zomerlust Gastehuis DBB
You will be met at your Cape Town accommodation or airport in the Fairest Cape region and arrive in Paarl, one of the oldest towns in South Africa.
Paarl is situated in the Berg River valley in a region of the Western Cape Province called the Boland.
Paarl is the only place in the world with such a prominent monument erected for a language. The Afrikaans language monument was built to honour Afrikaans, the youngest language in Africa.
We start our visit to Paarl using the Jan Phillips mountain Road in the company of our local guide on Cape fynbos.
Paarl Mountain offers an interactive experience of fynbos, Paarl granite and impressive vistas of the Boland region.
We conclude the Paarl Mountain experience with a conducted tour of the Afrikaans language monument.
Optional extra: Light lunch at the Volksmond coffee shop
Coming off the mountain to the Main Road, we visit the KWV Wine Emporium. Here the visitor will be enlightened about the big commercial, cooperative wine and spirits industry during a conducted cellar tour and tasting.
Driving down Main Road into the historical center of Paarl, you will be welcomed at Zomerlust Gastehuis, by local charm to unwind and relax in the authentic atmosphere of the house and gardens.
A Traditional "Kontrei" dinner will be prepared and served where the experience of Plate and Planet is translated into the food related to the products and recipes of the local region (Kontrei) Alcoholic drinks an beverages are optional extras
Day 2: Zomerlust Gastehuis DBB
Zomerlust
Gastehuis
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After breakfast you will be treated on a conducted, two hour street walk of main Road Paarl. We depart from Zomerlust where a local expert on Paarl history will be your host. This is an interactive walkabout relating the history of the place to the exterior and the interior of a selection of buildings.
This enlightening experience will contribute to your perception that Paarl is a real jewel hiding many an authentic experience to be discovered.
Another new experience is coming. African people are new comers to Paarl. On our way to Wellington, we stop at a Mbekweni restaurant participating in an African eating experience hosted by the Xhosa owner. Lunch included. Alcoholic drinks and soft drinks are optional extras.
We drive through Wellington to the slopes of the Limietberge. On the wine estate the owner will introduce you to private, small scale production of wine, brandy and grappa. The guided, interactive experience will cover the process from vineyard to the bottled product.
From here we travel to the Bo Vlei region of Wellington for yet another, but different wine experience on a historic farm where the owner/winemaker will demonstrate his local approach leading to a real sense of place wine.
We will see to your feet when we visit a leather shop where all products are hand made by local artisans.
We end the day's experiences returning to your Zomerlust home in Paarl. Another Kontrei dinner to end off the day's excitement.
Day 3: Paarl-Kaapstad via Franschhoek
After breakfast we drive eastwards to the Klein Drakenstein region of Paarl to experience a working olive farm.
On our way to Franschhoek we stop at the Correctional Services Institution where Nelson Mandela was released. A local person will explain the meaning of his statue outside the gates of the old Victor Verster Prison.
Enjoy the "French Flair" of the Franschhoek main road with a diversity of tourist shops and make a photo stop at the French Huguenot memorial. We travel via Helshoogte Pass to Stellenbosch.
Our last experience is a Stellenbosch wine estate. Here the family conserved the old cellar whilst producing champion wines. Taste these products in the atmosphere of the historic setting of the vineyards, the Cape Dutch houses, the cellar with artwork from previous owners and the informative talks by the owner about the farm tradition.
Here we say "totsiens" to our "Paarl Kontrei experience..." and arrive late afternoon in Cape Town.
