The Cape Winelands offers a host of incredible experiences for families, tourists and everyone in between to enjoy. With a plethora of stunning, award-winning mainstream- and boutique- wine farms, there is no shortage of amazing outdoor activities to enjoy.
In this post, I share some of my favourite, quick-fire outdoor activities for young and old to savour in the Cape Winelands.
Thrilling Outdoor Activities in the Cape Winelands
1) Go for an Outride in the Franschhoek Valley
I am always hesitant to feature any animal encounters or experiences on my blog because it’s not something I personally condone.
I have seen first-hand the abuse and neglect that happens at animal farms, zoos, wildlife encounters and petting zoos – and as a travel blogger, I understand what ethical animal/wildlife tourism is.
Researching My Winelands’ Horse Riding Experience
So, for a long time, I grappled with whether or not a horse ride was still ‘okay’ these days and came to the conclusion that, depending on how the horses were used and cared for, it might still be acceptable in my eyes.
Still, before I booked a horse ride in the Cape Winelands, I made sure I did extensive research. Growing up around horses, I have a good idea of what constitutes a happy, healthy and well-looked after horse.
And when I found out Boschendal offers pony- and horse-rides, I knew they would check all the appropriate boxes.
If you have ever visited this historic wine farm or familiarised yourself with the Boschendal brand, you know that Boschendal takes responsible, sustainable and above all, ethical farming very seriously. That is why I felt safe and satisfied to book a horse ride through them.
Honestly, it is one of the most relaxing, lovely outdoor activities I have ever enjoyed in the Cape Winelands.
I loved exploring the farm on horse back as we rode from the paddocks to the Werf, through the gardens and back. (Pro tip: Why not book a picnic pre- or post-ride to make your day extra special?)
Boschendal’s horse team is so passionate and devoted to the horses and ponies and the animals are excellently looked after. And, in my experience, all the horses are calm and gentle.
Also, it’s important to add that all tack and riding gear is provided – including your riding helmet and saddle. Just be sure to wear comfortable clothing (I find active leisurewear works best for me) and sturdy, closed-in shoes when riding. 🙂
Need to Know Info
Boschendal offers one-hour guided horse rides that take you around the farm, allowing you to soak in the beauty of the Franschhoek Valley from horseback. These rides are available throughout the day and they cater to both children and adults.
- For young children, there are short pony rides, while older children and adults can enjoy fun horse rides.
- For novice (inexperienced) riders, you can ride between 10:00 – 11:00 am or 14:00 – 15:00 pm. Experienced riders can ride between 16:00 – 17:00 pm.
- They also offer special daybreak riding. This is a bit of a pricier experience; you can read all about it here.
Pricing per person:
Horse rides:
- In-house guests: R520 per person, per one-hour
- Visiting guests: R650 per person, per one-hour
Pony rides:
- In-house guests: R64 per person for 15 minutes
- Visiting guests: R80 per person for 15 minutes
Child-friendly:
Yes, both the pony- and horse-rides are child-friendly. However, for young children, pony rides are recommended. Otherwise, please speak to the Boschendal team for more details.
Where:
Boschendal Horse Paddocks (near to where the Cellar Door is located), Boschendal Wine Estate, Franschhoek. See here for map details.
How to book:
Visit their website here or contact Boschendal on: +27 (021) 870 4273, reservations@boschendal.co.za to make a reservation.
Note: Advance booking is advised; however, for daybreak rides, 48-hour advance booking is required.
2) Enjoy a Seasonal Picnic
Many local wine farms offer incredible picnics to enjoy during late spring and summertime.
If you are looking for a winter picnic, both Spier and Boschendal also offer wintertime picnics – although, naturally, these are weather-dependent.
Need to Know Info
I love wine farm picnics – it’s something I have been enjoying each year for the past ten years and it really feels like the quintessential food and wine experience for summertime in the Cape Winelands.
Picnics are great for couples, friends and family or even solo travellers.
Some of my favourite wine farm picnic offerings include those offered by Boschendal, Spier, Vergelegen, Mont Rochelle, Warwick and Alluvia. (I have picnic reviews of all of the aforementioned on my blog. Just hit search or browse here.)
My only tip is to book well in advance (most picnics require a minimum of 24-48 hour advance booking) and if it’s summertime, lather on the sunscreen or bring a good sun hat as shade is not always guaranteed!
Pricing per person:
Pricing is usually charged per picnic basket for two people sharing (example: R600 for two sharing) – but, in some cases, it is charged per person.
For adults, it can be anything from R200 – R450 per person, while for kiddies, you’re looking at anywhere from R150 – R350 per child.
Some wine farms offer vegan, vegetarian and even gluten-free options for some or all of the picnic goodies, so, when booking, do state your dietary preferences.
Child-friendly:
Many of the picnics also have a child-friendly variant, which means the whole family gets to tuck into tasty food, juices or wine, as age appropriate.
Where:
Picnics are usually held in the gardens or on the manor house lawns. Some estates, like Warwick, even have their own secluded picnic pods that give you an extra element of privacy.
Generally though, picnics are a relaxed, fun affair that allow you to experience the countryside and beauty of the local wine estate you are visiting.
How to book:
Most wine farms allow you to book the picnics directly through their websites (usually through a third-party app, like Dineplan) – but you can also usually call or email the estate directly to book.
When booking, it’s important to state any dietary or allergy concerns you have.
Also, take careful note of what is and isn’t included in your picnic booking. For example, some estates (like Boschendal) provide a relaxed outdoor chair and picnic blanket, while others charge extra to rent these items.
Also, picnic baskets can usually be collected and enjoyed between certain time slots. For example, your picnic booking might be for 14:00 pm but picnic baskets can only be collected and returned between 13:00 – 16:00 pm.
3) Visit a Flower Farm
There are only a few flower farms dotted around South Africa – and one of the most popular, well-loved flower farms is Adene’s Farm Flowers.
Situated in the Breede River Valley, close to some famous winemaking regions like Slanghoek, Robertson and Montagu, Adene’s Farm Flowers is run from a beautiful working fruit- and flower-farm.
Since 2016, Adene has been supplying shops and florists with gorgeous flowers – but in recent years, she has decided to open her family farm up to the public for her endlessly popular Open Days.
Need to Know Info
The five hectare plot is home to some 50 000 flowering dahlias, 4000 hydrangeas and other blooms. I visited a few years ago at the tailend of summer and it was the most glorious experience – wandering through a sea of flowers from one green house to the next.
The Open Days generally run from mid-December to the first week of April and are only held on weekends from 08:00 am – 12:30 pm. For more precise dates, check Adene’s website or social feeds.
On the farm, there is also a small but lovely coffee shop that sells drinks, fresh cakes and treats and other tasty eats to enjoy post-flower exploring. (With the humidity and steps, you definitely work up an appetite!)
When visiting, I recommend getting there early (it gets very warm as the day progresses) and wearing flat, comfortable shoes. A sun hat and sunscreen are also good ideas!
Regrettably, you cannot pick your own flowers at the Open Days. However, if you wish to purchase some pre-cut flowers from the farm, bring a bucket with.
Pricing per person:
Entry fees as at the time of writing are R70 per adult and R40 per child. With your entry ticket, you also get a seed packet to the value of R65.
Child-friendly:
Yes, the experience is hugely family-friendly. Kids love exploring the farm and flowers. In fact, it is even suitable for well-behaved, leashed doggies too!
However, I didn’t see many prams when visiting so, unless your pram can handle farm terrain, I would recommend maybe having a baby carrier handy if you visit with a baby.
Where:
You can enjoy Adene’s Farm Flowers’ Open Days at Platvlei Fruit Farm, Wolseley, Western Cape. It is pretty easy to find using Google Maps and is roughly a 90-minute drive from Cape Town.
How to book:
No advance booking is necessary. Upon arrival, tickets can be bought at the farm; they have both Snapscan and credit card facilities available on-site.
4) Cycle around Spier Wine Farm
One of the more fun outdoor activities I have enjoyed in recent years in the Cape Winelands is none other than a brisk cycle around Spier Wine Farm.
Need to Know Info
For its hotel guests only, Spier Hotel offers beautiful Qhubeka Bicycles that you can use to explore the farm.
During our Spier Hotel stay, we enjoyed cycling from the hotel reception area to another part of the farm and I must say, it was great fun!
Once you have worked up an appetite, why not indulge in the breakfast buffet or dine at the hotel restaurant (or one of the other on-site culinary options)? Better yet, you can head for a relaxing spa treatment or even take a dip in the hotel pool!
Tip: If you’re not a hotel guest or prefer a more challenging riding experience, Spier also has a great MTB trail to enjoy; however, you do require a day permit for this trail. Read about it here.
Pricing per person:
The bicycles are exclusively available to hotel guests, free of charge. You do need to sign an indemnity form and you are responsible for your own safety – but apart from that, the bicycles are a great way to explore this Stellenbosch wine farm.
Child-friendly:
The hotel also has kiddies’ bicycles available so families can enjoy a great outing or quick cycle together during their stay.
Where:
You can request and sign for the bicycles at the Spier Hotel reception.
How to book:
Book a Spier Hotel stay online here via their website.
5) Hike in Pristine Nature
Some of the Cape Winelands’ wine farms, like Boschendal, La Motte, Knorhoek and Plaisir de Merle, offer some gorgeous hiking trails for visitors to enjoy.
While I have a few wine farm trails still remaining on my bucket list, I am happy to say that I have ticked Plaisir de Merle’s full, 14 km-trail off it!
Originally, this scenic trail began as an MTB trail, although, in recent years, the estate has extended its use to both trail runners and hikers.
Need to Know Info
This 14 km-long loop trail starts and ends at the Plaisir de Merle Trail Centre. It provides hikers with the most stunning walk through fynbos, alongside flowering proteas, over hills, through valleys and even over streams.
To say that the views along the way are incredible is a gross understatement: the whole Franschhoek Valley stretches out before you in all its glory.
If you get tired at any point of the hike, you are welcome to turn back. But, if you are of moderate to good fitness and are accustomed to slightly longer hikes, the full 14km hike is well worth it!
While hiking, please be conscious and considerate of the MTB riders.
Step aside to let them pass and be careful going downhill, as they can zip past you at alarming speeds!
In summertime, please also be very careful of snakes and sun damage. Even in late autumn to early winter, the trail is very exposed to the sun’s rays.
So, when hiking this trail, make sure you have good, comfortable footwear, sunscreen and lots of water with you.
Pricing per person:
Day permits cost R60 per person. Permits can be purchased from the Trail Centre. (While there, you can also snap a photo of the trail map outside.)
Child-friendly:
For older kids, maybe – but it’s quite a long hike. So I would say only for ages 12 and up, under strict parental or guardian supervision.
However, I did see plenty of older kids tackling the MTB trail with their parents so that seems more manageable for tweens and teens.
Where:
The trail starts and ends at the Trail Centre on Plaisir de Merle, R45, Simondium, Franschhoek, Western Cape.
How to book:
From what I understand, no prior booking is essential. However, in order to hike this trail, you do need to purchase your day permit from the Trail Centre.
6) Float through Vineyards on a Segway
If you have never heard of Spier’s famous Segway tours, then you are missing out. For adrenaline junkies, outdoor adventurers and even humble travellers like me, these Segway tours are the perfect mix of outdoor fun blended with sustainability lessons, scenic nature and of course, plenty of blushes and laughter!
Spier has a selection of different Segway tours to choose from: there’s the standard Spier segway tour, Spier wine farm and vineyards tour and even a beautiful sunset tour!
We tried the +/- one-hour Segway tour and loved it! Even if your balance sucks like mine or you’re a nervous ‘segway driver’, the guides make sure you have a blast and conquer all your segway overbalancing fears in the process!
Need to Know Info
For the standard, one-hour tour, you get a whistle-stop tour that shows you Spier’s vineyards and insightful natural farming practices, set to the impressive backdrop of the towering Helderberg.
Included in your tour is compulsory safety training, your safety helmet and some complimentary photos and videos too (the guides take these using your phones usually).
When you are riding the segway, make sure you follow all the safety instructions, especially when it comes to climbing on and off. Also, if you do happen to overbalance or fall off, it’s important to know the ‘right’ way to dismount.
For nervous or uneasy riders – I was unashamedly one myself – stick close to the guides and they will help you as needed.
The tours have a weight limit of 120 kg per person and these tours are not suitable if pregnant. Segway tours are also weather dependent.
Please ensure you arrive 10 minutes before your time slot and do not consume any alcohol beforehand.
The standard Segway tour has several time slots that run daily, from Tuesday to Sunday: 09:00 (early bird special applicable, except in December and January); 10:30, 12:00, 14:00 and 15:00 pm.
We had the 14:00 pm slot and it worked out well. It gave us plenty of time to explore the estate and enjoy some other activities beforehand.
Pricing per person:
Pricing varies depending on your tour and whether or not a Early Bird discount applies – but generally tours range in price from R470 to R950 per person.
Child-friendly:
The standard Segway tour is child-friendly for kids 10 and older – but for the other tours, no children under 12 are permitted.
What’s more, I think a parent or guardian must also be present on the tour.
Where:
Situated at Spier Wine Farm near the Wine Collection point. See this map for context.
How to book:
Booking is essential. To book a segway tour of your choice, please see here or contact Spier directly on: +27 (021) 809 1157, spier@segwaytours.co.za.
7) Embark on a Vineyard- or Game-Drive in the Winelands
Last but not least we have the thrilling wine- or wildlife-safari experiences one can enjoy in the Cape Winelands.
If you’re keen on a vineyard and wine safari, Jordan Wine Estate is my go-to recommendation.
Need to Know Info
Both Villiera and Jordan are passionate about nature- and wildlife-conservation. This is evidenced through everything from their farming practices to how they give back. So it’s quite fitting to pair these two Stellenbosch estates together.
However, both experiences are unique and individually special.
If you are a more wine lover, few things are as impressive as a wine tour around Jordan, complete with some excellent wine tastings along the way.
You also get to see the farm’s vineyards, soak up the False- and Table-Bay views and spot a wealth of Cape Winelands flora and fauna.
If you prefer to do some proper wildlife spotting, then the game drive through Villiera’s special wildlife sanctuary is a must.
You can see everything from giraffe to bontebok to black wildebeest, not to mention an array of birds and natural vegetation too.
Game drives for adults at Villiera include a complimentary wine tasting – while Jordan’s 360 tasting experience includes a tasting (from a selection of wines) and a cellar tour afterwards.
Both Villiera and Jordan’s tour experiences are weather-dependent and pre-booking is essential for both tour experiences.
Jordan’s 360 tasting experience and vineyard safari runs for 1.5 – two hours, while Villiera’s lasts approximately two hours.
Pricing per person:
- Villiera game drive: R300 per adult and R150 per child.
- Jordan 360 tasting experience/vineyard tour: R658 per person.
Child-friendly:
Villiera’s tour is child-friendly but, for this tour, I would personally only recommend taking slightly older children along.
For Jordan’s experience, please confirm with the estate directly. (Either way, please also keep in mind that tours are limited to a maximum of eight guests.)
Where:
Stellenbosch Winelands – at Villiera Wines and Jordan Wine Estate respectively.
How to book:
Book via their website or contact them directly, as applicable below:
- Jordan Wine Estate vineyard tour and 360 tasting experience: Please book here.
- Villiera Wines game drive: Please contact them on +27 (021) 865 2002 to enquire about their game drive bookings.
And there we have it! These are just some of the best outdoor activities to enjoy in the Cape Winelands! 🙂
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