FEATURES

Stellenbosch is a well-known town in South Africa. Education, sport, culture, natural beauty and wine have made the name "Stellenbosch" resonate around the globe. The white Dutch cabled houses are still seen in Dorp Street and in the historic centre of the town. Also visit the Stellenbosch Information Centre at Market Street.

Stellenbosch is in the heart of the Winelands. There are 57 restaurants on winefarms (another 116 in Stellenbosch!). You are minutes away from the following well-known and traditional wine farms/cellars with their own restaurants (in most cases with wine tasting facilities). To name a few:

• Avontuur: breakfast whilst watching the stud horses
• Blaauwklippen: more than one restaurant
• Neethlingshof: Lord Neethling restaurant
• Hidden Valley: most beautiful panoramic view from restaurant
• E & E: Ernie Els and Jean Engelbrecht: magnificent views
• Asara: fabulous surroundings with more than one restaurant
• Spier: also well-known for the conservation of cheetahs
• Delheim: on the way to Paarl - Garden Restaurant
• Delaire: on the way to Franschhoek - The Green Door Restaurant
• Le Pommier: on the way to Franschhoek – panoramic views
• Beyerskloof: well-known winemaker's delightful restaurant
• Terroir: situated in the De Zalze Golf Estate
• Tokara: On Helshoogte, on the way to Franschhoek
• Delvera: Tamara's - on the way to Paarl
• Djakarta: one of few Indondesian restaurants in the Western Cape
• Lanzerac Hotel with a variety of services and the most panoramic views is still a favourite place with every traveler

In season you can pick your own strawberries at Mooi Berge, on the way to the Strand, or attend the Strawberry Festival in October. Visitors from all over the Western Cape attend the numerous festivals in the Stellenbosch area. To name a few:

• Picnic Festival (February)
• SA Cheese Festival (April)
• Chrysanthemum Flower show (May)
• Franschhoek Bastille Festival (July)
• Stellenbosch Wine Festival (August)
• Stellenbosch Music & Arts Festival (September)
• Van der Stel Festival (October)
• Helderberg Classics Festival (November)

Jonkershoek Nature Reserve (4 km from centre of town) is a great place to go hiking, jogging, cycling and having a picnic afterwards. It has a circular drive of 10 km leading around the valley floor. Sport like angling, bowling, golfing etc. is also on your doorstep when you are in Stellenbosch.

There are also opportunities to experience wildlife in the vicinity. Butterfly World: near Paarl, Cheetah Outreach at Spier, Le Bonheur Crocodile Farm: near Paarl and Monkey Town on the way to Gordon's Bay are places that will add value to your visit.

The Rupert Museum is a place not to be missed. The Rodin collection is currently on show and offers more for the eye and the mind than you can imagine! This is one of about 6 museums situated in Stellenbosch.

The wonderful Botanical Garden, situated in the historic centre is open 7 days a week – no admission fees. Enjoy something to eat in tranquil surroundings.

The first cellar to dedicate itself to the craft of making sparkling wines is JC le Roux, in the Devon Valley. They have tasting facilities and a restaurant with a view! Another special wine farm is Waterford Estate where you can taste wonderful wines with home made chocolate.

Stellenbosch has a Fresh Foods Market on a Saturday morning. You actually have to get there early! It is just across the railway at Bosman's Crossing. Fresh produce, tasty bottled products like olives, dried tomatoes, freshly baked cakes and breads, delicious coffee, cheese, biltong, etc. etc. This is lately the place to be seen on a Saturday morning!