The ruggedly beautiful Cederberg region, with its lofty Cederberg Mountains and an enthralling wilderness area has charmed many a visitor. The striking landscape and beauty of the place makes it hard to believe that it is located just a two hour drive from Cape Town, the legislative capital of South Africa.

Activities to Enjoy in Cederberg

Go on a mountain hike and enjoy solitude in the lap of nature; enjoy bouldering and rock-climbing sessions at the Rocklands; take a dip in the fresh rock-pools; or wonder over the faint Bushman rock-art. There are many ways to unwind and enjoy the uplifting calm of this unblemished paradise.

Cederberg by Jon Wade / CC BY

Cederberg has an extraordinary botanical variety as the region is a division of South Africa’s Cape Floral Kingdom. The globally renowned Rooibos tea is grown here amidst the twisted rock formations by local cultivators.

The landscape of Cederberg makes it one of the most appealing regions for hiking. It is also popular amongst rock climbers due to numerous mountain climbing spots such as Wolfberg Arch, Maltese Cross, Sneeukop, Cracks, Krakadouw peak, Sneeuberg and Tafelberg.

Natural Attractions in the Vicinity

More than 5000 hectares of wilderness give you the chance to relax your mind fully. The sight of stunning varieties of Fynbos (the natural shrub-land in the strip of the Western Cape), cascading waterfalls and shimmering natural rock pools fill ones heart with delight. These pools, especially the more secluded ones, are popular biking destinations and prove to be the ideal resting spots for trekkers.

Beaverlac – the Beautiful Getaway

Beaverlac has been well known as a retreat for the nature enthusiasts and is highly recommended for the ones with a love for botany. Apart from the beautiful waterfalls, the place also has stunning rock structures and bird-life, including the black eagle.

Beaverlac by Jolene Bertoldi/ CC BY

The place also comprises of two rivers, i.e. the Ratel and the Olifants that flow in the course of the Beaverlac Nature Reserve.  The occasional hoots of the nocturnal birds or the silent rustling of the nocturnal animals, is just mesmerising. To ensure harmony with nature, no musical devices are allowed inside the reserve.

In June 2015, the Western Cape will host some of the most notable wine festivals in South Africa. Let’s check out three of them.

Wacky Wine Weekend

This regional event is one of the biggest wine festivals in the Western Cape. Visit the town of Robertson from 04th to 07th June, 2015 to enjoy the myriad offerings of this event. Kranskop Wines, Arabella Wines, Excelsior Estate and De Wetshof Estate are some of the venues, where you will get to enjoy a variety of wines and savour delicious food. Besides food and wine, this festival also features an impressive range of activities for families as well as adventurers. During the weekend, you will also get an opportunity to participate in interesting and unique competitions like ‘longest drive blind folded’ and ‘longest drive standing on one leg.’

Taste of the Helderberg

Helderberg, a popular South African wine region, hosts the ‘Taste of Helderberg’ event annually. At the festival, visitors get an opportunity to sample the best of wines coupled with scrummy local dishes. In 2015, NH Lord Charles Hotel will be the venue for this event, which is scheduled on 11th June. Limited tickets are available for the show, book early; guests will get complimentary wine glasses with tickets.

Calitzdorp Port & Wine Festival

Generally, tourists visit Calitzdorp, the Port Capital of South Africa, to peep into the rich past of Western Cape; but on 13th and 14th June 2015, Calitzdorp is going to be a sought-after venue among wine connoisseurs. During these two days, the historical town will host the Calitzdorp Port & Wine Festival, where you can enjoy a variety of interesting activities and wine tasting sessions. Guided tours through the Village Venue, Gourmet Street Food Market, Food Demonstrations by Celebrity Chefs and Barn Dance are some of the major highlights of this wine festival.

South Africa has always been a coveted destination for wine connoisseurs. One may visit South African wine regions any time during the year to participate in an event or two and experience the rich wine culture of the country. If you are planning holidays in Western Cape in the month of June, consider visiting the town of Robertson, which will be hosting the Wacky Wine Weekend from 04th to 07th June, 2015. You can enjoy the charm of the event at the participating wineries located here. Let’s check out a few details on the Wacky Wine Weekend.

Plan the Way You Like

Many wineries in Robertson are participating in the event and you can choose any of these wineries. The tailor-made plans give you the freedom to pick events and activities of your choice. Buy a passport to enter into the event and get a complimentary tasting glass along with the passport.

Wine Tasting

Bon Courage, De Wetshof Estate, Kranskop Wines, and Rietvallei Wine Estate are some of the best places to attend wine tasting sessions during Wacky Wine Weekend.  Besides wine tasting sessions, there are wineries that offer wine tours in the vineyards, dining options in the wine cellars, and special lunch buffets. Epicureans looking for a unique dining experience must visit Esona Wine Estate to enjoy a 3-course meal called Taste of Africa at a candlelit cellar.

Family-Friendly Action

You can enjoy Wacky Wine Weekend with your family at Arabella Wines, where kids can participate in an array of activities such as jumping castle and jungle gym etc. Highlights such as chocolate fountain, pony rides, balloon twister, and face painting make Wandsbeck Wyne a must visit for families. Cloverfield, Excelsior Estate, and Roiberg Winery are other spots that cater to visitors of all ages.

Adventure

Camping is sure to add a unique thrill to your visit to Robertson. During this four-day event, you can stay in a camp at Arabella Wines, whereas at Mardouw Olive Foods, you can participate in various competitions on the driving range such as ‘longest drive standing on one leg’, ‘longest drive with a putter’, and ‘longest drive blind folded’!

Planning a wildlife excursion to the Kruger National Park and don’t know where to stay? We have handpicked some superb accommodation options amidst the fascinating wilderness of this world-renowned game reserve.

Besides a comfortable and safe stay, you may enjoy spectacular natural vistas, forest walks, and even wildlife encounters during your stay at these exclusive properties.

Toro Yaka Bush Lodge

Nestled in the heart of Balule Nature Reserve, a part of the Greater Kruger National Park Ecosystem, Toro Yaka Bush Lodge seems a perfect choice for the ones seeking isolation amidst the beauty of nature. The lodge has six spacious rooms that are wonderfully appointed and feature en-suite bathrooms, air conditioner, mosquito nets, a private deck, and more. Moreover, the owners of the property – Steve and Nicole – are always eager to share their wildlife experiences with guests. Wildlife safaris are arranged on special request.

Kapama River Lodge

This award-winning luxury game lodge is one of the best places for enjoying the wilderness without compromising on luxury. Be it, the large air-conditioned suites with sweeping views of the surrounding Drakensburg Mountains, exclusive spa treatments, and delicious buffet meals served under open-sided thatch, or a magnificent wine cellar stocked with some of the finest wines in South Africa – everything about Kapama River Lodge ensures a classy stay. The location of the property, between the Drakensburg Mountain and the lush Kruger National Park, is impressive as well.

Tinga Lodge

A beautiful location, well-appointed rooms with pleasing amenities, and a cordial staff – these are just a few of the crucial components that make Tinga Lodge a popular accommodation option near the Kruger National Park. Each of the 9 private suites features a plunge pool, a lounge, and a private deck, helping guests to unwind in leisure during their stay. An array of exciting excursions including nature walks, trekking, and wildlife safaris add to the experience. Special assistance is available for the disabled guests.

There are restaurants that we like, and then there are restaurants we crave to go to, the restaurants that offer dining experience unlike any other. These four restaurants in South Africa are certainly not all you can explore for best eateries in the country, but these most certainly are among the ones that are sky high in terms of popularity.

And just so you know, each of them is hard to book tables at. Do book in advance. Way in advance.

The Test Kitchen

The Test Kitchen by CCFoodTravel.com/ CC BY

Undisputed champion in the war of restaurants in South Africa, The Test Kitchen transcends the very word restaurant. It is a haven where your taste buds relish some of the most sinfully delicious cuisines. The super chef Luke Dale-Roberts has the mythical ability to mix the ingredients in ways that cast a spell on you. The style he follows is quite distinctive which leaves room for a lot of creativity and taking the fine dining experience to a new level.

Rust en Vrede

Rust en Vrede believes in balance. A balance of ingredients that create irresistible dishes. Thanks to its historic and award winning wine estate, the fine dining experience is sheer bliss every time. The restaurant is passionate about its dishes; each dish is prepared with impossibly fresh ingredients. Oh, and the dedicatedly selected wines to complement the menu are just heavenly. Not just that, each detail is taken into consideration and perfected meticulously. The crockery for instance is a David Walters creation.

The Tasting Room at Le Quartier Français

“I have no signature dish, South Africa is my signature” – Margot Janse. The award winning chef will win your heart the moment you taste any of her dishes. She is a magician in creating unique, contemporary Africa inspired menus. Sitting inside the Relais and Châteaux Le Quartier Français Hotel in Franschhoek, The Tasting Room has fans from all around the world that keep the restaurant packed throughout the year. Diners will find the setting intimate and the food soul satiating.

Five Hundred

Exceptional and engaging, the Five Hundred extends before its guests an experience further than just phenomenal cuisine; it actually seems to immerse them in a fascinating realm of flavours and tastes. Chef David Higgs drives his created menus to a direction where each ingredient marks its own charm. There is no pattern or conventional ways, at Five Hundred. It is all about creating the food that leaves diners speechless. With luxurious ambience, lovely service, and of course, the impressive collection of wines, Five Hundred truly is a place for serious diners.

If you consider yourself an ardent electronic music lover, you must have tasted the fun at Ultra Music Festival! In case your answer is no, get ready to do so at the first festival of 2015 series which is ready to rock South Africa in February. Popular South African cities – Cape Town and Johannesburg – are hosting Ultra Music Festival on 13th and 14th February, respectively. Read on to know more about the fiesta and its South African edition.

Little about Ultra Music Festival

Ultra Music Festival by Ines Hegedus-Garcia/ CC BY

Miami celebrated the first ever Ultra Music Festival in 1999. But today, it has been featured in 10 nations across Asia, Africa, Europe and South America. Ultra Music Festival covers all these destinations in a year. And in 2015, the journey will start with South Africa!!

Artists

The stature of an event is perhaps best highlighted by the list of lined-up artists. And a music event, which has already featured artists and DJs like Tiesto and Hardwell, must surely be a grand one! Avid music lovers have already booked flights to visit South Africa to dance to the tunes of Armin Van Buuren, Ingrosso, Hardwell and Martin Garrix in 2015.

Tickets

Tickets for the event are available on the official website. Couples who love music must have bought tickets for the event to celebrate their Valentine’s Day in a style! Early bird tickets are already sold out. But you can still buy tickets for GA Access, VVIP Advance and VIP Access. For all these categories, limited tickets are available. Sybarites boarding flights to South Africa are buying VVIP tickets to keep up with their lavish musical holiday. These tickets entitle them to exclusive privileges such as dedicated parking area, complimentary bar and food services, entry through VVIP entrance and above all, separate dance floor!

Travellers, who wish to immerse in the extravaganza of the Ultra Music Festival in Miami i.e, the main site of the festival, should seek availability of flights to the city for 27th to 29th March 2015.

Amazing wines, scrumptious food, and entertaining live performances by South Africa’s most popular musicians – Stellenbosch Wine Festival 2015 brings you the best of what the town of Stellenbosch has to offer. Considered to be the oldest wine festival of South Africa, it draws a number of visitors who book tickets on flights to be in Stellenbosch. Whether you are a solo traveller who wants to have some fun or someone with family who wishes to experience a bit of everything, Stellenbosch Wine Festival caters to everyone’s preference with its variety of activities. Here is a quick look at the highlights of the festival.

The Wine Route

Stellenbosch Wine Festival features one of the largest wine varietal tasting offerings at one venue. The famous Stellenbosch Wine Route is brimming with around 150 wineries. Wine Aficionados who are booking their flights tickets to Stellenbosch for this festival can taste over two hundred different wines in a single day! (Getting drunk is not the idea though as there is more to explore.)  As you are strolling through the wine route, you can easily feel the rich culture and history of the country embedded here.

Gourmet Lane

If you are foodie, you will be delighted to know that Stellenbosch boasts some of the finest restaurants of South Africa, and as most of them are sitting on wine farms, the festival brings a culinary experience too. The Gourmet Lane features some of the top restaurants to share their ways of culinary creation. Listen to their secrets as you are sipping your favourite wine, it is quite an experience. A lot more awaits you in the Gourmet Lane.

Pairing Food & Wine

Of course, a wine festival cannot be complete without this one. Keen wine lovers have the options to choose from 1 of 4 selected wineries where they can enjoy a canapé and wine-paring experience that will be hosted by some of the most popular winemakers of the country. It is important to pre-book as numbers of seats will be limited.

Stomping the Grapes

Are you ready to get your feet purple? Come and join the grape stomping at the Stellenbosch Wine Festival. A large number of enthusiastic people will gather to create a super-fun atmosphere. Live entertainment, grape stomping, bottle opening and barrel rolling competitions – the Grape Stomping Ground will include everything.

Dates: 30th Jan – 1st Feb

Location: Coetzenburg Sport Grounds, Coetzenburg Road, Stellenbosch

Blissful environment, amazing wine farms, classy restaurants, crowded street cafés, rich history and of course, the famous university – Stellenbosch is packed with diverse attractions that make it one of the best places to visit in the Winelands of South Africa. This vibrant university town is more than just a small place that makes wines, it is full of rich cultural heritage and history. A large number of holidaymakers book flights tickets every year to visit this beautiful destination of South Africa. Here is a quick look at what Stellenbosch has to offer.

Stellenbosch by Michiel Van Balen/ CC BY

Attractions

Stellenbosch offers a myriad of indoor as well as outdoor attractions and activities that are diverse and suitable for all ages. Whether you are in for a few days stay or it is a long-term you are planning for, the town has all it takes to entertain you throughout your sojourn. One of the most popular attractions here is of course its quality wines and the wine farms that make them. One such wine farm is the Yonder Hill Wine Estate. It is among the most visited wine farms in Stellenbosch. The town is also popular for its wildlife conservation. Eagle Encounters South Africa is the place for anyone who loves to explore the wildlife. There are also some fascinating museums that tourists can visit such as Rupert Museum and The Village Museum. Apart from wine farms, fascinating museums and arts & crafts centres, there are a number of other attractions and activities. Swimming, fishing, canoeing, abseiling and adventure camping are some of the most popular activities here.

Few Great Places to Dine

Though almost all the places in Stellenbosch offer great food, there are few that travellers call unique. Raphael’s At Asara is one such place. The seasonal flavours at this restaurant are sure to win your heart. The Restaurant at Clos Malverne is also among the best restaurants in Stellenbosch. Serving international cuisines, it is the most favourite restaurant among the foodies who book tickets aboard flights to travel to Stellenbosch. If you are pizza lover and the craving to have one during your stay, Mulderbosch Vineyard is always ready to welcome you with its fantastic pizzas.