Sometimes you have to climb to see it. Sometimes you just have to stop.
What does a bird see when it looks down on the Cape Winelands?
Perhaps ribbons of vineyards winding through green valleys. Mountains rising dramatically on every side. Tiny farm roads threading their way between orchards, rivers and fields. Towns tucked into the folds of the landscape. And, if it is lucky, a hot-air balloon drifting lazily across the morning sky.
But here’s the thing: you don’t have to be a bird to enjoy a bird’s-eye view.
Sometimes all you need is a good pair of walking shoes. Sometimes a mountain pass, a bicycle, a tractor, a zipline or a hot-air balloon will do the trick.
And sometimes the best view costs nothing at all.
Across the five municipalities of the Cape Winelands District, there are countless ways to see this extraordinary landscape from a different angle.
Get yourself above it all
For some, a bird’s-eye view means getting properly up in the air.
In Paarl, climb Paarl Mountain and explore the granite formations that gave the town its name, or visit the iconic Afrikaans Taal Monument, perched high above the town with spectacular views across the surrounding landscape. In Ceres, you can take things up a notch, quite literally, with a zipline adventure that takes one from the top of the Skurweberg Mountains, across deep valleys and gorgeous gorges, exactly the view the eagles have.
In Stellenbosch, a hot-air balloon flight offers a much gentler way to drift above vineyards, farms and mountains. And as you raise high above the valley, on a clear day, you’ll be able to see the iconic Table Mountain in the Distance.
Different experiences, different levels of adventure, but the same reward: seeing the Winelands from somewhere other than ground level.
Earn the view
There are views you buy, views you drive to, and views you earn. The Cape Winelands is criss-crossed with hiking trails that lead into mountains, through fynbos and towards viewpoints that make the effort worthwhile.
From the mountains that surround the Breede Valley to the rugged landscapes of Montagu and Witzenberg, to the smoother options in Franschhoek putting one foot in front of the other can take you to some remarkable places.
And you don’t have to be an extreme hiker to enjoy the experience. A short walk, a picnic spot or a gentle trail can be enough to get you away from the traffic, breathe in the mountain air and see the landscape open up around you.
Or try one of the many trails that allow two fast moving wheels! There are so many routes to choose from.
Let someone else do the climbing
Not keen on hiking to the top? No problem.
In Tulbagh, climb aboard a tractor for a scenic trip up Obiqua Mountain and enjoy the views over the Tulbagh Valley and towards the Swartland. Or enjoy a sundowner trip and truly experience the sunset!
In Montagu, a mountain tractor trip takes visitors high into the Langeberg Mountains, with spectacular views across the valleys below. In fact, on a cloudless day, you can spot the far away sea. And after this, there is a fabulous traditional meal to enjoy before hitting the road again.
Sometimes the journey is just as much fun as the destination.
And if your idea of a perfect day involves good food, a glass of something local and a view that stretches for kilometres, there are plenty of ways to combine the two.
Take the long way round
Some of the best bird’s-eye views don’t require an attraction, a ticket or even a pair of hiking boots.
They are right there, waiting beside the road.
Takin a lazy drive along one of the scenic routes through the Cape Winelands and you quickly discover that the journey itself can be the experience. Drive over Bain’s Kloof Pass and watch the landscape change as the road winds through the mountains. Follow the roads through the Witzenberg Valley, over mountain passes and towards Op-die-Berg, where the rock formations seem to become almost human in shape.
Head further into the Breede Valley and the landscape opens into vineyards, orchards, mountains and wide skies. There is almost nothing prettier than stopping a the top of the Hex Valley to witness the incredible palette of autumn colours. Whether one takes the N1, or the route through Ceres, either way you will land up on the plateau, where you’ll find the Tankwa Karoo, where the view changes completely.
Here, the Winelands postcard gives way to vast open spaces, dramatic mountains and horizons that seem to go on forever. Sometimes a bird’s-eye view isn’t about being high. It is simply about being able to see for miles.
View it all from a Pavilion
The Cape Winelands, is home to some wonderful sporting activities, so if you don’t feel like exerting yourself, but you still need the ‘gees’, book a seat on a pavilion from where you can watch T20 Cricket at Boland Stadium in Paarl, or catch the Stock Car races in Worcester on the last Saturday of every month. For those who love the view over a golf course, there are a lot of choices. A weekend away from it all, need not be time away from your favourite, (or a new) sport.
Look up
And when the sun goes down, there is one more view to discover.
Look up. All you need is a blankie!
On hot summer nights you can lie back and count the stars in the milky way, but in winter you’ll need to stay warm while you search for all the familiar planets and stars.
Away from the lights of the city, the night sky becomes part of the experience. And although the night skies are incredible everywhere… the best places are the where the light pollution is least. Touwsriver, McGregor, and the Karoo camping spots.
Perhaps that is the secret of the Cape Winelands.
There is no single way to experience it.
You can climb a mountain, follow a hiking trail, ride a tractor to the top of the world or float above the vineyards at sunrise. You can take the scenic route, stop beside a country road, find a viewpoint, sit quietly beside a river or simply turn off the engine and watch the mountains change colour.
And when night falls, you can turn your eyes upwards and discover another view altogether.
The Cape Winelands is not just somewhere to visit. It is a landscape to explore, at your own pace and in your own way.
So visit for the wine, the food, the history and the adventure. But whatever you do, give yourself time to look up. Or down.
There is a whole new view waiting for you.
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