DESTINATIONS SOUTH AFRICA | WINTER SUN experts ASK THE ts
Melanie Gittins, senior account manager, Virgin Atlantic “We’ve seen
great demand for bookings to Cape Town for winter 2023- 24, which exceeds the previous year. We are even showing positive signs of early bookings for winter 2024.”
Rachel Lewis, campaign and partnership manager, South African Tourism
“It’s highly recommended to book local guides for Cape Town and Franschhoek tours. They always have the best tips and knowledge to enable you to experience a destination like a local. It will make all the difference to clients to get the authentic sense of a destination – it’s one of the things that made our trip so special.”
BOOK IT
Kenwood Travel offers a seven-night stay at One&Only Cape Town from £3,639 per person, based on two sharing a Marina Table Mountain Double Queen Room. Includes breakfast, up to 23kg luggage and direct return flights with Virgin Atlantic from Heathrow on December 3.
kenwoodtravel.co.uk
Elegant Resorts offers a seven-night stay at Mont Rochelle from £2,780 per person, based on two sharing a double Shiraz Room. Includes breakfast, UK airport lounge access, private transfers and direct return flights with Virgin Atlantic from Heathrow on December 3.
elegantresorts.co.uk
travelweekly.co.uk
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Quad biking at Atlantis Dunes, Cape Town; Rickety Bridge Winery, Franschhoek; Sir Richard Branson’s Mont Rochelle estate in Franschhoek PICTURES: Mont Rochelle; Lina Molloholli
rooms and suites, it offers a haven of lavishness with panoramic views of Table Mountain and the marina. Amenities include an outdoor infinity pool, a spa, plus restaurants such as Nobu for Japanese-Peruvian fusion and Reuben’s for a taste of local flavours. It’s the perfect setting for a good night’s sleep before a jam-packed day of desert quad-biking at Atlantis Dunes.
WINE ESCAPE The country’s food and wine capital, Franschhoek, offers a landscape punctuated with vineyards and is a sensory feast for wine lovers. I feel at home. Our base is Sir Richard Branson’s Mont Rochelle estate, with its 26 rooms perched majestically on the slopes of the Franschhoek mountains. The estate’s vineyards beckon, and the tasting room – with its contemporary design and expansive views – provides the ideal atmosphere for sampling the exquisite vintages, from the crisp sauvignon blanc to the robust shiraz. Only a short drive away at Jordan Wines,
manicured vineyards on rolling hills set the stage for an exceptional tasting journey. The estate’s commitment to sustainable viticulture is evident in every sip. Our knowledgeable guides Devon and Leon guide us through a selection of their acclaimed varietals, each telling a story of the terroir and the dedication of the winemakers. We learn that the colour of wine comes from soaking the skin of the grape in its juice.
The country’s food and wine
capital, Franschhoek, offers a landscape punctuated with vineyards and is a sensory feast for wine lovers
On the second day we head to Rickety Bridge, which was granted to Paulina De Villiers, one of the first female landowners in South Africa, in 1797. The historic feel of the estate unfolds against the backdrop of the Dassenberg mountains. The cellar tour delves into the artistry behind each bottle, while the tasting session allows me to explore the nuances of their premium wines, including their distinct Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon. The journey continues with a Bikes’n’Wines e-bike journey to La Bri Wine Estate, a boutique winery with old- world charm. As we stroll through vines heavy with plump grapes, our guide Eon tells us that you can identify the variety of a vine by its leaves and grape bunches. Merlot, for example, has big leaves with a waffley structure, whereas pinot noir typically has pine cone-shaped bunches. The rustic tasting room is the perfect setting to savour La Bri’s signature blends. And as the sun sets behind the mountains, casting a golden glow over the valley, I can’t help but feel grateful for the opportunity to savour the magic of Western Cape, one sip at a time.
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