The Cape Winelands are a major tourist attraction in their own right

A visit to the popular Cape Winelands – which feature wine estates that date back hundreds of years, wine tasting, wine making, good food and spectacular scenery – is a must.

Very popular are the Stellenbosch Wine Route and Route 62, which takes the traveller to a number of well-known wine destinations, including Stellenbosch, Paarl, Wellington, Franschhoek, Ceres, Worcester, Bonnievale and Robertson.

Wine estates are an important part of the Western Cape’s heritage, and one of its most popular tourist attractions.

The Western Cape is also home to the picturesque Garden Route, a mix of deep river gorges, white beaches, rocky headlands and dense forests that stretches along the N2 from Cape Town in the south, taking in the towns of George, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, to the lovely city of Port Elizabeth.

It is one of the most recommended routes in South Africa, and offers the traveller many options. Apart from the spectacular scenery, the route offers adventure (the 216m Bloukraans bungee jump, and canopy tours); holidaying (Plettenberg Bay and Knysna); and golf (Simola, Pezula, Fancourt, among others).

South Africa's wine industry dates back to the 1600s, when the second Dutch governor of the Cape, Simon van der Stel, brought vines with him from Europe.