19 Nov Riebeek Kasteel
Slide 1 – About Us (Love Road Travel)
Jean and I are excited to share our road trip experiences with you. South Africa has so many travel gems all around the country if travellers just took the time to enjoy what the road has to offer. Most people will plan a holiday destination and the quickest route to get there. Their focus is on the destination rather than focusing on the journey itself. Typically, they would book a destination and rush to get there so that their holiday can begin. Yes, Google will show you the fastest route, but not necessarily the most scenic route.
Our philosophy is that the holiday starts when you get behind the steering wheel and start out of your driveway. The road has so much to offer. There are farmstalls and many sites along the way, just begging to be visited. Most, if not all farmstalls will have a play area or sometimes animals to amuse the children. Believe me, they will love stopping there.
So, take a break at that view site or stop at that farmstall to enjoy local tastes, crafts and service. Your destination will still be there when you arrive, but you’ll be richer and happier for the experiences along the way.
We share only what we have personally experienced. For more information and to follow our road trips, visit our website www.loveroadtravel.com
Slide two – Leaving for Riebeek Kasteel
Today we took a short visit from Cape Town to a little town of Riebeek Kasteel. This town is only 86 kilometers from Cape Town.We started out just after 08h00 the morning so that we would not be caught up in the morning peak hour traffic. Beautiful winelands and the countryside greeted us as we turned off the N1 onto the R304. The day was quite overcast, with a spluttering of rain. But this did not deter us.
Slide three – Coffee Stop
Along the R304, just past the turnoff to Philadelphia is a little mobile coffee shop. It is well sign posted so you cannot overlook it. Of course, this was more than enough reason for us to stop. We were delighted to find that sold more than just coffee. We were able to enjoy a toasted sandwich as well. Besides, there are muffins, biltong and other items to choose from. Samuel, who served us, was friendly and accommodating.
Slide Four – Bothmaskloof Pass
Back onto the road, after passing through Malmesbury, we had to cross over Bothmaskloof Pass before entering Riebeek Kasteel.Bothmaskloof Pass is a wide, winding mountain pass, with gentle curves, scenic views and two stop off points. The pass takes you over the Kasteelberg mountain and down into the lush Riebeek valley where the town of Riebeek Kasteel is situated.
Slide Five – Meerhof Winery
The first stop off point, as you climb the pass is Meerhof Winery. If you are just passing through, this is a worthwhile stop for a leg stretch and perhaps some breakfast, or lunch. They have a beautiful restaurant, offering great food and stunning views of the Bothmaskloof pass, the winelands and of the surrounding mountains.
But there is so much to know about what this place has to offer. For more information on Meerhof Winery, visit their website at https://meerhofwines.co.za/
The second stop off at the top of the pass, is Eight Feet Village. But I’ll tell you more about that later. We decided to visit this place on our way back home.
Slide Six – Kloovenburg Wine and Olive Estate
At the foot of Bothmaskloof Pass is Kloovenburg Wine and Olive Estate. This is where we wanted to stop over because we were told that there was a hike on this farm into the Kasteelberg mountain.
This farm is beautifully laid out, offering so many attractions. Besides wine tasting, they have a shop offering local produce, a stunning restaurant, offer tractor rides through the vineyards, children’s play area, accommodation and much more. Visit their website at https://kloovenburg.com/ for more information.
Slide Seven – The Hike
At the farm we enquired about the hike into Kasteelberg and were given a map and good information from Tian and Duncan about the walk through the ravine up to the cave.
Leaving our vehicle at the car park on the farm, we started on the hike.
The weather started clearing by then but some clouds still persisted as we set off from the main entrance onto the path that will take us on a circular walk. There was a slight climb through the vineyards where we could greet workers tending to the vines. Soon we entered the ravine, walking along the river towards the top of the mountain. The path, which was clearly marked out, was undulating and under cover by dense vegetation. There were even notices on some trees with information about the tree or bush.
The path became rockier and steeper, requiring us to climb rather than hike. It was good to hear the sound of running water as we crisscrossed the stream many times. About an hour later, we came across the sign which led us to the cave. Here the path was even more steep, with loose rocks and sand.
The cave itself was something to appreciate. From here, views of the surrounding area are exquisite. We stopped here for a while, just taking in the quiet serenity of the area and the views around us, enjoying some snacks whilst doing so.
This area is a South African National Park heritage site. Take care therefore to leave the area in this pristine natural condition.
Going back down was not going to be easy over the loose rocks and sand. It required some concentration and holding on to surrounding vegetation at times. A few feet lower, however, the path becomes easier to navigate. We turn away from the path that we had come up with and follow a more gentle path on the opposite side of the mountain, down towards the farm. Away from the thicket of the ravine, there is more fauna and flora to appreciate. Soon we were back down at our vehicle. The hike took about three hours in total to complete.
Slide Eight – Riebeek Kasteel
Next, we wanted to visit the town of Riebeek Kasteel, about two kilometers from Kloovenburg Wine and Olive Estate.
Riebeek Kasteel is a quaint little town, peaceful and surrounded by mountains and farmlands. It is also one of the oldest towns in South Africa and in 2009 was chosen as one of the most beautiful towns of the Western Cape by the “Rapport” newspaper. Visiting this town one can see why. The town also has an interesting history.
There are many little restaurants and coffee shops, suggesting that it is a place frequently visited by travellers and passersby. It is spotted with other local stores, offering local products. Shoppers can look forward to a fantastic selection of arts and crafts, handmade clothing and toys, and so on. Often we encountered this logo, “Made in Riebeek” and learnt later on that this is a local initiative to promote the talents of local producers, whether arts or crafts.
We spent a few hours walking through the streets, visiting everyone of these little stores. We enjoyed easy conversation with each storeowner as we entered a store. You sensed their eagerness to share their creations with you. We enjoyed coffee at one of the restaurants and even bought some wine at a local wine emporium before making our way back home.
Slide Nine – Eight Feet
Back onto Bothmaskloof, we stopped over at Eight Feet Village, which is at the top of the pass. The place is named so because of the owner’s four sons. Interesting!
The views of the pass and surrounding area from here is breathtaking, to say the least. At this village are more … stores and eateries. There is also a large restaurant with seating inside and out so that one can enjoy the surrounding vistas, sights and sounds whilst enjoying a pleasant meal with friends or family.
After a very full day, it was back on the road and home with a warm feeling of a day well spent. Thinking also, that we should plan another visit that will stretch over at least three days to enjoy all of what this area has to offer.
No Comments