Ultimate Guide To Africa June 2015 | Page 47

47 IN THE KNOW ACCOMMODATION DIRECTORY SERVICES GUIDE ACCOMMODATION GUIDE READ FEATURES kids play in the playground, and then fill up your picnic basket with locally made eats and treats that will see you well fed for the rest of your day. From here you can head towards the Koeberg Private Nature Reserve with its 153 bird species and variety of mammals. Or try the Witzand Aquifer Nature Reserve with its white sand dunes, which are fantastic for 4X4 enthusiasts and sand boarders. Moving on, be sure to stop in the small town of Mamre to visit the Mission Station, one of the oldest and most picturesque churches in South Africa. Surprisingly, given its religious past, wine has long been a part of Mamre’s history and you can find the region’s popular wines at the Darling Wine Cellar on Mamreweg. And while on the topic of wine, make sure that your road trip includes a stop at Groote Post Winery, which has recently won a Klink Wild Card Award for their interesting and alternative farm drive experience. This family friendly wine farm also hosts an amazing country market on the last Sunday of every month. Here you can expect to find everything from oysters and wild mushrooms to locally brewed beer from the Darling Brewery. Your West Coast road trip should also include a visit to the towns of Darling (home of well-known political satirist Pieter-Dirk Uys and his theatre, Evita se Perron); Yzerfontein; Langebaan (an internationally acclaimed Ramsar site); Saldanha, which is a hot spot for water sport lovers; Jacobsbaai (known as the “Namaqualand by the sea”); Paternoster and the Cape Columbine Reserve; Shelley Point with its golf course and wellness centre; St Helena Bay with its unspoilt coastline and magnificent views; and historic Hopefield with its birdlife and hiking trails. REGULARS ULTIMATE GUIDE TO AFRICA - FOR LUXURY TRAVEL