Things to Do in Worcester

Go zip sliding away above the Ceres Valley on a unique mountain adventure. This new ‘foefie’ slide experience is situated in the lovely mountains surrounding the Ceres Valley. It’s only a one-and-a-half-hour drive from Cape Town, the perfect breakaway from frenetic city life. The Ceres Zip Slide Tour is the longest tour in Africa, offering eight slides, totalling a length of 1.4 km! Amazing rock formations and a river form a stunning backdrop to a fun-adrenaline-filled adventure. Participants are kitted up in full body harnesses with state-of-the-art equipment. Accompanied by two fully-trained guides, they then depart on silent, battery operated carts up into the mountain. A short walk to the departure point at the first slide reveals the breath-taking view of the town of Ceres and the Ceres Valley. This is where the fun begins! Slides vary in length between 110 – 290 m. The highest point above the ground is 40 m. You’ve got to try it! Tours depart every half hour; the last departure is at 17:00. Rate: R400 per person. Price includes beverages during and after the tour. The Ceres Zip Slide operates in most weather conditions. Children from three years can participate. Open daily 08:00 – 17:00. 079 245 0354 info@ceresadventures.co.za

Situated against the Klein Dassenberg mountains, you will find this quaint boutique cellar with its unique character and layout due to its historic origin. Previously a fruit packing shed, the cellar dates back 150 years.The vineyards were first planted in 1994. In 2001 Miko Rwayitare bought the farm and became the first black African to own a wine farm in South Africa.The philosophy is simple, “keep it traditional”. Keeping it traditional allows all the wines to develop as mother nature intended, only when absolutely necessary does the winemaker step in and intervene. This philosophy allows Mont Rochelle to produce wines that are easy drinking, well structured and of high quality that will be fit for any occasion. Quality comes as second nature here and they strive to produce nothing but that.A farm where 16 of the 33 ha is under vine and features sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, merlot, shiraz and cabernet sauvignon. Included are small blocks of mouvedre, petit verdot, viognier and the newly grafted semillon.The vineyards are situated from 250m to 400m above sea level, which gives a wide range of micro climates.Mediterranean-like conditions found in the western cape means dry summers and high winter rainfalls of 1000mm. The Franschhoek valley also experiences the south-easter which also helps bring in cooler air allowing for a longer ripening period, lending a hand to more physiologically ripe fruit.The 150 year old wine cellar was previously used as a fruit packing shed for the early settlers. Since being converted to a traditional wine cellar they can now process close to 110 tons of grapes in a season, these smaller volumes afford more concentration on quality rather than quantity.Stainless steel tanks aid in the making of the crisp clean whites, while barrels are favoured for the red wine making. There is a winemaker on hand at all times to tend the needs of wine, and often he can be seen crouched in the corner tasting some of the previous vintage.Need to know? Cellar tours: 11h00, 12h30 and 15h00 during the week. For a private tour by the winemaker please make a reservation.Tasting hours:wine tasting is available daily from 09h30 to 18h00. Gourmet tastings:enjoy four of Mont Rochelle’s wines, paired by their chefs as a perfect companion to the daily changing dishes. The tasting staff will explain each pairing to you.

Doolhof Wine Estate lies in a beautiful valley below the Bainskloof Pass and is surrounded by three dramatic mountain ranges. The award winning wines are available for tasting in the "old wagon house" which has been stylishly restored and captures the essence of understated elegance. Several well marked walks leading past the river, the vineyards, orange groves and fynbos rich areas allow visitors to enjoy magnificent views over the Estate. Light lunches and picnics are available.

Surrounded by the rolling Langeberg mountains in the Breede River Valley and bordered by vineyards and orchards, the new 18 hole Robertson Golf Course on the Silwerstrand Estate opened for play in April 2009. It is the only 18 hole golf course in the beautiful ‘Valley of Wine and Roses’. Described as a fun leisurely course, it is extremely golfer friendly with comfortable walks from tee to green. It has a great mix of long and short holes, with course designer Danie Obermeyer’s signature “rivet faced” bunkers providing punishment for the wayward shot!The tenth (par 4) and 12th (par 5) are expected to be the toughest holes, especially if the North Westerly wind is blowing, whilst the 18th (a par 5) is a rewarding finishing hole.

Chamonix is located in the rich wine-growing region of the Western Cape, tucked away deep in the Franschhoek Valley. Once a part of the historic La Cotte Farm, granted to the Huguenots in 1688, Chamonix today comprises 300 hectares. Today Chamonix is known for its award-winning wines, German-style Schnapps, Grappa and Spring Water, which can be tasted all year round, seven days a week at their wine tasting room in the Blacksmith’s Cottage. The quaint cottage was built in the 18th century and is decorated with antique saddles and horse memorabilia.Chamonix is known for internationally acclaimed wines, which include a Methode Cap Classique Sparkling Wine, Sauvignon Blanc (a Fume as well as an unwooded), Chardonnay (a cellar master barrel selection), Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux Blend (Troika). Their wines vary from other South African wines due to the advantage of having an altitude variation (250m to 450m). As a result, each variety is planted in optimal position to its suitable microclimate.Taste and purchase any Chamonix product daily from 9:30 am until 16:30 pm in the old Blacksmith’s Cottage.

Take a trip back in time at a South African National Cultural Treasure, the Genadendal Mission Museum. See the country's oldest pipe organ, the oldest fire engine, household implements, books, tools, and musical instruments, and a brilliant example of an original ox wagon. Displays examine the life of Moravian Missionaries in the Cape during the 18th and 19th centuries. Open Monday to Thursday 09:00 – 13:00, 14:00 – 17:00, Friday 09:00 – 15:30, Saturday 10:00 – 02:00 +27 (0) 28 251 8220

Visit the Genadendal Pottery Studio and purchase an unusual ceramic piece or hand-painted tableware. This project of the Genadendal Mission Museum is located on the Moravian Church Square behind the Information Bureau. Open Monday to Friday 08:30 – 16:00 and Saturday 10:00 – 14:00. +27 (0) 28 251 8291

Genadendal Handweavers started as a job-creation project initiated by The Kraal Gallery, but partnered by the Department of Economic Development, Rotary International, private family trusts and the community. Their mantra is ‘weaving broadens horizons’, evident in the vibrant hues and diverse range of beautifully woven products. The business employs locally trained women to create innovative and desirable items and works of art. 082 433 3540 www.thekraalgallery.com

Even more reason to visit Greyton! Chocolatier Richard von Geusau crafts sublime handmade chocolates from the best Belgian couverture. It’s impossible not to drool while browsing the Von Geusau range of truffles and slabs – spiked with the flavours of roasted hazelnut, almond, pistachio, rose geranium, cardamom, crème brûlée, pear, lemon, vanilla and liqueurs. Need to know? Find the von Geusau Chocolaterie at the Oak & Vigne in Ds Botha Street, Greyton. +27 (0) 28 254 9100 www.vgchocolate.co.za

Something of a Greyton institution, The Inside Story retails an eclectic assortment of old and new. Merchandise ranges from fantastic handmade bath soaps to Indian textiles, scarfs and shawls in vibrant colours to unusual furniture. Artwork by shop owners, Michelle Holloway and Carol Gibbs adorns the walls. The shop's relaxed atmosphere makes browsing a pleasure. +27 (0) 28 254 9827

Oak Falls is situated halfway between Greyton and McGregor on the Boesmanskloof Hiking Trail. It’s quite feasible to take a picnic and spend the day at this lovely waterfall or cool off in the natural pool if you’re doing the Boesmanskloof Hiking Trail. Permits are required from Cape Nature for the day trail – wwwcapenature.org.za 0861 227 362 8873.

Hike along the road to nowhere – The Galg Road. The original pass from McGregor towards Greyton leads up to the mountains and mysteriously disappears at the edge of a steep krantz. Many local stories speculate about the reason why the road was never completed. In 1862 the village of McGregor was officially proclaimed and the land divided into 2.5-hectare plots and sold to 19 farmers who were under the impression that the road from Cape Town would pass through their village. This never happened and neither did the planned road over the mountains through the Boesmanskloof Pass to Greyton – the road simply passes through the village and comes to an abrupt end.

The popular Boesmanskloof Trail winds through the only gap in the rugged Riviersonderend Mountain range. This lovely hiking trail links the quaint little towns of McGregor and Greyton. The route can be hiked either way starting at Die Galg, roughly 14 km from Greyton and McgGregor. It traverses some spectacular mountain scenery with deep rock pools and waterfalls – perfect for cooling off in summer. Perdekop viewpoint offers fabulous views of the steep gorges of the Riviersonderend Mountains and the lush Greyton and McGregor valleys. A great diversity of plant species can be seen, particularly proteas and ericas. Between July and October the flowering king proteas are magnificent. Hikers have the option of overnighting at Die Galg – book in advance. Permits are required from Cape Nature for the day trail – wwwcapenature.org.za 0861 227 362 8873.

Friendship, good food, wine and brilliant entertainment – the Barnyard Theatre in Franschhoek is where it all comes together. The first Barnyard Theatre started as a homely, rustic farm theatre in Plettenberg Bay where friends and family could be entertained and eat, drink and talk into the small hours of the morning. It proved to be such a winner that more Barnyard Theatres started popping up all over the country. There are currently 12 Barnyard Theatres in South Africa. While each theatre is a product of its individual setting, they all retain the quaint rustic charm of the original farm theatre’s humble beginning. The Barnyard Theatre at Bridge House hosts professional productions, jazz, choirs and corporate functions. Bring your own picnic basket or order a la carte.

Renowned for its exceptional wines, picturesque setting, historic buildings and rural atmosphere, La Motte is an enchanting destination for visitors to the Cape Winelands. In synchronization with the wine making process, the farm also cultivates flowers and produces ethereal oils.La Motte’s completely redesigned and refurbished tasting centre was unveiled late 2009 and has been praised for the inviting and friendly ambiance it creates for wine lovers. Seated at hand-made tasting tables or in comfortable sofas, visitors look through huge glass windows into the working maturation cellar.Visitors are able to sample La Motte’s range of award-winning wines amid original works of art by acclaimed South African artist Jacob Hendrik Pierneef, after whom La Motte’s range of premium wines is named.Knowledgeable staff will not only advise guests on current vintages but also some of the older vintages which can be tasted. Besides wine, guests can also purchase some of La Motte’s beautiful Disas which are available during flowering season.Tasting Room hours: Monday to Saturday 09:00 – 17:00, closed Sundays and Christian Public Holidays.

The Franschhoek Valley is one of the top wine destinations in the world. It is here that the Maison Estate produces wines that are honed with skill, care and respect. Each vine is tenderly nurtured, each grape hand selected to give it that personal touch that is always home, always Maison. “While travelling is my passion, the comforting memory of a meal, of intimate moments shared with good friends over good wine, always draws me home.” This is Chris Weylandt’s inspiration behind the name Maison, the French word for house. “We make highly individual wines. We drink them with the people closest to us – and we love drinking them at home, where we can really explore the intimate character of each bottle,” says Weylandt. Open Wednesday to Sunday 10:00 – 17:00 +27 (0) 21 876 2116 www.maisonestate.co.za

Steeped in history and dating from 1797, this beautiful Boutique Estate is a 'must-visit' destination in Franschhoek. Rickety Bridge offers great wines, superb picnics and light meals in summer and hearty meals in winter as well as luxury accommodation, all amid spectacular mountain views. Leave all your cares behind and cross the bridge for a truly memorable experience.Need to know? Rickety Bridge Wine Tasting Centre Hours: Monday - Saturday 10:00 - 19:00 (December - March), Monday - Saturday 10:00 - 17:00 (April - November), Sunday 10:00 - 17:00. Closed 25 December and 1 January.Tasting fee: R15.00 per person for five wines, refundable on a purchase of wine. Cellar Tours can be arranged by appointment.

Bartholomeus Klip Reserve is teeming with herds of eland, springbuck, black wildebeest, zebra and bontebok. Many other animals, such as baboons, bat-eared foxes, lynxes, and smaller species of antelope, live here too, and it is known that leopards still occur in the mountains.Among the birdlife at Bartholomeus Klip is the world’s largest bird, the ostrich, once farmed here in large flocks at the height of the ostrich feather boom in the 1870s and today one of the leopard’s favourite foods. The magnificent black eagle (correctly known as Verreaux’s eagle) nests in the mountains, and the enormous dam near to the farmhouse has a spectacular array of water birds, some resident like the fish eagles and the kingfishers, and others such as the pelicans and the spoonbills less regular visitors. Flamingos have also been seen in some of Bartholomeus Klip’s smaller dams and there are a host of interesting large and small birds out in the reserve and on the wheatlands, including large flocks of the blue crane, South Africa’s national bird.

Glenwood is a very special place. Located in the little-known valley of Robertsvlei, a few kilometres from Franschhoek, the farm and winery are surrounded by aspects of outstanding natural beauty.In this unique environment, it was only natural to plant the very best vines, with cultivars matched to the specific terroir of the valley, and to use sustainable farming practices to produce the best possible quality wines. They have done exactly that over the past twenty years, winning viticultural awards in the process, and their wines are receiving widespread acclaim.All grapes are hand-picked in the early hours of the morning to preserve their natural fruitiness. The wines are fermented in oak barrels or stainless steel tanks using natural and other yeasts, before maturation and bottling. State-of-the art winemaking techniques and personal attention are producing outstanding quality cultivar wines.Glenwood’s Flagship is the Chardonnay Vigneron’s selection, barrel fermented and matured in new French barrels with only wild yeast. Winning numerous awards, this wine features outstanding fruit and oak integration with a lingering aftertaste of smokey peach.Wine Tasting Hours:Mondays to Fridays 11:00 & 16:00Saturdays and Sundays (September to April, excluding Christian religious public holidays) 11:00 & 15:00Closed on weekends from May to AugustJoin their popular cellar and vineyard tours daily at 11:00.

The Donkey Sanctuary will warm your heart. The Sanctuary provides a home for abused, neglected and elderly donkeys. Here they can live out their lives with respect and dignity, surrounded by their own kind in a protective and natural environment. You can even adopt one of the donkeys. Facilities include a restaurant, farm stall and kids playground.