The Winelands offer the ultimate holiday sensation, filled with scenic landscapes and historical monuments. The mountain slopes and valleys not only provide a dramatic background, but also form the ideal habitat for the wine grape.

Summer in the Cape Winelands is also synonymous with harvest season.

The first vineyard was planted by Jan van Riebeeck at the Cape in 1655, and in early 1659, the first wine was pressed. The excellent wines produced in this area are world-renowned.

Stellenbosch is a town for all seasons and is the heart of South Africa's wine industry. It was founded in 1679 by Simon van der Stel and is the second oldest town in South Africa.

The Stellenbosch Wine Route is arguably the country's most famous, and the Stellenbosch Wine of Origin area includes 106 cellars - most of which are open to the public.

Experience the Winelands' exceptional beauty from a hot air balloon or glider. If you prefer the more laid-back approach, enjoy guided nature walks, camping, golfing, bird watching or fly-fishing. For the more adventurous visitor, there are activities such as canoeing, 4x4 trails, horse-back safaris, hiking, mountain biking, rock pool swimming and abseiling.

Crocodile and ostrich farms as well as the Tygerberg Zoo, give the visitor a chance to discover the Wineland's animal kingdom. A number of wine farms also have petting zoos and farmyards to introduce children to the wonder of nature.

The Riebeek Valley is one of the little gems of the Winelands. It reminds so much of Provence in France: the same landscape, colours, olive groves and vineyards, the same gastronomic highlights, but its own unique charm.

The name Franschhoek literally means "a little corner of France". The French Huguenots settled here more than 300 years ago to escape religious persecution.

Wellington is the centre for the dried fruit industry and in early summer you can see row upon row of bright orange apricot halves soaking up the sun.

The Afrikaans Language Monument situated in Paarl and erected 1975, is the only language monument in the world.