Vergelegen Wine Estate in Somerset West, renowned for its breathtaking scenery, sustainability initiatives and rich heritage, has opened bookings for a new, one-day, 13-km guided hike.
The first hike takes place on Saturday 15 March and is thereafter offered twice a month, weather permitting.
Hikers will enjoy access to areas of the 3200-hectare property not usually open to the public, where they can discover the estate’s diverse flora and fauna.
The route, set against a spectacular backdrop of the Helderberg and Hottentots Holland mountain ranges, traverses:
- Manor house and gardens: Vergelegen is a provincial heritage site, and the route starts in the historic precinct for hikers to admire the lush gardens and beautiful homestead.
- Lourens River and orchards: The trail leads to the Lourens River, where a section of land is a Protected Natural Environment, then passes through orchards.
- Nguni cattle grazing areas: The route continues into the grazing area of the docile Nguni cattle herd – numbering about 400 indigenous cattle with spectacular multi-coloured hides – and resident bontebok.
- Fynbos biome: Vergelegen is home to the largest privately funded alien vegetation clearing project in South Africa. Find out more about this visionary conservation initiative, and view fynbos, wetlands and renosterbos.
- Game camp: Hike alongside the fenced game camp, with possible sightings of wildlife such as eland, rare Rau quagga, black wildebeest and small antelope.
- Vineyards and wine cellar: The trail continues through vineyards and concludes at the hilltop wine cellar.
Hikers then enjoy a wine tasting and three-course, a la carte lunch at the Stables bistro-style restaurant, with wine. The full cost of R2900/person also includes a branded cap and water bottle, plus a bottle of Florence rosé wine to take home.
Tours are led by Frank Dwyer, an experienced hiking guide and tourism expert with a deep-rooted passion for showcasing South Africa’s natural beauty and rich heritage. Dwyer was born and raised in Somerset West, where his father farmed in the 1960s and 1970s, and he developed an early appreciation of the region’s landscape, history, wine and culture.
Find out more and book: https://vergelegen.co.za/VERGELEGEN-TRAIL/