Reviews

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Comments and reviews by guests who have experienced a self-guided walking or cycling holiday offered by Trails and Travel in South Africa

“Most important of all for us was the personal care and attention you gave us throughout the trip. This was outstanding. Better than we have had on any previous trip. You were always available and quick to respond – Hard to beat anywhere in the world. We had a wonderful and memorable time – Overall, the holiday was invigorating – You certainly went out of your way to make the whole time memorable – We are recommending it to our walking community in the States – Fantastic walks, wines and accommodation – We had a wonderful and memorable time – It was altogether a wonderful walking holiday – exceeded our expectations in terms of beauty, convenience, and service ” Details of reviews below:  

“Walking Distance- Extraordinary hikes for ordinary people”

The writers conclude:

The Cape Winelands Walk is an excellent introduction to Southern Africa, its distinctive landscape, history and culture. The walk includes impressive public nature reserves with exotic plants and animals, private lands in the form of wine estates and other agricultural areas and lively and attractive towns. Our walk left us glad we had chosen this trail – and we have a strong desire to return to this part of the world.

Rob Vrijmoeth and Pippa Aird, Canada

Cape Winelands Cycling, March 2024

Rating- 5- excellent
Description- Superb bike trip to explore the Winelands of Franschhoek, Stellenbosch and Somerset West
Pros- Enjoyable, Great accommodation, Great experience, Well organised
Best uses- Relaxation, Trying something new
I am- Occasional traveller, World traveller
Comments- We took this trip in early March 2024. It is well put together with variety in terrain and surroundings for each day, and covering highlights of the areas covered. The hotels in Franschhoek and Stellenbosch were very nice, and suitable for this kind of trip (smaller, quainter and more personal than big hotels). This is a perfect self directed trip and no guide needed – the instructions through the app are good. Most days we ended up in a wine estate for some lunch and wine – a few days this was in the middle of the ride, which was nice. The final day through vineyards towards Somerset West was outstanding. On that day it is noted though that there are no places to stop for coffee until you have done the majority of the distance (i.e. arrived in Somerset West) – we pushed on for a late lunch in Vergelegen. This wine estate is a must for a visit, it is gorgeous.
Andries is very responsive and was able to iron out any initial issues with our bikes very well. He is a great resource for suggestions and explanations of the history of the land – it was nice to meet up with him in Stellenbosch.
Recommend- Yes

Sergio and Teresa Adinolfi, South Africa

Cape Winelands Walk, Jan 2024

Rating- 5- excellent
Description-
Pros- Enjoyable, Great accommodation, Great experience, Well organised, See my comments below
Best uses- Short break, Relaxation, Educational, Trying something new, See my comments below

Comments- We wish to express our heartfelt gratitude for the truly spectacular and unforgettable experience we had during our walk through the Winelands. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect, with the vines flourishing in their lush, fruit-laden glory under hot, sun-soaked days. The absence of rain during the trail made the experience extra special.
Our journey was not just a physical adventure but a rich learning experience. Immersing ourselves in the captivating world of fynbos and delving into the history of the wine farms we visited provided us with an appreciation for this breathtaking part of our country. The exceptional farmers and their farming communities that nurture this land left a lasting mark on our hearts.
The scenic beauty of Somerset West and Stellenbosch unfolded in every direction we walked, offering a feast for the eyes and the soul. Each step revealed a new facet of the landscape, making it impossible not to fall in love with the surroundings.
Andries, your hospitality and kindness were nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment we arrived, you welcomed us, making us feel like cherished friends.
Please do keep us on your mailing list. We eagerly look forward to any future adventures or experiences you may offer. This holiday has undoubtedly become one of our most cherished, and we are grateful for the opportunity to witness the Winelands as a true treasure of our beautiful country.
Thank you once again for creating such an unforgettable and enriching experience that will stay with us for a lifetime. Here’s to the beauty of exploration and the discovery of hidden gems in our country.
Best regards and gratitude
Sergio and Teresa
Recommend- Yes

Gregg and Amy Shoultz, USA

Cape Winelands Cycling, Jan 2024

Rating- 5- excellent
Description- Impeccably Organized and Heartfelt Hospitality
Pros- Enjoyable, Great accommodation, Great experience, Well organised

Comments- Our cycling trip in the Cape Winelands area was a lovely way for us to end our three-week trip to South Africa. Andreis was a wonderful host who attended to the many small logistics that made our entire trip run seamlessly. He even met us in person one day to make sure that all of the intricate details were covered. We stayed in beautiful accommodations with hosts who went the extra step to ensure that we had a quality experience. The weather was beautiful, and the vistas were spectacular. The biking involved some steep climbs that also led us to the doorstep of many wineries. Though we are not wine connoisseurs, we did enjoy the experience of wine-tasting. One of the wineries also had olive and olive oil tasting, so that was a treat, too.

I must also mention that this trip was initially planned three years ago, but we had to cancel when the Omicron virus showed up in South Africa, and we could not travel there. Andries was so understanding and even refunded our entire payment! He is a wonderful ambassador of his beautiful country.
Recommend- Yes

Chiara Visioni and Charles Greenwood, UK

Cape Winelands Walk, 7 days, Dec 2023

We had an excellent tour, all the major arrangements worked well, the online guide for the walks was reliable, and we even had good weather, so our feedback is very positive and, if the opportunity arises, we would be very happy to do some more walking in South Africa with your organization.

I would only like to mention that I believe we actually did not do a couple of wine tastings that were included in our package on day 3 and 4 (see below):

INCLUDED:        
• Breakfast.
• Cape Winelands Walk detailed route notes and description to allow you to walk self guided and at your own pace amid splendid scenery while we transport your luggage.
• A walk with a professional nature guide in the Helderberg Nature Reserve, Somerset West
• Day 3 wine tasting and light snacks at De Trafford Wines, Blaauwklippen Valley, Stellenbosch
• Day 4 start with a guided walk, a wine tasting with snacks on the Waterford Wine Estate, Stellenbosch
• All transfers on the Cape Winelands trail (It is not a continuous walk)
• Transfers to and from central Cape Town or Cape Town International Airport

We are not interested in an actual refund, but we would appreciate it is you could donate an equivalent amount to a charity of your choice.

Pieter Marais. South Africa

Whale Coast Cycling, Dec 2023

This is probably the best picture of the two of us together. Also enjoyed cycling here in De Hoop this morning. Thanks for all your effort. Everything went well and we really enjoyed it

(Translated from Afrikaans)

Pieter Marais. South Africa

Hermanus Cycling Holiday, Dec 2023

We have had all kinds of weather in Hermanus. From soaking wet rain, lots of wind and a beautiful day today but enjoyed the cycling. Accommodation is also very comfortable. Tomorrow we move on to the Whale Coast Cycling tour

(Translated from Afrikaans)

Cules Hamman, South Africa

Drakensberg Hiking, Sep 2023

First of all, Thank you very much for you and your team.
The weekend was unbelievable
Cavern is a great resort and service is excellent.
Your planning was great for our days spend there.
Thanks so much

Becca Shaw group, UK

Cape Winelands Walk, 4th Feb 2023

Description- Incredible Wine Farms Tour
Pros- Enjoyable, Great experience, Well organised, See my comments below
Best uses- Relaxation, Trying something new, See my comments below
Comments- The most amazing tour of 3 wine farms, so well organised taking us to the most beautiful locations for an incredible day, 10/10 experience would recommend to anyone!
Recommend- Yes

Philip James, UK

Kogelberg Walk, 4 days, 16 Nov 2022

Rating- 5- excellent
Description- Perfect walk
Pros- Enjoyable, Great accommodation, Great experience, Well organised
Best uses- Short break, Relaxation, Educational
Comments- We had a 3 day walk in the Kogelberg Nature reserve. All aspect of the holiday were excellent. The communication before the holiday was efficient. The accommodation was an excellent guest house in Kleinmond. We were met by Hans from the company who was charming and extremely helpful. He describe clearly what we could expect over the coming days. The walk on the next day was along the coast and was very pretty. The walk on the second day was spectacular with stunning scenery. We also had a guide who was extremely knowledge about the area and the flowers of the Fynbos which added an extra level of enjoyment to the day. The thirdly was a tour of the local botanical gardens which were very pretty and then a trip to see the penguins which was a delight. We thoroughly enjoyed our trip and would certainly highly recommend it.
Recommend- Yes

Cathy Campbell group of 12, Sandton

Cape Winelands Walk, 4 days, 22 Sep 2022

Rating- 5- excellent
Description- Excellent mix of Walking and Wine
Pros- Enjoyable, Great accommodation, Great experience, Well organised
Best uses- Short break
I am- Avid adventurer
Comments- This walk way exceeded our expectations.  The accommodation was perfect and we were well looked after at both places.  We loved the walks through the beautiful countryside.  The walk through the Helderberg Nature Reserve was very informative.   It was just the right mix of walking, tasting wines and eating.  We couldn’t fault anything.  A huge thank you to Andries for such great organisation – everything ran like clockwork.
Recommend- Yes

Melanie Richards, UK

Cape Highlights, 21 days, 26 Aug 2022

Rating– 5- excellent 
Pros– Enjoyable, Great accommodation, Great experience, Well organised
Best uses– Educational, Trying something new
I am– Avid adventurer, World traveller
Comments– Varied, exciting, well thought out. We asked for guides who knew about the flora and fauna and about the landscape. Trails and Travel produced a series of people who were passionate and knowledgeable and able to communicate that knowledge. It exceeded our expectations by quite a big margin.
Recommend– Yes

Peter Wood

Cape Highlights Walk, Aug 2022

We are not long through our front doors and will send you more detailed feedback later but I wanted to say now that I had a wonderful time, and thanks to the knowledgeable and passionate group of guides and tutors you arranged for us I learnt a great deal about the landscape and flora of the western Cape. Fascinating.

Linda Calore

Cape Winelands Walk, 23 Feb 2022

Rating- 5- excellent
Description- Tourists in our own Country!
Pros- Enjoyable, Great accommodation, Great experience, Well organised
Cons-
Best uses- Short break
I am- Avid adventurer
Comments- We spent 3 great days walking through the Cape Winelands. Scenery, wine, food and accommodation were all incredible! Well organized, Andries made sure we understood where we had to be and when. We did not use any technology to guide us on our walks and had no trouble finding our way. The informative guided walk in the Helderberg Nature Reserve was most worthwhile. Wine farms chosen were most definitely worth the visit and many more to visit on the way.
Recommend- Yes

Aline Dénéréaz, Switzerland

Cape Winelands Walk, 14th Jan 2022

Rating- 5- excellent
Description- Great walking tour with a lot of sun and heat
Pros- Enjoyable, Great experience, Well organised
Best uses- Educational
I am- World traveller
Comments- We really enjoyed the tours organized by Andries and his team. Especially the walk in the Helderberg Nature Reserve with Andreas was a wonderful experience and we learned a lot about Fynbos. Andries was very flexible to reorganize the tour as it was soo hot that we wanted to walk very early in the morning. Also the picnic in Vergelegen is a great experience.
Recommend- Yes

Aline Dénéréaz, Switzerland

Garden Route Game Walk, 6th Jan 2022

The Gondwana Pioneer Trail was outstanding -such great experience and a beautiful place. We are very grateful for your organisation – it was really remarkable, and all went well. We have been only the two of us for the entire Trail – so a royal treatment– thank you very much!

Antoinette van der Merwe, Gauteng

Cederberg Community Hike, 11th Oct 2021

Rating- 5- excellent
Description- It was nice to be outdoors for exercise and vacation. (Dit was vir my so lekker om in die buitelug te wees, te oefen en ook om vakansie te hou)
Pros- Enjoyable, Great accommodation, Great experience, Well organised
Best uses- Trying something new
I am- Occasional traveller
Recommend- Yes

Penny Rice group, KwaZulu-Natal

Wild Coast Walk, 23 April 2021

Rating- 5- excellent
Description- One of the most memorable holidays
Pros- Great experience, Well organised
Best uses- Relaxation
I am- World traveller
Comments- We were a group of 11 women ranging in age from 60 – 80 years and every one of us agreed it was a wonderful week and a fabulous holiday.
Helen Voss (Wildcoast Meanders) whom we booked our trip through was super efficient and a pleasure to deal with. Our transfer with Vernon was very good. The vehicle was clean, comfortable and safe. Besides being an excellent driver, Vernon’s local knowledge of the area is fascinating. One suggestion
is that he has a microphone so everyone in the vehicle can hear him speak. As we had a late arrival on day 1 it would have been nice to have a sandwich in our lunch pack.
All accommodation was comfortable, some of the hotels are tired and very dated but this all adds to the charm of the Wild Coast. Food and service
were excellent at all hotels. The seafood buffet at Wavecrest was a real treat
Our porters and guides were lovely but some of the guides could have interacted a little more with the group. Konzi our lady guide on day one from Kobb Inn to Mazeppa was really interesting as well as Phillip Goosen who did the first section of the long day from Mazeppa to Wavecrest.
We all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and would highly recommend this walk.
Recommend- Yes

Wayne Hook group, Durban

Wild Coast Walk, March 2020

We thoroughly enjoyed the walk despite me going for an impromptu swim halfway to Mazeppa on day 1 and a torn calf muscle while diving into cold (for us) water…drugs and deep heat are amazing!
All the hotels were good ..although Trennerys and especially Morgan’s Bay were outstanding.
No issues with the porters and 2 of the guides Philipp and Kwiks(?) were great..others had little interaction but got us there..probably need some more training.
Thanks for coordinating it all

Robin Sladden UK

Hermanus Walk, Feb 2020

We enjoyed our time in Hermanus.
It was great to be taken on a walk by Jilly and Ralph on our first walking day. They took us higher than we would have gone on our own, and shared their extensive knowledge of all sorts of things with us.
We then had a good circular walk from the guest house on day 2, walking to the Fernkloof information centre then following the pipe track back.
The final walk, following the coastal path from Hermanus to Grotto beach, was very pretty.
And Lavender Manor was a pleasant place to stay. Moving rooms was a bit of a pain as it felt like we were in transit so not worth unpacking our bags – quite different from a four night stay somewhere. The financial compensation was a good idea and welcome, but we should really have been told about the possibility at the start of the process, not just when we were about to travel.
But, overall, a good break, thanks.

Helene Morneau, USA

Cape Winelands Walk- 8 days, 15 Feb 2020

Rating- 5- excellent
Description- Enjoyable walk thru wine country w/ great tastings
Pros- Enjoyable, Great accommodation, Great experience, Well organised
Best uses- Short break, Relaxation, See my comments below
I am- World traveller
Comments- Andries did a fantastic job taking care of us and organizing every part of our 7 night/8 day excursion. We particularly loved the wine tastings that we were not expecting and thoroughly enjoyed. We also really enjoyed the tour of one of the preserves with a local naturalist which was a great intro to the landscape we would be experiencing on our walks. Overall, we were very impressed with the wineries we experienced and quite awestruck by the beauty of the Cape Town area.
Recommend- Yes

Lucille Mastriaco, USA

Cape Winelands Walk, Feb 2020

Rating- 4- very good
Description- Our first walking trip in South Africa
Pros- Enjoyable, Great accommodation, Great experience, See my comments below
Comments- My husband and I have done many hiking and walking trips, both guided and self-guided, all in North America and Europe. This was not exactly something new, but was our first in Africa.
We enjoyed it very much, mostly, I must say, because of our wonderful traveling companions.
We thought the trip was well designed, with a very easy walk the first day (we appreciated the guided tour of the Helderberg Nature Reserve) building up in difficulty.
The hotels were excellent, and we appreciated that they were all different, the first very modern, the second quaint and the third in town.
We loved De Trafford Winery.
The visit to Waterford was also worthwhile, but would have been better after a hike, not before.
A suggestion would be to use Trails & Travel luggage tags and count the luggage pieces.
Our only serious complaint was that the booklet was confusing and some of the necessary information was in previous emails but not in the book. Luckily, Wikiloc worked well.
Our favorite restaurant of the trip was Jardine in Stellenbosch, much better than the restaurant at Coopmanhuijis.
A fabulous experience that we learned about from the manager of Coopmanhuijis was a gin tasting at the Sansibar Gin Lounge at the Asara Wine Estate, actually a highlight for us.
Overall, this trip was a wonderful experience. Thank you, Andries.
One other thing: we appreciated your being available via WhatApp when we had questions or problems.
Recommend- Yes

Andy Finfrock, USA

Cape Winelands Walk, Feb 2020

We just got back home a day ago.  The flights back home were uneventful and now we have only to deal with the jet lag.

The only critical input for you is that I would turn the last day’s hike into a loop rather that backtrack over the same trail.

I commend you for the arrangements you made at de Trafford and Waterford for us.  Both were fun stops, although I give you especially high points for the tasting and lunch at de Trafford.  Their wines were the best we tasted in our time in South Africa.  Also, our time with the naturalist our first morning was outstanding and certainly put the Fynbos into perspective for us.

You have a lovely corner of the world and South Africans should be proud of the progress made there.  I certainly hope the political issues can be resolved and that the economy picks up.  Both our countries have their challenges.

Good luck to you and thank you for making our trip so much fun.

David Capen, USA

Cape Winelands Walk, Jan 2020

Rating- 5- excellent
Description- We enjoyed it so much, we did it again!
Pros- Enjoyable, Great accommodation, Great experience, Well organised
Best uses- See my comments below
I am- World traveller
Comments- Upon a recommendation by friends, my wife and I did the Cape Winelands Walk in late 2014 and throughly enjoyed it, along with the stunning landscape of Somerset West and Stellenbosch. We returned this year with relatives from eastern Canada. All of us in late 60s and early 70s and relatively fit for our ages. The four of us arrived in Cape Town in early evening, were met by a driver, and delivered to Erinvale Estate for a nice dinner and good night’s rest. The next morning, we were transported to Helderberg Nature Reserve for a 2-3-hour guided walk with an experienced naturalist, to be introduced to the unique diversity of the fynbos plant communities. It was an entertaining and informative walk with a brilliant retired university professor. We then began to visit the winelands, with a 45-minute walk to the Laurensford Estate for lunch and wine-tasting. It was hard to tear ourselves away from this gorgeous estate, so we were a bit late arriving at the Vergelegen Estate, the last stop of the day. A hour wasn’t enough to wander this lovely property and learn about its history. We were met by our driver at 5:00 and delivered to the Eikendal Estate, just in time for a shower and their 6:00 wine tasting.

We were picked up the next morning, after a wonderful breakfast, and delivered to the start of our day of true hiking, from the Blue Gum dam on Laurensford, up and over the mountain and into the Blaukliprivier Valley that eventually took us to Stellenbosch. Just as our legs were beginning to tire and our stomachs grumbling, we arrived at De Trafford estate, the highest elevation vineyard in the valley, where a lovely lunch and wine tasting awaited us. We then had a short tour of the operation and a visit with owner, David Trafford. It was perfect. We left with renewed energy for our last hour of hiking, and a transfer back to Eikendal Estate for some lovely rose and another comfortable night.

We slept in a bit on Day 4, being picked up at 9:30 and taken to the beautiful Waterford Estate to meet our guide for a 3-hour walk, which included a picnic lunch during the walk and tasting of some incredible wines to end our Waterford experience. Murray, our guide, was excellent, mixing natural history of the property with the culture of grapes and making of wine. Waterford was one of the highlights of the walk. From there, we walked through the Dornier Estate, along some public roads for a distance, then through several other estates to end our walk at Vriesenhof Estate. Here, we tasted several nice wines, bought several bottles, and called for our driver to deliver us to Stellenbosch. It was a hot day, so we skipped the last few kms and enjoyed our wine instead. It was a wonderful walk, so well organized, and a great introduction to this beautiful region of the Western Cape for our relatives. Trails and Travel does a wonderful job, all around.
Recommend- Yes

Andrew Lucas group, Johannesburg

Kruger Wilderness Trails, 18 Nov 2019

Thank you Casper, it was a wonderful trail that we all enjoyed hugely … beyond all expectations. Luan and his team were super hosts. The sighting were close and personal😀 

Steve and Marita Meyerholtz, Seattle, USA

Cape Highlights Walk- 18 days, Oct 2019

There’s a lot to see in the Cape Town and wine country, and both Marita and I enjoyed the trip immensely.

Rosalinda Brooks, Canada

Cape Winelands Cycling, Garden Route and Blyde River Canyon Tour- Apr 2019

I am happy to report that after your heroic rescue we went on to have a wonderful afternoon. We did find the bike trail along the other side of the river which lead us toward Somerset West and finding a wine tasting and lunch. We ended up finding out way to Blaauwklippen. A wrong turn here and there, got us close to Dornier but not quite there. That said once we learned lunch was still being served at Blaauwklippen we dropped into a chair with a huge sigh if relief and ordered our fare. The lunch was delicious and presented beautifully. We couldn’t ask for more.

Getting back on the bikes was interesting but after the climb up to the gas station on the hill it was smooth sailing back to our hotel. I have to say for a bunch of novices we were pretty pleased with our 35km.

Ok so we are all set to meet Fred later this morning at 9:30. He is always early, so we will be ready for him. Our next challenge will now be to tackle driving on the opposite side of the road. Lol The bikes gave us a bit of a feel for it, so I’m sure it will be fine.

Ok I think that is it for now. Thank you so very much for your kindness yesterday. You really have gone above beyond to look out for us.

Prof Dr Carol Hagemann-White, Germany

Drakensberg Hiking, 11 days, May 2018

Rating- 5- excellent
Description- Wonderful walks and beautiful scenery
Pros- Enjoyable, Great accommodation, Great experience
Cons- See my comments below
Best uses- Relaxation, Trying something new
I am- Occasional traveller
Comments- I’m sending a e-mail explaining; the Cavern was not welcoming for longer self-guided day hikes, but we worked that out and had excellent walks at all three locations. It was a great experience exploring and getting to know the Drakensberg area, so very different from walking in the Cape region, and even more different from European mountains!
The Spas were excellent, beginning with Clarens and again at the Cavern!
Recommend- Yes

Gerhard and Regina Euler, Germany

Kruger Park Safari, 5 days, May 2018

Excellent! Casper is a perfect companion, weather was fine, we saw a lot, I lost my sceptical about Kruger Park, quite opposite, I become a fan 😊

Jeanne Joubert Group, South Africa

Kruger Wilderness Trails, 4 days, May 2018

Rating- 5- excellent
Description- wonderful
Pros- Enjoyable, Great accommodation, Great experience, Well organised, See my comments below
Best uses- Relaxation, Educational
I am- Avid adventurer
Comments- The hike of ± 37 km in the Greater Kruger Park was really well organized. Camping in three different beautiful locations along the route; encountering different animals like elephants, white rhino and many other types; learning about tracks, birds made it all worthwhile. The food was excellent and the company supplied everything from drinks, snacks. We really only had to carry a day pack for camera and binoculars. Can recommend this “luxury” hike.
Recommend- Yes

Dave and Caroline Dougall, UK

Franschhoek Valley Walk, 4 days, April 2018

Rating- 5- excellent
Description- Relaxing, Tiring and Inspiring…
Pros- Great accommodation
Best uses- Short break
I am- World traveller
Comments- Accommodation was excellent – first class – complemented by warm friendly staff. No downside if you enjoy outdoor activity followed by a glass of wine by the pool.
Recommend- Yes

Robin and Sue Sladden, UK

Cape Winelands Cycling, January 2018

Thanks for organising such an enjoyable holiday for us. And for providing the information below. It was good to meet you again yesterday and discuss the trip.
Feedback:
Transfers – excellent.
Accommodation – excellent. We understand the compromise that has to be struck in Stellenbosch.
Contact with Trails and Travels – 1) email; great, prompt replies, 2) face to face with Colin and yourself; very useful and informative.
Cycle routes – as discussed yesterday. Possible improvements – maps alongside route notes on handlebar leaflet, distance alongside notes for each section, more accurate directions in wine field reservoir area. Otherwise, a very good tour, with particular highlights Jonkershoek trail followed by Postcard Cafe, lunch at Tokara and lunch at Vergelegen (thank you for booking it for us).
Photos to follow!

Villi Ivanova, UK

Cape Winelands Walk, 4 days, December 2017

Rating- 4- very good
Description- Different experience
Pros- Enjoyable, Great accommodation, Well organised
Best uses- Trying something new
I am- Avid adventurer
Comments- Walk was nice and well organised but because of our schedule we couldn’t do all stretches so can not comment on that. We think the cost was quite high but maybe that’s what the standard is this part of the world. Andries was friendly and helpful and we can recommend him for sure. In overall it was nice experience and not the usual walk we normally do so was different for us and we enjoyed it
Recommend- Yes

Dr Gary and Lynne Hill, UK

Cape Winelands Cycling, 7 days, September 2017

Rating- 5- excellent
Description- Fantastic 6 days cycling to end our holiday
Pros- Enjoyable, Great accommodation, Well organised
Best uses- See my comments below
I am- World traveller
Comments- All of the accommodation was good. Especially enjoyed Mont Rochelle in Franschoek.
Excellent recommendations for estates to stop off at for wine tastings and lunch. a very memorable lunch at Tokara with stunning views.
As a non cyclist I found the MB trails exciting and sufficient challenges for the experienced cyclist too.
Need a certain level of fitness to cope with the hills!
We had dinner at the Graff estate (Stellenbosch) and it was more expensive but great value for compared to price for similar restaurants at home and  wonderful location.
Recommend- Yes

Prof Mike & Lorenza Cowling group, South Africa & UK

West Coast Walk, 5 days, September 2017

Rating- 5- excellent
Pros- Enjoyable, Great accommodation, Great experience, Well organised.
Comments- 8 friends (all in their 60’s) booked this holiday a year ago. Andries was very patient dealing with all the enquiries and changes as some were coming from the UK. His regular contact with us throughout our holiday was most reassuring.We had a simply fantastic time. All the accommodations (which included a delicious breakfast) booked by Andries were excellent. He also recommended and booked our evening meals at 2 great restaurants in Paternoster.The walks were very manageable and The scenery beautiful..(We all said it would have been helpful if at least one member of our party could have had a map of each days walk) The transport he arranged to collect people from/to the airport and taking us and our luggage between lodgings was very efficient.Yvonne was a delightful and informative driver. The highlight for many of us was the Steenbok Trail hike at Langebaan arranged for us by Andries as an add on.The flowers were simply spectacular….All in all an unforgettable experience .
Recommend- Yes

John and Marcia Hoover, Hawaii, USA

Cape Town and Winelands walks, 8 days, September 2017

My wife and I traveled to Cape Town in September 2017 wanting to do some walks. During our 8-day stay (too short!) Andries Liebenberg of Trails & Travel arranged everything for us beautifully. Before the trip started he had sent us a suggested itinerary, and we had worked with him to arrive at a combination of Wine District and Cape Town walks. We didn’t want to rent a car; Andries said no problem and arranged everything: transfers, hotels/guest houses, detailed maps and instructions, and best of all, ample personal attention. Andries really cared that our experience was good and he called us and met with us several times to make sure all was going well. He even recommended specific hotel rooms for the best views. And indeed, everything went smoothly! We can completely recommend Trails and Travel for anyone wanting a walking or cycling vacation in South Africa. As I mentioned before, Andries and Piet really care that your experience is the best it can be!

Ellen Meyer group, Bloemfontein, South Africa

West Coast Walk, 5 days, August 2017

Translation of of their comments:

Many thanks Andries for all your effort. Everything went smoothly and we appreciate your arrangements.
Heidi is really nice and thorough with her directions, arrangements, information and help. We enjoyed her very much.
All the guesthouses were also very pleasant and helpful.
Overall a very nice experience.

Jeff McDonald & Kathy Gerry, Canada

Cape Winelands Cycling, 6 days, August 2017

Rating- 4- very good
Description- Overall good but would suggest tweaks
Pros- Enjoyable, Great experience, Well organised, See my comments below
Best uses- Relaxation, Educational, Trying something new, See my comments below
I am- Avid adventurer, World traveller
Comments- Andries as a host was amazing. Went well out of his way to help us out on a bad weather day. You are in good hands with him. Overall a good trip. After the first two nights in Franschhoek, I think the trip should have the third and fourth nights in Stellenbosch and do day rides from there, and possibly the fifth night in Spier, which is an impressive resort. With the current itinerary, I found it a bit too much packing and unpacking. I did not enjoy being in the suburb of Somerset West on the fifth night, even though the hotel was very nice. Would it not be possible to include Paarl in the trip? It’s a wine town too.
Recommend- Yes

Eric Kawashima and Carolyn Hill, Switzerland

Cape Winelands Walk, 5 days, February 2017

Rating- 5- excellent
Description- Superb introduction to Cape Wine and Fynbos
Pros- Enjoyable, Great accommodation, Well organised, See my comments below
Best uses- Short break
I am- World traveller
Comments- Many thanks to Andries and Piet for organizing a brief, but inclusive, 5 day, 4 night walking tour of the Somerset West / Stellenbosch areas. The trip included all essentials, nice hotel/B&Bs, wine tours, detailed walking instructions, all transfers and a very informative guided tour of the fynbos ecosystem in the Helderberg Nature Reserve. Besides the guided tour of Helderberg, other highlights were the guided walk/visit of the Waterford Estate and the hike along the vineyards of the Blaauwklippen valley to Stellenbosch. We felt after our experience, that we had learned a lot about the region’s ecology and wine. This is a beautiful region and we hope to return at some point in the future.
Recommend- Yes

Dr Cathy and Dr Martyn Hill, Hampshire, UK

Cape Winelands Walk and Franschhoek Valley Walk, 8 days, January 2017

Rating- 5- excellent
Description- Perfect walking holiday for wine lovers!
Pros- Enjoyable, Great accommodation, Great experience, Well organised
Best uses- Relaxation
I am- World traveller
Comments- Absolute heaven – sunshine, stunning landscapes, amazing food and hotels – we will be back!
Recommend- Yes

Sue Richards, UK

Green Mountain Walk, 5 days, February 2017

Rating- 5- excellent
Description- A great walk with some wonderful scenery, good food and accommodation, interesting company and plenty of local wines to try
Pros- Enjoyable, Great accommodation, Great experience, Well organised

Maurice and Mary O’Connor, Ireland

Cape Winelands Cycling, 6 days, January 2017

Rating- 5- excellent
Description- Superb 5 day winelands cycle tour !
Pros- Enjoyable, Great accommodation, Great experience, Well organised
Best uses- Trying something new
I am- World traveller

Comments- We had a great time on the Cape Winelands Cycle Tour. Andries and Piet put together a perfect itinerary for us, giving us optional routes to include or bypass. Mary, “there were parts of the route I found very challenging and I doubted my endurance, however I had a wonderful sense of achievement when we completed the itinerary”.
The directions and maps provided were very helpful, with a thorough weather and route briefing from Andries before we started. We had a great mix of on and off road routes, wide and narrow dirt tracks, and gorgeous trails through vineyards,(one or two busy roads quite tricky to cross).
Our accommodation was lovely and baggage transfer and pickup and drop off logistics went without a hitch. To avoid the peak intensity of the sun, we set off early each morning, so we had to pass by many of the great wine estates listed in the tour notes before they even opened ! Winery highlights for us were lunch and wine tasting at Holden Manz, brunch at Tokara and lunch at Somersbosch. The only suggestion for improvement we’d have is to include the route maps in the laminated material. Thanks Andries and Piet for arranging a great tour for us.
Recommend- Yes

Janna and Dr Paul Schreier, London, UK

Cape Town guided hikes, 14 days, December 2016

Rating- 5- excellent
Description- Great holiday, wonderfully organised
Pros- Enjoyable, Great accommodation, Great experience, Well organised, See my comments below
Best uses- Short break, Relaxation, Educational, Trying something new, See my comments below
I am- World traveller
Comments- Andries Liebenberg and Piet Krynauw arranged an excellent walking holiday for my wife and me. Some of the days were guided and some self-guided but the accommodation, transfers, car hire and some of the meals were arranged, and in every case we were very well taken care of, indeed. The selected accommodation was all excellent, the walking guides were all knowledgeable and outstanding, and the materials associated with the self guided components of the walk were also great. We visited Cape Town and its surrounds, Somerset West, Stellenbosch and Hermanus. Andries and Piet took components of their walks for each region and combined them into a bespoke plan for our trip over two weeks. Really very good indeed and thoroughly recommended.
Recommend- Yes

Marion and James Swailes, Essex, UK

South African tour, 20 days, December 2016

“We want to thank Andries & Piet of Trails & Travel for an unforgettable holiday in the Western Cape which we absolutely loved.

T&T’s suggested walks and trails were stunning, …. and maps, ….. and even weather & wind reports …, were provided which were explained to us in detail.

The personal attention we received was second to none. T&T had booked our hire car at Cape Town airport and we were met and welcomed by Andries on our first morning at a beautiful coastal botanical garden where we had coffee.

All our walks were beautiful, varied and geared to our level of fitness, and one of us having a fear of heights.  On these walks we saw stunning scenery, mountain ranges, long deserted golden beaches, dazzling wild flowers such as proteas, sunbirds, sugarbirds, seabirds, seals basking on the rocks, schools of dolphin, lizards basking on rocks, a heron hunting for frogs, birds of prey, and the occasional angular tortoise that crossed our path.

T&T had also arranged on two occasions for us to meet local guides who were keen hikers, and had an in-depth knowledge of the local fynbos, plants, birdlife and taught us much about the local environment and up-to-date conservation matters.  They even transported us to or from a few of the walks.  One Guide also booked us into a walking trail on a private winery.

We visited beautiful Nature Reserves with peaceful walking trails that we would never have known about if it had not been for T&T.

The attention we received was personal and friendly, and we were even visited (unobtrusively and at our convenience), e.g. to bring our tickets for Table Mountain, booked by T&T, and to see how we were getting on.

The suggested scenic driving routes between areas were breath-taking and sometimes we drove for hours in the silent heat without seeing another car, looking out over vast mountain ranges and expansive hot golden-brown plains spotting ostriches, eagles, buzzards, what we think were either blue cranes or secretary birds, sea eagles etc.  We also spotted baboons by the roadside when we got closer to some towns.

Our hotels were all varied modern, clean and comfortable. I particularly loved the French-style accommodation in Franschoek.

We decided not to have a car when we were in Cape Town during Christmas week and T&T arranged taxi transfers to and from the airport when we were without a car.
They also suggested and arranged for us to do a Peninsula Tour by car with a local guide when we were staying in Cape Town, where we were driven over beautiful Chapmans Peak, went to the Cape of Good Hope, saw penguins at Boulder Beach, and other amazing sights.

T&T also recommended other places of interest to visit for the occasions when we weren’t walking, such as a Bird Sanctuary where we saw exotic birds close-up e.g. flamingos, macaws, spoonbills, scarlet ibis and many more; exotic cool Botanical Gardens; farmers markets; and a beautiful remote game reserve where we saw lions, elephants, giraffe, zebras, ostrich, springbok, gnus, elands, baboons, and hippos, all of which were very exciting.

T&T also recommended a variety of lovely restaurants and wine estates which were relaxed and the food and wines were first rate and delicious.

We cannot thank you enough for making our holiday such a memorable experience.  We would not hesitate to  recommend you and your company to anyone.”

Clare Buckle family, London

Cape Winelands Walk, December 2016

Rating- 5- excellent
Description- Walking in the sunshine
Pros- Enjoyable, Great accommodation, Great experience, Well organised, See my comments below
Best uses- Short break
I am- World traveller
Comments- We spent a fantastic three days walking in the winelands. The walks were stunning with incredible views and we had good instructions to guide us. The accommodation was excellent. Andries went out of his way to ensure we had everything we needed and was full of information about the routes, the winelands and the history and geography of the area. We would wholeheartedly recommend this trip.
Recommend- Yes

Marlyn D’sa and Alexander Grinling, Cape Town

Kogelberg Walk, Dec 2016

Dear Hans,
Just wanted to thank you so very much for looking after us on our trip. It was very kind and generous of you to give us such detailed advice and make yourself available at all times.
We loved our walks and Betty’s Bay – alas our time was too short but we look forward to returning to this wonderful area in the future. I have a couple of plants from the Botanical Gardens in memory. We did not do Leopards Kloof – save that for next time as we were both low on energy in the morning after a late night.

Karina and Karl Garnweidner, Austria

Cape of Good Hope overnight tour, Nov 2016

Hallo, we are back in Austria and still think about our wonderful trail with Joanna. Everything was perfect. The hike with Joanna was the best we ever did. And we are really making many trails a year. Thank you very much. The hike was wonderful, of course also the weather and Joanna. She is the best guide. Best regards Karina + Karl

Mark Oglesby, UK

Cape Winelands Walk, Oct 2016

Rating- 5- excellent
Description- Reassuringly brilliant
Pros- Enjoyable, Great accommodation, Great experience, Well organised, See my comments below
Best uses- Short break, Relaxation, Educational, Trying something new
I am- World traveller
Comments- Highly recommended. Andries could not have been more helpful. Wonderful first day exploring fynbos with Andreas – a genial expert – then a 20km hike along an exclusively-arranged route. Final day into Stellenbosch led to a few wrong turns along the way, but probably our fault (though do check ambiguities Andries leading to tree 17!). Overall, a great example of professionalism and courtesy.
Recommend- Yes

Tamsin Oglesby, UK

Cape Winelands Walk, Oct 2016

Rating- 5- excellent
Description- A wonderful, wild, but safe, adventure!
Comments- This was the highlight of a two week trip in and around Cape Town. Before we were let loose in the mountains we had a fascinating morning guided around the foothills by Andreas – a charming, enthusiastic and highly knowledgeable expert on flora and fauna. Next day we set off on a 20km hike safe in the knowledge of which berries we could eat if we were starving, which leaves we might inhale in the case of a cold and which plants form a good mattress in case of exhaustion. A glorious day, we felt as though we had the mountain to ourselves, but safe at the same time. My only complaint is that there was not a mountain leopard to be seen!
Andries looked after us with great consideration and warmth, went out of his way to make sure we were happy and well catered for, and planned the three days of walking with great care. We did get a little lost on the last day’s walking – without gps we were dependent on some debatable landmarks – but it was a lovely walk and all well worth it.
The accommodation and service in both hotels was warm and friendly and the food good. A very special trip indeed.
Recommend- Yes

Thomas Fuhrmann, Germany

Cape Guided hikes

Thank you once more so much for your extremely gentle and warm welcome and the wonderful guidance for us, especially the hiking on Table mountain. The day with Andreas was a great discovery for me, his profound explanations about every plant, flower and animal on the way. I never had such a feeling of the diversity that our planet offers to us human beings. I am deeply gratious about these moments that South Africa brought to my soul and to my mind. So please tell Andreas what I felt on that hiking walk with him.
All the best and hopefully see you once more in this life.

Belinda and Peter Goellner, Switzerland

Cederberg Drive and Hike, Oct 2016

We had a great time in the Ceder mountains. The house was perfect and also the hikes.
Thank you very much for organising.

Hannah Fuhrmann, Germany

Cape Guided Hikes, Oct 2016

Rating- 5- excellent
Description- Hiking tours with Andries
Pros- Enjoyable, Well organised
I am- Avid adventurer, Occasional traveller, World traveller
Comments- We had some of the most amazing, beautiful and adventurous days in South Africa. Of course we went to see all the things normal tourists would do, but our personal and lovely guide Andries from Trails & Travel showed us more than that. All in all we had four guided hiking tours to Mont Rochelle & Franschhoek, to the Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden & the top of the Table Mountain, to Lourensford and finally to the Fernkloof Nature Reserve & Hermanus. Andries and his team made this trip very special to us and we couldn’t be happier to call you a new friend. The pictures we have taken during our stay may reveal some stunning insights of our tours, but not even they can show you what we have experienced. So thankful and happy about being here and getting in touch with such friendly and awesome people.
They made our stay really unforgettable, so thank you for everything!! We will miss you a lot.
Recommend- Yes

Shelley Donnelly, 8 ladies from Kwa Zulu Natal

Southernmost Walk, Oct 2016

Rating- 4- very good
Description- Fun times in the beautiful southernmost Cape
Pros- Enjoyable, Great experience, Well organised
Best uses- Short break, Relaxation
I am- Occasional traveller
Comments- I would have preferred a longer walk. Only 2 full-ish days and a very short third day walk was not long enough for me. The Arniston Hotel was great and we discovered a fabulous local restaurant (the name escapes me) which was far preferable to dinner in the hotel restaurant.
Recommend- Yes

Dr John Brentnall, UK

Drakensberg hiking, Sep 2016

Without exception the quality of stay – friendliness, information, food and ambience – were of the highest class

Greyling family, Christiana, South Africa

West Coast Walk, July 2016

Translation of their review:

Thank you again for all your efforts in making our West Coast Walk such a special experience. I include a collage of our photographs. It was hard to decide what to include as there were so many beautiful moments. For me and Johan the togetherness as a family was key. In our busy lives it is necessary to take such short breaks, spending time with family members. The advantage was that it could be in nature and away from technology! The four days were worth more than a week’s “normal” holiday. Although Ivan (9 years old) sometimes tired, one of his highlights was the scenery. He had real appreciation for the environment and enjoyed taking photos of the beautiful surroundings and little things like flowers or a bird in a tree. Thanks for adapting some of the trails for him. I know of some 9 / 8- year olds who can handle 20 km a day on trails, but children differ and for him it was a real test. For the 16 year old Calla the route was at times a bit boring and he would have preferred more of a challenge. He, however, realised that Ivan had to be accommodated. For him one of the highlights was the delicious meals at AH! Guesthouse. Typical teenager.

Prof Bill Louden, Australia

Franschhoek Valley Walk, June 2016

Rating- 5- excellent
Description- Great location and great walking tour
Pros- Enjoyable, Great accommodation, Great experience, Well organised
Best uses- Short break I am- World traveller
Comments- This was an excellent short break. We had several wonderful walks including in the Mont Rochelle nature reserve above Franschhoek with Siegfried – a very knowledgeable guide to the botany of the area – and another in the fynbos above the La Motte winery. The Akademie St Boutique Hotel was an excellent choice and Andries’ organisation was perfect. So too were the fine dining restaurants in the village. This was part of our first visit to South Africa. We’ll be back!
Recommend- Yes

Ronel Oosthuizen group (10 ladies)

West Coast Walk, May 2016

We had a fabulous week, the scenery was amazing… The incredible landscapes and views on the walks as well as the amazing flora and fauna made this a unique and wonderful experience. The route was well planned and tailored to the needs of the group. The accommodation was stunning and the breakfast was a feast for the eyes and a certain delight for the palate. A lovely combination. The entire trip was magical and we loved every moment of it. If you love nature and want to discover the beauty of the Westcoast I would wholeheartedly recommend going on this tour. Credit should be given to Andries who left nothing to chance and organised our walking tour with extreme professionalism. Nothing was too much trouble for Andries. Well organized, interesting, hassle free and great fun- Walking Holidays made the trip a truly memorable experience. I would highly recommend this company!!

Dr Jaco & Linda Jacobs, Johannesburg

Cape Winelands Walk, May 2016

Rating of holiday- 5- excellent

Description- Unique and invigorating Winelands hiking experience

Pros- Enjoyable, Great accommodation, Great experience, Well organised, See my comments below

Best uses- Relaxation, Educational, Trying something new

I am- Avid adventurer, World traveller

Comments- Andries and his team were absolutely professional, reliable and efficient from the booking to the end of the hike. They looked after each detail to make the hike most memorable. All the routes were clearly explained and discussed. The highlight was to walk on the beautiful Lourensford Estate from Somerset West to Stellenbosch where no others hikers have the opportunity to hike. Wow!! The accommodation was carefully selected and was wonderful after a long day in the boots. Andreas gave excellent information on the Fynbos. Thank you so much Andries for an unforgettable hike. We will be back to do the West Coast.

Recommend- Yes

Jody Richardson (New Zealand) and Gale Gropp (USA)

21 Day walking holiday, April 2016- Cape Town Walk, Cape Winelands Walk, Franschhoek Valley Walk, Kruger Park Safari and Drakensberg Hiking

Overall this was a fantastic holiday, probably one of our best ever. South Africa is obviously a beautiful and varied country and I feel privileged to have sampled a little bit of it. I want to thank you both for all you did for us, both arranging all our bookings and for being so responsive in the planning stages, and for being so flexible regarding day to day arrangements. All of our accommodation was well chosen and very comfortable, and I all too quickly became accustomed to those generous and delicious cooked breakfasts.

Michael Gropp (USA)

Cape Town Walk, Cape Winelands Walk and Franschhoek Valley Walk- 12 days, April 2016

My thanks for all you did to organise and guide us on our time in the Cape. I enjoyed all the places we went, things we saw, and people we met. All your accommodations were nice and your transfer arrangements went very smoothly. We were also try fortunate with the weather. Of all our walks, my favourites were the last two days. Although it was a very hot day, I also especially enjoyed Vergelegen.

Jeremy Mathers Group

Cape Winelands Walk, 7 days, March 2016 Review by group of eleven hikers. Their tour included trails in Somerset West, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Kogelberg and Hermanus.

Rating of holiday: 5- excellent

Brilliant tailor made walking holiday

Pros: Enjoyable, Great accommodation, Great experience, Well organised

Comments: Andries and his team went to lot of trouble to put together a bespoke walking holiday for our regular group of 11, incorporating some of the best bits of several trails, wonderful accommodation and perforce plenty of transfers in generally first class vehicles. They provided an excellent guide book with clear walking directions, and also met us regularly to discuss the details and make sure all was well.

Will you recommend- Yes

David Kitching and Jan Shoulders from the UK

Cape Winelands Walk, 4 days, March 2016

Holiday rating- 5- excellent

Description- A great walk through vineyards and over mountains

Pros- Enjoyable, Great accommodation, Great experience, Well organised

Best uses- Trying something new

I am- World traveller

Comments- The second day was fantastic but quite challenging in the heat. The views of the Cape were just stunning. Make sure you take plenty of water. The level of personal service is superb and the accommodation of a very high standard. Recommend- Yes

Dr Bill and Sheelagh Holmes from Nottingham, UK

Cape Winelands Walk, 7 days, Jan 2016

Our bucket list trip to South Africa was made easy and memorable due to our reliable travel companion: walkingholidays.co.za Andries, the power behind the organisation, proved a great find before and during our adventure. Always reliable in returning calls and emails, he coped calmly with late changes to our itinerary imposed by airline dates. The hiking plan he created for us started with an orientating walk of the Cape’s ecology, “fynbos”, led by a professional naturalist, and this added greatly to our enjoyment when we were alone on the hike. Our companion throughout the hike was his manual, which directed us between locations, pointing out the important sights as we progressed. Each section contained shortening and simplifying options to allow for the experience and confidence of the walker. More broadly, he made recommendations and bookings for some truly memorable locations to eat and rest. Andries’s help added to what was a truly great experience: we always felt he was there in the background, to be called on if needed, but never being intrusive. We have no hesitation in recommending walkingholidays.co.za.

Elena Patterson

West Coast Walk, Dec 2015

Rating of holiday: 5- excellent

Description: Unique, invigorating, well-organized, safe experience.

Pros: Enjoyable, Great accommodation, Great experience, Well organised

Best uses: Short break, Trying something new

I am : Avid adventurer, World traveller

Comments: I concur with everything in Nanette Nel’s review! Our every expectation was not only met, but surpassed. Our every need was met, concerning safety, support, accommodations, logistics, instructions and expectations. BRAVO!

Nanette Nel, Johannesburg

West Coast Walk, Dec 2015

Rating- 5- excellent

Description- What a wonderful experience!

Pros- Enjoyable, Great accommodation, Great experience, Well organized.

Best uses- Trying something new

I am- Avid adventurer, World traveller

Comments- This was the first walk long walk I’ve done locally, and it surpassed my expectations in all possible ways.  Firstly, the organisation was exceptional – Andries handled everything, from the accommodation to the restaurant bookings, superbly, and there were no hiccups or snags. He explained the route to us, gave us a printout of tides and temperatures, and generally made sure we knew what to expect ( although day 3 proved tougher than expected ! ) He even roped in his wife, Martie, to provide cold water halfway on the route on day 2… The scenery was beautiful and the beaches pristine, with hardly a soul in sight. Accommodation was wonderfully comfortable with hot showers (essential after a long day’s walk) and the restaurants in Paternoster provide meals for any taste. The Noisy Oyster comes highly recommended, as does Arnold’s long table at the quirky Ah! Guesthouse. Don’t miss either!

Recommend- Yes

Teresa Wincrantz group from the UK

Cape Highlights : Cape Town, Franschhoek and Hermanus, Nov 2015

Andries and his team was tremendously helpful in supporting us for our holiday trip to South Africa for 8 days in November. 
Not only did they help us to plan the whole trip with walks, hotels etc. and provided suggestions on a suitable schedule, that also were super helpful on the grounds and really went out of their way make our stay truly amazing. We had a full schedule which included waking up Table Mountain, visiting the vineyards of Franschhoek, drove down to Cape Point, saw penguins and spent time at the beach in Hermanus. A very diverse 8 days ! We had such a great time in South Africa and Andries kept checking up on us regularly to make sure that everything was ok and that we had everything we needed. 

We can most highly recommend “Walking Holidays” to help plan your trip to South Africa.

Mark and Ann Haysom from the UK

Cape Winelands Walk, 4 days, Sep 2015

Rating- 5- excellent

Description- Unforgettable Pros- Enjoyable, Great experience, Well organised,

Comments-  This was our third visit to South Africa – but our first to properly explore the Winelands. And there could have been no better introduction to this beautiful region than the Cape Winelands Walk. From start to finish it was a wonderful, compelling experience. We were blessed with perfect walking weather; the spring flowers were in bloom; the scenery ranged from majestic to gentle; the wines were outstanding; the whole trip was excellently organised; Andries could not have been more helpful. Simply unforgettable.

Recommend- Yes

Ariel Silver and family, USA

Cape Winelands Cycling, 4 days, Aug 2015 (We also arranged hikes and tours in Cape Town, Johannesburg and the Blyde River Canyon for the group)

First of all, I just wanted to say thank you. I want you to know that I had an amazing time in your country and was sorry to go.  Whenever I return from trips such as this one, I always feel changed for the better, and this trip was no exception. The Cape Winelands Cycling tour was a carefully planned, intricately designed journey through the one of the most stunning areas of South Africa. We received our beautifully thought out booklets, detailing our routes with well constructed maps and directions. These booklets also included innumerable recommendations of vineyards and other great places to stop on our relaxed bike trips. One great thing about the routes, specifically, was their flexibility. You could really do anything you wanted, so long as you got to next hotel, where your luggage would be shipped without fail by taxi. Many of the trips we biked we shortened in order to spend a lot of our day at vineyards, tasting wine. We stopped at a maximum of three vineyards per day trip, even though our four-day quest took us through some of the most famous vineyards in South Africa, in the towns of Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, and Somerset West. We chose to stop at those great vineyards that specialized in other things besides great wine, chocolate and olive oil, for instance. I can truthfully say that every stop we made resulted in a worthwhile experience. Not only were the stops fantastic, but also the biking was set in a beautiful area, with sloping mountains and luscious greenery surrounding us. By the end of our four days I was immensely happy and sorry to leave at the same time. This was an experience that I will not soon forget. Thank you.

Louise Du Plessis group, Stellenbosch

West Coast Walk, 4 days, Aug 2015

We had a fantastic weekend. At both guesthouses we received a warm welcome and it was clear that everything is organized and in place. Breakfast at AH! was very special. For future groups I recommend Arnold’s long table dinner – instead to eating out. The walk was a wonderful experience. Fantastic weather with beautiful sunshine and cool days. The route booklet was very helpful and the directions were clear. We found our way without any difficulty. We encountered high tide and the beach walk was a good challenge. The courier company went out of their way to transfer our vehicles for our convenience, at a minimal extra fee. It was an unforgettable hikingr experience for all of us- both experienced hikers and beginners. All of us have wonderful memories of the West Coast Walk. Thank you for your effort and help, it was a pleasure to deal with you!

Tom Edwards and Susan Lubman-Edwards

Cape Highlights- 15 day walk in Cape Town and the Winelands

Rating- 5- excellent

Description- 9 out of 10 Delightful Holiday- Good Walking, Good Lodging,Good Food, and Good Wine

Pros- Enjoyable, Great accommodation, Great experience, Well organised,

Best uses- Relaxation, Educational, Trying something new

I am- World traveller

Comments- Pros – Andries provided continuous personal attention. We met Andries or e-mailed with him every day of our trip where he relayed additional information and changes/updates to our itinerary. Walking directions were clear with a few notable exceptions which will be sent separately. Kirstenbosch is educational and gorgeous. Nursery Ravine route to Table Mountain and cable car was challenging, scenic, and hot. Lovely walk from V&A Waterfront to Camp’s Bay. Beautiful hike over the saddle from Lourensford to Dornier Winery. Cecelia, our nature guide at Helderberg, was very knowledgeable and pleasant. We only had time to visit Vergelegen after wine tasting and lunch at Lourensford. Interesting history and gardens at Vergelegen – ancient trees. Pleasant walk from Dornier to Stellenbosch. We had a good amount of time to sightsee and shop. We ate at Oppie Dorp and D’Ouwe Werf Hotel. Both were excellent. We suggest that you recommend to clients that they visit the large Information Center. There is a shop stocked with products made by local entrepeneurs. We enjoyed visiting the SASOL Gallery, Botanical Gardens, Village Museum, and Stellenbosch University grounds. Shopping in Stellenbosch is a real value! Izak Rust gave an excellent tour of Mont Rochelle. We had a very relaxing time in Franschoek shopping and visiting wineries. The La Motte Winery hiking trail was a wonderful hike – lots of baboons visible at a safe distance. Even though the museum is typically closed on Mondays, Andries was able to arrange for a personal tour – Very interesting history of the farm and the region. We spent a pleasant and relaxing afternoon at the Rickety Bridge restaurant, winery, and manor house. We had an easy transfer to Cape Town where we picked up a rental car and headed to Betty’s Bay. Hans and his daughter took us to visit the penguin colony, a highlight (that’s a lot of cute penguins) and we discussed the recent fire, its effect on the fynbos, and other Kogelberg hiking options. We had a delicious dinner at Bistro 365 in Pringle Bay. We hiked Leopard’s Kloof in the Harold Porter Botanical Garden and toured the grounds – lovely waterfalls and interesting fynbos gardens. We drove to Hermanus and were met by Malcolm who took us on a driving reconnaissance of our walking itinerary for the next three days. He provided photographic guides to key decision points on the hikes which were very helpful and gave us a wealth of other printed material about the history and sights in Hermanus. The Fernkloof hike was beautiful with lots of bird activity. Malcolm accompanied us from the hotel to the start of Elephant Path We travelled the contour path and then took the red route to the waterfall before heading to the visitor center where we walked down to the cliff path and strolled from Kwaaiwater to Auberge Burgundy. We had an excellent dinner at Lemon Butta and enjoyed a magnificent sunset over the ocean from our dinner table. The contour hike to Voelklip was lovely and cool with lots of birdlife and evidence of baboon activity, although we never saw baboons. We concluded the hiking by completing the cliff path from the milkwood forest to Kwaaiwater where Malcolm picked us up and returned us to the Auberge Burgundy. Andries had arranged for an addition to our itinerary. We drove to Kleinbaai for Shark Cage Diving where we spent a fun and exciting day on the water and in the water with six sharks – awesome fun! We had a marvelous late afternoon dinner at Lizette’s Kitchen where we bumped into Malcolm riding his bicycle to the beach for a swim. Bottom line – as the title suggests, we enjoyed every day immensely with very few glitches. We received far more support and personal attention than we had expected. Cons – We had a few points of confusion regarding the hiking instructions and will offer improved instructions separately. Our arrangements on Day 12 had to be altered as many itinerary items were closed on Monday. It seems this could have been anticipated. Andries informed us of changes in his daily updates and we did have alternative arrangements. The route guide was not completely personalized. In some places, the maps had been reused from other or earlier itineraries and were not completely correct. Cape Town is not completely safe for tourists on the walking routes we were recommended. Future clients should be advised to take precautions while walking within the city.

Recommend- Yes

Franschhoek Divas (Group of 20 ladies)

4 days- Franschhoek Valley Walk- March 2015 Translation of comments by the organiser, Cora Nel, 25 March 2015 https://www.facebook.com/walkingholidays.co.za/

Thank you Andries for a wonderful experience! The Divas enjoyed it tremendously. Some highlights were the Cats Pass which tested our endurance, the delicious gourmet restaurant and bubbly at Haute Cabriere, the wine blending and creation of our own “masterblend” at Rickety Bridge, the spectacular trail at La Motte and wine tasting at La Motte and Leopards Leap. It was an experience that we will always remember! I can recommend Franschhoek Valley Walk to anyone who loves wine, outdoors and scenery.

 Anthony Percival and Hunter Hogan

4 days- West Coast Walk- February 2015

Rating- 5- excellent Description- fantastic

Pros- Enjoyable, Great accommodation, Great experience, Well organised,

Best uses- Trying something new

I am- World traveller

Comments- Andries is a superb organiser. Every last detail was well taken care of. Nothing was ever to much trouble. Always on time and made all our dinner reservations. The walk beautiful and hiker friendly and very safe. I make a habit of writing reviews not always this glowing. What a pleasure to have someone really good,and make sure there product works. highly recommened

Recommend- Yes

Andrew and Amanda Hartley

4 days- West Coast Walk- January 2015

Andrew and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole of our trip to South Africa and it ended beautifully with the fabulous walk where my favourite place had to be Paternoster. We started at Oystercatcher Lodge, which was very pleasant ( other than a creaking bed!).The evening meal at the local hotel was disappointingly average and maybe we could have driven somewhere else? However even though it was a grey day on the first walking day it was very exhilarating with the noise and spray from a lively ocean, and the rugged coast reminded us of our holiday to Namibia. Finishing our days walk at Paternoster, a little gem -Especially as you said to stop off at the beach restaurant-a dangerous thing to do! What an amazing fish restaurant with great wine. We continued a walk through the old fishing town, which sparkles against the ocean and arrive at the fabulous Gilpins Lodge, a thatched guest house with great hosts, a lovely room and tasty breakfast. We had 2 lovely days walking from there, both different, both HOT. Even though I am not an avid bird watcher, the variety was amazing. Walking on the sandy beach with triffid size seaweed or the vast shell beaches was great. We came across several barbque areas which were being tidied up but we came across very few people on our walk. The last day took us to another picturesque place called Jacobsbaai and we finished at another lovely guest house. A fab time. We go to Spain shortly where I shall give my friend your details, otherwise I hope we shall have the pleasure of another of your walks next year, whoop woo!

Andrew and Tim Levett, UK

4 days- Cape Winelands Walk- Dec 2014

Comments- Firstly a huge thanks to Andries who organised everything to perfection and bent over backwards to accommodate all our requests. We did the 4 day Cape Winelands. The first day of walking (Day 2 in the itinerary) was adapted for us so that we could also climb West Peak (1000m and 6 hours walking. Andries organised us a guide and the walk provided beautiful views over the Cape and satisfyingly challenging. I think the normal itinerary for day 2 without the climb would have been short and dull. Day 3 of the itinerary was fantastic. Incredible scenery, good variety of flat and climbing and we had the path to ourselves. It took us around 4.5 hours to complete. Finishing at Dornier wine estate for lunch was a real treat. Day 4 of the itinerary was a bit of a let down. The path zig zagged along roads and dirt paths close to Stellenbosch. Because there was very little climbing and the route stayed close to the town it never really provided any interest. As a result we chose to tag on a climb up one of the smaller hills around Stellenbosch. What’s more, it only took us 2 hours to walk. We spoke to Andries about this who took our feedback on board and indicated that he was formulating other days hikes from Stellenbosch as alternatives. Overall, we had a fantastic time and would highly recommend the trip. If you are a fit and ambitious hiker it is worth talking to Andries in advance to tailor your itinerary accordingly. Recommended. A short note on the two hotels – both was excellent Recommend- Yes Overall rating- 4- very good

 Ute & Reinhard Haenisch, Namibia

4 days- Cape Winelands Walk- November 2014

Just to let you know that we are safely back in Windhoek. Thanks again for exceeding our expectations and for making this experience successful and unforgettable for us! Have a look at the amazing panoramic picture taken from the top of the mountain.

 Botha Group, South Africa

4 days- West Coast Walk, Oct 2014

Hiermee om jou te bedank vir ‘n heerlike en uitstekende stap. Julle het ‘n puik produk wat nog ‘n groot aanvraag gaan raak in die toekoms.

Martin Martins, South Africa

4 days- West Coast Walk- June 2014

Personally found second day (1st walking day) too long. Feel it should be divided into two days, respectively 10 and 12 km. Saw very pristine stretches of beach that is only possible on foot. All in all it was a very enjoyable experience, one which we will definitely do again. Thank you Andries for all your personal attention and organising. Much appreciated.

Hennie and Xandra du Plessis, South Africa

4 days- Cape Winelands Walk- April 2014

Dit was n baie spesiale belewenis en ons het dit vreeslik geniet. Baie baie dankie vir die moeite en al die reelings.

Auret and Jill Kernick, Johannesburg

4 days – Cape Winelands Walk- March 2014

Expectations were surpassed – the area is pristine. It varies from remote wilderness to farm to town, with some world class restaurants thrown in and warm hospitality all the way. Andries saw us on our way and looked after us, even facilitating our doing the last days walk a day late to bypass some bad weather. We cannot recommend the walk highly enough.

Karen and Andrew Shewbart, USA

8 days – Cape Winelands Walk and Franschhoek Valley Walk- Feb 2014

Our walk through the Cape Winelands was magnificent.  The holiday plan arranged by Walking Holidays exceeded our expectations in terms of beauty, convenience, and service.  The walks selected for us were challenging, but enjoyable; exactly what we wanted.  The special attention provided by the staff, specifically Andries, made the journey all the more memorable.  I would highly recommend anyone interested in exploring the natural beauty of South Africa and the first-rate wine and cuisine this area has to offer book a holiday with this outstanding outfit.

Prof Carol Hagemann-White, Germany

21 days – Cape Town Walk, Cape Winelands Walk, Franschhoek Valley Walk, Hermanus Walk, Kogelberg and Cape Town guided tour- Dec 2013

It was altogether a wonderful walking holiday and, at the same time, introduction to South Africa. Some highlights were: the hike up Table Mountain; all of the walks with expert guides that truly enriched our experience, but especially the walk with Isak; the high quality and personal hospitality in the guest houses (Klein Bosheuwel was a perfect starting point with Tim’s hospitality as well as the beautiful surroundings!); walking the contour paths in Helderberg mountain and in Hermanus, and of course so many excellent meals in different restaurants that I couldn’t list them all. It was quite a new experience to be “taken care of” throughout the trip –in Europe, where self-guided walking has a long tradition, the tour organizers send detailed information in advance, including arrangements to have the luggage transported from place to place, but once you begin your holiday, you are on your own. The assumption is that, if you wanted a local guide you would have booked a group tour. So it was quite unexpected, but extremely helpful and a great pleasure, to be met and guided by you, Izak, Hans, Andreas and Malcolm, including very enjoyable conversations as well as useful help. We were particularly impressed that you and Malcolm had actually gone up and marked the path at the end of the second Fernkloof walk with red dots and stone beacons (so it was very easy to find!). We also thoroughly enjoyed the two-and-a-half day private tour with Jo; it gave us an excellent overview as well as “winding down” from the walking. We ended the trip on our last day with a long, long walk along the beach in Milnerton. Overall, nothing went wrong or caused us any Angst or distress.

Hugh and Sue Drummond, Pietermaritzburg

Cape Winelands Walk- 7 Nov 2013

We had a wonderful and memorable time, it’s a pity we had to cut short the third day, but as it happens the timing with the weather was perfect. The opportunity to see the flora and the scenery was very special for us, and I think that the time spent with Andreas definitely added value to the experience for us. The whole trip, from Somerset West through Lourensford over the Helderberg and into Stellenbosch is hard to beat anywhere in the world, and you may use this as a reference to all who may enquire. I would like to say a special word of thanks to you personally for your help and your readiness to go the extra mile to make our trip so successful. Andries your passion for this hike is to be commended- Sue

Danika Marquis, Grahamstown 

Cape Winelands Walk- Dec 2012

My husband and I have ‘slack-packed’ in the wine regions of France and Chile before, and wished we could find something similar closer to home, but never found the time or the right guide. It was serendipitous that Women & Home’s article “Do More of What You Love”, which showcased a walking holiday in the Cape Winelands, came at during a very stressful time in my life. It was, in fact, my husband who was inspired by Women & Home to take me on a walking holiday – he was looking for ways to help me de-stress and help us reconnect after a tough year. The experience itself was magical. We chose a 4 night – 3 day walking tour through walkingholidays.co.za, which started in scenic Somerset West and ended in historic Stellenbosch. We were greeted at Erinvale Estate Hotel by a complimentary bottle of wine and our guide, Andries Liebenberg, who gave us our guidebooks and instructions. The first day of walking, which was around 10km in total, took us through a guided tour of the Helderberg Nature Reserve, where our guide showed us the different flora and fauna that we could expect in the following days of walking. In the afternoon, we headed off to two of the local wine estates – Lourensford Estate for chocolate and wine tasting after lunch, and then Vergelegen with its colourful history. It is hard not to feel like Elizabeth Bennett entering Pemberley when walking across the expansive grounds of Vergelegen, with its avenues of trees, octagonal garden and beautiful estate house. I briefly wondered whether we would reach the wine tasting before dark, which we fortunately did, but I wish that I had given myself an additional two-hours to explore the grounds and historic buildings. The second day of walking was a fairly challenging, but breath-taking, 20km walk over the Helderberg Mountains from Lourensford in Somerset West to Dornier Estate, just outside Stellenbosch. The paths were good and the views along the walk were spectacular. The best view was at the picnic spot set at the highest point of the climb. At the end of the walk, another wine tasting and a comfortable stay at the Dornier’s Homestead (which was designed by Sir Herbert Baker) awaited. On the third day, we had to contend with a freakishly strong South Easterly wind that had blown down a dozen or more trees along the route, making it difficult to walk along the designated path. We therefore opted to drive the final part with our guide, who took us to another wine tasting and then through to Stellenbosch. Overall, the holiday was invigorating and Andries Liebenberg at walkingholidays.co.za was a superb guide and made our trip very special. Thank you Women & Home for the inspiration! *Slack-packing is essentially backpacking for people who like adventure but really like comfortable beds, decent meals and warm baths. Otherwise put, it is walking holiday where your luggage is transported by a 3rd party to a 3 – 5 star B&B each night, as opposed to contending with sleeping bags, tinned food, cold showers and walking with a heavy backpack. Sorry, I tend to ramble a bit, but it was a fantastic experience.

Woman and Home –Article in the Nov 2012 issue :

Do more of what you love….Daycations and more

Enjoy a walking holiday along the Cape Winelands with overnight stops in fab accommodation along the way, and your bags transported ahead.The seven-day 100km walk from Somerset West to Stellenbosch takes you through exquisite wine estates and nature reserves to scenic country roads. From R5 880pp; October to March is best, as the weather is more predictable.

Gillan and Susan, Vancouver 

Cape Winelands Walk– Feb 2012

Dear Andries, Thank you so much for sending those lovely photos of us and the leopard. Susan will enjoy them too, I know!She emailed me on her safe return to Canada but that was before you sent the pictures.I will check with her that she got them.Thank you also for your kindness to us during our trip – you certainly went out of your way to make the whole time memorable and we appreciated the “extras” very much.I have given your name and email address to a friend who is keen to know more about the hike and she will be contacting you soon.Her name is Anja Sandeman, and either she, or her colleague/friend will be contacting you for more information.Keep well and thanks once again!Best wishes,Gillan Bowie

Robert E Manning, Burlington, USA

Cape Winelands Walk– Dec 2010

I wanted to tell you how much Martha and I enjoyed our Cape Winelands Walk in December.  We found the history and culture of the wineland region to be fascinating – our visits to the beautiful and impressive Lourensford and Dornier Wine Estates were highlights of the trip.  And the historic town of Stellenbosh, with its stately oaks, impressive university, and lively downtown, made for a great place to stay.  The walk also had an appealing “wild side” to it – the impressive Hottentot Holland Mountains, the biologically rich expanses of fynbos vegetation, and the Jonkershoek and Helderberg Nature Reserves.  We genuinely appreciated your attentiveness to our every need.  As you know, Martha and I have had the privilege of doing walks all over the world, and the Cape Winelands Walk is one of our favorites.  We’re recommending it to our walking community in the States.Thanks again for everything you did to make our walk so special!

Steve and Kristenne,UK

Cape Winelands Walk– Aug 2010 General

Fantastic walks, wines and accommodation Great private paths

Comments per sms to the Route Manager, at the end of 2 of the days:

Another great day yesterday, fantastic views from mountain, off to nature reserve soon We had another good day today the van Zyl’s (Kierie Kwaak) looked after us very well and we are now warming up at Rozendal

Joanna, Cape Town 

Cape Winelands Walk- 7 Apr 2010

We found the directions easy to follow but were tempted on walking straight over the mountain, but realized for tourists who don’t know the mountain, it may be quite risky. The cement table and chair on top of the mountain is an attractive feature. The guest house in Blaauwklippen Valley was beautiful. It was great to have a swimming facility. We really enjoyed this hike. Very easy to follow directions. The views from Square Tower North over Jonkershoek, Pniel, Boschendal, Simonsberg etc were amazing, we could see right through to Lions Head and Signal Hill. Guest house in Jonkershoek was lovely with very good breakfast.

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