Get Your Adrenalin Pumping

Oak Valley Wine Estate in the Elgin region offers the ideal way for the whole family to get their heart rates' up and experience something different. The estate features three new mountain biking tracks that are suitable for young and old and any level of experience. The tracks traverse a majestic Oak forest, mountain vineyards, apple and pear orchards as well as pastures where cattle graze peacefully. Situated on the gentle slopes of the Groenlandberg, this area's terrain is ideal for mountain biking and is a great place to practice for an event or to simply get the family outdoors for some fresh air and exercise. Each of the three courses is circular and has exciting features like wooden bridges over fences and swirling streams for bikers to navigate. These tracks recently rose to prominence as part of the ABSA Cape Epic Mountain Bike Race and are a must-see attraction for enthusiasts.

Retail Therapy and Relaxation

Wine farms are known for having expensive curio shops, but many also have incredible markets that offer excellent value for money as well as a unique selection of products. Hermanuspeitersfontein has a regular Saturday morning market that invites the whole community to come and sell their wares or peruse what is on offer. The market stalls are situated on the verandas surrounding the wine cellar and are protected from the sun or the rain. Organic produce is on offer as well as many activities to keep the kids busy. This makes for a relaxing morning out where parents can sip wine and socialise, while the kids can play in a safe outdoor environment.

Socialise with Cheetahs

Spier Wine Estate in Stellenbosch has many unique attractions and activities, but perhaps the most exciting is the opportunity to get up close to the earth's fastest land mammal + the cheetah. Their Cheetah Outreach Programme houses many of these lithe cats in an effort to breed and preserve their species. A small fee allows you to enter the area and a viewing deck is the perfect place to sit for a few hours and observe one of nature's greatest animals. The more curious can enter the enclosures themselves and meet the cheetahs up close. These fully supervised encounters are an experience that no one will ever forget. All the proceeds go to the fund and help ensure that Africa's cheetahs will survive for years to come.

Get Your Hands Dirty

Heading out to a wine farm does not mean that you can only taste the wine. Stellenrust Winery in Stellenbosch invites guests to come and make their own wine + no machinery required. From picking the grapes, to stomping on them, you can create your very own vintage. After a tractor takes guests to the vineyards to choose their own grapes, they can enjoy a refreshing wine beverage while being taught the basics of wine making. The massive barrels for crushing the grapes are a fun and messy experience and a cold shower is offered to everyone afterwards. During the gorgeous buffet lunch, each guest is presented with a gold plaque and a key so that they can visit their wine maturation barrel over the next year. After 12 months, each guest is presented with a dozen bottles of their very own handmade wine, a reminder of a great day out.

Team Building

Wine farms offer many activities that are ideal for a team building or corporate outing. Hazendal is one such wine estate that is situated conveniently between Stellenbosch and Kuils River. This Russian owned wine estate offers a unique day out with wines and cuisine that expertly blend the two countries' cultures. Start the day off with a tasting of some of Hazendal's award-wining wines and then head out to the rustic land behind for an invigorating game of paint ball. Run by the established L.O.C.K.D.O.W.N Company, this game takes advantage of the bush and varying terrain of the Hazendal estate and simulates real combat situations. Smoke bombs and flares add to the atmosphere and guarantee an event that staff will never forget. All equipment is supplied and you simply need to pick teams and get to it. A meal in the restaurant afterwards is the ideal way to end off the day, either sitting by the warmth of the fire or out on the sun-filled terrace.