Written by: Clifford Roberts; Photography: Johan Viljoen
The best travel information about the Swartland is available from the locals themselves. It’s with details from them, that you’ll be able to curate your trip, whatever you’re after, whether outdoor adventure, chats with winemakers, family-friendly excursions and more. This blog provides contact details for the best place to start your research.
Naturally, you’ll be checking TripAdvisor and Google reviews, but the best travel information about the Swartland will still be from the owners and operators of its wine and olive farms, tourism facilities and accommodation.
The best time to visit the Swartland
Your first question is likely to be: what’s the best time to take a trip to the Swartland. Many will say June to August when the milder climate sees fields take on beautiful green hues. Swartland wine producers excel with red varieties, generally more popular in cooler seasons.
What can you do in the Swartland?
This region is characterised by wheat, wine and olive farms, and an interesting array of towns and villages – some of which are renowned for their concentration of art and cuisine. It incorporates coastline and mountains, and borders on the Cape Town metropolitan area. Just a short drive from the city gets you out of the hustle and bustle, and into one of the province’s most alluring landscapes.
Its diversity is matched by the guest accommodation offerings and activities on offer to visitors, catering to solo travellers and families alike. This includes being home to producers of South Africa’s leading and pioneering wineries.
The most accurate information about the Swartland
Not all sources of online information can be trusted, which is why we’ve put together this list of contact details and sources that will fast-track your investigations.
The Swartland Wine and Olive Route is the region’s largest member organisation promoting wine and olive producers in the region. It’s website has links to a map, events and news, and even more contact details. Call the organisation on 022 487 1133.
You should also follow their social media accounts on Instagram and Facebook (@swartlandwineandolives) and on X/Twitter.
Several towns around the Swartland have their own tourism offices.
Malmesbury is a major centre around which you’ll find the wineries of City on a Hill, Hofstraat Wynkelder, Nativo and Swartland Winery. Call the tourism office on 022 487 1133.
Situated a 45-minute drive north of Malmesbury is Piketberg, whose tourism office is at (022) 913 2063. The mountain behind the village can also be explored with the area known as Piket-boberg, home to FRAM Wines and Platteklip Vineyards. Other wineries of the region include Org de Rac, Testalonga and Schenkfontein.
From Malmesbury, it’s also a short drive to the exciting wine region of Paardeberg. Its collection of farms and absence of a village central village make it especially rural and off the beaten track. Wine producers located amongst its granitic hills are AA Badenhorst, Babylon’s Peak, David & Nadia, Dragonridge, Intellego, Lammershoek, Leeuwenkuil, The Sadie Family Wines, Swerwer Wines and Wightman & Sons
Moorreesburg is a centre of the Swartland’s wheat growers. Its Wheat Industry Museum is a must-visit. For more information, contact the Moorreesburg and Koringberg Tourism on 022 487 1133 or visit its website.
One of the Swartland’s most popular destinations is the Riebeek Valley and its twin towns of Riebeek Kasteel and Riebeek West. Its tourism office may be contacted on 022 448 1545.
Riebeek Valley wineries include Allesverloren, Het Vlock Casteel, Kloovenburg, Marras, Mullineux, Porseleinberg, Pulpit Rock, Rall Wines, Riebeek Valley Wine Co, Thor Vintners & Co., Tim Hillock and Yellowwood.
Stock up on olives in the Swartland
Fresh from harvest, olive producers should also be on a visitor’s itinerary. They include Dragonridge (Paardeberg), Het Vlock Casteel (Riebeek Kasteel), Kloovenburg (Riebeek Kasteel), Lammershoek (Paardeberg) and Org de Rac (Piketberg).
A trip to the Swartland is always rewarding, although a favourite season begins in June. The region is at its most picturesque and the weather is at its most appealing. If you’re planning to visit, make sure you do your homework and source the most accurate travel information about the Swartland!
