Tag: nature

Activities, Tour, Vacation

6 top golfing choices in the Helderberg area and its surrounds

Can you believe we have six great golf courses in less than a 10 km radius from La Bonne Auberge? We are ideally situated for keen golfers looking to tame some of the beautiful golf courses in the Western Cape! In this blog post, we’re going to cover these courses and their various offerings. Keep reading to get yourself in the swing of things…

Erinvale Golf Club – 2 kms from La Bonne Auberge

Erinvale Golf Course, divided into two unique halves, offers a flat residential terrain in the first nine and a challenging uphill journey with stunning sea and mountain vistas in the back nine. Designed by Gary Player, this 18-hole course is an ideal destination for golf enthusiasts.

Nestled amid the Erinvale Estate and encircled by the Helderberg and Hottentots Holland Mountains, the Clubhouse adds to the charm of this Par 72 course spanning 6506m


Helderberg Village Golf Club – 4,6 kms from La Bonne Auberge

The Helderberg Village Estate, formerly exclusive to residents, now welcomes non-owner members. This par 70 golf course offers varied tee boxes of off a course that was originally only nine holes. With demanding greens that require careful attention, it’s an ideal destination for a South African golf holiday.

The scenic mountain views are a bonus on the course and also from the terrace on the nineteenth hole.

Somerset West Golf Club – 4,6 kms from La Bonne Auberge

The recently revamped layout of Somerset West Golf Club offers an ideal blend of challenging play and accessibility for all skill levels. Our welcoming members, inviting 19th hole, and comprehensive facilities ensure a complete golfing experience that will make you feel right at home.

The club features an 18-hole, par 72 course stretching over a length of 5942 meters.

Strand Golf Club – 6 kms from La Bonne Auberge

At this location, you’ll discover immaculate fairways featuring unique holes that are truly one-of-a-kind. Notably, the 2nd, 4th, and 7th holes offer a distinctive golfing experience. The course as a whole presents a stimulating challenge, ensuring an enjoyable day out. In addition to the main course, there’s a driving range and two expansive putting/chipping greens for practice.

Strand Golf Course stands out as an intriguing place to play, boasting a community of genuine, down-to-earth patrons.

De Zalze Winelands Golf Estate – 7 kms from La Bonne Auberge

Tucked away in a picturesque valley on the fringes of Stellenbosch, discover a golfing treasure nestled among the vineyards. The course, designed by Peter Matkovich, optimizes the breathtaking mountain views and the charming Blaauwklippen River that meanders through the landscape.

Situated within the De Zalze Winelands Golf Estate, it provides an all-encompassing Winelands experience: a championship golf course, a magnificent clubhouse boasting spectacular views, delectable cuisine, and an array of top-tier wines.

De Zalze Estate is more than just a destination; it’s an experience. The 18-hole, Par 72 course stretches over a length of 5937 meters, providing a challenging yet rewarding golfing experience.

Stellenbosch Golf Club – 8 kms from La Bonne Auberge

Stellies Golf Club is a parklands course nestled in the Western Cape’s Winelands. It boasts a modern clubhouse entrance that leads to multiple floors with sweeping views of the finishing hole. The club offers stunning vistas of the surrounding Winelands, adding an element of challenge to the game.

While the course tends to be drier during the summer months, it remains highly playable with a satisfactory pace of play. Stellies Golf Club is also equipped with excellent practice facilities including a spacious driving range and a large chipping/putting area. As an 18-hole Par 72 course spanning 6284 meters, it provides a comprehensive golfing experience for all skill levels.

Activities, Restaurant, Wine

Idiom Wines: A Celebration of Wine and Words

Idiom wines—nestled in the heart of the Helderberg range—is a celebration of terroir, unusual varietals, and masterful blends. This southernmost part of the Stellenbosch wine region provides the perfect backdrop and climatic conditions for an incredible range of wines.

Idiom Wine’s Unique Location

This elite winery is situated at the foot of majestic granite mountains. Idiom’s slopes vary in height from 200 to 350 meters above sea level. The 150-hectare property is easily recognizable due to the distinctive mountain shape known as the Idiom Conical Peak. Their soils contain decomposed granite which is relatively shallow and stony in patches with a clay base. These unique northern, western, and southern aspects create several micro-terroirs that add character and complexity to the wines.

A Family Wine Farm with Italian Heritage

The family wine farm has seen many great achievements. This includes the massive project to build a signature tasting centre and restaurant in 2016 undertaken by Alberto and Roberto. Their decision to plant Italian varietals as part of their diversified portfolio of grapes and actively promote these grape varietals in South Africa is a celebration of their heritage.

Idiom Wines: A Taste of Europe in the Cape

The vineyards bearing the Idiom fruit are called “Da Capo,” meaning “from the beginning” or “from the Cape” in Italian. This name refers to the fact that the vineyards were carefully planted for the first time in 1999. The range consists of 19 different varietals with each providing a unique and direct comparison between famous French wines of Bordeaux and Rhone and Italian wines of Tuscany and Piedmont. All are expressed in the Cape terroir.

Idiom Wine Tasting Centre: A World-Class Experience

The Idiom Wine Tasting Centre offers world-class and informative tasting experiences. It showcase Idiom’s flagship blends, signature Italian varietal wines, including the rare limited-release 900 Series wines. Guests can explore the ‘Cape Idiom’ of the great wine regions of the world while taking in architecture, views, and Italian-South African wines.

Vinotria Italian Wine Library: A Journey Through Italy

Guests are also able to embark on a virtual journey through the main wine regions of Italy at the Vinotria Italian Wine Library where a display of 250 wines from all over Italy distributed by Bottega Family Wines in South Africa.

Idiom Sensory Walks: Exploring Wine Through Nature

You can enjoy a unique experience only to be found in the Varietal Sensory Garden and the Fynbos Garden. Walk from varietal to varietal to explore the scents that are the constituent elements found in white and red wines of the Idiom Collection and whats more is that each bed offers descriptors of the different aromas and flavours, including its herb and floral characteristics. In addition this is also used as a culinary garden for Idiom’s restaurant.

Fynbos & Wine Walks: Celebrating Indigenous Flora

Idiom’s Da Capo Vineyards is situated within the Cape’s biosphere, and the garden celebrates some of the beautiful indigenous flora of the area. Guests can explore the scents of indigenous fynbos on a Fynbos Walk followed by the Cape Blend Tasting.

Idiom Wine’s Restaurant: Contemporary Dining with Breathtaking Views

The Idiom Restaurant opened in June 2016 and offers contemporary dining in the restaurant and a wine-tasting centre. It showcases Idiom’s flagship blends too, signature Italian varietal wines, including the rare limited-edition 900 Series wines. The 100-seater main dining area in the restaurant offers a fusion of Italian and South African cuisine in a modern vernacular.

The restaurant includes a unique, panoramic views of the majestic Helderberg basin. You can see the full expanse of the Cape Peninsula. You can see Table Mountain to Cape Point in addition to False Bay glistening in the foreground. Enjoy the Idiom Signature experience – a 3-course set menu paired with recommended wines from the Idiom Collection. There is also an à la carte and pizza menu available. Please keep in mind that the restaurant closes at 5 pm for day visitors but is available for booking as a venue for private parties.

Remco and Tanja, owners of La Bonne Auberge, often head over to Idiom Wines as it’s one of their favourite spots. Check out what they think about this elite wine estate:

“We are always truly delighted in visiting the Idiom Wine Centre. Nestled away from the hustle and bustle. Furthermore, it offers a stunning view of the surrounding landscape. Wine tasting at Idiom is more than just sampling and purchasing our favourite wines. We love Idiom mostly because we get the opportunity to taste and savour top-quality wines, guided by professional experts who provide insightful explanations. This unforgettable experience keeps us coming back to Idiom time and time again.”

Photo Credits: Idiom website and Instagram

Activities, relax, Rest, Tour

Oh, what a view from the Helderberg Nature Reserve!

Can you feel the stress of the day just melt away?!

The Helderberg Nature Reserve is a protected area of natural beauty in the Western Cape, South Africa. It is located just outside of the city of Stellenbosch, it is home to a unique and diverse range of plant and animal life. The Reserve has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is one of the most important areas of conservation in the country.

Location

Situated on the slopes of the Helderberg Mountain, the Reserve covers an area of over 3,000 hectares. The reserve includes a range of habitats – grasslands, fynbos, wetlands, and forests. It is home to a wide variety of plants and animals, including rare and endangered species.

There are various hiking trails, catering for all fitness levels. After walking you could enjoy a picnic in the gardens while watching tortoises stroll across the lawn. Birdwatchers and animal lovers, take your binoculars and cameras – you won’t be left empty-handed.

Wildlife

The reserve is home to a variety of animals including Bontebok, Cape Hare, Common Duiker, Porcupine, Genet and Small Grey Mongoose! It supports a substantial population of antelope, including Eland, Grey Rhebuck, and Bontebok. It is also home to predators such as the Leopard, Caracal, and Black-backed Jackal.

Bird lovers

The Helderview Nature Reserve is truly a paradise for birdwatchers and a great place to observe a wide variety of bird life. There are over 400 species of birds, including the endangered Cape Vulture and the critically endangered Black Harrier Hawk.

The reserve is a great destination for bird lovers to observe a wide variety of birds in their natural habitat. The nature reserve is home to a variety of bird species including the African Fish Eagle, the Black Kite, and the Black-bellied Bustard. Each of these species can be seen soaring through the clear skies of Helderview Nature Reserve, while some can be heard singing from the forest below.

It also provides a safe nesting ground for many of these birds, allowing them to breed and thrive in this protected environment. Visitors to the nature reserve can also expect to see plenty of waterfowl, waders, and smaller birds, such as the Cape Robbin Chat, the White-throated Swallow, and the Black-headed Weaver.

Flora

If flora appeals to you, Helderberg Nature Reserve is representative of Mesic Mountain Fynbos on the upper reaches and the Renosterveld on the lower reaches. And as you probably know, Fynbos is indigenous to the Western Cape.

Conservation and research

The Helderberg Nature Reserve was established in 1997 to protect the unique biodiversity of the Helderberg region. It is also an important site for conservation and research. It is home to a number of research projects, which focus on the conservation and management of the local biodiversity. This includes projects to protect rare species, manage fire, and study the impact of climate change. The Reserve is also a popular tourist destination. Visitors can explore the area on foot, by bike, or by car.

Hiking and activities

La Bonne Auberge’s owners, Remco and Tanja, visit the reserve regularly as one of their favourite activities. This is what they have to say about Helderberg Nature Reserve:

“We adore being in the Helderberg Nature Reserve. Several hiking trails also provide a variety of activities for our guests staying at La Bonne Auberge Guest House. We’re just a stone’s throw away in the Helderberg Nature Reserve. It’s perfect for an early morning hike or a late afternoon picnic.  We personally enjoy the peace and quiet of the reserve, as well as the beautiful flora and fauna. The the view of the sea from a little higher up is magnificent!  It is ideal for short or long hikes on a daily basis.  A visit to the Helderberg Nature Reserve is always worthwhile.”

There are several trails and boardwalks that lead visitors through the reserve, allowing them to experience the unique beauty of the area. It provides a safe and healthy environment for wildlife and visitors alike and is a great opportunity to learn more about nature and the environment. The Reserve is also an important part of the local economy, providing jobs for local people and helping to protect the local environment. It is an essential part of the Western Cape’s heritage and an important part of South Africa’s natural beauty.

Photo Credits: Tanja Overman and Friends of Helderberg Nature Reserve | Facebook and Instagram Pages

Contacts

  • 21 van Zyl Street, Somerset West 7130, Western Cape, South Africa
  • +27 (0)78 203 7120
  • [email protected]

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