Our next stop is Franschhoek (meaning French corner). It’s an old Huguenot village and a world-renowned culinary destination for food and wine lovers. After a short tour of the charming town, we jump onto the Franschhoek Wine Tram. The open-air double-decker tram takes visitors on a variety of routes. You can hop-on and hop-off the wine tram to visit the oldest and most distinguished wine estates in the valley. The tram guide tells you more about the history of the French town and its tropical fruit and wine-growing industry. You’ll sample a selection of some of the finest wines produced in the valley and can grab a bite to eat and drink at one of the stops (not included in the rate).

En route to Paarl, we take a quick detour to Drakenstein Prison (formerly known as Victor Verster Prison). This is where the great Nelson Mandela spent the last 14 months of his 27-year prison sentence. Mandela famously walked out of Drakenstein Prison a free man on the 11 February 1990. A life-size statue of Mandela has been erected at the prison. In Paarl, you’re taken on a short tour of the picturesque town before we make our way to the famous Spice Route. This popular spot is an all-in-one culinary destination. Spice Route is located on a beautiful wine farm and offers visitors a selection of wine merchants, excellent coffee shops, restaurants and delis, a craft beer brewery, shops, and a children’s play area. You can sample the valley’s finest wines or, for a change, the best craft beer in the Cape. Shop for souvenirs or take a leisurely stroll around the gardens. We leave Paarl late afternoon with full tummies and a real taste of the splendours of the Cape Winelands.