Activities around Evergreen Manor & Spa
Location : Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa

Stellenbosch & Surrounds

The heart of South Africa´s wine industry, Stellenbosch is a place of great beauty and culture that´s steeped in South African tradition.

The Stellenbosch Wine Route is arguably the country´s most famous, and the Stellenbosch Wine of Origin area includes 106 cellars - most of which are open to the public. Enjoy a long day´s wine tasting, and wine buying and you´ll sip more than our great South African wines - you´ll taste our South African way of life.

The heart of the town lies somewhere near the oak-lined Dorp Street. With its venerable old buildings, this is the University´s main thoroughfare, where modern student life sits comfortably side by side with our history and architectural heritage.

The University - Maties - has produced many of the country´s great sporting heroes, including more than 155 rugby Springboks, and Stellenbosch offers almost every outdoor activity you could desire.

Stellenbosch is the second oldest European settlement in the Western Cape Province, South Africa after Cape Town, and is situated about 50 kilometers (30 mi) away along the banks of the Eerste River. The town became known as the City of Oaks or Eikestad in Afrikaans due to the large number of oak trees that were planted by the founder to grace the streets and homesteads.

The town is home to the University of Stellenbosch. The Technopark is a modern corporate and research complex situated on the southern side of the town near the Stellenbosch Golf Course.

Stellenbosch is said to be the heart of Afrikanerdom due to the large number of academics and students who have lived and studied there.

What to do in Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch offers plenty charming shops, boutique shopping centres, jewellers, curio shops and other interesting businesses. Most shops are centrally situated between Merriman Avenue, Bird and Dorp Street. The best way to visit them is to do so on foot. Stellenbosch offers both modern and traditional shops as well as arts and crafts from the formal and informal sectors. Take home your favourite wines. Selected wine merchants in and around Stellenbosch offer delivery and export services to your door. You will also find charming country shops and farm stalls along the main routes to/from Stellenbosch.

Find anything from strawberry picking to traditional South African preserves. The Somerset Mall is close to Stellenbosch and is the region´s largest shopping centre.

Dining out in Stellenbosch

Dining out in Stellenbosch, Town of Oaks, is a special experience, whether al fresco under the oaks and the stars, or indoors in cosy, yet luxurious surroundings. From traditional Cape fare and European cuisine to the more exotic, there is something to tantalise the taste buds of even the most discerning diner. Visitors can try interesting-sounding dishes such as "waterblommetjie-bredie" (waterlily-stew!), Tant Maraai se Hoender-pie (Aunt Maraai's chicken pie), Cape medley - a combination of Cape Malay dishes including the above - and Bobotie (sweet-curry mince dish).

Restaurants and eateries are diverse in character and range from elegant Cape Dutch manor to Victorian villa, country cottage and sidewalk café, both in the town and on the wine estates. Many estates offer vintner's platters, picnic baskets and light meals as part of the wine-tasting experience. Hot soup can be enjoyed around a blazing log fire during the cool winter days. Restaurants in the region are very proud of their wine lists and offer a wide choice of Stellenbosch wines. Ask your waiter to make a suggestion as to which wine will best compliment your choice of food.

You will soon agree that eating-out in Stellenbosch and surrounds is truly a unique experience. Bookings are advisable and a 10% service fee is the norm. Enjoy!

Winemaking in Stellenbosch

The Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek valleys form the Cape Winelands, the largest of the two main wine growing regions in South Africa. The South African wine industry produces about 1,000,000,000 litres of wine annually. Stellenbosch is the primary location for viticulture and viticulture research. Professor Perold was the first Professor of Viticulture at Stellenbosch University. The Stellenbosch wine route, established in 1971 is world renowned and popular tourist destination.

The area has a mediterranean-type climate, with dry hot summers, cold wet winters. It is at the start of the Cape Fold mountains, which have created soil favourable to vines. Grapes are grown primarily for wine, not as table grapes.

History

The town was founded in 1679 by the Governor of the Cape Colony, Simon van der Stel, who named it after himself — Stellenbosch means "(van der) Stel's forest". It is situated on the banks of the Eerste River ("First River"), so named as it was the first new river he reached and followed when Jan van Riebeeck sent him from Cape Town on an expedition over the Cape Flats to explore the territory towards what is now known as Stellenbosch. The Dutch were skilled in hydraulic engineering and they devised a system of furrows to direct water from the Eerste River in the vicinity of Thibault Street through the town along van Riebeeck Street to Mill Street where a mill was erected. The town grew so quickly that it became an independent local authority in 1682 and the seat of a magistrate with jurisdiction over 25 000 square kilometres (9,700 sq mi) in 1685.

Soon after the first settlers arrived, especially the French Huguenots, grapes were planted in the fertile valleys around Stellenbosch and soon it became the centre of the South African wine industry. The first school had been opened in 1683 but education in the town began in earnest in 1859 with the opening of a seminary for the Dutch Reformed Church and a gymnasium which known as het Stellenbossche Gymnasium was established in 1866. In 1874 some higher classes became Victoria College and then in 1918 the University of Stellenbosch. The first mens hostel to be established in Stellenbosch was Wilgenhof. In 1909 an old boy of the school, Paul Roos, captain of the first team to be called the Springboks, was invited to become the sixth rector of the school. He remained rector till 1940. On his retirement the school's name was changed to Paul Roos Gymnasium.

In the early days of the Second Boer War (1899-1902) Stellenbosch was one of the British military bases, and was used as a 'remount' camp; and in consequence of officers who had not distinguished themselves at the front being sent back to it, the expression 'to be Stellenbosched' came into use; so much so, that in similar cases officers were spoken of as 'Stellenbosched' even if they were sent to some other place.

Local Attractions

Stellenbosch is the centre of the country's wine industry and the ideal base from which to explore the winelands. Situated in a magnificent mountain valley with a mild, Mediterranian climate, the town is also home to the world-famous University of Stellenbosch and has a rich heritage, reflected in its Cape Dutch, Georgian and Victorian architecture. It also hosts the annual Food and Wine Festival -  not to be missed!

Eco & Nature:

Jonkershoek and Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve - offers hiking, fly fishing, picnic spots - 021 569 3500

Butterfly World - is an exotic butterfly garden with a restaurant and craft shop - 021 875 5628

Drakenstein Lion Park - has captivity-bred lions, cheetah, farmyard animals and a shop - 021 863 3290

Animal Zone - offers interation with rare and exotic animals. Great fun for the family - 021 875 5063

Botanical Gardens - 021 808 3054

Jan Marais Park - has picnic sites, a labyrinth and art exhibitions - 021 883 3584

Strawberry picking - from October to December is offered at Mooiberge and Plkadraai - 021 881 3222 and 021 881 3303

Vineyard hiking trail - 021 865 2313

Outdoor Active:

SAFCOL Jonkershoek Pine Plantation - offers scenic drives, hiking, angling and mountain biking - 021 883 3584

Adventure Centre - offers paintball, abseiling, adventure camps, bungee jumping, river rafting, mountain biking and skydiving - 021 882 8112

Horse riding with wine tasting and meals -

Spier horse trails (021 881 3683)
Delvera horse trails (021 883 3584)
Amoi horse trails (082 682 8586)

Spectacular Golf

Stellenbosch Golf Course - 021 880 0103
Devonvale Golf Course - 021 888 4735
De Zalze Golf Estate - 021 880 7300

Culture and Heritage:

Toy and miniature museum - in the old Rhenish Missionary Parsonage, displays antique dolls and toys, miniature rooms and a model railway layout - 021 883 3584

Stellenbosch University Museum - houses the Sasol Art Museum and the university art gallery - 021 808 3695

Rupert Art Museum - 021 888 3344

Village Museum - has four period houses and the old plice station - 021 887 2902