Self Drive d'autore: Garden Route Classic 11 notti

Here at Mont Rochelle wine tasting isn’t just a special event – it’s an everyday occurrence. Wine tastings can be organised in a variety of locations, including in Miko Restaurant, at our bar, at the
Country Kitchen and in our wine cellar (as you might expect!).

The 150 year old wine cellar was previously used as a fruit packing shed for the early settlers. Since being converted to a traditional wine cellar Mont Rochelle can now process close to 150 tons of grapes in a season, and these smaller volumes afford more concentration on quality rather than quantity. Stainless steel tanks aid in the making of the crisp clean whites, while barrels are favoured for the red wine making. Wines are available to purchase.

Cellar and Winery Tours - Monday - Friday at 11h00 - complimentary (pre-booking required)

Premium Winery Tours are also available on a Monday / Wednesday / Friday at 11h00 with Mont Rochelle’s very own Wine Maker. This is a true winery experience lasting approximately 20 minutes where you’ll be taken around Mont Rochelle’s winery and cellar, ending with a Wine tasting (pre-booking required)

Take a dip and relax in the main outdoor heated swimming pool at Mont Rochelle - there are some fantastic views of the Franschhoek Mountains. Bar service is available around the pool and fresh pool towels are available.

What could be more relaxing than a spa treatment during your stay? Mont Rochelle has two dedicated spa treatment rooms as well as a Hammam. We use the eco-friendly Africology ‘Authentic’ range of products which are made from 100% essential oils and natural plant extracts. Resident guests are welcome to make use of the Hammam at their leisure as long as it’s not in use for a scheduled treatment.

There are some wonderful routes that make it easy to explore the surrounding area on bike. We can arrange rentals with a local company, just let us know and we can book these for you.

Enjoy a hike through the hills, valleys and vineyards surrounding the hotel, as well as in local reserves. The Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve on the opposite side of the valley offers superb views of

the wine valley and on a clear day you can even see Table Mountain and the ocean! The walks vary in length from 3 to 8 hours and are of moderate intensity. One will need to acquire a 1 day permit that

costs R30 per person and a map that costs R15. Guests are welcome to take walks through the farm and the only request is that you stay on the walkways, thus preserving the fragile vines that produce our splendid wines.

A great way to discover the Franschhoek Valley is by the famous wine tram! This is a hop-on, hop-off service offering picturesque vineyards, beautiful scenery, fine wines, and world class cuisine as you travel. Here guests will have the chance to visit some of South Africa’s oldest and most distinguished wine estates travelling on an open air tram. Mont Rochelle is a stop on one of the Wine Tram Routes, so guests can book the other route to sample more of the area’s vineyards.

The De Hoop Nature Reserve is one of the best place in Africa for land based whale watching. During the winter month (July - October) large numbers of Southern Righ whales enter the sheltered bay of this Marine Protected Reserve to give birth to their calves. Thanks to the location of Morukuru Beach Lodge so close to the beach it is possible to see the whales from your room already.

The amazing white sand dunes of the De Hoop Nature Reserve offer excellent opportunities for sand boarding.

The pristine coastline of the De Hoop Nature Reserve is protected by the Marine Reserve, which means no boating and no fishing is allowed. It is also not allowed to remove anything from the beaches. As a result the beaches and coastline offer a lot to discover during fascinating marine walks during low tide.

The De Hoop Nature Reserve is located just to the east of Cape Agulhas, which means that water temperatures are a few degrees warmer then Cape Town and Hermanus. The protected rock pools with shallow water warm up even further, making it possible to swim and snorkel safely.

Morukuru Beach Lodge is surrounded by Fynbos and sand dunes. Go and explore this fascinating landscape on foot and discover the many different plant species. Did you know this is one of the richest floral kingdoms in the world, with over 3000 different species?

Guests at Morukuru Beach Lodge can discover the beauty of De Hoop Nature Reserve on mountain bikes as well. We offer bikes in various sizes, even for younger children. Guests can explore the reserve on their own, or as a guided activity together with other guests.

Join our guide on a nature drive exploring the western area of the reserve, focussing on the typical Fynbos vegetation. With a bit of luck you may spot Eland, Bontebok, Cape Mountain Zebra, Baboons and Ostrich, as well as other bird species. We sometimes visit the Vlei as well, where you may see flamingos and pelicans.

At Shamwari Private Game Reserve, we not only offer our guests 5-star luxury accommodation, but pride ourselves on presenting wildlife interaction that is sure to be the highlight of your stay. Coupled with the African horizon and spectacular skies, we offer game drives through the reserve for an experience of a lifetime.

Our game viewing drives are available for morning and afternoon trips, as this is when the animals are most active. Our vehicles are open and comfortable, and give you a panoramic view of the area. You’ll be guided by one of our trained game rangers who’ll take you and your party through the reserve, encountering many animals along the way.

If you have a particular area of interest, you’re welcome to inform your guide who will include it along the journey, if possible.

In order to ensure that you have a memorable experience, we want you to be prepared and comfortable. We highly recommend you bring:

Binoculars
Cameras
Warm clothing
Sunscreen
Hat

The game drives themselves last for approximately three to four hours and take you through the reserve. Included on the game drive is a coffee stop for the morning drive and a sun-downer stop in the evening.

Our rangers are experts at navigating the Shamwari terrain and are readily available to answer any questions you may have. If there is a certain species you’re hoping to spot, or an area you wish to visit, chat to your coordinator to make arrangements.

We do suggest mentioning any special requests you may have when you make your booking. That way, we can advise you on the ideal time of year to visit, which lodge to stay at, and make any other arrangements that might be needed.

Unfortunately, no children under the age of 4 are permitted on the game drives; however we can arrange a childminder at an additional cost.

For a truly African safari experience, consider Shamwari Private Game Reserve as your next destination.

Not only do we offer unforgettable views and 5-star luxury accommodation, but we also have a host of activities available, including bird watching.

This malaria-free area of the Eastern Cape, South Africa, is home to a host of wild game, Big 5, and beautiful birds. Ornithologists and bird watching hobbyists alike are treated to an array of birds of prey sightings, including:

Black Shouldered Kites
Booted Eagles
Pale Chanting Goshawks
Secretary birds

Additionally, Shamwari Private Game Reserve has several bodies of water located throughout the reserve, which means it’s the ideal opportunity to catch sight of:

African Darters
African Shelducks
Hamerkops
Malachite Kingfishers
Three-banded Lapwings

These are a few special birds that we are privileged to see here. Specialist guides, who know the habits and habitats of these birds, will do their utmost to get you a sighting of these birds in their natural environment.

Olive Bush Shrike (Ruddy form)
White Backed Night Heron
Black Harrier
Denhams Bustard
Narina Trogon

Whether you set out on a game drive, go on a guided walk or simply watch from your balcony, bird watching is such a relaxing activity. In order to get the most from your safari experience, we highly recommend that you come fully prepared with these items:

Binoculars
Bird reference book
Cameras and lenses
Personal notebook
Warm clothing

Escape to Shamwari Private Game Reserve and enjoy a safari spa experience in the wilderness surrounds of the Eastern Cape. Our spa retreats will leave you feeling revitalised and rejuvenated, with treatments that are proven to be beneficial for the mind, body and soul.

Shamwari spa treatments are the ideal way to unwind and each of our offerings are created for men and women. Our luxury wellness retreats are based at certain lodges, but treatments can be arranged for guests staying in any of our other luxury accommodations.

Our current relaxation retreats can be found at:
Eagles Crag – 2 treatments rooms, a hydro bath, sauna and steam room
Lobengula – 1 treatment room and sauna
Bayethe – Private twin treatment room
Long Lee Manor - 2 single treatment rooms and 1 twin treatment room
New Tented Camp - Private treatment room

We have a host of safari spa treatments available to you should you make a booking at Shamwari’s Relaxation Retreats.

In addition to the available treatments, our luxury health retreats also have retail products on sale.

In addition to spectacular game drives, Shamwari Game Reserve also offers professionally guided walking tours. Here, you can gain a true perspective of the flora and fauna indigenous to the region. Your guide can point out animal tracks, dung, hiding spots, rare birds and educate you on the area and its history.

Unfortunately, no children under the age of 16 or adults over the age of 65 (unless provided with a doctor’s certificate of fitness) are permitted on these walks.

In collaboration with the Born Free Foundation, the Big Cat Rescue and Education Centres are situated within our game reserve. They aim to draw attention to the plight of wild cats, confined in impoverished, captive environments throughout the world.

It’s the mission of The Born Free Foundation, founded by actress and conservationist Virginia McKenna and her late husband Bill Travers, to ‘Keep Wildlife in the Wild’. Both Shamwari and Born Free aim to promote conservation and protect these species and their habitat, whilst maintaining a compassionate approach to the welfare of animals. The rescue and education centres home rescued lions and leopards from across the world and aim to be an enlightening experience for all visitors.

The Born Free Foundation is a UK based wildlife charity organisation that rescues animals from captivity and gives them lifetime care in spacious sanctuaries. The charity protects threatened species including lions, elephants, tigers, gorillas, wolves, bears, marine turtles and much more in their natural habitat. Working with local communities Born Free finds humane solutions to help people and wildlife live together without conflict.

Since its inception in 1984, it has grown and been backed by celebrities, conservationists and passionate institutions worldwide, like Shamwari Private Game Reserve.

At Shamwari Private Game Reserve we’re passionate about the conservation of nature and the animals within the reserve. One of our endeavours includes the Shamwari Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, which helps to rescue, rehabilitate and care for sick, injured, abandoned or orphaned animals under the care of our professional veterinary team. Once these animals have been nursed back to health, they are released back into their natural habitat.

You have the opportunity to visit the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre when you visit Shamwari Private Game Reserve.