22-day Best of South Africa Family Holiday

Experience the beautiful St Francis Bay Canals and Kromme River on a luxury 12 seater barge which is designed and licensed to carry up to 12 passengers on the waterways of not only the canals but also the Kromme and Geelhout Rivers.

River Break activities are tailored to suit the needs of the individual or group with trips ranging from a 1 hour cruise around the canal systems to a full day excursion up the Kromme River. This river system forms part of a conservancy and is a haven for birds and animals. On leaving the Kromme River your journey will take you along the picturesque waters of the Geelhout River until your final destination... your very own private farm.

On arrival at the farm known as the 'Bat and the Boerboon' you have the rest of the day to relax at the pool, paddle the still waters in a canoe, or take a SUP, stroll through the fynbos thickets or simply sit and chill as your lunch is prepared.

Enjoy starters followed by a full, traditional South African braai (barbeque) and a sumptuous dessert to end this awesome meal. At your leisure, board the barge for another relaxing cruise back toward St Francis.

For the full day river and farm adventure a minimum of 6 people is required.

Clothing, Classrooms and Culture all in one day.For the last 4 years the Cape St Francis Resort has been taking guests on a wonderful tour of local community projects and businesses. These insightful excursions offer participants the opportunity to meet everyone involved and really get to know the what, who and why's of each individual business and the people involved.

Interact with local kids at a children's school at Talhado Montessori School which was started to address the needs of disadvantaged children in the area of St Francis Bay. Pre -primary education and a safe place to play, under adult care, were needed. Through 'Betty's Tour' you will meet these wonderful children and the teachers who care for them.

Meet some talented locals and maybe buy a garment or two - Although Nomvulas is still a small business it has developed a strong client base which keeps the pace of work consistent and provides a sustainable income for the staff.You will be given a personal tour by one of the knitters . The products produced are simply stunning and you will be spoilt for choice with the wide range of clothing and accessories.

Just 1 hours drive from Cape St Francis lies approximately 270 000 ha. of unspoiled, rugged mountainous terrain known as The Baviaanskloof.

The nature reserves breath-taking scenery includes sights of deep gorges, twisting streams and rivers and towering mountain cliffs. Open plateau and valleys are scattered throughout the area resulting in truly magnificent and varied scenic vistas. The highest point in the mountain ranges is the Cockscomb in the Groot Winterhoek range that rises to a height of 1 758 meters above sea level.

We highly recommend a visit to the Baviaanskloof and all it has to offer and now you can do it style:
Leaving in our fully air conditioned people carrier we will take you on a stunning journey through the citrus valley of Patensie.You’ll then continue your journey along a breathtaking mountain road with scenery you'll never forget to Poortjies. Various walks are available with incredible view points to really take in the true beauty of The Baviaanskloof.

Your lunch time stop will be the majestic setting of Rooihoek, deep within the Baviaans mountains. With a clean crisp river, perfect for swimming, and pristine white sands Rooihoek is the perfect location to rest and refuel.On your return you’ll also visit a typical farm stall called Padlangs where teas and coffees will be served.

Bunkers, lakes, long drives and beautifully tendered greens draw golfers to the area year after year!
Famously known for it's surfing, The St Francis Bay area also offers 2 outstanding, and very different, golf courses.

Firstly there is 'The St Francis Bay Golf Club' situated within the heart of the picturesque village of St Francis. This full 18 hole course offers challenging holes for all levels, from short lake holes to long driver par 5s. The 19th hole or club house offers a wide variety of snacks, meals and drinks with stunning views across the course. Sit back and watch as the golfers finish their round on the 18th.

The popularity of 'The St Francis Bay Golf Course' and the “Calamari Classic” (a three-day tournament run in September each year) in particular has been evident when one looks at the list of players frequenting the Club. This list is made up of resident members as well as up-country members and visitors who travel from all over the country and abroad to come and play at 'The St Francis Bay GC'

'St Francis Links' , the second course in St Francis Bay, may not have been grazing land for sheep and rabbits, but a natural course between the beach and arable land it is. Jack Nicklaus has had the pleasure of taking Mother Nature’s best piece of links land and signed his name to something unique. 'St Francis Links' challenges all who play it and rewards those who respect it.

Experience the natural beauty of Cape St Francis and the surrounding area via stunning reserve and coastal walks

Cape St Francis is home to no less than four beautiful nature reserves, Cape St Francis Nature Reserve, Seal Point Nature Reserve, Seal Bay Nature Reserve and Irma Booysen Flora Reserve.
These reserves offer a wide variety of walks suitable for all levels of fitness and experience. These walks, hikes and trails take you through natural coastal lands filled with indigenous plant and wild life.

What is so special about these areas?

South Africa is extraordinarily rich in plant and animal life and scientists have classified the different kinds of vegetation across the land. The southwestern Cape region is especially blessed in plant species, so much so that it is recognized as one of only six Plant or Floral Kingdoms in the world. Known as the Cape Floral Kingdom, it extends roughly from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town and inland, covering about 90,000 km2 and is home to 9,000 plant species, 70% of which grow nowhere else in the world (i.e. endemic to the Cape).

These plants are not scattered randomly across the landscape. Instead, from one hill to the next, different plant species grow together in their own communities. This means that the entire region is divided into these vegetation types, comprising plant species that grow in their particular area and nowhere else.

Our local vegetation type is the St Francis Fynbos/Thicket Mosaic and only grows on the lime-rich coastal sandy sites scattered between Tsitisikamma in the west and Port Elizabeth in the east. The conditions under which this vegetation type can grow is a relatively small area comprising 0.2% of the Cape region. Botanists from all over the world have visited the area discovering new species of plant life that are only found in this area.

Keep those eyes peeled for wild life

Look out for bushbuck, grysbok, common duiker, bushpig, porcupine, vervet monkey, caracal, yellow and grey mongoose and otters. You can sometimes see the rare African black oystercatcher and occasionally an endangered Jackass penguin. Bottlenose and common dolphins are often seen offshore and, from August to December, southern right whales may be spotted.

There are many other activities on offer such as whale and dolphin excursions, surf lessons with video, a hit with children, bicycles for hire , bird watching, canal and river cruises, kite surfing , horse riding , deep sea fishing out of Port St Francis on Fiona M.

All bookable through Resort Adventures.

Whether you are a foodie , interested in sea creatures or our local community the unique Calamari Tasting is a must on any itinerary.

Port St Francis is the only privately owned working harbour in South Africa and home to the

squid ( ink fish ) industry. Over 60 freezing vessels come and go for 8 months of the year, leaving for up to 21 days with crews of between 14 and 26 to find what is known locally as Chokka.

So combine a beach walk or Betty’s Tour with a calamari tasting where you can hear about the sustainability of the industry , the method of catching and showing guests the raw product and then the tasting itself, freshly prepared. It showcases not only the difference between the local and imported calamari but also the elements of the fish.

A must do, a unique once off opportunity to taste the best local calamari our country has to offer to appreciate why it is called “white gold”.

The tour will show you how a modern day working commercial farm operates.

Our tour guide, Koos, starts by telling you the fascinating story of how Oudtshoorn owes its history to the ostrich. Indeed the ostrich feather started it all … and the rest (as they say)… is history!

Koos, will take you for a drive around the farm to show you the adult ostriches. You will get a chance to meet the curious and friendly, young ostriches in the farm paddocks.

He then will show you how we breed the chicks. You will see how we use advanced farming methods to care for the eggs and provide the right environment for them to hatch into healthy young birds. Once hatched, our chicks then go into the nursery for their upbringing. As they grow, so they move into bigger paddocks along with all the other chicks they bonded with in the nursery.

If you want to do shopping, some of the local things that we recommend you buy as gifts or souvenirs are the following places. Mooiplaas Country Guesthouse also has an on site curio shop.

Our on-site spa facility is one of the best Oudtshoorn spa facilities, offering treatments and massages to suit every guest’s needs. Add some extra pampering to your holiday.
Treatments include massages, facials, hand & foot treatments, exfoliation, body wraps and more – with the signature range of Kalahari spa and beauty products.

Experience a touch of Africa – in the comfort of our luxury farm style surrounding.

Mooiplaas Guesthouse boasts a beautiful swimming pool overlooking the farmlands of Oudtshoorn. Take a dip and enjoy a cocktails pool side on those hot summer days.

Make a difference. Make unforgettable memories.

Spier’s wide range of Growing for Good initiatives empower our communities to unleash positive social and environmental change. With Time for Good, hotel guests are invited to be a part of the action!
Guests can now book one of these inspiring activities, and we guarantee their visit to our historic wine farm will be meaningful, moving and memorable. Whether they're on a family getaway, a romantic escape or travelling as a group, Time for Good activities are an essential, unforgettable add-on to their Spier experience. Each takes place either on our farm or in the surrounding community.

Volunteer in our Food Garden
On a tour of our Food Garden, they will learn all about regenerative agriculture and permaculture gardening from our team of friendly, knowledgeable gardeners — and get to meet the pest control patrol: a paddle of runner ducks! Fancy getting some dirt under their fingernails? Volunteers are welcome in this tranquil space, where they will help the team cultivate a bounty of nutrient-rich and delicious produce without inorganic pesticides or artificial fertilisers. Their time will be well spent, whether weeding and harvesting or packing seedlings and veggies that are donated to local community feeding schemes.

Donate essentials to under-resourced schools and the elderly
If guests have some space to spare in their suitcase, they can fill it with essential items to be donated to some of the Winelands’ most vulnerable residents. As a proud member of the global initiative Pack-for-a-Purpose, we’ll distribute any school stationery, art supplies, children’s books, educational games and sporting goods they bring to under-resourced rural schools. If they're able to pack adult toiletries, bedding and other household items, we’ll pass these on to Zandvliet Care Facility which looks after the elderly.

Tackling poverty one seedling at a time
Guests can enjoy an inspiring tour of the Tree-preneurs nursery on our farm, home to 23 000 indigenous plants! Project manager Lesley Joemat has empowered dozens of “Tree-preneurs” living in impoverished communities to grow indigenous trees and plants. Once the seedlings she’s given them to nurture have reached a certain height, they are exchanged for essentials such as food vouchers, clothing, agricultural goods, tools, bicycles and educational support.

Taste wines in our organic vineyard
There’s no better person than our Organic Winemaker, Tania Kleintjes, to show guests around our farm’s organic vineyards. At the tour’s completion, they will unwind between the rows of vines as Tania pours them a taste of our three acclaimed organic Farm House wines. The cost of the tour includes two organic wines for guests to take home. If the tour falls during the annual harvest (typically a several-week period in February and March), guests are able to both lend a hand with picking the perfect grapes and tasting them too!

Visit and volunteer at the Sustainability Institute
A close neighbour and longtime partner of Spier, the Sustainability Institute runs a range of activities and programmes aimed at creating more equitable and empowered futures. As a volunteer in its food garden, guests will plant, harvest and enjoy a wild food tasting, followed by a harvest table lunch. Other volunteer opportunities through the Institute include tree-planting, soup-making, knitting, children’s reading circles and youth sports. Guests can also tour the Sustainability Institute’s campus, learning about its educational programmes, as well as the renowned Lynedoch Ecovillage – an ecologically designed, socially mixed community built around the campus.

Explore regenerative agriculture and recycling
Our Segway tours aren’t just exhilarating fun in the fresh air: they’re also a great way to learn about Spier’s deeply rooted commitment to the earth. As guests glide effortlessly past our organic vineyards, they will get the lowdown on all things green — from recycling to regenerative agriculture. Along the way, they will meet happy, free-roaming chickens, visit our eco-friendly wastewater treatment plant (which recycles 100% of the farm’s black and grey water), and stop by the tranquil Food Garden, where delicious produce is cultivated without artificial fertilisers or inorganic pesticides.

Venture with raptors into the wild
Guests can walk amidst Cape fynbos with majestic hawks, learning how birds of prey keep ecosystems healthy and balanced as they enjoy their daily exercise and conduct natural “pest control”. Into the Wild sessions will begin at Eagle Encounters — the raptor rehabilitation, conservation and education centre at Spier — with an introduction to falconry. Guests will then enjoy a leisurely hike on the farm with the Harris hawks freely following on and gliding around them. Eagle Encounters is also open to visitors, with exhilarating personal encounters and spectacular interactive flying shows with even more birds of prey (including eagles, owls, kites and buzzards). Guests will also get to meet other critters, including foxes, snakes and lizards.

Become a patron of the arts
The Creative Block project invites artists, both established and emerging, to create work on a small blank block. The blocks are submitted for critique, and the best are purchased and made available for sale to visitors – showcased across the farm. Creative Block is ideal for the budding art collector. With a modest budget, guests are able to establish – or expand – a collection of delightfully diverse artworks. This will ensure they are among the early collectors that help to support artists at the beginning of their careers. Curious to learn more about South Africa’s thriving art scene? A walking tour showcasing the highlights of Spier’s art collection (one of the country’s largest) is available upon request.

Connect and craft with local artisans
The vibrant Craft Market at Spier is a sustainable social enterprise which improves local livelihoods, provides eco-friendly shopping and adheres to Fair Trade principles. As guests browse the stalls, they can chat with talented artists and artisans creating striking art and design. Their one-of-kind pieces range from paintings, carvings and jewellery to beadwork, textiles and ceramics. There are also extraordinary items made from recycled and upcycled materials. Give it a go! Individuals and groups can book a fun make-it-yourself session where they will try their hand at painting, jewellery-making, beadwork or wirework. Our experienced artisans will share their techniques and know-how, encouraging guests to unleash their own creativity.

Read more here https://www.spier.co.za/time-for-good. If you have any questions, please contact Comien Grobler on comieng@spier.co.za.

Award-winning wine is paired with innovative food at Spier’s Tasting Room which is located on the banks of the Spier dam, with stunning views of the Helderberg Mountains. Wine is available for sale at cellar door prices. The Tasting Room’s retail space offers wine-related products, locally-made homeware, gifts and books.

Tastings include:
• Spier Tasting: choose wines from the Spier Signature range, Spier Seaward, Spier Creative Block and 21 Gables
• Chocolate and wine tastings
• Winemaker Selection: Taste from our 21 Gables and Creative Block ranges plus the organic red blend, Spier First Stone.
• The Children's Grape Juice Tasting is the ideal way to keep the youngsters busy with a tasting of two different grape juices and an educational activity sheet highlighting the role insects play in our vineyards.
• Food platters to pair with the tastings are also available for sale

Spier Wine Tasting is open from 10:00 – 16:30 daily, with Sales from 09:00 -17:00. Contact us on +27 (021) 809 1143/7 or visit https://shop.spier.co.za/ to order wines online.

The Spier Elemental Garden is just a stone’s throw from Spier Farm Café and Vadas Smokehouse & Bakery – both much loved by families. It was conceptualised by landscape architect Ed Brooks and local landscape architect Danielle Croly, using mostly indigenous plants.
The garden is divided into quadrants representing the four elements: water, air, fire and earth. Intersecting all four is a spiralling waterway that symbolises the Fibonacci Sequence – a set of numbers where each number is the sum of the two preceding ones. Many patterns in nature follow this rule — such as the spiral shape of a seashell, the arrangement of leaves on a branch, or the petals of some flowers (such as daisies and sunflowers).
Features of the garden include a slide landscaped into earth mounds, a tunnel to crawl through, a Charl Conradie wind sculpture and a swing bridge. The water in the Water quadrant has been treated and is safe to splash about in – perfect for hot summer days.

The Elemental Garden is open daily until sunset; entry is complimentary.

The Segway PT (personal transport) is a two-wheeled, self balancing electric vehicle. Users lean forward to go forwards, lean back to go backwards and turn using a "lean steer" handlebar. As you glide through the farm past our beautiful vineyards and pastures, your guide will share interesting insights about farming, Spier’s river walk and wastewater treatment plant.

Eagle Encounters has been going strong since 2001, rehabilitating and releasing birds of prey, promoting conservation and education, on land donated by Spier. Birds of prey keep the farm’s ecosystem in balance, making it possible to naturally control pests, without pesticides. Enjoy up-close-and-personal interactions with eagles, hawks, falcons, owls, kites, buzzards, snakes and lizards. Take part in heart-stopping falconry displays, where we fly birds to you. Kids will also enjoy our piglets, rabbits, tortoises, chickens and unique playground.

Take time off from real life and indulge in a facial or massage at the Spier spa, set inside the spacious Spier Hotel. Melt away tension and feel revived and refreshed with a full programme of skin, body and massage treatments on the menu.

Close to our Tasting Room, the Spier Craft Market showcases craftwork at eight custom-designed units – each manned by a cluster of artists. Wire and beadwork, 3D paintings, mosaics, items from recycled materials, jewellery, textiles, ceramics and woodcarving are all represented. Whether you want something simple like a key ring or fridge magnet, or a collectable art piece, there will be something to win your heart. Many of the artists work on site several days a week and would be happy to answer your questions and share the production process with you.

Spier has two audio tours you can listen to on your smartphone using the VoiceMap app (available on Google Play and the App Store):

· The Gables tour takes you around Spier’s historic farmyard, the Werf, offering a fictionalised account of the world of a Stellenbosch wine farm around 200 years ago. It was researched and written by acclaimed playwright, Brett Bailey. The narrator is Sannie de Goede, a slave woman on the Spier Estate in 1836, on the eve of her freedom.
· The hour-long Walk the Spier Farm tour will introduce you to the farm’s many facets: from art and wines to hospitality and heritage. You’ll also discover our efforts to forge a sustainable future, through biodynamic farming, the rehabilitation of fragile indigenous ecosystems and our eco-friendly wastewater plant and water-wise winery.

Discover the farm for free, using one of the Qhubeka Buffalo Bicycles located at the Spier Hotel entrance. These are sturdy and strong machines, designed for rough African terrain (and prove more than a match for our farm roads). Designed by Chicago-based World Bicycle Relief and assembled in South Africa, these bikes were named by the BBC as one of the 10 most beautiful bikes in the world.

Find everything you need for a challenging workout at Spier’s gym. Feel the burn, then pour the wine. Exclusive to hotel guests. Situated above the Kids Club.