The community experience is so special that it was awarded runner-up in the Responsible Tourism Awards 2018 in the category Cultural Experience… you’re in for a treat.
Collect your car rental from the downtown office.
From Cape Town follow the N7 to Malmesbury, Moreesburg and Goedverwacht.
TIPS to visit en-route along the N7:
- Desert Rose Padstal, with homemade, fresh products and a selection of souvenirs.
- Historical walk and museum in Malmesbury
- The Wheat Industry Museum in Moreesburg
- Org de Rac wineries for organic wine & olive tasting
The Moravian mission station of Goedverwacht is nestled between the Piketberg Mountains and is accessed by an excellent tarred road off the R399, between Piketberg and Velddrift.
After arrival you follow the main road to the Goedverwacht Tourism Office, where you find a selection of brochures and information about what to see and do in the area. You will receive the directions to your host family home, where you will have time to meet and settle in.
In the afternoon you will discover your surroundings during a village walk with your host. You will experience the pride of the locals with their village and get to know their neighbours, friends and families. The village is situated in a fertile and well-watered valley and is characterized by gardens full of flowers, fruit and vegetables surrounded by a beautiful valley with the Bergriver, mountains and wetlands.
For dinner you will have a home cooked meal together with your host family and time to share stories.
Tulbagh street museum and church
You will have a delicious breakfast with your homestay family and meet your local guide at the tourism office for a guided Historical walk. This includes a visit to the Watermill and Museum, the Moravian Church, the Stone-built School, first monument and the Slaves graves. The church and parsonage were constructed of local stone and built by the villagers. It was established in 1889 as a Moravian Mission station and has a fascinating story.
The land originally belonged to a widowed farmer, Hendrik Schalk Burger. When the emancipation of the slaves was in sight, he asked his slave, Maniesa (originally from Bengal, India), and her five children and son-in-law to stay on the farm with him and care for him until his death. In his will, he left the farm to Maniesa and her children with the instructions that when all her children had died; their descendants should sell the farm and divide the proceeds. His own children challenged the will in court twice but the will was upheld and remained in Maniesa's family's hands until 1888 when her last child, Hester, died. Her grave can still be seen in the graveyard. Their descendants then decided that instead of selling the farm on open auction, they would sell it to the Moravian Missionaries for 750 Pounds. Your guide will tell you interesting stories about the church, the mill and the slave graves.
Bid farewell to your host family. Depart for Tulbagh,
Drive through the Swartland Region, over the Nuwekloof Pass. Make A snack stop at the old Toll Road Farm Stall before reaching Tulbagh.
In Tulbagh, visit the historic village which is a living museum depicting settler life in the 1800's. Church Street was fully restored to its former glory after the earthquake in 1964.
Dinner is available at the Readers Restaurant 2 doors down from the Manor House for fine dining paired with superb local wines.
After breakfast spend more time exploring some of the local sights of Tulbagh
Then drive to Wellington.
We suggest you visit the family Val Du Charron Wine & Olive Estate for wine tasting and enjoy lunch in the Grill Room, famous for grain-fed and grass-fed beef, dry or wet aged, aged between 22 and 55 days or feat on other specialities. There’s steak tartare, oxtail, brisket, marrow bones, biltong and beef burgers too. Venison, pork and chicken feature prominently along with salmon, prawns and calamari, and there are also vegetarian options on the menu.
Drive back to Cape Town. In the late afternoon drop-off your car rental at the downtown office.
