Franschhoek Adventures, Franschhoek, Western Cape
Franschhoek is one of South Africa’s most attractive towns. For me, there are three things that make Franschhoek special – the town’s interesting history, its beautiful setting and a host of creative talent.
Although Franschhoek is a rather small town, there is an incredible amount of things to do and see and, in my experience, it is best to obtain the assistance of a local, who is passionate about their village.
My advice is to contact Franschhoek Adventures located upstairs at 62 Huguenot Road, next door to the tourism office.
Robyn Kadis is the founder, owner and Head Tour Guide at Franschhoek Adventures.
Robyn says, “I have been living in and around Franschhoek for the past 10 years. I am a nature guide who is intimately familiar with the area, its history and all it has to offer the visitor.
“We are surrounded by majestic mountains covered in Fynbos and offering spectacular views as well as more than 50 stunning wine farms. Being a Nature Guide in this area is extremely rewarding.
“My interest in history drove me to develop the Historical Village Walking Tour where I can share fun and interesting facts with my guests while we stroll through the pretty backstreets.”
Franschhoek Adventures’ tours are relaxed, informal, comfortable and private.
“You become my friends and we spend a few hours in each other’s company hiking, walking or bike riding, sipping wine and chatting about the town, fauna and flora and history of Franschhoek,” adds Robyn.
Tours on offer with Franschhoek Adventures
Franschhoek Adventures offer a wide variety of tours. This includes hiking the surrounding mountains, seeing the village and wine farms by bike, a historical walk through the village, an art tour, a township tour and a craft beer tour.
Almost all the tours start and end at the Franschhoek Adventures office. If the tour is located out of town, then transport is provided.
Franschhoek Adventures also provide a chauffeur service to and from Cape Town.
There are couple of options for the hiking tours. The hikes take place in the Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve and Franschhoek Adventures provide all the necessary permits. None of the tours are very strenuous but routes can be chosen according to fitness levels. The hikes offer fantastic photo opportunities because of the incredible natural beauty.
There are two biking tours. The four hour Mountain Bike Wine Tour is very popular and can be regarded as a wine tour, with a bit of bike riding. It is not intended as a full day exercise event.
The Mountain Bike Village Tour is a 20km circular route around the village, orchards, wine farms and mountains. This tour takes about three hours and is a quick and fun way to learn more about this beautiful area. The trip is relatively easy and does not require much exertion. The mountain bikes are new, well maintained and adjusted to suite your size and comfort.
The Historical Village Walk is one of Robyn’s personal favourites. This is an easy two hour walk that starts at the Franschhoek Adventures office and ends at the landmark NG Church. Listening to Robyn or one of her team is fascinating. Their knowledge of the area, its people and its history is comprehensive and their narration is interesting and enjoyable.
As I mentioned earlier, Franschhoek is full of creativity – locals have a wealth of talent from mastering the art of wine making to producing exceptional food and of course the visual arts. The three hour Art Route Tour takes you to the galleries in the Main Road, visits some of the artists at their studios.
The Meet The Locals Township Tour is a guided tour taking you into the informal settlement to meet the locals, experience daily life and sample the local refreshments. This is a fascinating journey into a part of Franschhoek that you would not normally do on your own. The guides are locals from the settlement and will open your eyes to a whole new view of South African culture.
I love craft beer just as much as good wine. Some of the best craft brews that I have had the pleasure of tasting are located in Franschhoek. The Crafty Beer Tour will take you to visit four breweries where you can chat to the Brew masters themselves. This is my favourite tour.
Robyn has this to say about their Bespoke Wine Tour, “Wine in Franschhoek is something to behold. You too can experience the fabulous laid-back winelands lifestyle indicative of the Franschhoek Wine valley. Join us for a custom made Bespoke Wine Tour of three beautiful wine farms of your choice in the Franschhoek area.
Another tour Franschhoek Adventures runs in conjunction with the Franschhoek Wine Valley is the Rond-en-bont Tour. This tour allows visitors to learn more about the culture, language and history of the Coloured community in the Western Cape.
“Accompanied by an experienced, knowledgeable guide, you will learn a little about the history of the village and about the wines of the region.”
If you’re a birder or even simply enjoy the outdoors then a Bird Watching Trip around Franschhoek with Franschhoek Adventures is a must. Endemic species include the Orange-breasted Sunbird, Cape Sugarbird and the Cape Siskin.
Robyn and her team have excellent local knowledge of the best birding locations and can create a very enjoyable half day, full day or overnight tour that includes the West Coast.
Top reasons for using Franschhoek Adventures
- Knowledgeable and entertaining tour guides
- Visit places that you would not have otherwise visited
- Starting your stay at Franschhoek with a tour from Franschhoek Adventures makes the rest of your stay all the more interesting.
To make a reservation, call 072 999 8581 or email tours@franschhoek-adventures.co.za To follow them on Facebook, click here. To make an online booking, click here.
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