Question 1

Is South Africa a safe country to travel through independently?

Accepted Answer

Yes, South Africa is an excellent self-drive destination, provided you travel with common sense. We advise on safe routes, accommodation and practical considerations, so you can enjoy your trip in complete relaxation.

Question 2

Is South Africa a good destination for a first trip to Africa?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Thanks to its excellent roads, good tourist facilities, wide choice of accommodation and impressive combination of nature, wildlife, gastronomy and culture, South Africa is the ideal introduction to Africa.

Question 3

Why choose Beyond Routes for a culinary journey?

Accepted Answer

Would you like not only to eat and drink well during your trip, but also to get to know the destination properly? Then we look beyond the familiar restaurants and wine estates.  We have personally visited almost all the restaurants, wine estates, markets and culinary experiences we recommend, or selected them together with our local partners. This means we know not only where you can eat well, but especially which experiences tell you something about the destination and the people who live there. We consciously choose local businesses and small-scale experiences to strengthen the positive impact of tourism.

Question 4

Is the Constantia Wine Walk worth it?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely.  Many travellers immediately think of   Franschhoek   or   Stellenbosch , but forget that   Constantia , which is part of Cape Town, is   the oldest wine region in South Africa   .  If you would like to learn more about wine during your stay in Cape Town, but do not have time to venture further into the Cape Winelands, the   Constantia Wine Walk   is a fantastic choice. It is a 6-kilometre walk and you need an average level of fitness.  During this walk, you visit several historic wineries, learn more about the history of South African winemaking and, of course, taste a selection of wonderful wines.  For us, this is one of the most enjoyable ways to combine wine, nature and history without having to leave the city. That is why we have included the Wine Walk in our culinary trips, and there is also a separate Wine Walk available for Franschhoek.

Question 5

How many days do you recommend for Cape Town?

Accepted Answer

That depends entirely on your interests.  If you have included Cape Town as the starting point of a round trip, then   two nights   a great minimum to get an initial feel for the city.  But do you have more time? Then you can   easily spend a week or even longer here . As well as the well-known sights, there are countless activities that make your stay extra special. Climb Table Mountain or Lion's Head, take a boat trip to Robben Island, hike around the Cape of Good Hope, enjoy a High Tea at Mount Nelson or take a cooking workshop in the colourful neighbourhood of  Bo-Kaap .  There is also more than enough to discover for wine lovers. Several wine regions are within easy reach of Cape Town, allowing you to spend days enjoying wineries, restaurants and tastings.

Question 6

Is Cape Town safe?

Accepted Answer

As in many major cities, some neighbourhoods in Cape Town are safer than others.  With a little common sense, you can explore Cape Town independently with ease. We recommend using   Uber , avoiding walking alone through quiet streets at night and asking your accommodation for advice about the area.  We always include practical tips in our travel proposals about which neighbourhoods are pleasant places to stay.

Question 7

Which wineries and wine bars do you recommend?

Accepted Answer

That depends entirely on what you are looking for. Some travellers would like to visit the iconic wineries in  Franschhoek ,  Stellenbosch  or  Constantia  Others are looking for small-scale producers or would like to get to know the new generation of South African winemakers. That is precisely why we prefer to offer personal advice rather than a standard list of wineries.  Staying in Cape Town for a few days? Then we definitely also recommend spending an evening at one of our favourite wine bars.  Open Wine   is, in our view, one of the city's most enjoyable wine bars The wine list changes constantly and is full of surprising   low-intervention wines , with a strong focus on producers from Swartland. There is live jazz on Sunday evenings and, just as importantly, this is where you will find what we consider to be the best wood-fired pizzas in Cape Town. Also  Publik Wine Bar  is an absolute must. Like Open Wine, they serve many exciting wines from smaller South African winemakers. The relaxed atmosphere, excellent pastas and delicious snack menu make this a place where you can easily linger all evening. As Simone is a wine professional and has worked several harvest seasons at a South African wine company, we are happy to advise which wineries, wine routes and restaurants best suit your tastes. Whether you are discovering South African wine for the first time or looking for special producers you are unlikely to come across at home.

Culinary journey: Cape Town, Hemel-en-Aarde & Klein Karoo