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-   -   Hermanus & Wine Country or Cederberg? (https://www.fodors.com/community/africa-and-the-middle-east/hermanus-and-wine-country-or-cederberg-1668264/)

crellston Jun 14th, 2019 05:46 AM

Hermanus & Wine Country or Cederberg?
 
I am trying to finalise the details of our SA road-trip almost there and then my wife happened upon this place online https://www.kaggakamma.co.za/mobile/...pen-air-suites

Now we have a decision as to stick with the original plan of Hermanus and the Wine region or switch to the Cederberg and a visit to the Atlantic coast of the Western Cape. We have visited a lot of vineyards around the world so the wine country would be mostly about the scenery and I wondered whether Hermanus is worth voting when the whales are not there ( late Nov) .

Any thoughts or opinions would be most welcome.

Gardyloo Jun 14th, 2019 07:18 AM

I haven't been to Cederberg but have spent some time along the west coast, and IMO the Atlantic coast north of Cape Town is fab.

If memory serves, you're already driving the Garden Route for much of the distance in the Western Cape area, so adding a day or so for Hermanus or the Winelands wouldn't take any effort at all. Do a drive-through of Hermanus, then swing north to Franschhoek, then through Stellenbosch and into Cape Town. The scenery the whole way from Hermanus to Stellenbosch is terrific, the roads good, and you can pull into any number of wineries along the way.

Like I say, I haven't been to Cederberg (friends have and said they enjoyed it) but the area along the coast, from St. Helena Bay to Paternoster and West Coast National Park is quite wonderful. Paternoster is very picturesque, with several great restaurants, B and Bs, etc., and you'll probably be there during crayfish (lobster) season - OMG.

St. Helena Bay beach

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...3dd16187ef.jpg

Paternoster 1

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...fa6e8da32f.jpg

Paternoster 2

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...d3b6f6a560.jpg

West Coast National Park

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...7588b02bf6.jpg

traveler318 Jun 14th, 2019 10:21 AM

I've been to both areas, but in September, which is both flower season and whale season. We loved both. Outside of early/mid spring, I'm not sure I'd necessarily want to be in Cederberg. It was really hot even in September (perhaps the elevation of this location is cooler, don't know). The last picture above is similar to what we saw at Bushman's Kloof when we were there, but that's not what you'd see in November, I'm afraid.

I do think the Western Cape Winelands are among the most beautiful (like you, having been to many others, and living very close to Napa/Sonoma). The coast around Hermanus/Gansbaai is very much like California.

Now, the west coast NP itself is cooler, but we only went there for the flowers. So I'm not much help. But I'd probably stick with what you've got planned unless you can get good information on Cederberg weather and activities in the period you'll be there.

Good luck.

Good luck.

crellston Jun 16th, 2019 07:03 AM

You are correct in your recollections gardyloo, plan A was to visit Hermanus after the GR/Route 62. Our last stop is planned in Barrydale so it is but a short jump to Hermanus and from there Wine region is not too far. So I guess we could do a whistle stop tour through the wine country before heading to the Cederberg.

I mentioned the crayfish/lobster season on the west coast to my wife and, as far as she is concerned, that clinched it, we are going. I now have to trim a day or two, either from Cape Town or the GR. Mlgb was correct in her prediction when I first stated posting about this trip - we will be back!
Traveler318 thanks for your opinions and suggestions. Extremes of heat or cold don’t phase us so that has never been an issue. Shame we will be missing the wild flowers though. I think we may well just spend a night in the place I linked above (a bed in the open on the side of a cliff is just too good to miss!) before heading to the coast to no doubt gorge off crayfish and lobster! My wife has never let me forget the time i promised her a $3 lobster in Ecuador that never materialised!

Gardyloo Jun 16th, 2019 07:12 AM

One of the seafront restaurants in Paternoster was just awarded "best in the world" status. https://citizen.co.za/lifestyle/food...best-in-world/


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