At Penthouse on Long you can get the best of both worlds. Explore the heart of the vibrant Long Street, right next to all the night clubs, coffee shops, restaurants and theaters; or come home to the hostel where you will be able to chill out in our roof top garden, relax with some fellow backpackers in our tv lounge or crawl into your individually decorated room for perfect peace and quiet. A good nights sleep is guaranteed.

Expect market leading quality in our rooms and facilities, as well as up-to-date info on many tours, hot spots and local events. No flaky rundown rooms, no broken and unusable facilities, and friendly helpful service. We want to show you the beauty of South Africa, and give you the best possible experience that you could get out of a backpacker hostel. Come join us for some of the best times you will ever have!

Find out more

Today the new Stellenbosch American Express® Wine Routes represent more than 200 wine and grape producers within the boundaries of the Stellenbosch Wine of Origin classification. The Wine Route is divided into five sub-routes.

Daily wine tasting, cellar tours and sales are offered at most cellars and many of these have restaurant and picnic facilities. Some cellars offer tasting by appointment only. Please refer to each of the member listings to view the facilities offered by individual cellars. Wine can be purchased at the cellar door. Your purchases of any given quantity can be delivered locally or internationally.

We have been preparing for your visit for more than 320 years! Visit us now and experience the finest wines, warm hospitality and memorable moments. The Greek philosopher Plato remarked : ‘Nothing more excellent or valuable than wine has even been granted by the gods to man’.

Enjoy your Stellenbosch Wine Routes experience!

For more information, go to www.wineroute.co.za

In 2007, BSA recognised the need to incorporate address other aspects of youth tourism. BSA expanded and the South African Youth Travel Confederation (SAYTC) was formed. SAYTC is a non-profit, membership-driven organization with the following objectives:

• to market South Africa globally as a preferred youth tourism destination.
• to establish a professional youth tourism industry based upon accreditation and guidelines.

SAYTC represents operators like you and addresses the concerns and interests of all operators throughout South Africa. Members are represented  by the following sectors:

• Backpacking South Africa
• Education South Africa
• Tours & transport South Africa
• Volunteering South Africa

Membership is not limited to South Africa, but includes members from neighbouring Southern African countries: Lesotho, Namibia and Zambia.

Most youth tourism service operators in the region are independent, but recognise the need for a national body, that is looking after the needs of visitors to South Africa. All members have undertaken to abide by basic standards and work towards the common good of both the traveller and industry.

For more information go to www.vredenheim.com

For more information go to http://bikesnwines.com/?p=267 Welmoed is not itself a winery, but a co-op of several wineries under the name ‘the company of wine people’. The different wines on stock are Arniston Bay, Thandi, Kumkani, Welmoed and Versus. Welmoed itself was founded in the mid 1950’s but has been under vines since the early 1900s.

For more information go to www.welmoed.co.za

For more information go to www.skilpadvlei.co.za

Spier grows 21 cultivars, producing 11 different types of wines on 500ha of vineyards, ranging in price from R20 to R200 a bottle.

The company employs over 700 people in a range of different areas – A Wine Centre, a seasonal open-air theatre, swimming pools, a spa, children’s activities, craft exhibitions, wildlife encounters, horse riding and a nearby a golf course.

Near to the wine-tasting centre one can view the cheetah and raptor conservation sanctuaries.

For more information go to www.spier.co.za

Africa was a wild and untamed place when Joachim Sax first made his way up to the hills above the Kuils River, some 30 kilometres east of the Dutch settlement at the “Cape of Good Hope”. The year was 1693, and Sax was one of only 350 “free burgers” (free farmers) granted land by the 9th Dutch Governor, Simon van der Stel.

Together with his wife, Susanna, Sax had arrived some two years before from his native town of Egeln, in Germany. He immediately set about planting vines, and built the original manor house in 1701. Four years later he sold the farm to Olaff and Albertus Bergh. The name Saxenburg developed from these early pioneers.

The Estate

Saxenburg farm is over 200 hectares, with some 90 hectares planted to vineyards. The largest plantings are denoted to Shiraz, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Pinotage. The balance is made up of Chardonnay, Viognier, Cabernet Franc and Malbac, respectively.

Cellar

Nico is the only South African winemaker to be responsible for two vintages a year. Since 1996 to 2004 he managed one harvest in South Africa in February – March and one in September – December at Saxenburg’s sister property, 16th century Château Capion, in the South of France. Operating on two continents, gathering invaluable experience of different “terroir” and working with different cultivars, has enabled Nico to increase the overall finish of the Saxenburg

For more information go to www.saxenburg.co.za