Alison’s guidebook
Food scene
La Sosta Restaurant & Guest House
145 Voortrek StStunning authentic Italian Fine-Dining
Delicious flavours, beautiful historic building, manages to be romantic and family-friendly.
13 locals recommend
Field & Fork
26 Swellengrebel StDelicious flavours, beautiful historic building, manages to be romantic and family-friendly.
Woodpecker Pizzadeli
270 Voortrek StAbsolute BEST pizza in the town. Relaxed & cosy
The best milkshakes in the country and a spectacular drive over the Tradouws Pass to get there.
19 locals recommend
Diesel & Crème and The Karoo Moon Motel
2 Tennant StThe best milkshakes in the country and a spectacular drive over the Tradouws Pass to get there.
Joubert Tradauw Wine Farm
R62Gorgeous wines and divine tapas style lunches on the stoep.
Olivedale Private Vineyards
A spectacular wine experience. Completely organically farmed.
Sublime coffee and food! Especially the waffles... sigh ...
8 locals recommend
Ikigai Coffee Bar & Deli
19 Swellengrebel StSublime coffee and food! Especially the waffles... sigh ...
Delicious baked goods (the pasteis de nata!) and deli style meals, really great service, beautiful building.
19 locals recommend
Tredici
68 Somerset StDelicious baked goods (the pasteis de nata!) and deli style meals, really great service, beautiful building.
Excellent food, really reasonably priced, leaning towards game meats and interesting Dutch treats.
13 locals recommend
Koornlands Restaurant
192 Voortrek StExcellent food, really reasonably priced, leaning towards game meats and interesting Dutch treats.
Neighborhoods
3rd oldest town in South Africa.. beautiful architecture, quirky stories, interesting people... Surrounded by incredible nature, hikes, walks, mountain bike trails & horserides, ideal spot to take a breath after the busy-ness of Cape Town.
20 locals recommend
Swellendam
3rd oldest town in South Africa.. beautiful architecture, quirky stories, interesting people... Surrounded by incredible nature, hikes, walks, mountain bike trails & horserides, ideal spot to take a breath after the busy-ness of Cape Town.
Activities
For everybody's inner child.
Be sure to 'adopt' a faerie on your way out.
12 locals recommend
Continent of Sulina
37 Buitekant StFor everybody's inner child.
Be sure to 'adopt' a faerie on your way out.
Really beautiful pottery work. David also enjoys showing children how to work with clay.
Bukkenburg Pottery Studio, Galley & Guest Cottage
8 Hermanus Steyn StReally beautiful pottery work. David also enjoys showing children how to work with clay.
Marloth Nature Reserve
Excellent hikes, walks & horserides
Beautiful horse rides out into the Langeberg Mountains. For all ages & capabilities.
Appelbosch Guest Farm
Beautiful horse rides out into the Langeberg Mountains. For all ages & capabilities.
Umshanti
Buffalo CreekWatersports on the Buffeljags Dam. They also take guests out on microlight flights.
Biggest producers of Youngberries in the world. Delicious liqueurs, jam and preserve tastings. Fun berry-picking in season (December) with the children.
13 locals recommend
Wilderbraam Berry Estate
Bethel StreetBiggest producers of Youngberries in the world. Delicious liqueurs, jam and preserve tastings. Fun berry-picking in season (December) with the children.
Sightseeing
Great for small game-viewing and to immerse yourself in nature.
35 locals recommend
Bontebok National Park
Great for small game-viewing and to immerse yourself in nature.
Wonderful day trip for whale spotting in season. Unbelievable scenery... black jagged rock, white sand, turquoise sea. Genuine food for the soul
71 locals recommend
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Wonderful day trip for whale spotting in season. Unbelievable scenery... black jagged rock, white sand, turquoise sea. Genuine food for the soul
Traveler advice
Getting around
Predominantly self-drive.
Roads are very easy to navigate. Not a lot of traffic. Even though there are options for private transport, it is much easier to be independant and have your own car.
Don't miss
A photo of the iconic White Church.
Also a walk in the Marloth Nature Reserve and some game viewing (mostly buck) in the Bontebok Park.
Customs and culture
Eveybody nods to greet each other
Regardless of whether they know each other, it's called the Swellendam Nod. :)
What to pack
Bring comfortable walking shoes for the mountains
Also, it can get very chilly in the evenings and mornings from June through September... sometimes there is even snow on the mountains. By the same token, it can get very hot in Jan, Feb, March... sometimes reaching 40'C.
Useful phrases
Dankie (thank you in Afrikaans)
Lekker - it's either delicious or wonderful
Now now or Just now - it will be done in a bit.