Kuils River

Zevenwacht Wine Estate, photo courtesy champagne for monkeys

Despite its rural nature, this tranquil area at the foot of the Bottelary Mountains is considered a suburb of Cape Town and forms part of the Oostenberg.

Enjoy the peace here, where some of the original farms and smallholdings operate alongside the more industrial ventures, including major manufacturers such as Coca-Cola and Nampak.

Look out for the cow crossings that bear testimony to the suburb’s rural setting. But visitors need not settle for a glass of milk when thirsty, because Kuils River is also the gateway to the wine routes – the Zevenwacht Wine Estate at the edge of the Stellenbosch wine route lies just above Kuils River. Take a day trip from Kuils River to visit some of the 106 cellars that form part of the Stellenbosch wine route.

If you would rather stay put, have a look at Kuils River’s old church buildings and enjoy the palpable sense of community that is rarely felt in more urban areas.

Some of the nearby attractions include the Willowbridge Lifestyle Centre, Tygervalley Centre, N1 City, Sanlam Centre and GrandWest Casino and entertainment world, which has a wide range of bars and restaurants to choose from.