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Discover wonderful picnic places in the Cape Winelands 

At last, the sun is warming up the Western Cape. If you feel like spending easy quality time with the family, fill a bag with sandwiches and some cool drinks and head for some of the best picnic spots in the winelands...



There's nothing that can beat the Harold Porter and Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. They're a gardener's delight, small children can roam freely, and after a hearty picnic we all have a nap in the shade of one of the many indigenous trees. Blankets out, cushions everywhere... this feels like heaven. My husband isn't of the lazy kind that I am, so while I pass out  he takes the kids for a hike.



In Harold Porter at Betty's Bay he explores 'Leopard's Kloof' where it's not uncommon to encounter a baboon or three just past the waterfalls. This botanical garden has many secluded picnic spots, some under a tree, others near the mountains stream.



Kirstenbosch at Newslands with its lush green scenery and Table Mountain in the backdrop is another one of our favourites. I just love the crystal clear stream that runs down the mountain, under trees and between rocks. In some areas the well manicured lawns stretch right up to the refreshing stream, and that's exactly where I set-up camp. The children spend the day splashing in the water, rolling on the lawn and walking up the mountain as far as their little legs can go. This place is just one big playground with not only a hiking trail going right up to the top of Table Mountain, but also Summer concerts and Zimbabwean Shona sculptures on display. You can bring your own picnic or buy goodies (read ice cream) from the restaurant shop.



The Helderberg and Paarl Nature Reserves are also wonderful places to spend the day.

Large trees shed plenty of shade on the immaculate lawns near the small pond of the Helderberg N.R. Bontebok graze on the same lawn and tortoise are regular visitors. There's plenty of trails to explore the surrounds and the views from a bit higher up over the whole of False Bay are stunning.

The dirt road to the Paarl N.R. is also a treat for the eye. It overlooks the city and the mountain ranges (name?) around. Most visitors make themselves comfortable near the braai facilities, but we discovered a wonderful area near a stream at the start of a hiking trail. We usually have the place all to ourselves and from the look on some hikers' faces I can tell that they wonder why they haven't found this spot.



When the children tell me about the adventures they've had with their dad while I was resting I feel a pinch of envy, but then again, when did I last enjoy more than 5 minutes of undisturbed tranquility as I had just done for the last hour and a half? Hmmm, no regrets.



Other lovely places for a picnic are the historical Vergelegen Estate in Somerset West where tables are laid in the shade of the Camphor forest; and the Boschendal Estate where you can buy yummy picnic baskets with good wine.


Text Petra Vandecasteele
Photography Paul Godard

DATE : 17 Oct 2008 -