HISTORY. A slave bell provides a focal point in the garden of a church in Franschhoek.Picture: Supplied.
Cape Town has been added to the list of the most beautiful cities in the world, an accolade that is enforced when driving through the city or countryside of the Western Cape.
When visiting the province, it’s always worth moving out of the city and exploring areas that showcase the history and beauty of the province.
There’s a common thread in the history of the Western Cape – that of the KhoiSan or San people.
They were the original inhabitants of the area, long before Jan Van Riebeeck arrived in 1652.
An invite to join industry peers in experiencing unexplored and lesser-known areas of the Western Cape, while testing the latest X-trail vehicle from Nissan came at just the right time.
Little did I know not only would this be about exploring the roads and land but learning about my history.
This time of year is a wonderful time to drive through the coast with pleasantly mild weather and hardly any rain.
A bucket-list town for one to plant their roots is the beautiful Franschhoek, originally inhabited by the indigenous Khoisan. This quaint and picturesque town is the concept of a small French town.
Franschhoek was called the “Valley of the Huguenots,” a name that pays homage to the initial settlers. The Western Cape town was home to French Huguenots, who had fled their homeland in 1685, due to the religious outlawing of Protestants.
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After a few name changes — one being Le coin Francias, to eventually Franschhoek — the name translates to French corner from Afrikaans or Dutch. Franschhoek’s beauty will take your breath away as you drive through small streets that have no traffic jams and are lined with quaint restaurants and eclectic art and fashion stores.
Presently a town for creatives, food connoisseurs and anyone who wants to forget about the buzz of the city when visiting the Western Cape, Franschhoek can best be described as peaceful. It houses one of the most beautiful venues, Le Franschhoek Hotel and Spa, a large hotel nestled at the edge of the mountains and near the Winelands.
Le Franschhoek is opulence with a country twist, with thatched two-bedroom villas that accommodate couples or a family and, of course, the Camelot Spa that offers a menu of body treatments. The point of staying in a hotel like this is to get away from the stress of daily life and relax. The town itself, has plenty of activities, including visiting the Winelands, wine tasting, restaurant hopping, seeing galleries and books stores and biking down the Winelands if arranged.
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Khwattu Learning – about the indigenousness people – is a must-do for all Western Cape visitors.
Just over an hour’s drivefrom Franschhoek is the heritage centre of Khwattu. Its 850-hectare Nature Reserve, a few kilometres past the famed town of Darling is a wonderful find. It’s a place where the San share their heritage and history with visitors.
Guests can even book into the chalets for a night or two. Our group was welcomed with fresh fruit cordials by an advisor at the centre who took us through the “garden” – a large plot of land filled with plants that have been used by the San through many generations for healing.
Guests can create concoctions for beauty creams and even deodorant. It’s encouraged to touch, smell, and taste some of Mother Nature’s offerings grown on the land. One of the highlights was a braai where we all got to pick a piece of Springbok meat, marinade it to personal specifications and braai it on an open fire like the San people would have done.
A tour through the exhibits of artwork, hunting murals, and lifestyle of the San is integral in understanding the current history and existent tribes of South Africa. On the grounds is a restaurant that serves organic meals grown on the property.
Accommodation gives guests options from guest houses to bush lodges. For those who enjoy roughing it, glamping is also on offer in luxury tents that have beds, a kitchenette and a lounge.
It’s key to immerse yourself in the San lifestyle and enjoy a campfire with a bit of storytelling.
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