Day trip or overnight stay? Why one day isn't enough
You can see the village in an afternoon. You only feel it if you stay for the evening and the morning after.
Because Riebeek Kasteel is only about an hour from Cape Town, many people visit for the day. They have lunch, do a tasting, buy some olives and drive home. It is a pleasant day, but they miss the best parts.
The first is the evening. When the day visitors leave, the village becomes quiet. The light over the Kasteelberg turns golden, people sit out on the stoeps and the restaurants fill with locals. Dinner on the square, followed by a short walk home under a sky full of stars, is the real Riebeek experience.
The second is the morning. Early, before the heat, the valley is at its most beautiful. It is the best time to walk in the vineyards or up one of the farm trails, and the cafés are just opening for breakfast.
And then there is the wine. If you are driving home the same day, someone has to stay sober. Stay the night and everyone can enjoy the tasting, the lunch and the sundowners.
Choose a stay within walking distance of the square and you can leave the car parked for the evening. Check in after your afternoon tasting, walk to dinner, and be up early for the best light of the day.
