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Solo Travelling Through Franschhoek – SA’s Valley of Dreams

There are many travellers who claim that travelling alone is the best way to experience a destination, and more so in the times we currently find ourselves in. Solo travelling allows you to discover new experiences based on your own tastes and preferences. It is also a great way to meet new people and is without a doubt a voyage of self-discovery.
Already a global phenomenon, solo travelling, and in particular female solo travelling, has become a growing trend in South Africa, and what better place to embark on solo adventures than in South Africa’s Valley of Dreams aka the Franschhoek Wine Valley. Solo travellers are guaranteed to uncover a myriad of gems, ranging from world-class wines, five-star cuisine and luxurious accommodation. Throughout the years Franschhoek has established itself as one of South Africa’s premier wine producing destinations as well as the country’s Culinary Capital.

For the outdoor enthusiast a leisurely hike through the Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve will not only uncover a plethora of fauna and flora, but you’ll also be treated to amazing panoramic views of the valley. And the snow capped mountains during winter add extra charm.

Solo travelling can be delightfully self-indulgent. Spend the day doing nothing but sitting quietly in one of the restaurants dotted along Franschhoek’s Main Road, sipping on a glass of wine or bubbly, as you lose yourself in a book, or similar admire the passers-by.

This is also the perfect opportunity to indulge in a luxurious spa treatment or indulgent High Tea. Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa, Leeu Estates and Babylonstoren are some of the places to visit for a relaxing spa treatment. Whether it’s a quick head, neck and shoulder massage or full day spa splurge, you’ll leave feeling revitalized. A spa treatment is the perfect prelude to an indulgent High Tea. Enjoy Le Lude’s decadent offering in the comfort of their Orangerie Restaurant, whilst High Tea at Anthonij Rupert Wyne is certainly an experience with a view. Sample the delicate delights with the splendid Drakenstein Mountains as your backdrop.

Have you met Franschhoek’s resident four legged celebrity artist, Pigcasso? As the world’s only painting pig, Pigcasso is an original. From pork chop to heralded headliner, Pigcasso welcomes visitors to her very own Oink Gallery, which is located at the Farm Sanctuary SA. Art enthusiasts are invited to visit the gallery, explore her abstract expressionistic style and invest in one of her masterpieces – all signed off by the nose tip of the painting pig herself! Meet the famous oinker and her fellow rescued farm animals that call the sanctuary ‘a slice of hog heaven’ and be inspired by creative design and the compassionate mission of this soulful project.

The popular Franschhoek Wine Tram, which operates on a hop on hop off is the ideal way to treat your taste buds to award-winning wines without having to worry about a designated driver. The tram offers a range of routes which allows you to experience the majority of the valley’s wine farms, which range from the larger more well-known producers to boutique estates.

This is a fraction of what you’re bound to discover when visiting the Franschhoek Wine Valley. For a detailed list of things to do in one of SA’s most loved regions visit www.franschhoek.org.za.