NOTE: Limits per excursion apply. All excursions are subject to change.
Wednesday afternoon excursion
Excursion 1. Historical walking tour of Stellenbosch
https://stellenboschonfoot.co.za/stellenbosch-on-foot-historical-tour/
The tour starts and ends in the historic part of Stellenbosch, after which delegates can explore various wine bars and cuisine at own cost. The tour explores the “village of the oaks” with its shady oak avenues bordered by the water furrows of the Mill Stream. Delegates will, inter alia, discover where Simon van der Stel set up camp in the Eerste River and why it is called the Eerste River, that the first Christian Church building in South Africa was in Stellenbosch not in Cape Town, and that the oldest residential street in South Africa is in Stellenbosch.
Number of tickets: 45
Excursion 2. Blaauwklippen Wine Estate: Cellar tour and food and wine pairing (alcohol and alcohol-free option)
https://www.blaauwklippen.com/
Blaauwklippen, founded in 1682, is one of the oldest wine farms in Stellenbosch, celebrating 342 years of heritage in 2024. It has a rich history and winemaking tradition. The first vineyards were planted in 1688 and in 1709 the first leaguer (about 570 litres) of wine was reported. Blaauwklippen Estate offers wine tastings, seasonal wine pairings, an art gallery, a restaurant, a market and more.
Alcohol option: 1682 pairing (boboti springroll with chutney, grilled fillet, oxtail ravioli, mini malva)
Alcohol-free option: macaron pairing
Total number of tickets for both Blaauwklippen options: 50
Excursion 3. Wine tasting and big cats at Vredenheim
https://vredenheim.co.za/
Vredenheim is approximately 332 years old and has an impressive variety of wildlife, including blue wildebeest, springbok, eland, fallow deer, and zebra. The Big Cats Park is home to lion, tiger and leopard. This visit to Vredenheim will give congress delegates the opportunity to experience wines and the big cats.
Number of tickets: 60
Excursion 4. Rupert Museum and Village Museum
The Rupert Museum
https://rupertmuseum.org
The Rupert Museum houses one of South Africa’s richest art collections with paintings, sculptures and tapestries making up the bulk of its pieces. The main focus of the approximately 2000m2 space is South African art from 1940 to 1970.
The Stellenbosch Village Museum
https://stelmus.co.za/village-museum/
The Stellenbosch Village Museum currently comprises four houses of historical interest – Schreuderhuis, Blettermanhuis, Grosvenor house, OM Berghhuis. Each of these beautiful homes represents a different period in the architectural development of Stellenbosch. The houses, their interiors and their gardens, have been wonderfully restored, furnished, planted and decorated to illustrate the particular style and taste of the time.
Number of tickets: 30 – Sorry, excursion is cancelled
Excursion 5. SU Botanical Garden and SU Museum
Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden
https://www.sun.ac.za/english/entities/botanical-garden
The garden is located in the historical centre of Stellenbosch and is the oldest university botanical garden in South Africa. This compact garden houses an enormous diversity of plants, both indigenous to South Africa and exotic. The displays showcase local habitats and conservation issues, South African biomes and plants, medicinal plants and many research and taxon collections from South Africa and around the world.
Stellenbosch University Museum
https://www.facebook.com/UsMuseum/
The Museum preserves and promotes anthropological , cultural historical and visual art collections and has an active public educational program.
Number of tickets: 30
Tuesday excursion for accompanying persons
Visit Groot Constantia Wine Farm
https://grootconstantia.co.za/
Groot Constantia is South Africa’s oldest wine-producing farm and continues to produce legendary wine since 1685. The farm is an important part of World Wine Heritage and a world-class international tourism destination. The farm captures the rich and diverse heritage of South Africa and is an iconic example of the preservation of South African culture and heritage.
Number of tickets: 30
