1) Stellenbosch winery, only 30 minutes from Cape Town and a jumping off point for the wine region, is the oldest town in South Africa, after Cape Town, founded in 1679 by the governor of the Dutch East India Company. Homes here are well preserved, four of them form the town museum and it’s an easy hop to Frankschoek, 20 minutes away and awash in Huguenot history as well as wineries and cafes.

2) Paarl is slightly north of Stellenbosch at the foot of what is the second largest granite outcropping in the world. Tourism offerings include exploring the foothills and vineyards on horseback or checking out the sites by hot air balloon. North of Paarl (an hour from Cape Town) is trendy Riebeek Kasteel with award-winning wine estates and a bounty of olive groves.

3) Overberg and the Cape Agulhas Wine Route. The road opened in 1958 as a way to access popular tourist destinations on the Whale Coast at the southernmost tip of Africa. The route runs through seaside villages and into the charming backcountry towns of Swellendam and Montagu.

4) Mossel Bay is considered the Eden of South Africa for its lush vegetation. Bungee enthusiasts will find the world’s highest here at some 708 feet up at the Bloukrans Bridge. Nearby Knysna is considered the capital of the Garden Route – a seaside town known for the yellowwood forest and freshwater oysters.

5) The Sunshine Coast from Plettenberg Bay through Oyster Bay and St. Francis Bay to Port Elizabeth. But a visit to Addo Elephant National Park just north of Port Elizabeth promises the largest concentration of elephants in the world, with big five wildlife preserves only a short drive away.

Good contact: www.capecountryroutes.com