Working rampant in Stanford, the sleeping fantastic thing about the Overberg

If you head to the Overberg, you’ll have heard of Hermanus because the ‘Whale watching capital of the world’ and that Gansbaai on the opposite finish of the bay is the ‘shark-cage diving capital of the world.’

Located between these two cities, Stanford has created a vacation spot not tied to the comings and goings of marine life, which appear to be too simply scurried away by a marauding pair of orcas going by the names of Port and Starboard.

As an alternative, Stanford invitations you to do precisely what it has been doing whereas its neighbours grew to become frantically involved with being capitals of the world; sit again and observe.

Image: Jared Ruttenberg/ @jaredincpt

Issues to do in Stanford

Take a ship cruise

Image: Woman Stanford

There are 129 chook species within the space, so hitch a trip on the Woman Stanford to get as shut as you’ll be able to to the Hermanus Lagoon Hen Sancutary.

On our little meander down the river, we noticed uncommon species like an African swamphen, and exquisite ones like an African fish eagle pair, a noticed eagle owl, malachites and a pied kingfisher.

You possibly can convey your personal drinks and snacks on the boat, so pack a cooler field and a few vino and revel in a spot on the upstairs deck and see what you’ll be able to spot.

To Woman Stanford has every day cruises, together with early and late morning, in addition to a sundown cruise. For extra info, go to their web site here.

Head to Birkenhead

Image: Jared Ruttenberg/ @jaredincpt

Birkenhead has been a mainstay in Stanford since 1998 however has added Walker Bay wines to its vary of drink choices. Not typically do you method a brewery encircled by vineyards.

Walker Bay Property was based in 2003, planting its first vineyards then. On the property’s Restaurant and Venue for excursions, wine tasting and naturally, some refreshing beer.

don’t let the “pub-style” restaurant idiot you although, its extra refined than that. With dishes starting from lamb shank and gourmand burgers to do-it-yourself gnocchi.

Discover a market

If you end up in Stanford on the final Friday month, then head to the market sq. for the Sundown Market – It’s the city’s social occasion of the month.

Alternatively, the weekly Saturday Morning Market on Queen Victoria Road is from 9 am to 12 pm. Get some freshly baked bread, top off on preserves or simply hearken to the gossip whereas a reside band performs.

Read: Stanford – the quintessential weekend guide

Style some extra wine

In case you are nonetheless craving some extra wine after your go to to Birkenhead and wish to ample greater than Walker Bays wines, Stanford has fairly a bit to supply.

The Stanford wine route encompasses Springfontein Wine Property, Raka (attempt the Biography Shiraz), Brunia, Boschrivier, Sir Robert Stanford, Stanford Hills, and Lomond Wines. Take the again highway to Lomond or take a fast 10-minute drive to Springfontein Wines, the choices are limitless

Journey in Walker Bay Nature Reserve

Image: Jared Ruttenberg/ @jaredincpt

This massive reserve extends all the best way from the Klein River Estuary, alongside a coast with pristine seashores, to De Kelders earlier than Gansbaai.

It is named top-of-the-line locations for land-based whale watching when a whole bunch of southern proper whales collect yearly to calve their younger. What’s extra is that there’s loads of seaside to share, caves to discover filled with archaeological treasures and exceptionally empty.

From Stanfod, you’ll be able to entry the reserve by way of Wortlegat Street (4X4 solely) or utilizing the primary gate at De Kelders. Pack a picnic and take an extended and leisurely stroll alongside the seaside.

Keep right here

Stanford Heights River Home

Image: Jared Ruttenberg/ @jaredincpt

Centrally positioned with direct entry to the river, that is former documentary filmmaker, David Morin’s, African-themed dream home. Impressed by his time in Kenya.

A fire inside for these chilly winter nights and a front room that opens as much as an expansive out of doors stoep for summer time. The home additionally home an inverter, so that you don’t have to fret about that pesky loadshedding schedule while you arrive.

Additionally it is house to the friendliest and most welcoming of cats, Yoda.