Riebeek West and Riebeek-Kasteel Snapshot
Until fairly recently Riebeek West (80km from Cape Town) and cousin Riebeek-Kasteel made up an untainted corner of the world, known only among historians as birthplace of DF Malan and Jannie Smuts. Then the artists and would-be artists (a lot of them from Cape Town) moved in, injecting the villages with new blood. Riebeek’s attraction is clear to see. During the week, it lies barely awake on the rolling slopes of Kasteelberg, nibbled on all sides by blossoming orchards, vineyards and lovingly tended bougainvillaea, while over weekends the village emerges from its slumber and pulls up a seat at the local coffee shops and bars.
Things To Do
- Activity in these slow villages should be confined to regaining lost friendships and lost minds, activities best conducted over a cuppa at various coffee shops, bars and restaurants. These include the beautifully revamped Royal Hotel.
- Pick up a bottle of famous port at Allesverloren Estate or a case or two of Riebeek white at the Wine Cellar, open for tasting in the week and Saturday 9am-2pm. Close by is the Riebeek Olive Boutique, which peddles a range of olives.
- Visit the house where Jannie Smuts was born, close your eyes and imagine him as a toddler.
- The mountain above the village, Kasteelberg, is a spring flower spectacle and a good place to stretch the legs, though much of it seems privately owned.
Country Living
Riebeek West and Riebeek-Kasteel, Western Cape
Country Living is a self-catering vacation home located in the picturesque countryside town of Riebeek Kasteel. The holiday home offers a comfortable getaway for a group of 6 guests, and the property ...
Rate Guide
From R3500, depending on unit, guests and time of year
Where You'll Also Find Us
Arniston (Waenhuiskrans) • Barrydale • Beaufort West • Betty's Bay • Bonnievale • Bot River • Bredasdorp • Caledon • Calitzdorp • Cape Agulhas and Struisbaai • Cape Town area • Ceres • Citrusdal • Clanwilliam & Cederberg • Darling • De Rust • Franschhoek • Gansbaai • George • Grabouw & Elgin Valley • Greyton • Heidelberg • Hermanus • Knysna • Ladismith • Laingsburg • Lamberts Bay • Langebaan • Malgas • Matjiesfontein • McGregor • Montagu • Mossel Bay • Napier • Oudtshoorn • Paarl • Paternoster • Plettenberg Bay • Porterville • Prince Albert • Pringle Bay • Pringle Bay, Betty's Bay and Kleinmond • Riebeek West and Riebeek-Kasteel • Riversdale • Riviersonderend • Robertson • St Helena Bay • Stanford • Stilbaai • Strand, Gordon's Bay and Somerset West • Swellendam • Tulbagh • Uniondale • Velddrif • Vermaaklikheid • Wellington • Wilderness • Witsand • Worcester & Hex Valley • Yzerfontein • Baviaanskloof • Cape St Francis • Cape St Francis & St Francis Bay • East London • Graaff-Reinet • Hogsback • Jeffreys Bay • Makhanda (Grahamstown) • Middelburg • Nieu-Bethesda • Rhodes • Sutherland