Fin Whale + Wine = Fabulous!

Explore the magic of South Africa’s wine route and sample some of the best!

The region around Fin Whale Beach House is famous for its historic wine estates with nearby Groot Constantia the oldest commercial wine farm in South Africa. The Cape Winelands tourism route is well worth exploring, stopping along the way to taste some of the amazing award-winning vintages that make the Rainbow Nation one of the world’s best wine producers.

HISTORY APLENTY

Cultivating grapes is an important part of the history of South Africa. When Jan van Riebeeck landed in what was to become Cape Town in April 1652 he needed a refuelling station where he could get fresh food and wine for the ships of the Dutch East India Company en-route to the spice islands of what is now Indonesia (the “East Indies” as they were known). Wine was the drink of choice thanks to water being pretty much non potable in 17th century Europe.

So one of the first tasks of the newly landed Dutch settlers was to obtain vines from Europe to establish vineyards. In 1679 Simon van der Stel was appointed governor of the Cape Dutch Colony. He is regarded as the father of the South African wine industry, and soon fell in love with the local terroir, developing a wine farm just behind Table Mountain – Groot Constant – which has been making wine since 1685.

Also in 1679, a fledgling town some 50km east of Cape Town was named for the new governor, and so Stellenbosch was born. The second town to be established in South Africa soon became a centre for viticulture, driven by Van der Stel’s love of botany and wine. It’s here that the Cape Winelands have their origin as wine farm after wine farm was established to grow and develop some of the world’s finest cultivars.

WINE TOURISM

Today, the winelands includes centres like Franschhoek, Paarl and Robertson and are one of South Africa’s biggest tourism destinations, attracting visitors from all over the world to come and discover the unique flavours of the country’s world-leading vintages. Globally recognised estates like Boschendal, Spier, Rust en Vrede and Klein Zalze have led the way for some equally fabulous modern estates producing a range of wonderful wines… Waterford, Delaire Graff Estate, Glen Carlou, Tokara… All have staked a claim on South Africa’s wine landscape. 

These days, there’s even a tram service – The Wine Train – that offers hop-on, hop-off services through the estates of the Franschhoek Valley!

FOODIES HEAVEN

Along with great wine comes great food. Most of the vineyards have exceptional in-house restaurants serving amazing food paired with their finest vintages, making a day out in the Winelands an absolute must. From fresh seafood to local, organic farm-to-table produce, you won’t be disappointed with what’s on offer. There’s a strong traditional flavour too, with old South African favourites given a modern twist to make them relevant. 

Both Stellenbosch and Franschhoek are also home to award-winning restaurants and some fantastic art galleries, antique shops and wonderful locally curated crafts and foods (some of the best olives and organic honeys money can buy!)

So take the time to spend a day or two exploring the wine region and don’t forget to buy a few bottles to enjoy around Fin Whale Beach House’s beautiful pool or out on the soft sands of Long Beach!Thanks to our partners, you can find ties online to suit every preference and budget, from budget to top-of-the-range super stylish models.

Experience magical Cape Town and more

Fin Whale Beach House is a perfect place on a perfect beach!

In fact, Fin Whale Beach House is the perfect beach getaway in many respects, not the least of which is that you literally step out of the house on to Kommetjie’s Long Beach and enjoying long walks in this coastal paradise. The beach is home to a variety of bird and animal species and while the sea may be a touch on the chilly side, Fin Whale Beach House’s pool is the place to cool off and swim.

Living the beach life, even if just for a few days with friends, family and fur babies gathered round you (we are dog-friendly), is the best way to relax. And to top everything off, Cape Town is just a short drive away, offering a host of things to see and do.

There’s a reason that Cape Town is called South Africa’s “Mother City” – it’s here in Table Bay that South Africa was first put on the map, quite literally, by the early European explorers and seafarers.

The history of what is now Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula is long and chequered. Portugal’s Bartolomeu Dias made mention of it when rounding Cape Hope in 1488, calling it the “Cape of storms”. But it wasn’t until 7 April 1652 when Jan van Riebeeck of the Dutch East India Company landed that what was to become Cape Town was officially settled. Settlement of the rest of the country spread from there and the rest, as they say, is history.

Grapevines were introduced a few years later by Van Riebeeck’s fellow Dutch East India-man Simon van der Stel at the settlement of Stellenbosch, where wine began to be made just a few short years later. To this day, the region around Stellebosch is globally renowned for its wine making and wonderful vintages.

As a result of all of this colourful history, Cape Town has some of the oldest buildings in South Africa, which can be visited by tourists. The Castle of Good Hope is one, dating back to the time of Van Riebeeck who originally built it from clay and timber. It was rebuilt from stone between 1666 and 1679 by the Dutch East India Company and is now the oldest existing colonial building in South Africa. It’s a unique, pentagonal fortress with five bastions housed a church, bakery, living quarters, workshops, shops and prison cells. Its walls were painted yellow to reduce the effect of heat and sun.

Cape Town’s busy harbour is now one of its most popular tourist destinations and home to the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront – a wonderful, sprawling community of shops, restaurants, art galleries and artisanal crafters. Spend the day there and use a great network of water taxis to get you from one part of the harbour to the other and as night falls you can enjoy the sight of a floodlit Table Mountain towering over this beautiful city.

Get the best of beach and bush!

Sun, sea, sand and savannah!

We call it the dynamic duo – Fin Whale Beach House and eKhaya Bush Villa, combined into one fantastic family getaway featuring the best of South Africa’s Western Cape and the legendary Greater Kruger National Park!

By combining a stay with us here in Kommetjie with a few days at our sister property, eKhaya Bush Villa in Hoedspruit, in the heart of the Greater Kruger, you get to see wildlife aplenty and savour the rich history and stunning landscapes in and around Cape Town, as well as spending a relaxing time in your own private house on one of the most beautiful stretches of beach in South Africa.

Fin Whale Beach House positions you perfectly to explore the Cape Peninsula and all of the amazing tourism activities on offer in this wonderful, tourist-friendly region of the Rainbow Nation. Located right on Kommetjie’s stunning Long Beach, with the soft white sand just footsteps from your door, this beautiful four-bedroom self-catering home is great for families and groups of friends holidaying together. By adding on an adventure in South Africa’s beautiful Lowveld you get the best of both worlds, with sun, sea, sand AND savannah!

Located on Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate close to town and everything it offers,  eKhaya Bush Villa is a veritable home-from-home in the African bush. This rambling six-bedroom villa is surrounded by wildlife and yet only a few minutes from the centre of Hoedspruit – a bustling little bushveld town with stunning views over the towering Drakensberg escarpment which dominates its western horizon.

eKhaya means “our home” and that’s exactly what we want guests to feel – that they are at home in Africa. With sumptuous breakfasts served each day and some world-class restaurants and cafés on your doorstep, eKhaya’s atmosphere is one of complete relaxation and indulgence, with luxuriously appointed rooms and superb levels of service.

There are a host of exciting activities on offer in and around Hoedspruit too, from microlighting and helicopter flips to hiking, mountain biking and, of course, full-day safaris into the Kruger National Park in open safari vehicles.

With direct flights between Cape Town and Hoedspruit, it’s also easy to create the perfect bush and beach combo.

So get in touch today to find out more!