Day 13: Berries, bubbles and blesbok

There is a duck quacking loudly at the front door – probably from the nearby reservoir.

We jump in the car on a beautiful morning heading towards Franschhoek, to a berry farm for breakfast.  On the way we pass people heading to school and work, one lady with her baby strapped tightly to her back in a bright pink blanket, another man pushing his young son in a wooden box attached to a pair of pram wheels, with a handle at the other end.  I love that people wave back and give us a beaming smile.

We stop to fill the bus with fuel, and promptly phone Jill to complain (that the total is divided by 5 and not 6)! 

At the berry farm the views are stunning, and it’s warm enough to sit outside.  The food is fabulous, and I count 22 varieties of jam.

Next stop is Waterford Estate, a beautiful vineyard with a Mediterranean feel to it.  We mess around and take photos in the sunshine, enjoying the scenery.  The wine tasting is held in the lovely courtyard, and we opt for the wine and chocolate pairing (of course!) which is fab.  I wander into the warehouse and see dozens of metal tanks with dials and thermostats, then into the next one to see the wine being bottled.  Our next visit is to The House of JC Le Roux.  

He wasn’t home, but we saw the vast warehouses, turning mechanisms and double corking assembly line, before sampling some of the bubbly stuff.  

Our host invited us to watch a practise run for a party trick: Sabrage.  I’ve never even heard of this before and am indeed impressed.

Our evening is spent at Moyo – a large collection of tents and stages, buffet bars and tree houses.  It is found in a country park, and we wander as the sun is setting, watching the geese and weaverbirds.  Moyo is fab fun and wonderful food – African dance and songs, and traditional food and game meat slowly barbequed.  We fill our bellies and snuggle under fluffy blankets on the couches to summon the courage for dessert.