Franschhoek Pass closed indefinitely after Western Cape floods

Travellers heading to the Cape Winelands are being advised to adjust their routes after the Western Cape Government confirmed that the scenic Franschhoek Pass has been closed to all traffic following severe storm damage caused by recent heavy rains and flooding.

According to an announcement issued on 14 May 2026, the closure applies to all road users, including light motor vehicles, heavy vehicles, motorcycles, pedestrians and cyclists. Authorities reported numerous additional mud and rock slips along the route, as well as significant bridge damage, making the mountain pass unsafe for travel.

Roadblocks have been established at the mountain-side exit of Franschhoek and at the T-junction near the Theewaterskloof Dam. No exceptions are currently permitted.

Residents travelling to La Rochelle and Karmel can only access these areas via Franschhoek.

The Franschhoek Pass is one of the Western Cape’s most iconic scenic drives and a major tourism route linking the Franschhoek Valley with the Overberg region and Villiersdorp. The winding mountain road is especially popular with self-drive travellers, cyclists and motorcyclists due to its panoramic views over vineyards, mountain ranges and the Theewaterskloof Dam. The route also forms part of several popular Cape Winelands itineraries connecting Franschhoek's wine estates, guesthouses and restaurants with destinations further east.

The closure is expected to have a significant impact on tourism traffic in the region, particularly over weekends and during the winter travel season, when the pass is frequently used by domestic and international visitors exploring the Cape Winelands.

Motorists are urged to make use of alternative routes and allow additional travel time. Travellers planning trips between Franschhoek, Villiersdorp, Hermanus or the Overberg region should monitor official Western Cape Government channels for updates on reopening timelines and road conditions.

At this stage, authorities have not indicated when the Franschhoek Pass will reopen.

 

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South Africa crowned the World's Top Wine Tourism Destination for 2025!

South Africa has been named the #1 Wine Tourism Destination in the World for 2025, according to a global study released by Titan Travel. Beating out world-renowned contenders like Portugal and Italy, the country achieved a top score of 8.38 out of 10 - thanks to its unbeatable combination of affordable wine experiences, scenic diversity, and a surging global interest in local wine tours.
Titan Travel’s ranking, based on data from April 2024 to March 2025, assessed over 40 wine-producing countries. The scoring factored in average wine prices, wine tasting costs, the number of organized wine tours available, and global online search volumes. South Africa emerged as a standout with:

• Average wine prices as low as £3.42 (approx. R82 / $4.40 / €4.05) per bottle
• Tasting experiences starting from £11.73 (approx. R280 / $15.10 / €13.90)
• Over 279 wine tour options
• Strong global interest in regions like Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl, and the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley

While France still tops global search interest, it ranked only 9th overall due to significantly higher average tasting costs (over £180). In contrast, South Africa offers value without compromising on quality - from prestigious estates to family-run cellars surrounded by breathtaking mountains and vineyards.

The full Top 5 Wine Tourism Destinations for 2025, according to Titan Travel, are:

1. South Africa – 8.38/10
2. Portugal – 7.75/10
3. Italy – 7.00/10
4. Cyprus - 6.38/10
5. Chile - 6.25/10
6. Spain - 6.13/10
7. New Zealand - 5.63/10
8. Croatia - 5.50/10
9. France - 5.38/10
10. Armenia - 5.13/10

This latest recognition confirms South Africa's growing reputation not only as a world-class wine producer but also as a leading global wine tourism hotspot. Whether you're a seasoned oenophile or a casual wine enthusiast, there's never been a better time to explore the Cape Winelands.

Plan Your Wine Tour in South Africa
Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Robertson, and Constantia are just the beginning. Discover tasting rooms, cellar tours, vineyard picnics, and wine tram adventures — all just a short drive from Cape Town.

Travel Tip: Visit between March and May for harvest festivals, cool-weather tastings, and spectacular autumn colors in the vineyards.

Have you explored the Cape Winelands? Share your favorite vineyard or tasting experience in the comments below!

 

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Western Cape: Limietberg Nature Reserve closed until further notice! [update]

update (29 February 2024): CapeNature has announced that Limietberg Nature Reserve will be closed till 04 March 2024 due to fires.

CapeNature, the public institution with the responsibility for biodiversity conservation in South Africa's Western Cape has announced that the Limietberg Nature Reserve is closed due to a fire until further notice. The Nature Reserve is located in the Du Toitskloof Mountains, near Paarl. It stretches from Franschhoek in the south towards Groot Drakenstein in the east and northwards as far as the Voëlvlei dam, covering an area of some 117 000 hectares.
Limietberg Nature Reserve is home to small antelope, baboon, caracal, leopard, endemic birds such as the Cape sugarbird and the protea canary, as well as the majestic black eagle. The reserve offers some great hiking trails. Visitors can also visit the many historical sites along the trails, including ancient rock art, a disused manganese mine and the graves of convicts who helped build the Bainskloof Pass.

Western Cape: Franschhoek Pass closed for construction! [update]

update (12 January 2024): The Franschhoek Pass which connects Franschhoek and the towns of Grabouw and Villiersdorp will be closed between 08:00 and 17:00 on weekdays for construction purposes. The pass was open during the festive season, but construction has commenced again. The pass is therefor closed again since 08 January 2024 till the end of February 2024.
The pass was reopened to selected categories of light motor vehicles after it was closed following a severe storms and flooding that hit the Western Cape in September 2023. The teams started working on temporary repairs as soon as the engineering team was satisfied that the landslips had stabilised sufficiently to start work.
The works have reached a point where the pass must be closed daily to initiate the soil-nailing process, of phase one. Soil nailing is a technique used to stabilise existing slopes. This soil reinforcement process uses metal tendons which are drilled and grouted into the soil to create something that represents a gravity wall. For this to be done, the pass needs to be closed due to the size of the equipment that is used and the size of the working area required.
Light motor vehicles will be able to traverse the pass outside of the closure times. The use of the pass, even during times when the pass is open, by vehicles with a mass of more than 5 tons remains strictly prohibited.
Road users are strongly advised to continue using alternative routes.
Work on permanent repairs continues. The Department of Infrastructure foresees that it will still be a considerable period before the pass will allow two-way traffic. The first of various temporary closures will be in place as per the tables below. 

The Western Cape Infrastructure Department has announced that the Franschhoek Pass, which connects Franschhoek and the towns of Grabouw and Villiersdorp, is closed due to construction work following severe storms and flooding that hit the Western Cape in September 2023. According to Infrastructure MEC Tertuis Simmers,  the closure of Franschhoek Pass will take effect from Mondays to Fridays between 08:00 and 17:00 from 28 November 2023 until 15 December 2023. The pass will then be open from 15 December 2023 (with the proceed-when-safe arrangement and weight restriction) until 07 January 2024 and closed again from 08 January 2024 till the end of February 2024. Simmers further said that light motor vehicles will be able to traverse Franschhoek Pass outside of the closure times. The use of the pass, even during times when the pass is open, by vehicles with a mass of more than five tons remains strictly prohibited.

Study: The "Most Beautiful Vineyard in the World" is located in South Africa!

UK-based international specialist tour operator CV Villas recently conducted a study to discover where the world's best holiday destinations for wine lovers are. The study revealed that the best holiday location for wine lovers is France’s Champagne region and that the most beautiful vineyard in the world is actually located in the Western Cape in South Africa. Based on the number of associated hashtags on Instagram, the Boschendal Estate in Franschhoek is the world’s most beautiful vineyard. Founded in 1685, the wine estate is one of the oldes in South Africa. Set in the Drakenstein Valley surrounded by dramatic mountain landscapes, lush gardens and vines, Boschendal's original farmstead complex is now a national monument with a rich and intriguing history of more than 300 years.

The Tokara Winery (#19) in Stellenbosch, Waterkloof (#20) in Sommerset West and the Spier Wine Farm (#30) in Stellenbosch also made it to the list of the 30 most beautiful vineyards in the world! Congratulations!

Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Boschendal (@boschendal)

To reveal the world’s most beautiful vineyards, CV Villas sourced a thorough list of 200 wineries from reputable sources and analysed the number of associated hashtags each one currently has on live Instagram posts. The number of hashtags was then sorted from highest to lowest. Those with the most hashtags were named the most beautiful. 

Five destinations in Southern & East Africa made it to list of the "World's 100 Greatest Places 2022"!

The Time Magazine, an American weekly news magazine and news website, has released its fourth annual list of the "World's 100 Greatest Places". To compile this list, the magazine solicited nominations of places from its international network of correspondents and contributors, with an eye toward those offering new and exciting experiences. Five destinations in Southern Africa and East Africa have been selected by the Time Magazine to be featured on the list of the "World's Greatest Places 2022". These are Franschhoek in South Africa, Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe, the Lower Zambezi National Park in Zambia, Nairobi in Kenya and Kigali in Rwanda. Congratulations!

Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an

Ein Beitrag geteilt von TIME (@time)

Western Cape: Franschhoek Pass has been re-opened for traffic!

Franschhoek Pass (also known as Lambrechts Road), located on the R45 between Franschhoek and Villiersdorp in South Africa's Western Cape, has been re-opened for traffic on 06 September 2019 by the Western Cape's Department of Transport and Public Works (DTPW). The pass was closed due to rockfall since 22 June 2019. According to a press release by the Western Cape Government, Franschhoek Pass will be closed again for further remedial works, should there be any indication that the road is unsafe.

Western Cape: Franschhoek Pass will reopen in September/October 2019!

Franschhoek Pass (also known as Lambrechts Road), located on the R45 between Franschhoek and Villiersdorp in South Africa's Western Cape, has been closed for safety reasons after a rockfall on 22 June 2019. Following a geotechnical investigation into the extent and nature of the damage, contractors have been appointed to do rock barring and other necessary remedial work. If all goes according to plan and weather permitting, these remedial works will be complete by the end of September 2019 or the beginning of October 2019. At that point, the pass will be reopened to traffic.

Western Cape: The Franschhoek Pass will remain closed until further notice [update]

update (03 July 2019): According to the Stellenbosch Municipality, a second rockfall occurred on Franschhoek Pass.

The Franschhoek Pass (also known as Lambrechts Road), located on the R45 between Franschhoek and Villiersdorp in South Africa's Western Cape, had to be closed for safety reasons after a rockfall on 22 June 2019. A geotechnical investigation is currently underway to determine the extent and nature of the damage. Only once the report on this assessment has been received will it be possible to determine the next steps. The Franschhoek Pass will remain closed until further notice.

Eat Out names South Africa's best restaurants 2013

South Africa's leading restaurant guide, Eat Out, has named the winners of the 2013 Eat Out DStv Food Network Restaurant Awards. For the second year in a row, South Africa’s Restaurant of the Year is The Test Kitchen in Cape Town. According to this year's awards, the Western Cape is South Africa's foodie paradise with 8 out of the top 10 restaurants being based in Cape Town (2), Stellenbosch (3), Franschhoek (2) and the Winelands (1). Bon appetit!

The top 10 restaurants 2013 are:

1. The Test Kitchen (Cape Town)
2. Five Hundred (Johannesburg)
3. Rust en Vrede Restaurant (Stellenbosch)
4. The Greenhouse (Cape Town)
5. Hartford House (Mooi River)
6. Jordan Restaurant (Stellenbosch)
7. Overture (Stellenbosch)
8. Camphors at Vergelegen (Winelands)
9. The Tasting Room at Le Quartier Français (Franschhoek)
10. Pierneef à La Motte (Franschhoek)

 
Restaurant of the Year: The Test Kitchen (Cape Town)
Eat Out S. Pellegrino Chef of the Year: David Higgs, Five Hundred (Johannesburg)
Service Excellence: Rust en Vrede
Rising Star: Vanessa Marx, Dear Me (Cape Town)
Wine Service: Joakim Hansi Blackadder, Rust en Vrede (Stellenbosch)
The Lannice Snyman Lifetime Achievement Award in association with Paarl Media: Michael Olivier
Eat Out TASTE Bursary: Amanda Manyatshe
Boschendal Style Award: The Pot Luck Club (Cape Town)
Best Asian Restaurant: Kitima (Cape Town)
Best Bistro: The Leopard (Johannesburg)
Best Country-Style Restaurant: Towerbosch (Stellenbosch)
Best Italian Restaurant: Burrata (Cape Town)
Jacobsdal Best Steakhouse: Carne SA (Cape Town)

Cape Winelands: Franschhoek Wine Tram launched

The Cape Winelands are known for its great wines, wine estates, for its culinary delights, the stunning landscape and its unique architecture. A fantastic new way to discover the beauty of the area is the recently launched Franschhoek Wine Tram. The Franschhoek Wine Tram is a combination of an open-side tram and a open-air tram-bus and runs daily tours through the Franschhoek Valley. The tours depart from (and return to) the Franschhoek Wine Tram ticket office, located in the centre of Franschhoek Village, and include six stops:

• Grande Provence Heritage Wine Estate
• Rickety Bridge
• Dieu Donne vineyard & restaurant
• Haute Cabrière wine estate & restaurant
• Chamonix Wine Farm
• Huguenot Museum

Passengers can hop-on and hop-off of at any of the six stops along the route and experience the activities on offer - wine tasting, cellar tours, lunches, or simply a stroll through the vineyards. A commentary guided tour, focusing on the history of Franschhoek and wine cultivation in the valley, and a complimentary wine tasting, are included. The Franschhoek Wine Tram operates daily from 10:00am to 3:20pm, with departures every 40 minutes. Ticket prices are R130 for adults, R65 for children 5 to 17 years of age, and no charge for children four years of age and under. Enjoy!

The basics of wine in South Africa (video)

South Africa's winelands, the oldest in the so-called new world, are among the most popular tourist destinations in the whole country. The heart of the winelands in South Africa is the Western Cape, particularly the southwest corner of the province near its coastal region. The area, known for towns like Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek, with its long, sun-drenched summers and mild, wet winters, has ideal conditions for a wine industry combining the classicism of the Old World with the contemporary fruit-driven styles of the New World. But it is not only the climate of the winelands, it is also the soil and the unique geography which includes several inland mountain chains and valleys, that is making South African wine so outstandingly good and popular worldwide.
Travellers who are planning to visit the winelands and its historic towns will find the following videos, produced by South African Tourism, quite helpful and interesting as they provide a very good introduction to the wines of South Africa. Enjoy!

South Africa: Eat Out Restaurant Award 2011 winners announced

The winners of the 2011 Eat Out DStv Food Network Restaurant Awards and the Top 10 Restaurants 2011  have been announced.
Restaurants are judged on food, service and ambience, as well as other aspects that make or break the eating out experience.

Chef of the year: Luke Dale-Roberts (The Test Kitchen, Cape Town)
Restaurant of the year: The Greenhouse (Cape Town)
Service Excellence Award: The Roundhouse (Cape Town)

The Top 10 Restaurants:

1. The Greenhouse (Cape Town)
2. The Test Kitchen (Cape Town)
3. The Tasting Room at Le Quartier Français (Franschhoek)
4. The Roundhouse (Cape Town)
5. Overture (Stellenbosch)
6. Terroir (Stellenbosch)
7. DW Eleven-13 (Johannesburg)
8. Jordan Restaurant (Stellenbosch)
9. Nobu (Cape Town)
10. La Colombe (Cape Town)

Best Bistro: Bizerca Bistro (Cape Town)
Best Steakhouse: The Local Grill (Boksburg, Parktown North and Sandton)
Best Country Style Restaurant: The Table at De Meye (Stellenbosch)
Best Asian Restaurant: Kitima (Cape Town)
Best Italian Restaurant: 95 Keerom (Cape Town)
The Boschendal Style Award: Makaron (Stellenbosch)
The City Press ViP Sunday Breakfast Award: Salvation Café (Johannesburg)
The Lannice Snyman Lifetime Achievement Award: Garth Stroebel
Woolworths TASTE Bursary winner: Zahir Isaacs

Cape Town named "runner up" in UK’s Telegraph 2011 Travel Awards

Cape Town in South Africa was named a "runner up" in the Favorite Cities Worldwide category in the UK's Telegraph 2011 Travel Awards. The City of New York won the category, while Venice in Italy was the other runner up.
The La Residence in Franschhoek, along with Shangri La's Barr Al Jissah in Oman, was voted "runner up" in the Favourite Hotel Worldwide category, which was won by the Villa d'Este at Lake Como in Italy.
The Telegraph opened the voting polls in August 2011 and a total of 23.000 readers were surveyed on their favorite travel places, experiences, and tourism and hospitality service providers. The Telegraph 2011 Travel Awards honor top destinations and companies in various categories.

S.Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants 2010

Two South African restaurants, the La Colombe (#12) in Constantia, Cape Town, and the Le Quartier Francais (#31) in Franschhoek (Cape Winelands), are among the World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2010. Congratulations!

  1. Noma Denmark (▲2) noma.dk
  2. El Bulli Spain (▼1) elbulli.com
  3. The Fat Duck UK (▼1) thefatduck.co.uk
  4. El Celler de Can Roca Spain (▲1)  cellercanroca.com
  5. Mugaritz Spain (▼1) mugaritz.comx
  6. Osteria Francescana Italy (▲7)  osteriafrancescana.it
  7. Alinea USA (▲3) alinea-restaurant.com
  8. Daniel USA (▲33) danielnyc.com
  9. Arzak Spain (▼1) arzak.es
10. Per Se United States (▼4)  perseny.com
11. Le Chateaubriand France (▲29)
12. La Colombe South Africa (▲26) constantia-uitsig.com
13. Pierre Gagnaire France (▼4) pierre-gagnaire.com
14. Hotel de Ville Switzerland (▲2) philippe-rochat.ch
15. Le Bernardin USA (=) le-bernardin.com
16. L'Astrance France (▼5)  lastrance.abemadi.com
17. Hof van Cleve Belgium (▲9) hofvancleve.com
18. D.O.M. Brazil (▲6)  domrestaurante.com.br
19. Oud Sluis Holland (▲10) oudsluis.nl
20. Le Calandre Italy (▲29)  alajmo.it
21. Steirereck Austria (▲9) steirereck.at/wien restaurant
22. Vendome Germany (▲3)  schlossbensberg.com
23.Chez Dominique Finland (▼2) chezdominique.fi
24. Les Créations de Narisawa Japan (▼4) narisawa-yoshihiro.com
25. Mathias Dahlgren Sweden (▲25) mathiasdahlgren.com
26. Momofuku Ssam Bar USA (▲5)  momofuku.com
27. Quay Australia (▲19) quay.com.au
28. Iggy's Singapore (▲17) iggys.com.sg
29. L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon France (▼11) joel-robuchon.com
30. Schloss Schauenstein Switzerland (New Entry)  schauenstein.ch
31. Le Quartier Francais South Africa (▲6)  lequartier.co.za
32. The French Laundry USA (▼20)  frenchlaundry.com
33. Martin Berasategui Spain (=)  martinberasategui.com
34. Aqua Germany (New Entry)  restaurant-aqua.com
35. Combal Zero Italy (▲7)  combal.org
36. Dal Pescatore Italy (▲12) dalpescatore.com
37. De Librije Netherlands (New Entry) librije.com
38. Tetsuya's Australia (▼21) tetsyuas.com
39. Jaan par Andre Singapore (New Entry) swissotel.com/singapore-
      stamford
40. Il Canto Italy (New Entry) certosadimaggiano.com
41. Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athenee France (Re-entry) plaza-
      athenee-paris.com
42.  Oaxen Krog Sweden (▼10) oaxenkrog.se
43. St John UK (▼29) stjohnrestaurant.com
44. La Maison Troisgros France (Re-entry) troisgros.fr
45. wd~50 USA (Re-entry) wd-50.com
46. Biko Mexico (New Entry) biko.com
47. Die Schwarzwaldstube Germany (▼24) traube-tonbach.de
48. Nihonryori RyuGin Japan (New Entry) nihonryori-ryugin.com
49. Hibiscus UK (New Entry) hibiscusrestaurant.co.uk
50. Eleven Madison Park USA (New Entry) elevenmadisonpark.com