About
There is a gorgeous light that descends on Paarl in the evenings. It’s a sunset that speaks of great cultural heritage and hard work. This is the largest of the wine valleys in South Africa and it’s also the third oldest town in South Africa. Time moves here at the same pace it did when the town was first founded and the scenery – well that is still just as gorgeous now as it was back then.
Perched above Paarl is the second largest granite outcrop in the world. A top this mammoth rock, you’ll find the Taal Monument – very much considered a beacon of culture for many. It celebrates the influence of other languages on the Afrikaans language and is a true piece of art.
Beautiful architecture and art aren’t hard to find in this town where churches are some of the oldest in the country. Their preservation is a testament to the attention given to every undertaking in this valley – especially its wine. Paarl Valley has over 100 wine farms each with award winning wines to share.
While enjoying the wines you can savor the finest cheese, olives, preserves and charcuterie in Cape Town, something that no South African holiday would be without.
There is fun for the whole family in Paarl – with activities ranging from crocodile farms, to abseiling off Paarl Rock and zip lining. Take a walk through the Paarl nature reserve or simply enjoy the slow pace of life here while enjoying a glass of Sauvignon Blanc from one of the many viewpoints on many of the farms.
Getting there
Paarl is in the Cape Winelands, and is accessible via the R301, the N1 and the R45.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit Paarl is in the spring and summer. However it must be noted that the summer temperatures in Paarl are considerably higher than in central Cape Town and the air is much dryer, making it the perfect climate for grape growing.
The Best of South Africa Travel map displays the locations of the destinations and accommodation that we have selected and visited; for each item, hovering over or clicking the marker will display a short summary and photo of that place or hotel, and hotel pricing. Follow the links in the info box to the full page listing which has much more information.
Note that the online map offers both a satellite view (click satellite in the top right) and, for some locations, a street level view (Drag the person in the top left onto the map). These let you explore the country; and when you wish to explore in person, or if you have any questions about the places you see, give our staff a call, or request a quote. Our staff regularly visit the places and accommodation that we feature.
When you book a holiday with us we will provide full driving instructions for reaching your accommodation, where necessary; these can be used by yourself, or you could enjoy the luxury of a driver. Alternatively we will arrange private (car rather than coach) transfers for you; helicopter transfers are also possible for some destinations.
Definitely going back for more!
"We were referred to Ash by a mutual friend and were specifically looking for a unique experience for our family which involved a game park. After a brief discussion around what we would like to see and do, Ash then came back with a package that met us at Jo'burg airport, flew us into the Kruger where our three day …
