
We’re writing an itinerary for Irish travellers this week: they’re being driven from Addo in the Eastern Cape to the Winelands in the Western Cape by our guide, Chris Hannival.
On the way, we’re suggesting they stop off at Montagu, one of the many villages on the eastern side of the winelands, about two hours from Cape Town.
Montagu is a very strange, off-beat little town famous for many off-beat things and creative people. If you are not a naturally curious and open-minded sort of person you may find the whole thing a little too weird, but turn on your inner child and it becomes an absolute delight!
Highlights for us include the Francois Krige Studio, which is really worth a visit: he was an internationally renowned artist who lived here for many years and died in 1994 (paintings go for around US$10 000, if you’ve some loose change) but you need to book in advance to go in. Just outside of Montagu there’s also the Sheilam Cacti and Succulent Garden (www.sheilamnursery.com) on the R62 in Robertson was established in 1954 and boasts 2000 species of plants.