Weltevreden Estate, Stellenbosch, South Africa

The Cape Winelands is the largest wine-producing region in South Africa, offering many wine routes and hundreds of wineries to discover. The region is known for its scenic landscapes, extraordinary wines, and whitewashed houses. Within lies the town of Stellenbosch, only a 40-minute drive from the capital. 

I was very impressed with the quality of accommodation options the town offered; there is an abundance of historic buildings with interesting stories to tell, all of them with a unique atmosphere and architecture. I decided on Weltevreden Estate since they had a cottage that was just too picturesque to pass up. In addition, this estate truly captured the authentic ambiance of the region.

Weltevreden Estate

The story of the estate started in 1692 when it was registered to one of the Dutch settlers called Hans Henske. It was later purchased and rebuilt by the Retief family. The buildings on the estate are a perfect example of Neoclassical architecture and the Cape Dutch style of the early 17th century. The most distinctive features of this style are the thatched roofs and ornately rounded gables or façades that can also be found in the townhouses of Amsterdam. The buildings on the farm were proclaimed a National Heritage Monument in 1975.

Today, the property is home to the Bezuidenhout family, who acquired it in 2012. The Manor house and the adjoining cottages form the guesthouse that visitors can enjoy. The whole staff welcomed me warmly to the estate and made me feel at home immediately.

My Garden Cottage

My spacious Garden Cottage (65 m²) featured a living room with a sofa and a desk for working, and two separate bedrooms. The first bedroom had twin beds, and the other had a double bed. The kitchen was well-equipped and had everything I could have needed for cooking and storing food, but on my holidays, I prefer to eat out, especially when most main courses cost 5-10 euros in this region. The air-conditioning was working well, and the garden views from the windows were beautiful. The private garden was complete with an outdoor dining table and braai facilities. I was delighted to call this cottage home for three days!

The bathroom was spacious with a walk-in shower and free toiletries that had a beautiful lemongrass scent. The towel rail was a little broken and didn't stay properly on the wall, but I managed with it. The towels were fluffy and changed every day.

The Amenities at Weltevreden Estate

Weltevreden Estate features Jonkershuis Restaurant, which offers traditional country cuisine produced with seasonal vegetables and herbs from the estate. Interestingly, the name Jonkershuis refers to a single-story building typically built near the main farmhouse and literally translates to 'young gentleman's house' in Dutch.

I enjoyed all my breakfasts and many lunches at the restaurant since I wanted to explore the local cuisine as much as possible, and it surprised me positively. For breakfast, they had an à la carte menu with different types of savory and sweet dishes. They had, for example, English breakfast, South African breakfast, and Jonkershuis breakfast options. Every dish was soulful and delicious! Moreover, the service was welcoming and kind.

The only problem was the dinner. Jonkershuis closed at 4 pm, and there were no other restaurants in the proximity of the estate. The clients could take meals to their rooms from the lunch menu or drive 2 kilometers to town if they got hungry in the evenings. For this reason, this estate is a more convenient accommodation for people with a car. Since I didn't have one, I used Uber, which also worked well, and felt safe.

The guests may book a wine tasting at the winery named after Bertha Bezuidenhout in 2020. Bertha Wines nowadays produces Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Merlot, and Shiraz. I thought that was an excellent addition to the customer experience, and the macarons that they had paired with the wines balanced the flavors perfectly.

In addition, clients can order a picnic and enjoy it in the garden. Many locals gather here with their families and friends to do the same. This is a perfect spot for an outing with the family because Weltevreden Estate offers a small carnival area (or playground) for the children. The only thing missing from the amenities is a pool, which would have been a nice addition since the temperature was over 30 degrees Celsius every day during my visit in January.

But for me, the best activity out of all was running on the grounds of the estate and beyond at the surrounding vineyards. The scenery was breathtaking, and the temperatures in the mornings were perfect for exercising.

In Conclusion

Stellenbosch is steeped in history and is home to a few of the country's best-known wine estates. I felt so grateful to have found this place and to immerse myself in the relaxing ways of the wine region. Even as a female solo traveler, I felt perfectly safe during my time here. Weltevreden Estate has security personnel at all the entrances and video surveillance in many places. I could not be more grateful to the staff for making my stay here such a memorable one, and I can wholeheartedly recommend a visit to Weltevreden Estate to anybody traveling in the Cape Winelands!