By staying with us, you’re not just a guest — you’re part of a movement towards a more sustainable and positive future. Here are a few tips to help make your Cape Winelands exploration a wonderful experience for everyone. Thank you for being a part of our journey!
The people of the Dwarsrivier Valley welcome everyone with open arms. Feeling more comfortable and blending in with local social norms can be achieved by dressing modestly and avoiding coarse language, which is generally more offensive in our culture than might be the case for others.
You can also try greeting people in Afrikaans, which is the first language of most local residents: ask them how they HELLO! are by saying “hoe ga’nit” (ho like the “o” in “hot”, “ga” with a soft g, and “nit” like “bit”). Said with a smile, it will make for an amusing starting point, no matter what!
We are very committed to protecting children and work with locally established social development programmes to combat situations where children might end up on the street where they are highly vulnerable. Giving money or sweets can undermine these efforts so if you feel the urge to “help”, please do so through established social programmes such as Embrace Outreach or StreetSmart South Africa.
The entire Western Cape is a high fire risk region; please keep this in mind when disposing of cigarette butts. Also, we thank you for disposing of your trash responsibly — our winds can get very strong, and rubbish can end up polluting our playgrounds and freshwater sources.
Our tap water is perfectly safe for drinking. If you have a refillable water bottle with you, you’re welcome to fill it before you leave so that you stay hydrated.
Our team is dedicated to making your stay feel like a true home away from home. If you’d like to leave a tip, please know that we share all gratuities equally among our staff—recognizing everyone’s hard work and strengthening our team spirit.
Our vision embraces how we can maximise positive economic, social and environmental impacts and minimise any negative ones associated with how we operate. If you have any feedback about how we’re doing, please let us know, either during your stay or through the Contact section of our website.