| The town of Worcester in South Africa was | | | | Garden:This jewel of a garden with 144ha of |
| founded in 1822. The town today is mainly the | | | | natural semi-desert vegetation and 10ha of |
| service centre for the surrounding wine and | | | | landscaped gardens, features the unique |
| fruit growing areas in the Breede River | | | | plants of the drier parts of the country. Its |
| Valley. Worcester lies at the N1 freeway | | | | greenhouse boast world famous collections of |
| connecting Cape Town and Johannesburg and is | | | | stone plants.Brandy Route:During the 325th |
| an ideal place for a stopover, since it has | | | | brandy producing year in South Africa in |
| some interesting tourist attractions to | | | | 1997, the world's first Brandy Route was |
| offer.At the Kleinplasie open-air museum one | | | | introduced, causing a stir amongst the world |
| can gain an insight into the living | | | | media. Public awareness was roused and |
| conditions of the first settlers. A farm from | | | | brandy-lovers set about finding out more |
| the 18th century, a hut of the Trekboers and | | | | about the production and finer side of this |
| a Khoikhoi camp have been rebuilt and | | | | noble fruit of the vine, by visiting the |
| furnished true to detail. Actors in | | | | cellars along the Brandy Route.The KWV |
| historical dresses reinvoke the rural life of | | | | Cellar, the largest of its kind in the world, |
| the old days. Visitors can watch how they | | | | is one of eight cellars on the Brandy Route. |
| manufactured soap, rolled tobacco, forged | | | | It's uniqueness lies in the 120 Woudberg |
| horseshoes, milled wheat, spun wool and much | | | | potstills, huge maturation cellar and |
| more.To the wine lover, Worcester offers a | | | | demonstrations of the ancient craft of |
| big Wine Tasting Centre, where one can savor | | | | barrel-making by the coopers.The Olof Bergh |
| the excellent Breede River wines. Definitely | | | | Solera Cellar, at Goudine, is the other |
| worth a visit is the KWV Brandy Cellar, where | | | | cellar in the Worcester region. Small but |
| one can gain an insight into art of brandy | | | | prolific, it accommodates 22 Woudberg copper |
| distillation.Another attraction is the Karoo | | | | potstills, similiar to those used in Cognac, |
| National Botanical Garden, about one | | | | France, for the distillation of high quality |
| kilometer north of Worcester. In this 144 | | | | colombar wines. It is the only cellar in |
| hectare semi-desert nature reserve one can | | | | South Africa to practice the famous Spanish |
| find a whole spectrum of Karoo | | | | Solera method of maturation and |
| plants.Glider-flying enthusiasts find the | | | | blending.Institute for the Blind:Visitors are |
| only glider flying airfield in the Cape in | | | | invited to come and see how the visually |
| Worcester. The Cape Gliding Club owns a whole | | | | impaired are trained and how they |
| range of one or two-seater glider planes, a | | | | work.Institute for the Deaf:Visitors are |
| towing aircraft and a tarred runway. Flying | | | | invited to come and see how the hearing |
| activities are usually limited to the | | | | impaired are trained and how they work.Nuwe |
| weekends only. Visitors are welcome and can, | | | | Hoop Centre for the Hearing Impaired:A centre |
| under the supervision of a teacher, try | | | | where children between the ages of three and |
| flying themselves. Thermal winds and weather | | | | twenty one years receive formal and technical |
| conditions in the Breede River Valley are | | | | training. Visitors are welcome.Architectural |
| excellent most of the year.Worcester lies on | | | | Walking Routes:Worcester was laid out |
| the main route to and from Cape Town, | | | | according to a definite plan with parallel |
| Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth. With its | | | | streets. This enables the visitor to take an |
| wide range of services and commercial | | | | easy walk through town and visit some prime |
| facilities, it has become the business and | | | | examples of early architecture. Brochures are |
| shopping centre for the entire valley and | | | | available at the Tourism Bureau.Gift and |
| surrounding towns.Things to See and | | | | Antique Shops:Several interesting shops are |
| Do:Kleinplasie:The Complex (next to the | | | | dotted around town.Gerald Crawford was born |
| Robertson Road) comprises the agricultural | | | | in South Africa, studied electronics, |
| showground's, an Open Air Living Museum, | | | | telecommunication, eco-travel and african |
| restaurant and wine cellar, as well as the | | | | travel concepts. He taught responsible |
| Reptile World.Kleinplasie Open Air Living | | | | tourism in South Africa. If you have any |
| Museum:The unique open air museum depicts the | | | | questions or comments please e-mail me on. |
| lifestyle of the early pioneer farmers. | | | | E-mail Address: |
| Throughout the year a variety of activities | | | | southafricantravelarticles@12234455.co. |
| are presented.Karoo National Botanical | | | | |