Just over 1 hour east of Cape Town, little Paarl sits snug at the base of the rock-ribbed Du Toitskloof Mountains, encompassed by a mosaic of undulating vineyards and farm fields. It is famed primarily as one of the epicentres of the Cape Winelands, but also rose to international prominence as the home of Victor Verster Prison – where Nelson Mandela was kept for the final months of his lengthy incarceration. 

Foodies will find plenty to love in this mountain town. Between the elegant Cape Dutch homes are oodles of tasting rooms and cellar doors, all sloshing with South African red and white wines. The restaurant scene also means getting local cuisine on the palate, with Drakenstein meats and spice-infused Cape dishes aplenty. Paarl tour guides can help you delve into the rich heritage and gorgeous backcountry too. The latter forever beckons on the horizon, where the granite domes of Paarl Rock are usually strewn with the dangling bodies of daring rock climbers and multi-day hiking trails weaving deeper into the Du Toitskloof peaks. If you prefer culture, try the enthralling Afrikaans Language Museum and the Taalmonument, which chronicle the region's linguistic and human history over the centuries.