Things to Do in Tulbagh, South Africa: Attractions & Tips

Why should you visit Tulbagh?

Tulbagh sits in a gorgeous valley surrounded by vineyards and is one of those under-the-radar spots in the Cape Winelands that most travelers completely miss.

Like Paarl in the Cape Winelands, it’s a tiny little town where not much really happens. We think it’s still worth a quick stopover though. Or a longer one, if you want to enjoy the peace, nature, and lack of tourists.

There’s delicious wine, great food, and warm-hearted people — an amazing combo!

How does Tulbagh fit into your travel itinerary?

You’ll visit Tulbagh when you’re exploring the Cape Winelands, ideally after traveling along the Garden Route and Route 62. We recommend it as a day trip from Stellenbosch.

One day is enough to see Tulbagh and the surrounding area. From your accommodation in Stellenbosch, you’ll reach Tulbagh in just over an hour. The best way to get there is by rental car through South Africa.

You can also stay overnight in Tulbagh. That’s especially great if you want to dive deeper into the wine region or tack a few days in the middle of nowhere onto your South Africa road trip. We did exactly that and loved it.

Check out our chalet near Tulbagh — right in the middle of nowhere

The Most Beautiful Sights in Tulbagh

Church Street

Church Street is one of the oldest streets in South Africa.

Lining the street are charming Cape Dutch houses. In the 1960s, many of them collapsed during an earthquake. They were rebuilt true to the original. You can learn all about the earthquake at the Earthquake Museum on Church Street, by the way.

It’s a great street to stroll down — the pretty old houses are seriously worth admiring.

Van der Stel Street

Van der Stel Street lives a little in the shadow of Church Street, but it’s also a very beautiful street lined with old houses that’s well worth a stroll.

The street is home to the Kole & Deeg Restaurant, where the food is absolutely delicious, and the Tulbagh Hotel — the best place to stay in Tulbagh.

NG Kerk

The NG Kerk is the oldest and most famous church in Tulbagh, standing at the end of Church Street. It’s a beautiful building and a great spot for a quick photo stop — especially since you’ll already be exploring Church Street and Van der Stel Street anyway.

The Best Sights Around Tulbagh

There are also a few cool things to do in the area around Tulbagh that are well worth your time.

The Town of Ceres

Ceres is a small town near Tulbagh. It belongs to the Witzenberg municipality and has quite a bit to offer.

If you’re traveling with kids, we really recommend the Ceres Zipslide Adventures. It was genuinely a lot of fun. The ziplines run from mountain to mountain, and you can slide a total of eight times. Our then-4-year-old was allowed to clip in with Jenny and slide along.

If you’d rather skip the adrenaline, you can relax at the Tremor Coffee Bar — a cute café with a small shop. Or take a boat tour on the Breede River.

Horse About Livery

If you’re traveling through South Africa with kids, you’ll want to take note of this one.

Horse About Livery is a horse sanctuary, primarily for older horses. On the farm, they get to truly enjoy their final years — taking mud baths, running around, and dozing in the sun.

And here’s the highlight for kids: you can go on trail rides through nature with the sanctuary’s horses. No riding experience necessary. The guides are fantastic and explain everything in detail.

Fynbos Animal Sanctuary

The third attraction near Tulbagh keeps the animal theme going. The Fynbos Animal Sanctuary is a small, lovingly run animal shelter that’s especially worth a visit with kids.

The sanctuary is home to many rescued animals, including donkeys, zebras, llamas, and goats. You can feed them with food provided by the sanctuary and grab something delicious to eat at the on-site café.

Waverley Hill Organic Wines & Olive Estate

There are of course plenty of wine estates in Tulbagh, as everywhere in the Cape Winelands. We had Waverley Hill Organic Wines & Olive Estate on our list, but unfortunately didn’t make it there.

The estate is said to be absolutely stunning, with great food and beautiful views of the mountains and vineyards. A wine tasting there is supposed to be a real highlight.

Our Restaurant Tips for Tulbagh

It’s no secret that food in South Africa — and especially in the Cape Winelands — is absolutely delicious. Here’s where we think you should eat in Tulbagh and the surrounding area.

In Tulbagh, we were especially impressed by the Kole & Deeg Restaurant. The food was fantastic, and you can have breakfast until 11:30 AM. After that, they serve burgers, sandwiches, and cake. There are always new baked goods making their way into the display case.

If you’re exploring the area around Tulbagh, keep these restaurants in mind:

• Die Boord Restaurant & Farmstall: located near Wolseley, close to Tulbagh. Great with kids — there’s a playground and chickens.
• The Creative Hub Wolseley: primarily a shop with cool artwork near Wolseley. After you’ve admired the art, you can also grab delicious pies and sandwiches here.
• Hillbilly Farm: a short way up the road from the Creative Hub. It’s a mix of dairy farm, playground, art, and good food. The burgers are especially tasty.
• Rietdakkie Padstal & Plaaskombuis: a small restaurant in Breede River with delicious pies, quiches, and cake.
• Container Farmtall & Restaurant: You eat your burger, pizza, or breakfast right in the middle of a shop in Breede River — somehow chaotic, but somehow totally charming too.

Our Accommodation Tips for Tulbagh

We recommend visiting Tulbagh as a day trip from Stellenbosch. If you’d still like to stay overnight, we recommend the Tulbagh Hotel. It’s a small, colorful boutique hotel right in the heart of Tulbagh.

If you’d prefer to stay in the middle of nowhere like we did — to truly switch off — we recommend the chalet near Tulbagh. It’s located about a 30-minute drive from Tulbagh on a private nature reserve. We absolutely loved it there.