Winning an all-expenses paid mid-winter getaway sounds like a dream, but for one woman, the sights, tastes and sounds of the Western Cape came to life last weekend.
Ntsoaki Mabaso from Diepkloof in Soweto could not contain her excitement after finding out that she had won a four-day trip for two to Cape Town and the Hemel-en-Aarde wine region – her first ever trip to the Western Cape.
“Cape Town is so different to Johannesburg, it was so laid back and even the air was different. It was so clean and beautiful,” said Mabaso who travelled with her fiancé Rami Mosimane. “We even had time to go up Table Mountain, where I updated my Facebook status to say how breathtaking I found the view.”
The competition, which ran on Metro FM during April, was initiated by the Western Cape’s official Destination Marketing, Investment and Trade Promotion Agency (WESGRO) in a bid to promote wine tourism in the region.
Wesgro Marketing, Tourism & Events manager, Judith Coetzee, said Cape Town and the Western Cape had a huge selection of beautiful food and wine estates on offer, each providing a stunning selection of wines to suit every palate. “The idea behind this competition was to promote our region for more than just its beauty but to expose our food, wine and adventure offerings too. We would like to congratulate Ntsoaki on winning this amazing prize; we know she will have a wonderful time in our region.”
Close to 5 000 entries were received and Mabaso was drawn as the winner. She and Mosimane enjoyed a trip from Cape Town along the Cape Whale Coast to Hermanus and Hemel-en-Aarde valley.
“On their first night, the lucky pair stayed at Mandela Rhodes Place and enjoyed dinner at the One & Only Hotel. They were chauffeured by CitiHopper Tours to the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens in Bettys Bay, followed by experiencing the Hemel-en-Aarde valley on a quad bike tour sponsored by SA Forest Adventures. After mud and excitement, they relaxed and whet their palates with wine tasting at Creation wines, La Vierge and Hamilton Russell Vineyards. The couple then spent two nights at Misty Waves Hotel before returning to the Mother City on Sunday,” said Coetzee.
For Mosimane, the highlight was quad biking. “He was like a little kid. We are planning to return for our honeymoon next year,” Mabaso said.
The Hemel-en-Aarde area forms part of the Overberg region. With its magnificent mountains and breathtaking views, the valley offers a wide range of award-winning wine cellars, restaurants, outdoor sporting pursuits and picnic sites – perfect for the whole family.
Entrance to the valley is where the R43 to Hermanus and R320 to Caledon meet.
