Average read time: 8 minutes.
Technology plays a huge part in our lives. We use it to monitor our health, order our fashion and snacks, and create memory banks of all the important moments in our lives. Increasingly, technology is also being woven into awesome experiences that can be enjoyed by the whole family. To get you excited about leaning into that #techlife, here are five places in and around the Mother City where you can get a taste of the future, today!
Read on for five fantastic destinations near Cape Town where tech-loving folks of all ages can have a ball of a time.
Segway Vineyard Tours at Spier
Walking through a lush vineyard is always a beautiful experience, but have you ever imagined how cool it would be to tour a vineyard on a Segway? Well, now you don’t have to wonder, because you can do exactly that at Spier Wine Farm outside of Stellenbosch.
Segway Vineyard Tours at Spier provide visitors with the ability to tour the farm in all its beautiful splendour without breaking too much of a sweat while having oodles of fun in the process. It’s suitable for children over the age of 10, and you don’t need any prior experience driving a Segway to partake – the guides will instruct you on the day!
Enjoy a fascinating glide through the farm to the first block of vineyards and learn more about Spier’s unique biodynamic farming techniques while drinking in magnificent views of the nearby mountain ranges. You could also choose to combine it with a wine tasting (after the glide) or partake in a sunset glide if you want to turn it into a romantic occasion for you and your partner.
Rates: Segway tour rates start at R375 per person for an hour-long tour, which includes a 30-minute training session. Please get in touch with the Segway Spier team for up-to-date information on rates, FAQs and group bookings.
Top Tip! Wine farms get super busy over the festive season. If you want to enjoy a Segway outing with your family over the summer holiday, we recommend that you book sooner rather than later.
The Burrow Driving Range at Hazendal
The Burrow Driving Range is a state-of-the-art facility situated on the gorgeous Hazendal Wine Estate near Stellenbosch, and the very first of its kind in South Africa. It features a spacious two-tier facility with 32 bays facing onto a 270-metre range. Additionally, the bays are equipped with the latest In-Range tracking technology for an unparalleled interactive golf experience.
The great thing about the driving range is that you don’t need to be a pro to enjoy it. It can be used for fun round-robin tournaments between friends, and colleagues. In fact, it’s very popular with corporate groups for team-building activities.
Rates: InRange bay rates start at R80 for 30 minutes and 50 balls. To find out more about pricing, contact them for up-to-date info.
Ps! Hazendal is also home to a great 3-par mashie course and Kleine Hazen Putting Park, so there’s something golf-related for everyone to enjoy.
Wonderdal Edutainment Centre
Wonderdal Edutainment Centre also happens to be situated on Hazendal Wine Estate. However, The Burrow Driving Range is very much geared towards grownups, Wonderdal is all about the kids. This is where the magic of tech really comes alive for youngsters between the ages of 5-13.
This singular destination provides all the makings of an immersive, interactive edutainment experience that combines creative design, award-winning educational resources and world-class technology, to weave learning into play – all with colourful (virtual!) Amuki characters guide and entertain children along the way.
Rates: Tickets start at R125 per child for two hours’ play on weekdays, and R190 per child for two hours’ play on weekends. Adult tickets are available at the same rates for parents who would like to join in the fun. Call Wonderdal for up-to-date rates or to enquire about group bookings or birthday parties.
Top Tip: Parents, this is the safest place you could possibly drop your children. There is a very serious security system in place that only allows a designated caregiver to drop off and collect any given child, based on a security code that is generated when you book.
Each child is also provided with a detailed ID band that features their details and can’t be removed except upon collection by their designated parent or caregiver. In short, you can 100% drop off your kids without a worry in the world and explore the many marvels Hazendal has to offer until you pick them up again 2 hours later.
theLAB Smart Hotel in Franschhoek
If you really want to push out the boat and immerse yourself in a tech-forward experience, a stay at theLAB Smart Hotel in Franschhoek will be right up your alley.
This unique accommodation venue is a proudly green establishment. The location is managed to be as carbon neutral as possible, and this ethos is applied throughout. Solar technology heats the water and provides electricity, and guests with e-cars can power up at complimentary charging points. A finely tuned recycling system ensures that as little waste as possible is generated on-site.
However, the main reason to get very excited about theLAB Franschhoek is the fact that it is a smart hotel! This means that every modern, minimalist-style room comes fitted with theLAB room automation system that allows guests to make coffee, operate the television, close the blinds, turn on the lights (and more!) via voice command. It’s as fun as it is amazing!
There are also e-bikes, e-scooters and mountain bikes to rent per hour or day to explore the Franschhoek region in style. Accommodation rates start at R1950 per couple per night. Take a look at the website for up-to-date rates and availability.
PS! theLAB Franschhoek has a sister hotel within the little-known charming, rural area of Klaas Voogds West just off the R60 between Robertson and Ashton, so if you’re in the mood for a road trip beyond the immediate vicinity of Cape Town, that is also a fantastic option.
Rates: From R1150 per person per night.
Ps! theLAB Franschhoek has a sister hotel in the beautiful Rosendal Winery estate outside of Robertson, so if you’re in the mood for a road trip beyond the immediate vicinity of Cape Town, that is also a fantastic option.
SenseVirtual VR Gaming Arcade
Remember the joy of old-school game arcades at the mall? Well, now you can enjoy all that excitement with a dash of virtual reality in the mix, within easy distance from Cape Town CBD!
Situated in the central seaside neighbourhood of Sea Point along the Atlantic Seaboard, SenseVirtual VR Gaming Arcade offers gamers of all ages the opportunity to immerse themselves in a series of top-notch virtual reality and console games.
Rates: Gaming rates vary quite a bit, so it’s best to get in touch with them directly to learn more about their pricing, and/or hosting a birthday or event at the VR arcade.
Please note that some of this accommodation- and activity providers may be affected by varying levels of lockdown restrictions from time to time. So, it’s best to call ahead to see whether a given destination is open to the public before making any travel plans.
CONTRIBUTORS
Words | Anna-Bet Stemmet @skryfyster
Editor | Nikki Temkin @Nikkitemkin
Images | Courtesy of the venues
