Rawsonville, Western Cape

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Vineyards and the Slanghoek Mountains outside Rawsonville
Vineyards and the Slanghoek Mountains outside Rawsonville

Rawsonville is a small wine growing and farming community in the Breede River Valley of the Western Cape province of South Africa. The town is known for some up-and-coming wine estates and wine cellars. It also hosts the annual Breedekloof extreme sports festival. The town's economy remains heavily reliant on serving the agricultural community, however tourism and Capetonians (Cape Town residents) seeking weekend retreats are becoming more important to the town's income. Rawsonville is 90km to the east of Cape Town and 15km to the west of the large town of Worcester.

It is located in a scenic portion of the valley on the eastern flanks of the Du Toitskloof Mountains. The climate is hinterland (further from oceanic influences) Mediterranean, with cool, rainy winters and warm, dry summers. Due to its more inland location, winters can sometimes get frosty, with heavy snowfalls sometimes falling on the surrounding high-ground, summers are generally pleasant, although some February and March days can reach 38ºC or higher.


Coordinates: 33°41′S, 19°19′E