- Durbanville was originally established as a watering station for travelers and cattle heading from Cape Town to the interior, known as Pampoenkraal.
- The city's climate and topography support a concentration of cool-climate vineyards that differentiate its output from the hotter regions of the inland Winelands.
- It is home to one of the oldest horse-racing venues in the country, the Durbanville Racecourse, which has operated since the 19th century.
- The town was officially renamed from Pampoenkraal to D'Urban in 1836, honoring Sir Benjamin D'Urban, before eventually becoming Durbanville.
About Durbanville
Durbanville is a Northern Suburb of Cape Town situated in the Tygerberg hills, defined by its historic wine valley roots and semi-rural aesthetic. Visitors can explore local biodiversity at the Wiesenhof Game Park or engage with regional history at the Babylonstoren Wine Museum. The area also hosts significant wildlife sanctuaries such as the Giraffe House and the Drakenstein Lion Park, which includes the specialized Chimp Haven @ Drakenstein Lion Park. The town acts as a gateway to the broader Cape Winelands while maintaining its own distinct residential character.
Highlights of Durbanville
The places our editors single out — and why they're worth your time.
Zoos
Visitors can interact with diverse giraffe species and other wildlife in an accessible, family-friendly environment.
Zoos
This sanctuary provides a protected life-long home for large cats rescued from circuses and canned hunting facilities.
Museums
The museum showcases the agricultural heritage and history of wine cultivation in the Western Cape.
Parks
This expansive park offers hiking trails and diverse flora and fauna within a managed natural setting.
Zoos
Dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of chimpanzees, this facility provides a natural habitat for primates in need.
Museums
An unconventional museum space that uses osteological specimens to educate visitors about local wildlife anatomy.
Top things to do in Durbanville
The 16 highest-rated places in Durbanville, ranked by travellers.
1
Amusement parks
Bugz Playpark is the Western Cape's largest play center, featuring a massive indoor area and an expansive outdoor zone d...
2
Zoos
Giraffe House is an educational wildlife park situated in the Cape Winelands, focusing on South African fauna and conser...
3
Zoos
Drakenstein Lion Park is a sanctuary dedicated to the welfare of captive-bred lions that cannot be rehabilitated into th...
4
Museums
The Wijnland Auto Museum, located in Joostenberg Vlakte, houses an extensive private collection of vintage and classic a...
5
Parks
6
Museums
7
Venues
8
Temples
9
Temples
10
Zoos
11
Temples
12
Temples
13
Temples
14
Museums
15
Museums
16
Temples
Explore by category
Jump straight to what you're into.
Durbanville on the map
Top attractions plotted across the city.
Plan your visit to Durbanville
September to November, as the spring weather is mild and the surrounding vineyards are lush and green.
2-3 days to comfortably explore the surrounding nature reserves and local wine estates.
A rental car is essential as public transport is limited and the attractions are spread across semi-rural areas.
Stay in the central Durbanville area for proximity to shops and restaurants, or look for boutique guest houses on the surrounding wine estates for a quieter experience.
Mid-range; costs are generally lower than central Cape Town but vary depending on the level of wine estate luxury chosen.
Frequently asked
Aventuro lists 16 curated attractions in and around Durbanville, ranked by traveller ratings.
Bugz Playpark is the highest-rated place to visit in Durbanville right now.
The largest category is temples, with 6 places to explore.
Travellers also explore Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria.
Explore more of South Africa
Other cities ranked by number of curated places.
