Vintage VW Combi Wine Tours Through the Langeberg
There are wine tours, and then there is climbing into a vintage Volkswagen and rolling out into the Langeberg with the windows open and the valley ahead of you. Wine Valley Safari’s red and blue vintage combis are not props. They are working classics — the kind of vehicles that still make people stop, smile and take a photo before the first tasting even begins.
If you have been looking for a vintage VW combi wine tour that feels personal rather than packaged, this is the story of how these buses arrived in South Africa, why they still suit the Robertson Wine Valley so well, and what a day on board actually feels like.
A short history of the VW Type 2 combi
The Volkswagen Type 2 — better known as the Kombi, Transporter or Microbus — went on sale in 1950, a few years after Dutch importer Ben Pon sketched a Beetle-based van that Volkswagen later refined into its own model. Collectors still talk about the early “Split-window” (T1) buses of the 1950s and 1960s, with their divided windscreen, and the later “Bay-window” (T2) buses that followed from 1967/68 with a single curved screen and sliding side doors.
South Africa’s story with the Type 2 is especially strong. Volkswagen’s Uitenhage plant began assembling Kombis for the local market in the mid-1950s, and production of Type 2 variants continued here for decades. Many of the classic buses still loved on Cape roads today were right-hand-drive South African builds rather than pure German imports. That local lineage is part of why a vintage combi still feels at home on Route 62 and the farm roads of the Langeberg.
Wine Valley Safari’s red and blue vintage combis
On the Wine Valley Safari site, the fleet is presented alongside the zebra-striped Trokkie, the Sprinting Zebra Sprinter, a Jeep Wrangler and a Mercedes V-Class. Among those options sit the two vintage Kombis — classic companions for private and custom wine tours, chosen when guests want nostalgia and a smaller, more intimate ride.
The red split-window combi is the showstopper: two-tone red and white, roof rack, chrome hubcaps, the unmistakable VW badge on the nose. The blue bay-window Volkswagen partners it — often photographed nose-to-nose with the red bus, or lined up with the Zebra Trokkie at estates such as Zandvliet. Together they give VIP Voyage and private bookings a look that no modern shuttle can copy.
Private and custom tours with the vintage fleet start from R3 950 on the live site, with the Classic Golden Mile from R650 pp, Deluxe from R895 pp, Golden Ticket at R995 pp, and the Cap Classique Experience at R2 495 pp (prices checked on winevalleysafari.com, 9 Nov 2026).
Book a Wine Valley Safari when you are ready to choose your vehicle and departure point — Montagu at Blou Pieke or Robertson at Four Cousins.
Nostalgia on four wheels
Part of the pleasure is the sound and the pace. You sit higher than in a car. You hear the engine. You notice the vines, the farm gates, the mountain light. Guests who grew up with a family Kombi, or who only ever saw one on a poster, tend to light up the moment the doors swing open. It is travel as memory — and it photographs beautifully without trying too hard.
That nostalgia pairs well with the valley itself. Robertson and Montagu are still less crowded than the Cape Town winelands closer to the city, which is exactly why so many visitors come looking for a slower day of tastings, river views and country hospitality.
Wines and wineries of the Robertson valley
A combi tour here is never only about the vehicle. The point of the day is the wine. On the Classic Golden Mile, guests typically visit three estates from a rotating selection that can include Van Loveren, Ashton, Bon Courage, Viljoensdrift, Excelsior and Kranskop, with around thirteen wines to taste. Deluxe guests pick three from a richer shortlist — river cruises at Viljoensdrift, Cap Classique and nougat at Bon Courage, blend-your-own at Excelsior, and more. The Golden Ticket leans into Zandvliet, De Wetshof and Springfield; Cap Classique days head toward Weltevrede, Kapokbos and Silverthorn.
Limestone and calcrete soils, the Breede River and a sunny climate give Robertson its Chardonnays, Cap Classiques, Pinotages and easy-drinking reds. Ride between those cellars in a vintage combi and the day becomes a moving tasting room with mountain scenery for a backdrop.
For more valley context, see our guide to exploring the rich history of Robertson Wine Valley and how to book your Wine Valley Safari tickets.
Through Kogmanskloof by combi
Between Ashton and Montagu lies Kogmanskloof — the dramatic pass and tunnel that links the Robertson side of the valley with Montagu on Route 62. Driving that corridor in a vintage combi is one of the quiet highlights of a Langeberg day: rock walls close in, the road twists, and then the valley opens again toward Montagu’s hot springs, trees and Victorian streets.
It is a short stretch on the map and a long impression in the memory — especially with a classic windscreen framing the cliffs ahead. If your itinerary includes pickups or drop-offs between Robertson and Montagu, ask for the Kogmanskloof routing; it is part of what makes this corner of the Western Cape feel like its own world.
A recent vintage Kombi day out
On a recent outing, guests were collected from their lodge in a vintage Kombi.
Guests on a recent blue-combi outing pose with the sky-blue and white Volkswagen on gravel under the trees — sunglasses on, bags over shoulders, tour-day smiles.
How to book your vintage combi day
1. Decide whether you want a shared Golden Mile-style day or a private VIP Voyage with a vintage Kombi.
2. Choose pickup in Montagu (Blou Pieke) or Robertson (Four Cousins), or ask for a custom collection.
3. Book online or email info@winevalleysafari.com / call +27 81 740 0145.
4. Mention if you specifically want the red or blue vintage Volkswagen — availability is limited and private by nature.
FAQ
Are Wine Valley Safari’s combis original Volkswagen Type 2s?
Yes — they are vintage Volkswagen Type 2-style buses in the classic two-tone look guests associate with the Kombi era. The red bus is a split-window example; the blue partner is the matching vintage Volkswagen used alongside it on private tours.
Can I request a combi instead of the Zebra Trokkie?
Vintage Kombis are offered for private and custom tours (VIP Voyage and similar). Shared Classic, Deluxe and Golden Ticket departures more often use the zebra fleet; ask when you book if a combi is available for your date.
Do combi tours still visit Robertson Wine Valley estates?
Yes. The point of the day remains the wines — estates such as Van Loveren, Viljoensdrift, Bon Courage, Excelsior, Zandvliet, De Wetshof and Springfield feature across the published tour products, with the vehicle chosen to match the group size and style of day.
What does a vintage VW combi wine tour cost?
Private and custom tours with the extended fleet (including vintage Kombis) start from R3 950 on the live site. Shared tour products start from R650 pp. Always confirm the current price on winevalleysafari.com when you book.
Is Kogmanskloof on the route?
When itineraries link Ashton or Robertson with Montagu, the Kogmanskloof pass and tunnel are the natural corridor. Ask your coordinator to include it if that stretch matters to you.
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