12 nights. The tour would include all the following elements:
Visit Table Mountain for a bird’s eye view of the city. The cableway takes us to the top in under 10 minutes and once there, we can stroll around 2km of pathways that take us to viewing decks with spectacular vistas over the city and hinterland.
Kirstenbosch National Gardens for lunch and a stroll through the magnificent gardens. A quick introduction to the flora of South Africa before we set off for Groot Constantia Estate, the oldest wine estate in the country, also the most magnificent architectural example of early Cape Dutch architecture. A delightful way to discover the history, culture and splendour of the early Cape.
Cape Point Spectacular Scenic Drive
One of the most scenic drives in the world. The route winds through Simonstown, the naval base of the South African Navy and a quaint reminder of Victorian and Edwardian architecture; we’ll pop in and see the African Penguins at Boulders and then continue our journey hugging the wild and beautiful coastline to Cape Point.
At Cape Point we should see Chacma Baboons, ostrich, zebra and Bontebok while we’re driving to the Point. Take a stroll down to the beach or to the sheltered cove of the Cape of Good Hope; or ride the Flying Dutchman funicular to the top where the old lighthouse keeps watch over the ocean.
Return to central Cape Town via Chapman’s Peak and the busy harbour of Hout Bay.
Stellenbosch is one of the oldest but most vibrant towns in the country. Oldest because it was settled in the late 1600’s by governor Simon van der Stel who naturally planted vines as a priority. Vibrant because it is a university town where about 20 000 students from around the country come to study.
Winelands - It also boasts some of the most impressive wine estates and cellars including one belonging to golfer Ernie Els. We visit three wine estates, and end the day with a traditional braai on an estate with the winemaker and owner of the property.
Explore the V&A Waterfront with its boutiques, music, restaurants, boat rides, entertainment of every description. Or visit Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated with other political prisoners. The visit takes about three hours and includes a tour with a guide who was once a prisoner on the island.
Lunch at Eziko Restaurant in Langa and an opportunity to take a friendly, deep look into life in the townships. Visit Langa and Gugulethu and experience life in another world - Gugu s’Thebe Arts and Culture Centre, the Beverly Hills of Langa, men’s hostels, beer tasting, a traditional healer, the Amy Biehl Memorial, Mzoli’s open meat market and a shebeen (township bar).
WHALE WATCHING, SHARK CAGE DIVING AND PENGUINS
Hermanus, with its champagne air, whales and wine. Enjoy a scenic drive along Clarens Drive and start spotting whales immediately. The drive hugs the coast along False Bay and offers spectacular views of Cape Point across the bay.
See the magnificent Southern Right whales closer than you would ever dream on a whale watching cruise ona custome built luxury catamaran, Miroshca.
Light lunch alongside the quayside or a picnic in Fernkloof Nature Reserve. Take a stroll along the unique cliff path, meet the world’s only Whale Crier.
Full day winetasting tour up the Hemel en Aarde Valley. (Valley of Heaven and Earth). Taste the country’s best chardonnay, pinot noir, sauvignon blanc and shiraz in some of the most scenic cellars on earth. Lunch at one of the excellent restaurants at the cellars, or picnic alongside a farm dam.
Sharks and Fynbos! See the Great White Shark in its own habitat, free and feeding! You can view the sharks from the safety of the deck or don a wetsuit and jump in the shark cage to see this spectacular mammal in the water.
After the dive we take a 4 x 4 Fynbos guided trail and discover the miraculous flora of the Cape Floral kingdom – one of the richest in the world, with over 1600 species.
Beach combing is one of the most relaxing, tranquil things to do and when you can combine it with a visit to an ancient cave that was inhabited by Middle Stone Age people some 50 000 years ago, it becomes a culturally enriching experience too. Walk one of the longest beaches in the country, visit the Klipgat cave, collect mussels and enjoy them cooked, on the beach.
See seals, dolphins and rare birds such as the Black Oystercatcher en route. Transfer to Cape Town International Airport – only one hour’s drive from Hermanus. Fly to safari destination.
Discover Africa’s heritage of wild land and animals and contribute to the conservation of wildlife, communities and the continent. Transfer to one of the lodges of the country’s top ecotourism company. Select a destination in southern Africa – South Africa, Victoria Falls, Namibia, Botswana, Tanzania, Zanzibar or Kenya.
These exceptional safari lodges and camps provide an experience of a lifetime in luxurious surroundings but always with the passionate belief and commitment to conservation and community development.
For example, two nights (minimum recommended time), will include dawn and dusk game viewing drives, a walk with an expert game guide, relaxing at the poolside overlooking a waterhole, wellness and spa treatments, excellent and delicious food prepared with passion.
Wake before dawn to see the sun rise over the African landscape and watch the wilderness at its most exciting moments, take a walk with an expert game guide and discover the secrets of the wild, both big and small. Lie under the African night sky and see a trillion stars almost close enough to touch, listen to the sounds of the night and feel the rhythms of Africa in your soul.
" My journey to Africa has been the odyssey of a lifetime. I have crossed great, beautiful landscapes and stood on, what seemed to me, the edge of the world, as I knew it…. And seen my heart soar into its ancient sky, somehow humbler than I have ever felt. Somehow part of eternity. "
- Guest Book
