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Let a private guide who is dedicated to making your visit informative and enjoyable show you the highlights of South Africa's Western Cape.
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ItineraryGuests will be met on arrival at Cape Town International Airport or any location they choose in Cape Town. After that, we devote the day to exploring two highlights of South Africa's most visited city. A cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain is first on the agenda, affording some of the finest scenic views anywhere. This mountain is synonymous with Cape Town and is one of the world's most recognizable natural landmarks. Lions Head and Signal Hill flank it. From the mountain, spectacular views of the city and Cape Peninsula are enjoyed. We hike along well-demarcated paths to various viewpoints. Table Mountain National Park is home to several species of wildlife, and there are fine displays of Fynbos. Upon descending the mountain, lunch is enjoyed before venturing to Kirstenbosch.
The garden originated when the mining magnate and philanthropist Cecil John Rhodes donated the land to the people of South Africa. The garden is home to 7,000 of the 18,000 species of flora in South Africa, all creating a remarkable display. Kirstenbosch is part of the Cape Floral Kingdom, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We devote the visit to exploring the gardens, walking along the Boomslang, ("tree snake" in Afrikaans) in Afrikaans Walkway, and visiting some indoor and outdoor exhibitions, including the aromatic and medicinal plants. The visit to Kirstenbosch is followed by a short drive to the V&A Waterfront, where guests are assisted with check-in at their hotel.
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Itinerary A drive along the spectacular Chapman's Peak route, cut into the 650m mountain with the same name, leads the tour south through Noordhoek to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. A botanical and scenic delight, the reserve is home to several antelope and bird species and a great diversity of flowering plants. A highlight is sure to be the walk to the edge of Cape Point. This Cape has played a central role in tales and legends of the ocean. It was and remains an important landmark located at the southwestern edge of Africa.
We trace False Bay back to Cape Town and visit Boulders Beach and Simon's Town along the way. The beach is an attractive-secluded beach comprising a tumble of huge round rocks on a sandy shore. The boulders are ideal vantage points to observe the antics of the colony of mainland-based African penguins. These birds have become critically endangered due to habitat loss and fishing pressures. Wooden walkways between the boulders and their nesting sites ensure minimum impact and an ecologically friendly exploration of their domain. A brief visit is then made to Simon's Town, South Africa's primary naval base, where we visit the Naval museum before returning guests to their hotel.
Distance ItineraryIn one of the Cape's most picturesque valleys, Franschhoek owes its existence to the first French settlers who worked the fertile Drakenstein Valley. Some time is devoted to exploring the town and the museum and memorial to the French Huguenots, set in a lovely garden. The museum highlights these pioneers' journey after fleeing France due to religious persecution and their impact on this part of South Africa, especially their contribution to establishing the South African wine industry.
After that, three of the fine wine estates in the valley are visited. These wine estates are internationally renowned for their fine wines, and you will find all the noble cultivars and classic styles are on show here, from superb whites such as Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Semillon, and Chenin Blanc to the rich reds of Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Pinot Noir, and Merlot. At one of the wineries, the winemaking process from planting to bottling is explained, and a tour of the cellar is conducted; at the others, the activity is limited to wine tasting. The tour returns to the overnight accommodation during the late afternoon.
Distance Itinerary The stark contrast between vineyards and rigid mountains creates a perfect backdrop for a tour of Stellenbosch's historical town. The town is the oldest in South Africa after Cape Town and is undoubtedly the most scenic and historically preserved. Oak-lined streets next to water furrows complement the many fine examples of elegant Cape Dutch, Victorian, and Georgian architecture—all part of this unique "Town of Oaks."
Ideally situated in a mountain valley, the town boasts a mild Mediterranean climate. The Stellenbosch Wine Route is the oldest, largest, and probably the most visited of all the southwest Cape's wine routes. Many of the estates are old; their gabled, whitewashed Cape Dutch homesteads, rolling vineyards, and shade-dappled grounds are lovely beyond measure. We visit two of these fine estates, where the art of winemaking in South Africa is experienced first-hand. Various wines may be sampled, allowing you to find a wine that suits your palate.
Distance ItineraryAfter breakfast, the tour crosses the impressive Franschhoek Pass. It passes through South Africa's primary apple-producing region and over to Swellendam, located at the foot of the Langeberge Mountains. Unique architecture against a mountain scenery backdrop endows the town with a unique character.
Following the N2 highway in a northerly direction, we reach the town of Mossel Bay after traversing Heidelberg, Riversdale, and Albertinia. It is generally regarded as the southern entry point to the scenic Garden Route. The Portuguese explorer Bartholomew Diaz first set foot on shore here in 1488, and a stop at the museum named after him will be made. The museum is close to the Milkwood Tree and Fountain, which served as a post office and watering hole for seafarers in centuries past. There is a replica of the vessel in which Bartholomew Diaz used to sail to these shores, a gift from the Portuguese government to South Africa on the commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the voyage of Diaz. The overnight destination between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay is reached during the late afternoon.
Distance Itinerary The day is devoted to exploring the scenic beauty of the Garden Route, and the Featherbed Nature Reserve is first on the agenda. This unique 150-ha private nature reserve encompasses the entire western Head. It affords spectacular views across the lagoon and the ocean and the treacherous passage between the two Heads, which claimed many a ship during Knysna's days as an exporter of timber. Knysna is one of South Africa's heritage sites. It is home to two Garden Route icons, namely the Knysna turaco and blue duiker, one of Africa's smallest antelope species.
The afternoon brings the tour to Plettenberg Bay. Depending on the season, guests will enjoy the Discovery Cruise, which focuses on dolphin spotting (bottlenose dolphins and common dolphins), and visit the seal colony on the Robberg Peninsula. The Premium Cruise is offered in whale season (June to November) and is dedicated to responsibly encountering whales with minimal impact. Southern right whales are the most commonly encountered species, but humpback and Bryde's whales and orcas are occasionally encountered.
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FlightsAfter breakfast, the tour travels to Wilderness, where we devote time to briefly exploring one of the Garden Route's smallest and most picturesque hamlets. We also visit the Map of Africa, a unique geological feature resembling Africa cut into the countryside by the Kaaimans River, and marvel at the views of forested hills, a beach that stretches endlessly, and a landscape crisscrossed by rivers and dotted with lakes.
Then, it's on to the airport near George, where guests are assisted with checking in for a flight to Cape Town—a wonderful week's vacation will always be remembered.
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