7 Day Winelands & Whale Route Tour

Arrival / Winelands

Distance

84 km (52 mi)

Itinerary

8 am to 4 pm

Guests will be met at any location in Cape Town from where we visit Stellenbosch. The town was founded by Simon van der Stel in 1679. He ordered planting the oak trees, which now line the streets and gardens of the 'City of Oaks', the second-oldest European settlement in South Africa, home to one of the most prestigious universities in South Africa. In the early days of the Second Boer War, Stellenbosch was a British military base and was used as a 'remount' camp. The town lies at the foot of the Cape Fold mountain range, which provides soil favorable for viticulture. Grapes grown in this area are primarily used for wine production.

After exploring Stellenbosch, we visit two of the region's fine wine estates. Here, guests enjoy wine tasting and cellar tours and gain insight into the production of wine in South Africa under the guidance of knowledgeable staff who will highlight vineyard practices and the characteristics of each wine.

Winelands / Hermanus

Distance

102 km (63 mi)

Itinerary

8 am to 4 pm

After an enjoyable breakfast, the tour makes its way up the Franschhoek Pass, which has spectacular views of the Franschhoek Valley. It was initially known as the Olifantspad (elephant's path), used by migrating herds. The road then leads to Grabouw in the Elgin Valley, sandwiched between the Hottentots-Holland, Kogelberg, and Groenland mountains. The Elgin Valley is the heart of the South African deciduous fruit region, with apples, pears, and plums.

The countryside road rejoins the main highway before reaching the town of Hermanus. The town is internationally renowned as one of the world's top whale-watching destinations. Since August 1992, it has hosted the world's only 'Whale Crier,' who sounds his kelp horn to announce the arrival of whales in Walker Bay. During the afternoon, we visit the Hermanus Whale Museum, where various exhibitions focus on these fascinating mammals' behavior, biology, reproduction, communication, and migratory patterns. The difference between toothed and baleen whales is highlighted.

Hermanus / Arniston

Distance

170 km (106 mi)

Itinerary

8 am to 4 pm

We leave behind Hermanus as the road turns inland, with numerous sightings of South Africa's national bird, the blue crane, to be expected. These birds are endangered and are very special to the Xhosa - "Indwe" in the native tongue. When a man distinguished himself by deeds of valor, he would be decorated by the feathers of this bird as a mark of honor. We travel past Stanford and Napier towards Bredasdorp, a small town established around a Dutch Reformed Church in 1838.

The tour then travels on to Cape Agulhas, which, in its Portuguese form—"Cabo das Agulhas"—translates to "Cape of Needles." It is the geographic southern tip of the African continent. We will visit the lighthouse and museum before photographing the marker indicating Africa's southernmost point. Then, it's on to Arniston. The town was named after a shipwreck that occurred here in 1815. Only six of the three hundred and seventy-eight souls on board survived. It is a beautiful coastal town with a unique character. Whales are often spotted in the small bay overlooked by our hotel.

Departure

Distance

228 km (142 mi)

Itinerary

8 am to 3 pm

The tour returns to Cape Town via a scenic coastal route that traverses the towns of Betty's Bay and Rooi Els and ends in Gordon's Bay. En route, several stops will be made at vantage points from which the southern right whale can be spotted. Guests are assisted with check-in at the airport or dropped off at any location in Cape Town.