Itinerary
Breakfast at the hotel.
Depart for half day city tour and Table Mountain
Description of the tour
Learn about the history of South Africa’s oldest city and admire panoramic views over Cape Town from the top of Table Mountain on an eye-opening 4-hour tour.
Highlights
– Enjoy the bird’s eye view of Cape Town from the top of Table Mountain
– Admire the grandeur of Cape Town’s City Hall
– Visit Malay Quarter in the foothills of the mountain
0800 hrs, Start with a scenic drive through the city centre past famous landmarks such as the Castle of Good Hope built in 1666 by the Dutch East India Company, the imposing Renaissance-style Edwardian City Hall, constructed from honey limestone a baroque building, and South Africa’s largest public space and former military parade ground the Grand Parade.
Continue along the city’s main road, Adderley Street, where you we will see St. George’s Cathedral, the Anglican Diocese of Nobel Peace Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Pass Company Gardens and the Malay Quarter (also known as the Bo-Kaap) which means “Above Cape” due to it being up against the slopes of Table Mountain. In the early 18th century, a multitude of slaves from Java, Ceylon and other Far Eastern regions were brought to Cape Town. After slavery was eliminated, their descendants, known as the Cape Malay’s, settled here.
Our route then leads us via Kloof Nek to the magnificent and famous Table Mountain where you will ascend to the top (weather permitting) by the revolving cable car. Here, you can see wild flowers and the famous silver tree, and marvel at the bird’s eye view of the city and its beaches. On a clear day it is even possible to see from this vantage point Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned on one side of the mountain and Cape Point on the other. Conclude this amazing day by descending the mountain from the Upper Cableway station and gazing at the fascinating landscapes.
Requirements
Cable car fee not included
Rest of the afternoon and overnight at your hotel.
Description of the tour
Discover the highlights of Cape Point and the Cape Winelands as you journey to the edge of Africa and explore the heart of the mountains on a scenic full day tour.
Highlights
– Visit Cape Point Nature Reserve, home to an abundance of wildlife
– Gaze over the majestic coastline and feel the ocean breeze
– Sample a selection of fantastic wines at a local winery
Admire spectacular craggy mountain peaks as they contrast with endless ocean vistas and lush green valley´s renown throughout the world. No matter where you travel in the Cape you will come across unforgettable landscapes, countless activities and historical and modern sites.
0800 hrs, Begins the tour with a scenic drive along the Atlantic coast, passing through the cosmopolitan suburb of Sea Point and Camps Bay with its glorious views of the Twelve Apostles, which are part of the Table Mountain range. From here, travel to the Cape Point Nature Reserve, comprising over 17 300 acres of indigenous fauna and flora. Here you will have the opportunity to see a variety of wildlife that includes baboons, rhebok, Cape Mountain zebra, bontebok and the elusive eland. The reserve is also one of the world’s largest breeding grounds for tortoises and for avid bird-watchers, you will find many interesting species to observe.
The majestic coastline offers drama worthy of being called “Nature’s Greatest Show”. You will see the union of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans (as per legend), and may even feel the brisk wind that is dubbed the “Cape Doctor” for its presumed curative powers. Following the coastline along False Bay, continue to the Stellenbosch Winelands, an architectural jewel with a gracious blend of 18-century Cape Dutch, Georgian and Victorian buildings. Before returning to Cape Town where the tour comes to an end, enjoy a wine tasting session at a local winery in the Stellenbosch area.
Back to your hotel in the evening.
Overnight at your hotel on bed and breakfast basis.
• Franschhoek Wine Tram Experience
• Walk To Freedom & Robben Island Full Day Tour
Optional tour 01. Walk To Freedom & Robben Island Full Day Tour
This tour offers a wealth of insight into South African history. It includes a brief educational introduction to Cape Town, one of the world’s most varied and popular cities.
The day commences with a look at the picturesque “Bo-Kaap” – an historic area that became home to many Muslims and freed slaves after the abolition of slavery and is a living cultural museum and home to the oldest mosque in the Southern Hemisphere. We discover the unique culture, lifestyle and personality of the Cape Muslim community and their contribution to South Africa’s development.
Here we shall walk through the area and stop at the Bo-Kaap Museum which was established in 1978 as a satellite of the SA Cultural History Museum. It was furnished as a house that depicts the lifestyle of a nineteenth-century Muslim family and the local Islamic culture and heritage.
From here we head east into the central business district of the city precinct and stop at the Slave Lodge. Under the umbrella theme, ‘From human wrongs to human rights, exhibitions on the lower level of this museum explore the long history of slavery in South Africa. Through the changing, temporary exhibitions the museum address issues around and raise awareness of human rights.
During the latter part of the morning we examine the area of Zonnebloem, which was District Six and visit the living museum. The District Six Museum, established in December 1994, works with the memories of the District Six experience and with that of forced removals more generally. With the struggle for the land now taking a different form (of the more banal yet intricate logistics, legalities and bureaucratic mechanisms of RETURN which are no longer pitted against apartheid) the museum is now bound to support the process of ‘reinventing’ District Six for the present.
Around 12h30 your tour will arrive at the Nelson Mandela Gateway & Museum, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. Check in for your ferry trip across the bay to Robben Island for a guided tour of the island as well as a tour of the prison by an ex in-mate.
Point of interest: 1. Bo-Kaap MuseumPoint of interest: 2. ZonnebloemPoint of interest: 3. District Six Museum (Corner Buitenkant)Point of interest: 4. Nelson Mandela Gateway & MuseumPoint of interest: 5. V&A WaterfrontPoint of interest: 6. Robben Island
Included
Admission to Bo-Kaap Musuem, Slave Lodge and District Six Museum from Monday to Saturday; admission to District Six Museum on Sunday.
Optional Tour 02. Franschhoek Wine Tram Experience
Discover the true essence of the Franschhoek Valley – picturesque vineyards, breathtaking scenery, warm hospitality, fine wines and cuisine, and a 300-year-old history. Experience a unique and leisurely journey through rolling vineyards in an open-side tram and open-air tram-bus stopping in at some of South Africa’s oldest and most distinguished wine estates. Explore the available activities, such as wine tasting or a stroll through the vineyards.
Franschhoek is home to a variety of cellars, from small boutique wineries to large cellars. Enjoy award-winning wines, such as plump reds, elegant whites and delicious sparkling wines, with the perfect accompaniment of excellent food in Franschhoek’s restaurants – Franschhoek is, after all, the Wine & Gourmet Capital of South Africa!
Your story-telling guide will take you on a tour through Franschhoek village, sharing with you the fascinating history of the French Huguenots. He’ll also impart with you his knowledge of wine cultivation in the valley, amidst unparalleled views of the valley and vineyards. When the Huguenots first settled in the Franschhoek Valley more than 300 years ago, they brought with them their knowledge and traditions of winemaking and viticulture from their home country of France, transforming their Franschhoek surroundings into one of the most beautiful valleys around. This proud heritage is today still evident in the village and farms.
Back to your hotel in the evening.
Overnight at your hotel on bed and breakfast basis.