6 Days South Africa - Cape Town - Whales And Wines Tour

Where the edge of the world meets the sea – that's where you find Cape Town, South Africa’s oldest and second-largest city, filled with endless highlights! From Robben Island and the Castle of Good Hope for history buffs, to Table Mountain and Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden for nature lovers. Boulders Beach with its clumsy penguin colony and Hout Bay with its lazy seals melt your heart, and for cultural highlights, you'd best head to the colourful Bo-Kaap for a free walking tour. Afterwards, the V&A Waterfront is your place to be: not just for food and wine, but also for a shopping spree and a tour on the Cape Wheel... or even a sunset cruise with an invigorating glass of champagne!

Activities:

Visit Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden
Kirstenbosch is a UNESCO-listed botanical garden on the slopes of Table Mountain, showcasing South Africa’s unique flora like proteas (the national flower!), strelitzias and fynbos. Don’t miss the Boomslang (meaning tree snake) Canopy Walkway; this 12-metre-high walkway takes you from the forest floor into the trees, providing spectacular panoramic vistas. You can also visit the art garden and go for a short, sign-posted hike! And if you get hungry, there are three on-site restaurants to choose from. Free guided garden tours are available on weekdays at 10 AM, 11 AM, and 2 PM (weather permitting).

Champagne Sunset Cruise in the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront
After an exciting day in Cape Town, it’s time to hop on a boat, watch the sun sink into the ocean and raise your glass of champagne to the Mother City's skyline. For about 1 hour, you marvel at Table Mountain and Lion’s Head covered in an extraordinary light and witness the city turn into a sea of lights. Please note that departure times change daily, meaning you can book your ticket in advance, but have to check the exact departure time on the day of your cruise. Before departure or upon return, explore the V&A Waterfront as it's THE place for shopping and fine dining. Get here early (or stay late!), spoil your taste buds and shop for exclusive gifts!

Accommodations:
Silver - City Lodge Hotel - VA Waterfront
Gold - Cape Heritage Hotel
Platinum - The Bay Hotel

The 122-kilometre-long drive along the South African coast to the coastal town of Hermanus takes around two hours and holds breathtaking views. Road trip? This is it! And once arrived, there's plenty to see and discover. Boredom? Definitely not here!

Activities:

Hermanus
Start your day in Hermanus with a wine-tasting plus lunch at Benguela Cove (from 10 AM to noon, to be booked at least 48 hours in advance), then stroll through town, visit the Whale House Museum, the Old Harbour and the Old Harbour Market with arts, clothing, jewellery and lots of restaurants and bars with yummy cuisine and marvellous ocean views. And of course, don't forget the highlight, which is the whale cruise or (land-based) walk that you can do from June to December, when Hermanus turns into the whale-watching capital of the world. From January to May, you can hike through the Fernkloof Reserve instead, and see magical forests and dramatic coastlines!

Nature walk with wine tasting at Benguela Cove
At an altitude as low as three metres, the Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate produces wines of the highest class on a 2.7 kilometre-long ocean-facing vineyard. Here you can join a Nature Walk and Wine Tasting Experience, available from Wednesdays to Sundays at 10 AM (and we need to book at least 2 days in advance!). During this two-hour guided walk, you discover the biodiversity of the 200-hectare estate. After the tour, you enjoy a wine tasting inside one of the tasteful rooms (pun intended) and a delicious lunch at the restaurant. And should you prefer not to walk, The Ultimate Benguela Cove Wine Experience (wine and lunch only!) is made for you.

Accommodations:
Silver - Whale Coast Ocean Villa
Gold - Grand Lux Boutique Manor
Platinum - The Marine Hermanus

You can drive from Hermanus to Franschhoek directly after breakfast, or start your day with an early morning bird excursion on the Klein River that will (re)ignite your love for birds. Via the jaw-dropping Theewaterskloof Dam, you first reach Betty’s Bay after 50 minutes, where you can watch the penguin colony at Stony Point Nature Reserve. After another 1 hour and 20 minutes, you reach Franschhoek, a lovely 17th-century city with lots of wine and food (and you are there in time for lunch)!

Activities:

Franschhoek
Franschhoek, with its rich French heritage, is known as the gastronomic capital of South Africa. Visit Rupert & Rothschild to sample some exquisite champagnes, and if classic cars make your heart beat faster, you can visit the beautiful car museum for an additional fee before having lunch. Then enjoy some window shopping as you stroll down Hugenot Street, alternating between admiring the beautiful architecture and browsing fancy boutiques. End your day with a first-class dinner, preceded by a wine tasting at La Motte, Grande Provence or one of the other iconic wineries. Don't drive on straight away the next morning, but take part in the historical walking tour and learn more about Franschhoek's fascinating history.

Historical walking tour through Franschhoek
Surrounded by rolling mountains and sprawling vineyards, Franschhoek unites culture, history, and charm like no other. This easy walking tour of 1.5 to 2 hours takes you through the quaint streets which have made Franschhoek famous since the 17th century. Discover bookshops, restaurants and chocolatiers, old monuments and architecture, and learn about Franschhoek's daily life during the Apartheid times. Also, your guide will tell you all about the first residents, the wine industry and the wildlife that once occupied the valley. And remember this is thé culinary hotspot of the country, so you'll find all the best places for lunch and dinner after your walk!

L'Ormarins MCC champagne tasting and Franschhoek Motor Museum
The L’Ormarins Cap Classique Range is the crème de la crème of champagnes, and in the Anthonij Rupert Tasting Room, you can taste these within the elegant atmosphere of the olden days. This experience is possible from Tuesday to Saturday from 10 AM to 4.30 PM (last seating at 4 PM), but should be booked in advance. Combine your champagne tasting with a journey into automotive history (at an extra cost), since the Franschhoek Motor Museum is here as well. It's home to over 220 vintage and classic cars from Anthonij Rupert’s private collection, spread across four exhibition halls - the perfect add-on to your visit!

Accommodations:
Silver - The Lab Franschhoek
Gold - Rickety Bridge Manor House
Platinum - Le Petit Manoir

Since this is the last day of your Western Cape itinerary, you might want to make the most of things before driving back to Cape Town. So head south to Stellenbosch via the Helshoogte Pass. Stellenbosch to Cape Town is another 52 kilometres, a 45-minute drive. In Cape Town, you can (and should!) pamper yourself on this last day with a first-class dinner, and start reminiscing about the wonderful days you have had in the Western Cape... And who knows? Maybe it's the end of your first but only the beginning of your second itinerary?!

Activities:

Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch, or the Village of the Oaks, is a beautiful historical town lined with oaks and full of vineyards, which, unfortunately, is also regarded as the birthplace of Apartheid. Founded in 1679, it is South Africa's oldest settlement after Cape Town and during a Historical Walk, you can learn all about its fascinating and troubled history. On the bright side, the place is perfect for delicious lunches in one of the world-renowned historical wine estates like Lanzerac or Delaire Graff – where you taste the wines (of course!) and go to culinary Seventh Heaven surrounded by beautiful vineyards.

Historical tour of Stellenbosch on foot
Stellenbosch, the “village of the oaks” welcomes you with shady oak avenues, the picturesque Mill Stream and charming Cape Dutch architecture. Find out more about the inhabitants of three centuries, the three fires which destroyed the village and what has changed in all this time (and what hasn’t). Can you really meet angels at the Angel Factory and ghosts in the graveyard of the Moederkerk? And why is the town regarded as the birthplace of Apartheid? This historical walk will tell you. It leaves from the Stellenbosch Wine Route Office in Church Street at 9 AM, 11 AM and 3 PM (be there on time!) every day.

Accommodations:
Silver - City Lodge Hotel - VA Waterfront
Gold - Cape Heritage Hotel
Platinum - The Bay Hotel

All good things come to an end. This is your last day, and it's time to catch your flight home from Cape Town International Airport. Sad to leave…? Not to worry! You can also hop on a domestic flight to Johannesburg or Pretoria and add a few days to your holiday. How about meeting the Big Five (or Seven!) during a safari? Or relaxing at a picturesque beach? Let us know your wishes, and we will gladly organise a holiday extension to help you explore the other parts of South Africa.