OVERVIEW

Stroll the meandering paths of Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden and enjoy a tasting of premier South African wines at an estate within the Constantia wine route. The garden nestles against the slopes of Cape Town’s Table Mountain and the setting couldn’t be more beautiful. Only plants indigenous to South Africa grow there and the thousands of species are grouped by common characteristics. Medicinal plants are clustered together, another sub-garden is devoted to plants from the Western Cape and shade-loving plants are featured in the Dell. You will then follow the Southern Hemisphere’s oldest wine route into the suburb of Constantia for a sampling of its characteristic wines. Wineries thrive in the surrounding fertile valley, and you will discover much about their histories while savoring reds and whites that best represent the terroir. Afterwards, you will see a different side of the gorgeous countryside by traveling through Hout Bay and Camps Bay.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Stroll through Kirstenbosch, a botanical garden entirely devoted to indigenous plants.
• Admire the gorgeous countryside along the oldest wine route in the Southern Hemisphere.
• Sample an inspiring selection of wines at an acclaimed winery in Constantia.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Experience the beauty of Cape Town during this scenic trip up Table Mountain, the city's most celebrated landmark.

Depart the pier for the drive up Kloof Nek, the saddle between Table Mountain and Lion's Head, en route to the Lower Cableway Station. Upon arrival, you will board a Swiss-engineered Rotair cable car, and ascend from the 1,190-foot Valley Station to the 3,477-foot Mountain Station. The journey from the base to the summit takes just under four minutes, and offers spectacular views as the floor of the car rotates 360 degrees during the ascent and descent.

Table Mountain gets its name from the flat-topped central massif of the mountain. When viewed from the city, it is surrounded by Devil's Peak on the left, Lion's Head on the right and Signal Hill in the foreground. They form a sort of amphitheater that encloses the city center, and some older suburbs. Other suburbs are situated on either side of the chain of mountains, which run like a spine through the Cape Peninsula from Table Mountain to Cape Point; the cape from which Cape Town is named.

From the summit, the natural protected area stretching from Signal Hill to Cape Point has been managed under the custodianship of the National Parks Board. This area is home to one of the highest concentrations of endemic plant and animal species in any area of its size; its impressive 2,285 plant species are greater in quantity than those of the entire U.K. combined.

Following your visit to Table Mountain, you will re-board your coach for a brief orientation tour of Cape Town before being returned to the airport.

Explore many of the most emblematic attractions in Cape Town, including the oldest garden in South Africa, before heading for the airport. The past is best represented at the Castle of Good Hope, a star-shaped fort that the Dutch built in the mid-1600s. History buffs will find the castle’s military museum and the Willian Fehr Collection particularly revealing. The latter includes a treasure-trove of period furnishings that reflect the 17th-century lifestyles of the affluent. Cape Town’s architectural history will come to light as you drive down Adderley Street, a main thoroughfare lined with landmarks such as the Standard Bank Building and St. George’s Anglican Cathedral. The Company’s Garden blends architecture and natural beauty, as it is a botanical garden that is also home to revered buildings that include the South African National Gallery and the city planetarium. The harborside Foreshore district is intriguing as it is a cultural area that sits on land reclaimed from the sea.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Browse two museums housed in a star-shaped castle that the Dutch built in the mid-1660s. • Behold the architectural splendor of Cape Town by driving down vibrant Adderley Street. • Stroll the Company’s Garden, a downtown botanical garden full of architectural treasures. • See how land reclaimed from the sea was used to build a now-thriving cultural district.

Explore the fascinating sites of southwest Africa during this full-day orientation tour along the Cape Peninsula to Cape Point.

Experience the scenic beauty and flavors of South Africa during this full-day tour of its splendid wine-producing region.

Depart the pier for the drive on the N1 National Road en route to Paarl, known as the Pearl of the Berg River Valley. This romantic town is built on both sides of a 6.2-mile-long main street shaded by oak trees and jacarandas. Upon arrival, you will visit the Paarl Monument and unique Taal Monument, erected in honor of the Afrikaans language. You will then continue on to a wine estate for a guided cellar tour, and an opportunity to taste some of the local wines.

Next, you will drive to the village of Franschhoek. Its rich culture, historical heritage and viniculture traditions date back to 1688, when some 200 French Huguenots were apportioned land in the district. Time permitting, a brief visit will be made to the Huguenot Monument. Situated at the foot of the Franschhoek Pass, this monument commemorates the arrival of the Huguenots in South Africa, and the adjoining Huguenot Memorial Museum focuses on the genealogy of the Huguenot families.

Leaving Franschhoek, you will proceed for a gourmet picnic or buffet lunch under the beautiful oak trees of a leading wine estate before continuing on to Stellenbosch, a university town and the second-oldest town in South Africa after Cape Town. Stellenbosch has become known as the Town of Oaks; some of the oaks here have been proclaimed national monuments. Stellenbosch is also famous for the typical Cape Dutch-style architecture seen on Dorp Street, the main thoroughfare lined with houses, cottages and shops.

Your tour will conclude with an orientation tour of Stellenbosch before the return drive to the airport.