CAPE TOWN and GARDEN ROUTE TOURS AND SAFARIS

CAPE TOWN TOURS

Cape Town is situated on the Cape Peninsula beneath the majestic Table Mountain. There are many day tours radiating from the City some of which I have listed below. A trip by Aerial Cable Car to the summit of Table Mountain can be included in either the City Tour or The Cape Peninsula Tour. Never leave it to the last as weather conditions on the top change dramatically.



CITY TOUR

Either a half day or full day tour will give you a wonderful experience of the most beautiful City in the world which this year celebrates it's 350th Anniversary. Originally inhabited by Khoi Khoi and San peoples and established as a refreshment station in 1652 for the Dutch fleets travelling to the spice islands of the east, the city is an entrancing place of history, scenic beauty, a melting pot of African, Asian and European cultures with a cuisine to suit. Combine a tour of the City with a Table Mountain Aerial Cable Car trip or visit Robben Island by ferry and you will appreciate why Cape Town is the hottest travel destination.

CAPE PENINSULA
This full day trip takes you along both sides of the Peninsula visiting Sea Point, Camps Bay, Hout Bay, Groot Constantia, Simonstown, the fasinating African Penguin colony at the Boulders, Cape Point, the Cape of Good Hope and other interesting locations. There are fishing villages, beautiful bays, historical sites, cliff hanging passes and baboons desperate for your can of Coke! This is a not to be missed tour!

WINE LANDS

In 1658 Jan Van Riebeeck, the first commander of the Dutch East India Company's settlement at the Cape praised the Lord on the production of his first wine. Today South Africa is a major producer of a wide variety of wines most of which are produced in the South Western Cape. A day tour from Cape Town will take you to the wine routes of Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. Set in magnificent valleys amidst towering mountains lie the exquisite estates founded by the French Huguenots in the 17th century, You will visit some of these for a cellar tour and wine tastings with lunch in a restuarant overlooking the Franschhoek valley followed by a visit to delightful old estate 'Muratie' where the cobwebs on the windows of the cellar have remained since I first visited there 30 years ago!

WHALES

Every year from June to about November, the Southern Right Whales which were close to extinction, return to our shores to mate, give birth and care for their calves. The coastline of the Cape Peninsula, False Bay and Walker Bay provide some of the worlds best whale viewing. A day tour to Hermanus along the coastline will provide you with excellent oportunities to view these huge mammals of the sea at very close range. Optional boat trips to view them very, very close up are also available but are subject to weather conditions. Don't miss this wonderful phenomena of the Cape.

WEST COAST / FLOWERS

The Cape Floral Kingdom in it's small area has more plant species than the whole of the British Isles and our Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens has been proclaimed the 'Worlds Nursery'. Every Spring our west coast and Namaqualand is carpeted in a riot of colour, a spectacle which attracts thousands of visitors. If you are here at this time of the year don't miss a day tour to the area.

COUNTRY RAMBLE After visiting all the sights close to the City why not consider a trip to the countryside passing through the wheatfields of the Swartland stopping to walk in delightful villages such as Riebeeck Kasteel and Tulbagh. Eat at an old 'Taphuis' which I guess is the equivelant of a drinking house or pub and experience some of our country cuisine. If you can't pronounce the names of our delicacies I might for a small fee order your meal for you! The scenery will overwhelm you and you will wonder why your travel agent didn't offer this to you.

KNYSNA LAGOON-GARDEN ROUTE

The Garden Route is an area starting around Stilbaai in the west and Tsitsikamma in the east along the south eastern coast of South Africa. It is an area of magnificent beauty - of blue mountains, lakes, rivers running through deep gorges, lush indigenous forests, endless beaches and lagoons. Superb accommodation abounds and for the adventurous traveller there is all the excitement needed to get the adrenalin flowing. The worlds highest Bungi jump, tree top tours suspended 30 metres up in the forest canopy, eco cruises in the Stormsriver Gorge, black water tubing (yes black!), dolphin and whale watching, hiking, abseiling and a host of other activities. For the more sedate traveller there are relaxing boat cruises, walks through the forests, relaxing on the banks of a lagoon or river or indulging in a feast of Knysna Oysters. Then there is the Klein Karoo which is my preferred route to the Garden Route. We first travel Route 62 through the worlds longest wine route entering the semi-desert Klein Karoo with it's captivating starkness, the most amazing mountain passes and of course Oudtshoorn, the home of the Ostrich farms with their original 'Feather Palaces', the Cango Caves and a crocodile and cheetah centre. No this cannot be done as a day trip from Cape Town as I am so often requested. Allow at least 4 days.

Elephants in the Addo Elephant National Park

Do not expect to experience a game safari close to Cape Town. For this you will have to travel through amazing countryside to the Eastern Cape in the vicinity of Addo. Here I will show you Elephant, Rhino, Lion, Buffalo, Giraffe, Zebra, Springbok, Eland and lots more as well as little creatures on the ground such as the Dung Beatle and Meerkatte. The Flora is unusual and you will be entranced by the beauty and variety of the trees and plants. Some of the places we could visit are the Addo Elephant National Park, Schotia Game Reserve, Gorah Game Reserve and the reknowned Shamwari Game Reserve. All this in a MALARIA FREE area. Please do not even consider this marvelous trip in under 5 days. We pass through the Garden Route to get to the reserves so it would be a good idea to allow some time here as well. My Safaris are very personal so I can arrange to accommodate all your wishes. If you want to lose yourself in a forest for a few days let me know.