11 Days Cape Town to Johannesburg.
Highlights Include: Cape Malay Cooking Class, Award winning restaurants, Cape Town, Wine Tasting, Robben Island, Winelands Tour, Swellendam, Oudtshoorn, and Knysna.
Specially customized for private small groups of 6 to 16 guests.
Tastes of South Africa – Cape Town & Garden Route
DAY 1 ARRIVE CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA: Welcome to South Africa! On arrival into Cape Town International Airport you will clear immigration formalities and collect your luggage. Outside the arrival hall you will be met by your tour manager and shortly afterwards will be transferred to your hotel in the Mother City, situated in the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront Precinct, your home for a 5-night stay. Unpack and freshen up for the interesting day ahead. In the afternoon, enjoy a walking tour of the Bo Kaap area, immerse yourself in the Cape Malay culture and participate in making dinner with Faldela Tolker – host of “Cooking with Love,” a Cape Malay cooking class. Fall in-love with the flavors and aromas that trademark the authentic Cape Malay dining experience. Afterwards, return to your hotel. (D)
DAY 2 CAPE TOWN: Enjoy breakfast in your hotel. Ascend Table Mountain, one of the official New 7 Wonders of Nature, an iconic representation of Cape Town. Thereafter, embark on a city tour including the SA Museum, District Six, and the Castle of Cape Town. Enjoy lunch within the historical and somewhat magical Company’s Gardens. Take a mid-afternoon stroll before returning to your hotel for an evening at leisure. (B/L)
DAY 3 ROBBEN ISLAND & CONSTANTIA WINE: After breakfast your guide will escort you on a full-day Robben Island and Constantia Wine Tasting Tour with lunch. Board the Robben Island Ferry and enjoy breath-taking views of Cape Town, the V&A Waterfront, and much more. Sail to an island filled with history. Once you reach Robben Island, enjoy a guided tour including the prison cell that held Nelson Mandela captive for many years. Some time at leisure to explore the V&A Waterfront before heading off to lunch (included). Absorb the beauty of the Constantia Valley, nestled beneath Table Mountain National Park. The oldest wine-making region in the southern hemisphere. Lunch includes bistro-style fare and tapas. It’s a charming farm, Steenberg, and it houses an exceptional winery. A Wine Tasting is included. Overnight in Cape Town. (B/L)
DAY 4 WINELANDS: Today, absorb the beauty of South Africa’s wine industry. Enjoy a wine tasting in Stellenbosch with its canal-lined avenues, giant oak trees and beautifully preserved historic buildings. For chocolates and more chocolates, visit a local Chocolatier!
Enjoy a final wine tasting and a cellar tour followed by dinner. Chefs Warehouse at Maison will be your host, situated in the picturesque foodie town of Franschhoek, over the Helshoogte Pass. The town dates back to the 17th century. Return to your hotel for overnight. (B/D)
DAY 5 CAPE TOWN AT LEISURE: Enjoy breakfast followed by a full day at leisure. We can arrange optional excursions such as a Cape Peninsula Tour including a visit to a local penguin colony, Shark Cage Diving, Hermanus and Whale Tours, Safari Day Tours, Zip-lining, quad bikes and outdoor activities, and Hot Air Ballooning.
This evening, enjoy dinner in Africa Café – armed with creative flair and abundant passion – one of the first African-styled restaurants established in South Africa. Dishes includes, Traditional Vetkoek (Magwinya), Kenyan Channa Fish, Malawi Mbatata Sim-Sim Balls, and Mozambican Chicken Wings. (B/D)
DAY 6 CAPE TOWN TO SWELLENDAM: Today we travel overland to Swellendam for a 1-night experience that you’ll not soon forget. Swellendam is part of a scenic cluster of Towns, stretching from the Klein Karoo, Langeberg Mountains and Wine Routes, to the Ocean at Koppie Alleen. Each has their own unique character, crafts and history to share.
Field & Fork will host lunch – a culinary vision of bringing locally sourced quality produce from the fields to your table. The Chef and owner has a great passion for food with a dash of French flair. Located in Swellendam’s heritage area and forms part of the Drostdy Museum. Steeped in history and oozing character, this restaurant brings you modern style bistro food with panache.
Travel a short distance to a boutique wine cellar, Olivedale Wines. They strive for excellence as they are the only wine farm in Swellendam. Your wine tasting will not be a typical tour – this wine experience will be offered by one of the winemakers himself – Carl van Wijck. He will entertain you with his tails from starting out in this industry and what it took to create an award-winning vineyard, while tasting their special boutique wines. Dinner at leisure this evening. (B/L)
DAY 7 OUDTSHOORN: We travel further into the Klein Karoo as we reach Oudtshoorn today. Enjoy a fun-filled, interactive ostrich farm experience. Take a ride on the only Ostrich Tractor Safari in South Africa to view the Kenyan (Massai) ostrich, Zimbabwean Blue, and South African ostriches. Go into the chick rearing compartment and view chicks in various stages of development. End the afternoon with a world-renowned Ostrich Steak and farm fresh veggies, a truly wholesome experience. Overnight in Oudtshoorn. (B/L)
DAY 8 OUDTSHOORN TO KNYSNA: Before departing Oudtshoorn, we visit the Cango Caves. Situated in a limestone ridge parallel to the well-known Swartberg Mountains, you will find the finest drip-stone caverns, with their vast halls and towering formations. Lunch is hosted at The Turbine Hotel, a unique environment for all meals. It overlooks the canal, pool deck and nestled between the original refurbished turbines. Warm open fireplaces and majestic sliding glass doors accentuate the ambiance of The Island café. It has won the prestigious 2012 Diners Club Platinum Award for its wine list. The remainder of the afternoon and dinner at leisure in Knysna. (B/L)
DAY 9 KNYSNA: Spend the morning at leisure exploring the Knysna Waterfront. In the afternoon, enjoy a special delicacy….. OYSTERS. The coastal town of Knysna is known for its delicious oysters – brace yourself for the ultimate oyster experience on the spectacular Knysna Lagoon. Learn all there is to know about one of the world’s most loved delicacy, taste the difference between wild and cultivated oysters, all whilst cruising the lagoon to the Heads and surrounds. Ask questions, take photos, excite your taste buds – all on board our “Oyster Boat” with a small group of guests. The cruise includes complimentary local white wine and oysters for tasting. Overnight in Knysna. (B/L)
DAY 10 KNYSNA TO JOHANNESBURG: Morning transfer to George airport for your flight to Johannesburg. On arrival, you will be collected for a full-day Apartheid and Soweto Tour with lunch. From Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital to the humble little house in Orlando West where Nelson Mandela was raised, experience a slice of authentic history relating to the world’s most famous former prisoner. Visit the Hector Pieterson Memorial, built in remembrance of the people who died on June 16, 1976. After a stop for lunch at a multi-award winning restaurant based in Dobsonville Soweto, we proceed to the Apartheid Museum for a glimpse of the rise and fall of apartheid in South Africa. Continue on to your hotel where your evening is free. (B/L)
DAY 11 JOHANNESBURG / USA: After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight to the USA. (B)
Optional Safari Extension:
Click on the Safari Extension tab above for complete details on our optional Safari Extension.
Customize to Suit
The above suggested itinerary can be customized to suit; more or less meals, different cities and/or sightseeing based on your clients’ interests. You name it, our expert group specialist professionals will put it together for you. Please call 1-800-818-8455, or simply complete the group request form, and we’ll get back to you with your proposal.
Optional Safari Extension:
Whether you choose the world-renowned Kruger National Park, Sabi Sands Game Reserve known for leopard sightings or the expansive vistas and scenic landscape of the Eastern Cape, South Africa is the most exciting Big 5 safari destination of our time.
Steeped in legend and history, the iconic Game Reserves located within our borders, invite you to explore its spectacular African wildlife.
End your Food, Wine and Cultural journey with a once-in-a-lifetime South African safari. Exceptional game viewing and equally exceptional accommodation, expect to spot elephants, lion, rhino, cheetah, giraffe, zebra, and a vast variety of antelope as well as other species that can be closely observed in their natural environment.
DAY 1 ARRIVE AT SAFARI LODGE: Transfer to your lodge. Check in, unpack and unwind. In the afternoon, you will gather in the lodge foyer for a standard safety briefing before departing on your first game drive. An adventure that entails viewing wildlife in their natural habitat in the comfort and safety of a safari vehicle. Return to the lodge before dinner, an aromatic fusion of food inspired by Africa’s rich cultural heritage and sourced as locally and sustainably as possible. Each night will be a different dining experience, including bush meals, seated restaurant meals, boma dinners, and also romantic private dinners set up in your suite. The most popular of all is a ‘braai’ – this is a South African term for barbecue, where meat is cooked outside on an open fire or grid. Braais are typically social affairs where everyone is invited to spend time around the fire talking, drinking and savoring the food as it comes hot off the fire. (D)
DAYS 2 & 3: GAME DRIVES: Awaken to the sounds of the bush. Enjoy a hot chocolate before departing on your morning game drive.
Morning and afternoon game drives explained i.e: sunrise and sunset. Doing a game drive over these times gives one a better chance of seeing a range of both nocturnal and daytime animals.
In summer it gets so hot during the day that going on a drive in the middle of the day is not ideal as the animals are usually lying in the shade. Going out early means the animals will still be active including your nighttime predators which will start settling down for the day. In the afternoons it would be the other way round as the daytime animals will be settling down for the night.
Return to the lodge after your morning game drive to enjoy a hearty breakfast/brunch. The rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy the facilities of the lodge, main areas, take a nap, spa treatment, or a bush walk. Lunch is included. In the mid-afternoon, enjoy your afternoon game drive followed by dinner in one of the breathtaking locations. (B/L/D)
DAY 4: DEPART: After breakfast, check out and transfer to the Airport. (B)
Inclusions
- 11 nights 4- or 5-Star hotels.
- Breakfast daily, except day of arrival
- 7 lunches
- 3, three-course Dinners
- Professional Tour Manager throughout
- Private, luxury, air-conditioned transport for transfers and local sightseeing as outlined in the itinerary
- Sightseeing, special features and scenic highlights as indicated in the itinerary, including admission charges
- Porterage at all airports and hotels
- Portfolio of travel documents
- 24-hour local customer service while traveling in South Africa
Please note: Travel Insurance is compulsory
Private Departures
Please Call 1-800-818-8455 for Group Rates on this Custom Group Journey
This suggested itinerary can be customized to suit; more or less meals, different cities and/or sightseeing based on your clients’ interests. You name it, our expert group specialist professionals will put it together for you. Please call 1-800-818-8455, or simply complete the group request form, and we’ll get back to you with your proposal.
Group Discounts
On custom journeys, discounts vary depending on group requirements. Typically, travel with a group of 20 and the 21st traveler receives a 100% discount* off the land portion of the vacation price. A second traveler receives a 100% discount* off the land on a group of 40 paying passengers.
*Per person prices are land only and based on two people sharing a room. Above dates represent “land start” date. Air: Please note that airfares are not included in the prices above. Journeys Connect can quote you the lowest possible GROUP airfare available on the day that you book. Minimum of 10 seats from same gateway. Less than 10 air seats will require full payment at time of booking. Single Room Supplement: On Request. Triple Room Reduction: On Request. Group discounts cannot be combined with our Triple Room discounts. Not valid on Specialty, Customized Vacations or River Cruises, optional extensions, extra nights, airfares, taxes and fees, flight supplements, or airport transfers. Other restrictions may apply. All passengers’ names must be advised before the discount is applied. *Group discount is on a twin-share basis only.
Contact Journeys Connect
Journeys Connect group and specialty services are available exclusively on a Business-to-Business basis, to travel industry professionals. If you are an individual interested in a Group Journey for 6 or more passengers, please do browse our collection and then contact your preferred Travel Agent and ask them to book through Journeys Connect.
Travel professionals, please call and speak with one of our Group Specialty Professionals:
1-800-818-8455