Western Cape gourmet tour of South Africa

country:

South Africa

location:

Western Cape, Cederberg Mountains

departures:

2010: 16 Oct

price:

From R 47,790 - R 50,100 (10 days) excluding flights. Price is based on two people sharing. Depends on departure date. Optional single supplement R 4,190 - R 5,200 . See below for full price inclusions

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introduction to Western Cape gourmet tour of South Africa

Savour a variety of flavours in breathtaking locations around the Cape on a journey among historic towns and sun drenched landscapes. Get a taste of its cosmopolitan essence and cultural diversity.

Take part in hands-on cooking sprees. Visit classic and contemporary wine estates along fifteen scenically distinct wine routes. Dine at award winning restaurants around a city where five currently feature in The World’s Top 100 Restaurants. Hear from acclaimed foodies, passionate wine makers and respected writers. Highlights in October are whales at play and spring flowers in bloom, and sun- warming days and star-filled nights in January.

We have a portfolio of guest lecturers with unsurpassed local knowledge who lead each tour, taking you to less-travelled spots, hidden gems and places you couldn’t get into yourself. You’ll hear multiple perspectives from these diverse storytellers, whose calibre is our distinguishing difference.

We use accredited guides as tour leaders who look after the practicalities and accompany you at all times. Itineraries are researched and crafted with enormous attention to pace and variety. Intentionally small groups allow for insider access, let you engage and enquire directly and understand content in context.

Price includes:
Hotel accommodation (4-star), all breakfasts, ten lunches and five dinners with wine, water, coffee, four wine tasting opportunities. All admissions, all gratuities, all porterage, the services of guest lecturers and tour leaders, all transportation from arrival to departure.

day-by-day itinerary

Day 1:	The iconic landmark. Ascend Table Mountain by cable car for a bird’s eye view of the striking natural beauty of the Cape Peninsula, looking down over Cape Town that is both cosmopolitan and African. The city is a vibrant mix of cultures whose multi-layered legacies have contributed to the Cape’s diversity and created its cuisine. Hear about how things began in 1652 - with The Tavern of the Seas being the reason for the Halfway House settlement. Overnight Cape Town for the first of four nights.
Day 2:	The legendary meeting place. Meander around a picturesque fishing village in False Bay with eclectic shops, lunching in a restaurant perched on the rocks overlooking the bustle of the harbour and the day’s catch being unloaded. Travel through the naval bastion of Simon’s Town to engage close up with a protected colony of African penguins. Continue south to the windswept tip of Cape Point - one of the most dramatic viewpoints anywhere on earth - overlooking the legendary meeting place of two oceans, before returning along Chapmans Peak, a spectacular drive where sheer cliffs plunge vertically into the Atlantic.
Day 3:	The cradle of fine wine. Peek into one of Nature’s jewels, hearing why it’s a hotspot of biodiversity while being guided around some medicinal and culinary plants in Kirstenbosch National Botanical garden. Then on to the Constantia valley, where you find out from a Cape Wine Master about the genesis of the industry and why this wine route is so famous, tasting wines and eating traditional South African dishes on an historic estate. The afternoon gets you into the kitchen, for an interactive cooking experience under the supervision of a legendary authority, where you prepare several Cape Malay specialities before sampling them on the tranquil Relais & Chateaux property.
Day 4:	The heart of the city. Stroll along a tree lined boulevard that runs the length of the Company Gardens, the surviving portion of the original vegetable garden started some 350 years ago. Explore the colourful Bo Kaap neighbourhood, home to the Muslim community, where spices tell the history of the community metaphorically. After lunching on authentic Malay dishes you have the option of visiting the District 6 living museum that reconstructs the memory of apartheid-enforced removals. Later try out some interactive drumming and look over a world famous collection of gold artefacts from ancient civilisations before a sumptuous pan African banquet.
Day 5:	The Helderberg. Explore one of the country’s 15 designated wine routes. First up is an olive oil tasting on a gracious and historic estate. Then spend a leisurely few hours at South Africa’s showcase wine estate where you can taste wines in a spectacularly situated hilltop winery that mirrors the octagonal walled garden, strolling around the manor house, interactive centre, library, enjoying a relaxed lunch overlooking expansive gardens before checking into your centrally located hotel in Stellenbosch for the first of two nights.
Day 6:	Stellenbosch & surrounds. Look over a number of modern wineries: On one, try out a ’wine and chocolate' tasting, on another, lunch at ‘the restaurant of the year 2007’. Contrast them with a classic winemaking farm started in the late 1600’s which has had only five winemakers in the last one hundred years. Dinner is an intuitive matching of flavours and textures, a food & wine pairing experience which takes you on a ‘journey of tastes’, at a famous manor house in the Paarl valley.
Day 7:	Franschhoek & surrounds. Independently take in some more sites before leaving Stellenbosch mid morning for a landmark estate, a wine tasting, manor house tour and light lunch under its oaks. Then in an original 1740 cellar, hear stories of a farm that reflect the entire history of South Africa, where 8 000 years of footprints are chronicled. On to Franschhoek for two nights, which is the acclaimed gourmet capital of the country. Amble around this pretty village which is friendly and safe, before a private dinner prepared by a celebrated local chef.
Day 8:	The gourmet capital. You could begin your morning tasting chocolate, with a demonstration by Belgian-trained local chocolatiers (optional) before a leisurely late morning visit to a rustic spot in the vineyards for a demonstration by a top charcutier who takes no short cuts and uses no chemicals. Lunch, in a rose covered restaurant set into the mountainside, follows a sabrage display conducted by the flamboyant winemaker. The rest of the day is open, with a mouth watering array of restaurants for your dinner choice.
Day 9:	The Overberg. Traverse dramatic mountain passes and wheat fields to reach the Hemel-en-Aarde valley, tasting wine and lunching here, before descending to the Whale Coast, sanctuary to the Southern Right whales in spring. Have sunset drinks in a cave in the rocks just above the sea, looking onto whales at play. A creative, contemporary, farewell dinner takes place in a restaurant perched on the cliffs, looking over Walker Bay, rated as one of the premier whale viewing spots by WWF. Overnight Hermanus.
Day 10:	The spectacular. Walk along the shoreline footpath on craggy cliff tops to see these gentle giants before meeting up with a maverick winemaker, stopping for a relaxed lunch in a barefoot-sort-of-place with sea one side, river the other. Winding back along a magnificent coastal drive that snakes along the flank of False Bay, with fynbos cladding the mountain slopes, rocky outcrops and sandy coves, you have the opportunity for frequent sightings of the Cape in its unrivalled setting, before being dropped off at the airport for your return flight.

Optional extension:

Day 11:	The West Coast. Travelling north from Cape Town brings you to a living celebration of past and present of South Africa’s ancient hunter-gatherer people, the San Bushmen, where you gain authentic insights into their culture, heritage and folklore. Spend the morning discovering their tracking skills, hunting methods, botanical knowledge as well as their craft skills while being taken around a nature reserve teeming with birdlife, game and indigenous plants by accredited San guides, and enjoying lunch here. A little further north lies the beautiful Langebaan lagoon and focal point of the West Coast National Park. A declared Ramsar site because of its ecological importance, it is a unique mix of carpets of flowers in spring, coastal fynbos, wetlands that constitute one of the world’s most important habitats for migratory wading birds, seabirds by the tens of thousands, thunderous waves rolling in from the icy Atlantic and crashing onto white sands. At an historic homestead cum environmental centre, trace the oldest known footprints of an anatomically modern human being, dubbed ‘Eve’, found on the edge of the turquoise water, fossilised in the sand some 117,000 years ago. Then meander past granite outcrops and scenic lookouts before spending the night in a former farmhouse perched on a bluff overlooking the lagoon. You can enjoy traditional west coast fare or a bountiful alfresco experience on the beach, where you breathe in the aroma of seafood on hot coals and the fresh sea breeze to the sound of seagulls and lapping waves (weather permitting). Overnight Langebaan.
Day 12-13:	Wilderness reserve. Continue northwards pausing for a taste of authentic boerekos and Afrikaans hospitality, before travelling through the majestic sandstone mountains of the Cederberg to arrive at a ruggedly different natural heritage area – wilderness reserve, and stylish, luxurious 5-star retreat - in time for afternoon tea followed by an evening game drive and sundowner drinks. Early morning guided rock art tours among some 130 rock art sites, and sunset game drives in open Land Rovers can bookend lazing in the river’s many rock pools, hiking in the rugged foothills, botanical walks and stargazing. Spend two nights in this malaria and predator free Eden, which was the Relais & Chateaux Environment trophy winner in 2007.
Day 14:	The foothills. After an early morning game drive or guided walk (your choice) and hearty late morning brunch, head south - the journey to Cape Town taking under four hours. Subject to your flight, drive directly to the airport, or head for the hills and vineyards around Durbanville some thirty kilometres outside the city, for a final taste of coastal wines before making your return connection.

small group cultural tours

Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as experiencing new cultures.

how this holiday makes a difference

Our belief is that each step we take matters, and that door opening journeys are about travelling with a curious mind, an open heart, and light steps. Our aim is to share South Africa’s cultural richness, diversity and natural beauty in such a way as to beneficiate all involved.

Environment
We uphold the philosophy of giving back, making a voluntary donation to Food and Trees for Africa, calculated on the carbon footprint accumulated by each visitor's journey to, from and within South Africa.

We are linked to Friends of Conservation for alternative ways to participate in projects that either extract CO2 from the atmosphere, reduce harmful emissions, or protect wildlife and bring benefit to communities.

We endorse the South Africa Sustainability Seafood Initiative (SASSI), abiding by their approved seafood guidelines when making selections on clients’ behalf.

We support The Biodiversity and Wine Initiative, which applies diversity guidelines to the wine industry by choosing its members when selecting wine estates to showcase. We believe in leaving only our footprints and provide all visitors with Golden rules which in the natural environment include not picking flowers or removing any items, feeding the animals, littering, or deviating from paths – and in the built environment not wasting water, being ostentatious with possessions, handing out randomly or behaving respectfully among other cultures.

We undertake to lighten our impact wherever possible, such as using the internet as our primary communication medium, limiting the size of groups, consciously selecting low impact options, biodegradable materials, recycling paper, and implementing turn it off policies with equipment. To mitigate the impact of the long haul travel, we offer several add-on options to our fixed tours.

Community
We are a member of the Open Africa network of Afrikatourism, a collaborative movement linking the splendours of Africa in a network of tourism routes from Cape to Cairo, with the aim of creating jobs in synergy with conservation, under the patronage of Nelson Mandela.

We support Fair Trade in Tourism in South Africa (FTTSA) which is based on fair share, democracy, respect, reliability, transparency and sustainability, and its members wherever possible.

We seek out initiatives such as !Khwa ttu San Cultural and Educational Centre that highlights issues facing minority cultures, Solms Delta museum for its oral history focus, Grootbos private nature reserve for its dedication to the Cape Floral Kingdom and eco tourism benchmarking, and Bushmans Kloof wilderness retreat for highlighting San culture.

We support only local initiatives: family run hotels chosen for their warmth of welcome and charm, and owner managed restaurants that offer seasonal produce and regional wines. We select preferred service providers that are local and owner managed, such as for our transport and in our links we seek similarly-minded associates who share our vision such as Mogalakwena Artist’s Retreat.

Believing in the principles of abundance and co-operation, we offer our web based hub for the beneficiation of all involved with us, while supporting others who subscribe to our principles.

We provide our clients with a comprehensive pre trip information briefing and we select useful additional nuggets to inform free time choices.

Operationally, we subscribe to an ethical code of conduct. We practise fair trade policies. We passionately advocate raising the tourism industry bar and take responsibility for the upliftment and awareness this challenge requires.

Economically the tourism industry is the biggest generator of jobs in the Western Cape, and unemployment is the biggest threat to social stability in the land.

Taking the opportunity to showcase what is unique to the Cape, telling our stories informatively - and having them 'witnessed' - substantiates our sense of self, our pride of place and our purpose of being.

Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people.

We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel.

'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left).

We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays.

We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism.

This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards.

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Cultural Africa holidays here| South Africa holidays here