On the southern tip of Africa sits an almost impossibly picturesque city at the foot of a great flat mountain. The thriving waters of the Atlantic Ocean wash onto its stunning beaches, as pristine today as when the first Europeans set foot on them hundreds of years ago. Little did those early explorers realize this spot would become the birthplace of a country and many of its peoples and cultures. It’s no wonder Cape Town is affectionately known by its inhabitants as the Mother City. A coming-together of cultures, cuisines and landscapes, there’s nowhere quite like Cape Town, a singularly beautiful city crowned by the magnificent Table Mountain National Park.

Your flight arrives in Cape Town today, and this will be a day to relax and acclimate before exploring the city and surroundings the next day.

Today you will be collected by our guide in order to visit historic locations such as the Castle of Good Hope, the Slave Lodge (Iziko Museum) which together give a quick history of Cape Town and the Dutch mercantile empire of the 17th and 18th centuries.

You will make your way to the Table Mountain National Park and go up to the top of Table Mountain. There is a cableway to the top with a revolving cable car going to the top of the almost 4000 feet high “table”. There are magnificent views of the city, the bay, and surrounding countryside. The vegetation is all from the Cape Floral Kingdom one of the 5 unique plant kingdoms in the world and the smallest. However, it must be remembered this ascent is weather dependent and we will see some alternative locations, like the Kirstenbosch Gardens; one of the world’s most beautiful botanical gardens set on the slopes of the mountain, if the mountain is wearing its “tablecloth” of cloud or if there are high winds the cableway closes. In this case, this activity will be pushed on to one of your other days in Cape Town.

Your tour guide will collect you from your hotel in the morning for this tour which exposes you to the stunning views of sea and mountains for which the Cape of Good Hope is world-renowned. The Cape of Good Hope the furthest point south on the peninsula.

We enter Cape Point Nature Reserve which is one of our national parks with many species of antelope and many other animals. Cape Point is the meeting place of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. We catch the funicular railway to get up to the lighthouse with expansive views of both oceans.

We drive over Chapmans Peak, one of the world’s most beautiful stretches of coastline, visit the picturesque fishing harbour of Hout Bay at its foot. We’ll also drive through Simonstown; a picturesque naval port where the South African navy is docked, and you will visit Boulders Beach with its famous African Penguins before returning to Cape Town for the evening at your leisure.

The V&A Waterfront is one of Africa’s most visited destinations with more than 24 million visitors annually. Situated in the oldest working harbour in South Africa, with the iconic Table Mountain as its backdrop, makes the V&A Waterfront is a favourite for local and international visitors. More than 80 eateries bring a fusion of both international and local cuisine, from rustic al fresco to fine dining. You are spoiled for choice with 12 hotels, over 500 retail stores, five museums and live entertainment 365 days a year showcasing the best local music. Immerse in a wide variety of attractions and activities like sunset cruises, helicopter flights, free audio tours, or visit the award winning Two Oceans Aquarium and much more.  Along with 22 heritage sites and tourism landmarks, the V&A Waterfront is also home to Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA) – the historic Grain Silo which is home to the world’s largest collection of contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora.

Our driver will drop you off at the V&A Waterfront this morning and collect you later in the day.

You will be collected this morning and start the day off with a master sommelier tasting. Here you get an in-depth education about the wines in the region.

Accompanied by a cheese & wine pairing, olive oil & cured meats. Start the morning off with a guided drive through historic Stellenbosch and onto our first farm for a cellar tour and wine & chocolate pairing. Our 2nd farm is a boutique wine estate for intimate cheese & wine pairing with the wine maker when she is around Over the stunning Stellenbosch mountains, we head to the cuisine capital of SA, Franschhoek. Here we learn how the French Huguenots settled in this valley and influenced South Africa’s wine history. This, only to be followed by a tasting at an award-winning estate and a beautiful lunch. In Franschhoek you will have the chance to walk off your lunch, strolling down the main road. For our last stop we visit a farm situated on the foot of the mountains for yet another world class wine tasting. Filled up and merry, we head back to Cape Town to be back at home at about 5 PM.

We visit 4 different wine estates in both regions (famous farms and some hidden gems only known to locals).

• Pair a variety of locally produced world-class cheeses.
• Cellar and vineyard tour, teaching us how wine is made, how to taste wine, food and wine pairing, what bottle to order at restaurants…
• A beautiful light lunch is served in the middle of the wine lands overlooking the Franschhoek valley.
• A diverse range of wine styles.
• Local treats of cured meats paired with selected wines.
• Artisanal chocolate (Fair trade accredited) paired with different wines.
• Stroll down the beautiful main road of Franschhoek.

The city centre is the pulse of the Mother City, providing the lifeblood of the surrounding areas. It is a melting pot of diversity and culture, a smorgasbord of historical influences and a place like no other on earth. If you really want to get underneath the skin of Cape Town, you need to start in the city.

From coffee shops and markets, to trendy lunch-spots and sophisticated nightclubs, the city is where it all happens. Bree Street is a lively hub of restaurants and bars, while Long Street continues to be a popular strip, combining clubs, bars and quirky shops selling everything from books to antiques.

The CBD is where it all happens. A combination of work and play, it is where everything comes together. Today is your day to explore more of the city on your own and grab a few gifts for those back home perhaps.

Cape Town has a beautiful setting: parts of the city and its suburbs wind about the steep slopes of Table Mountain (3,563 feet [1,086 meters] high) and neighbouring peaks and rim the shores of Table Bay; other parts lie on the flats below the slopes or stretch southward across the flats to False Bay. The city covers an area of 116 square miles (300 square kilometers).

Today we have reached the end of our program and you will be transferred to the Cape Town International Airport for your departure back home.