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Cape Town & Western Cape Escorted Tours
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CAPE TOWN WALK TO FREEDOM
This tour offers a wealth of insight into South African history. It includes a brief educational introduction to Cape Town, one of the world's most varied and popular cities.
| Full day tour: | 9 hours |
| Half day tour: | 4 hours - excludes Robben Island Ferry and Tour |
| Departure times: | 08h30 - 08h45 |
| Entrance fees included: | District Six Museum, Guided Township Walk and Robben Island |
| Meals included: | None |
| Points of tour: | The Bo Kaap, District Six, The Townships & Cape Flats, Robben Island |
| Full Day Tour Cost: | From £46.00 to £50.00 |
| Half Day Tour Cost: | From £26.00 to £30.00 |
Highlights:
The Bo Kaap
A look at the picturesque "Malay Quarter", a living cultural museum and home to the oldest mosque in the Southern Hemisphere. You will discover the unique culture, lifestyle and personality of the Cape Muslim community and their contribution to South Africa's development.
District Six
As a result of the Group Areas Act, 60 000 Capetonian families were forcibly removed from this once vibrant area between 1966 and 1982. The District Six issue remains crucial. You will examine the now desolate area, Zonnebloem, which was District Six and visit the living museum which attempts to represent and recapture District Six in various ways - as a fine spun tapestry of communal life torn apart but not forgotten.
The Township and Cape Flats
Seeking racial segregation, apartheid policies disrupted all non-white population groups, distorted both rural and urban development and ensured hopeless overcrowding. Few houses were built. Sprawling satellite camps of seemingly endless shanties - makeshift structures of various materials - provide little more than a roof and some shelter. As we shall see, squatter settlements are seeking their own solutions as an economic necessity. Against all odds, township life prevails, in all it nuances. As guests of the local community workers, you will take a walk through a vibrant black community with all its different social strata. Langa is Cape Town's oldest formal black township. You will have the opportunity to talk to people and try the traditional African sorghum beer and ginger beer at a small township shop ("spaza") or a tavern ("shebeen").
Robben Island
You will then head off to the V&A Waterfront which offers a great variety of foods, and take-aways may be bought on the ferry to Robben Island. The ferry departs at 14h00 from the Clock Tower Terminal, so you must make sure that you are at the ferry at 13h30. Robben Island, formerly a political prison and leper colony before that, this historic landmark was recently established as a museum and national monument. Experience the conditions of incarceration - view Nelson Mandela's maximum-security prison cell (Cell 5) and see the lime quarries. In the one, hard labour was served, in the other prisoners discussed strategy, freedom and the future. Later, many would develop eye problems as a result of the sun's reflection off the lime surfaces. This well-preserved landmark is a monument to the triumph of freedom, dignity and determination over humiliation and oppression.
On return to the V&A Waterfront you will be transferred back to your accommodation.
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CITY TOUR
| Full day tour: | n/a |
| Half day tour: | 4.5 hours |
| Departure times: | 08h30 - 08h45 / 13h00 - 13h30 |
| Entrance fees included: | Castle of Good Hope and SA Museum |
| Meals included: | None |
| Points of tour: | Table Mountain, The Company Gardens, South African Museum, Castle of Good Hope, Green Market Square, The Bo Kaap |
| Comments: | Should the Cable Car not be in operation an alternate visit to the spectacular Signal Hill will be included |
| Half Day Tour Cost: | From £25.00 to £30.00 |
Highlights:
Table Mountain
By the late 1870's, several of Cape Town's more prominent citizens had suggested the introduction of a railway line to the top of Table Mountain. Plans to implement a proposed rack railway got under way but the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer war put a halt to these efforts. By 1912, with a strong desire to gain easy access to the top of Table Mountain, the Cape Town City Council commissioned an engineer to investigate the various options for public transport to the top. The new cableway was officially opened on the 4th October 1997, the anniversary of the original launch, almost 70 years previously.
The Company Gardens
The Company Gardens have been described as 'an oasis of calm in the city rush', and with the trees, the squirrels and lunch-hour love birds it is easy to forget that you are in the middle of one of Africa's most important cities. Spots of interest include a sundial dating from 1787, a Saffren Pear Tree, (believed to be South Africa's oldest cultivated tree), a statue of Cecil John Rhodes, a rose garden and pools with brightly coloured fish. The South African National Gallery, the South African Museum and the Planetarium are situated within the grounds of the Company Gardens.
The South African Museum
This was founded in 1825. In 1897 the Museum moved to its present building in the historic Company Gardens. Since then millions of visitors have wandered its halls and corridors to be stimulated and inspired by its collections and exhibitions. The have left the Museum with a better understanding of the earth and its biological and cultural diversity, past and present.
Castle of Good Hope
Built between 1666 and 1679, the Castle is the oldest surviving building in South Africa. The Castle was, however, not the first fort to be built at the Cape. A quadrangular fort was built after the arrival of Jan van Riebeeck in 1652, where the Grand Parade and the main Post Office are situated today. In 1936 the Castle was declared a National Monument. The Castle of Good Hope houses the military personnel of the SA army in the Western Cape, the famous William Fehr Collection of historic artworks, the Castle Military Museum and ceremonial facilities for traditional Cape Regiments.
The Bo Kaap
A look at the picturesque "Malay Quarter", a living cultural museum and home to the oldest mosque in the Southern Hemisphere. You will discover the unique culture, lifestyle and personality of the Cape Muslim community and their contribution to South Africa's development.
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CAPE POINT & PENINSULA TOUR
| Full day tour: | 9 hours |
| Half day tour: | 4.5 hours (Excludes Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens) |
| Departure times: | 08h30 - 08h45 |
| Entrance fees included: | Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, Boulders Penguin Colony and Kirstenbosch botanical gardens |
| Meals included: | None |
| Points of tour: | Cape Point, Chapmans Peak, Good Hope Nature Reserve, Simons Town, Boulders Beach, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens |
| Full Day Tour Cost: | From £30.00 to £40.00 |
| Half Day Tour Cost: | From £27.00 to £30.00 |
Highlights:
This is an awe-inspiring tour to the towering headland known as Cape Point. Magnificent beaches, breathtaking views, historic and picturesque coastal villages are to be seen along the way. The Cape Peninsula is one of the world's most scenic areas and stretches from the City centre to Cape Point.
Tour commences at 08h30. You will travel along the Atlantic Seaboard via Sea Point, Clifton and Camps Bay, stopping at Llandudno look-out point before continuing to Hout Bay, a quaint village and fishing harbour with magnificent mountain views and beach. Optional: Seal Island boat trip (seasonal and not included in cost). On through Chapman's Peak, one of the world's most breathtaking coastal drives, to Cape Point and the Good Hope Nature Reserve, which has magnificent fynbos vegetation, bird life, endemic antelope species and zebra, historic lighthouses and shipwrecks. Cape Point is perceived to be the meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
After lunch at a nearby restaurant (not included in cost), we go on to historic Simon's Town, a village with charming Victorian architecture, a naval base and a large penguin colony at the beautiful Boulders Beach. The tour ends at about 17h30 after a visit to the well-known Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.
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CAPE WINELANDS TOUR - FULL DAY
| Duration: | 9 hours |
| Departure times: | 08h30 - 08h45 |
| Entrance fees included: | 1 Wine cellar tour and 2 wine tastings |
| Meals included: | None |
| Full Day Tour Cost: | From £37.00 to £40.00 |
Highlights:
This delightful drive winds its way to the heart of the Cape winelands, through superb mountain ranges, vineyards and Cape Dutch homesteads.
Head off to the wine-country via the N1 to one of the Capes's first farming districts - Paarl. The town is set at the foot of the cluster of remarkable granite domes from which it takes its name. The first stop of the morning is the picturesque Seidelberg Wine Estate. Established in 1692 under the name Den Leuwenjagt, Seidelberg offers one of the most spectacular settings in the Cape Winelands. An informative cellar tour and wine tasting gives visitors personalized insight into the finer points of wine-making.
Proceed to the town of Franschhoek, historically dating back to the 17th century when the French Huguenots arrived. Billed as the Gourmet Capital of South Africa, this charming town, in a most picturesque valley, retains a French Huguenot style. Franschhoek compliments the artistry of its chefs and wine makers with the breathtaking beauty of its setting. We enjoy the fabled culinary skills of the chefs at one of the many award winning restaurants.
Onward to Stellenbosch, via the scenic Helshoogte Pass, the heart of the South African wine industry, boasting great beauty and culture that is steeped in South African history. Walk down the canal-lined avenues, in the shade of giant oak trees and beautifully preserved historic buildings. Coffee shops, galleries, antique shops and wine bars spill onto the sidewalks. An air of quiet intellectualism and wine-making history abounds in this university town. With the sheer vastness of wine estate on offer, you are truly spoilt for choice when you enjoy your final wine tasting of the day in Stellenbosch.
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CAPE WINELANDS TOUR - HALF DAY
| Duration: | 4.5 hours |
| Departure times: | 08h30 - 08h45 (Morning Tours)
13h00 - 13h30 (Afternoon Tours) |
| Entrance fees included: | 1 Wine cellar tour and 1 wine tasting |
| Meals included: | None |
| Full Day Tour Cost: | From £27.00 to £30.00 |
Highlights:
This delightful drive winds its way to the heart of the Cape winelands, through superb mountain ranges, vineyards and Cape Dutch homesteads.
Head off to the wine-coutry via the N1 to one of the Capes's first farming districts - Paarl. The town is set at the foot of the cluster of remarkable granite domes from which it takes its name. The first stop of the morning is the picturesque Seidelberg Wine Estate. Established in 1692 under the name Den Leuwenjagt, Seidelberg offers one of the most spectacular settings in the Cape Winelands. An informative cellar tour and wine tasting gives visitors personalized insight into the finer points of wine-making.
Onward to Stellenbosch, via the scenic Helshoogte Pass, the heart of the South African wine Industry, boasting great beauty and culture that is steeped in South African history. Walk down the canal-lined avenues, in the shade of giant oak trees and beautifully preserved historic buildings. Coffee shops, galleries, antique shops and wine bars spill onto the sidewalks. An air of quiet intellectualism and wine-making history abounds in this university town. With the sheer vastness of wine estate on offer, you are truly spoilt for choice when you enjoy your final wine tasting of the day in Stellenbosch.
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CAPE HIGHLIGHTS TOUR
| Full day tour: | 9 hours |
| Departure times: | 08h30 - 08h45 |
| Entrance fees included: | Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, Boulders Penguin Colony and Cellar Tour and wine tasting |
| Meals included: | None |
| Points of tour: | Cape Point, Chapmans Peak, Good Hope Nature Reserve, Simons Town, Boulders Beach, Stellenbosch |
| Full Day Tour Cost: | From £45.00 to £50.00 |
Highlights:
This is an awe-inspiring tour to the towering headland known as Cape Point. Magnificent beaches, breathtaking views, historic and picturesque coastal villages are to be seen along the way. The Cape Peninsula is one of the world's most scenic areas and stretches from the City centre to Cape Point.
Tour commences at 08h30. You will travel along the Atlantic Seaboard via Sea Point, Clifton and Camps Bay, stopping at Llandudno look-out point before continuing to Hout Bay, a quaint village and fishing harbour with magnificent mountain views and beach. Optional: Seal Island boat trip (seasonal and not included in cost). On through Chapman's Peak, one of the world's most breathtaking coastal drives, to Cape Point and the Good Hope Nature Reserve, which has magnificent fynbos vegetation, bird life, endemic antelope species and zebra, historic lighthouses and shipwrecks. Cape Point is perceived to be the meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
We go on to historic Simon's Town, a village with charming Victorian architecture, a naval base and a large penguin colony at the beautiful Boulders Beach. Enjoy a light lunch at a nearby restaurant.
Onward to Stellenbosch, the heart of the South African wine Industry, boasting great beauty and culture that is steeped in South African history. Walk down the canal-lined avenues, in the shade of giant oak trees and beautifully preserved historic buildings. Coffee shops, galleries, antique shops and wine bars spill onto the sidewalks. An air of quiet intellectualism and wine-making history abounds in this university town. With the sheer vastness of wine estate on offer, you are truly spoilt for choice when you enjoy your final wine tasting of the day in Stellenbosch.
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CAPE RIVIERA & WHALES TOUR - FULL DAY
| Duration: | 9 hours |
| Departure times: | 08h30 - 08h45 |
| Entrance fees included: | Harbour Museum and Harold Porter Botanical garden |
| Meals included: | None |
| Full Day Tour Cost: | From £39.00 to £45.00 |
Highlights:
August to November is usually the best time to see the Southern Right Whale in our waters. Hermanus' Walker Bay is an ideal place for whale watching. These mammals, which often come as close to 50 meters from the shore, are given to displays of breaching, lobtailing, spyhopping and courtship rituals.
Depart Cape Town via Elgin, which is the heart of the apple industry, en route to Hermanus, stopping at the Old Harbour Museum. As long ago as 1857, the Old Harbour at Hermanus Pietersfontein provided a rocky but safe shelter for the small fishing boats whose owners were drawn to Hermanus by the abundance and variety of fish. The Old Harbour was proclaimed a 'Museum' in 1972.
Travel to the Hamilton Russell vineyards established by Time Hamilton Russell in 1981. He searched for and selected the most suitable "most southerly vineyards in the Cape" to produce South Africa's top cool climate wines. This was of course in the cool, maritime Walker Bay area, in the beautiful Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. The new generation proprietor, Anthony Hamilton Russell, says he is more interested in soils. The team comes closer each year to realizing the full quality potential of the Hamilton Russell Vineyards terrior.
Take a scenic drive to the town of Kleinmond, for a visit to the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens. This beautiful, secluded garden is set between mountain and sea, in the heart of the Cape Fynbos region and encompasses 10 hectares of cultivated fynbos garden and 190.5 hectares of pristine natural fynbos. Situated in the centre of the coastal fynbos where the flora is at its richest, the garden encompasses mountain slopes with their wind-clipped heathlands, deep gorges with relict forests, flats and marshes with restios, sedges and bulbs, as well as dunes adjacent to the beach with their specialized salt-adapted plants. The garden is renowned for its waterfalls and amber ponds.
The high twisting coastal road leading from Cape Hangklip to Gordon's Bay is one of the most spectacular anywhere, and with its new coat of tarmac is an absolute pleasure to ride. Not only does this route offer wondrous vistas out to sea, across sweeping bays and vertically down into transparent sapphire shallows, if offers a perfect setting for the entrance to the "Riviera of the Cape".
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Call Us: 01637 879 992
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