Arrival in Cape Town
On arrival in Cape Town, you’ll collect your hire car and make the 40-minute journey – straightforward thanks to the fact they drive on the left here, too – to your accommodation for the next three nights. With the hotel perfectly located at the foot of iconic Table Mountain, you could follow the trail from the gardens into the National Park for a post-flight leg stretch complete with ocean views and exotic indigenous plants. Or you could take advantage of the hotel shuttle to spend your afternoon exploring the V&A Waterfront with its cafés and shops, rounding it off with an optional sunset cruise on a vintage sailboat. Overnight at The Twelve Apostles.
Things to do:
Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa: views from mountain to sea, sunrise to sunset
Mount Nelson: lose yourself in an oasis in the lee of Table Mountain
Take a gourmet heli-flight from The Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa
Discover Cape Town’s history through food
Cape Town
Cape Town’s vibrant mix of cultures, a legacy of its position on what was once a major trade route, has left its mark on everything from its buildings to its culinary scene. Spend your first full day exploring this laidback coastal city however you choose, whether that means diving into microbreweries and foodie markets, checking out the local galleries and museums, or learning some recent history on a boat trip to the infamous Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was a prisoner. End the day, perhaps, with superb seafood – fine dining-style or fresh from the braai – in one of your hotel’s highly rated restaurants. Overnight at The Twelve Apostles.
Things to do:
Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa: views from mountain to sea, sunrise to sunset
Explore the Cape Peninsula by sidecar
My Cape Town: explore with a local
Cape Town
After breakfast, al fresco overlooking the sea, you have another day to discover more of Cape Town’s natural and manmade delights. With your own set of wheels, you could go in search of the perfect beach for swimming, surfing or African penguin-spotting, explore the rugged scenery of the Cape Peninsula or head to one of the city’s oldest and classiest suburbs, Constantia, for your first winery visit. Keen photographers will also find plenty to capture closer to home, from the pastel-painted houses of Bo-Kaap on the slopes of Signal Hill to the panoramic vistas from the top of Table Mountain, reached by a five-minute cable-car ride. Overnight at The Twelve Apostles.
Things to do:
Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa: views from mountain to sea, sunrise to sunset
Cycle through the Constantia Winelands
My Cape Peninsula: coastal views and penguin encounters
Cape Town & Franschhoek
Today you’ll leave Cape Town and head inland to Franschhoek, a drive of just over 1-hour. This historic town is the gourmet capital of South Africa and offers centuries-old vineyards and fine examples of Cape Dutch architecture. You can get an overview of the landscape from the trails of Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve and of the history at the Huguenot Memorial Museum, but the main act is definitely the superb culinary scene. Indulge your senses with multi-course tasting menus complete with wine pairings at a highly regarded local restaurant – there’s no shortage to choose from – or dine à la carte if you’d prefer. Overnight at Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa.
Things to do:
Mont Rochelle: the Winelands’ most romantic spot
A wine flight through Mont Rochelle’s vineyards
Farming with purpose at Boschendal
Franschhoek
Make the most of your second day in Franschhoek with some leisurely exploration. The French Protestant refugees who arrived here in the late 17th century brought the secrets of viticulture with them, and many of the farms they established are now celebrated wineries that welcome visitors. Whichever you choose to stop at, you’ll have an experience to remember, with tastings and cellar tours complemented by all manner of other attractions, from shady gardens to an artistic pig. If you’re planning to stop at several wine estates and would rather not drive, there are alternatives to a taxi, such as a relaxed guided bike tour or a vintage-style double-decker tram that will take you to several different estates. Overnight at Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa.
Things to do:
By vintage-style tram through Franschhoek’s Wine Valley
Sipping and cycling through the Cape Winelands
Franschhoek & Robertson
It’s time to take to the road again for a relaxed 90-minute journey to your next destination, Robertson, pausing at manmade lakes and natural beauty spots along the way. This quaint little country town on South Africa’s famous wine route, Route 62, may often be overshadowed by more headline-grabbing Cape Winelands, but it’s no less appealing for being a little under the radar. Just before arriving in town, it’s well worth visiting the Graham Beck vineyard, home to some of South Africa’s best-known sparkling wines. Robertson is a place for strolling - along the banks of the Breede River and down streets lined with ornate Victorian houses and purple-flowered jacaranda trees - before returning to your hotel for delectable farm-to-fork cuisine. Overnight at The Robertson Small Hotel.
Things to do:
Stay at The Robertson Small Hotel, a historic Victorian manor
Robertson & Oudsthoorn
After a farm-fresh breakfast, set off on the longest drive of your trip so far: 3.5-hours eastward along Route 62 to Oudtshoorn. This charming rural town in the Klein Karoo grew rich on the profits of ostrich farming in the 19th century, and it’s still known as ‘the ostrich capital of the world’. You can encounter the giant birds at several local farms that offer tours, or you may prefer to drop in at a boutique olive estate for a tasting with a difference. With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, a refreshing dip at a beautiful local waterfall or in the hotel pool is almost certain to be on the cards. Overnight at Rosenhof Country House.
Things to do:
Oudtshoorn: the small town with big appeal
The magic of the night sky in Oudtshoorn
Oudsthoorn
Today, you’ll be glad to have your own car to take you into the heart of Oudtshoorn’s super-scenic surroundings, where extraordinary landscapes are home to some fascinating plant and animal life. If you’ve begun the day with a sunrise ‘meet the meerkats’ encounter, you could follow that with anything from a memorable road trip into the UNESCO-listed Swartberg Mountains to a journey underground into a vast complex of limestone caves formed more than 20 million years ago. For the energetic, there are also several nature reserves complete with well-signposted hiking trails where you can work off the effects of some of those gourmet meals. Overnight at Rosenhof Country House.
Things to do:
Waking up with the meerkats in Oudtshoorn
The awe-inspiring landscapes of the Swartberg Mountains
Oudsthoorn & Plettenberg Bay
Swap the semi-arid Klein Karoo for the sea as you make your way to Plettenberg Bay this morning. It takes about 2.5-hours by the most direct road, but once you hit the coast you’ll find plenty of reasons to stop and linger, from scenic viewpoints to roadside craft shops. Break for lunch in Knysna, where you can feast on superb local oysters overlooking a lagoon framed by mountains, or even enjoy an optional oyster cruise. Another 30-minutes driving brings you to the holiday playground of Plettenberg Bay – ‘Plett’ to the locals – with its sweeping golden Blue Flag beaches and laidback vibe, your base for the next three nights. Overnight at Laird’s Lodge.
Things to do:
Lairds Lodge: a Cape Dutch homestead offering a heart-felt welcome
The Plettenberg: the ultimate South African seaside escape
The Knysna oyster cruise
Plettenberg Bay
Your first full day in Plettenberg Bay is the perfect occasion to explore the area’s natural beauties and get a spot of gentle exercise at the same time. You could enjoy a pre-breakfast dip in the Indian Ocean if that’s your thing, take to the water in a host of different ways, from whale and dolphin-spotting trips to kayaking adventures, or walk the scenic trails of Robberg Nature Reserve, a World Heritage Site and a National Monument in one. After that, you’ll no doubt be keen to check out the excellent local food scene, where anywhere from casual beachfront seafood grills and rustic cafes to fine-dining country restaurants are guaranteed to provide a meal to savour. Overnight at Laird’s Lodge.
Things to do:
Lairds Lodge: a Cape Dutch homestead offering a heart-felt welcome
Clifftops, wildlife and beaches: the Robberg Nature Reserve hike
Spot dolphins on an eco-marine tour of Plettenberg Bay
Plettenberg Bay
There’s more to Plettenberg Bay than its beaches, wildlife and landscapes. Plett is also the smallest – and one of the newest – of South Africa’s Wine of Origin regions, and discovering some of the 18 wine farms on and around the highway between Harkerville and the Crags is a fabulous way to spend a day. Thanks to the cooler climate, the grapes that thrive here are different from the ones you’ll find further west: think Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Semillon. Visit selected farms and estates to taste excellent sparkling wines made using the traditional Champagne method, eat lunch in a vineyard or even have a tour by horse-drawn carriage. Alternatively, follow paths used by migrating elephants on an optional guided tour through the majestic Tsitsikamma Forest, a 35-minute drive east of Plett. Overnight at Laird’s Lodge.
Things to do:
Lairds Lodge: a Cape Dutch homestead offering a heart-felt welcome
The Tsitsikamma woodcutter journey
Plettenberg Bay & Eastern Cape Game Reserve
Leaving Plettenberg Bay behind this morning, you’ll make the 3.5-hour drive to Shamwari Private Game Reserve for a three-night safari adventure. You should have time for a late brunch and a cool-down in the pool overlooking the waterhole before high tea, the prelude to your first late-afternoon game drive. Thanks to 25 years of diligent conservation work, Shamwari has a thriving population of everything from big cats to elephants and hippos, not to mention a wealth of spectacular birdlife. That means you’re all but certain to have lots to discuss over dinner, whether that’s indoors or under the stars. Overnight at Long Lee Manor.
Things to do:
Views and Edwardian elegance at Shamwari’s Long Lee Manor
Game drives and bush walks at Shamwari Private Game Reserve
Look for wildlife from your private plunge pool at Shamwari’s Sindile Safari Lodge
Exploring Shamwari’s walking trails
Eastern Cape Game Reserve
Brace yourself for an early start, made easier by a wake-up call and freshly brewed coffee. Your first of two game drives in the company of a skilled local ranger will give you an insight into the morning routines of many of the reserve’s wild inhabitants and is a perfect way to begin the day. After a hearty breakfast, you’ll pay a call to the Born Free Big Cat Sanctuary and Education Centre, where you’ll hear about some of the animals that they’ve rescued from captivity, and which remain in their care, and their goals for the future. After lunch, you could laze by the pool or treat yourself to a spa treatment before heading out for your second game drive of the day as the air cools and the sun dips in the sky. Overnight at Long Lee Manor.
Things to do:
Views and Edwardian elegance at Shamwari’s Long Lee Manor
Visit the Born Free Big Cat Sanctuaries at Shamwari Private Game Reserve
Eastern Cape Game Reserve
You’ll have more opportunities to spot everything from lions, leopards and cheetahs to secretary birds on today’s early-morning and late-afternoon forays into the reserve’s five biomes, as well as learning about habitats, tracking and the history of the area from your expert ranger. In between, you’ll drop in at Shamwari’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, where injured and orphaned animals are cared for until they can be returned to the wild; it’s a fascinating insight into the challenges that they face in this modern world. All too soon, it will be time for a final delicious evening meal and a chance to trade not-to-be-forgotten wildlife encounters with your fellow guests. Overnight at Long Lee Manor.
Things to do:
Views and Edwardian elegance at Shamwari’s Long Lee Manor
Meet the team at Shamwari's Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre
Eastern Cape Game Reserve & Departure
After breakfast, make the one-hour drive to Port Elizabeth International Airport where you’ll return your hire car before flying to either Cape Town or Johannesburg for your return flight to the UK or onward travel.
