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Cape Town And The Wine Lands
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A Breathtaking scenery, abundant wildlife, wonderful walking and delicious wine-tasting |
Ref: EX-DWS
10 days
from £1459 (minimum 6 passengers)
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Destination:
South Africa
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Breathtaking scenery, abundant wildlife, wonderful walking and delicious wine-tasting
If South Africa is “a world within one country”, the Western Cape is a “world within one province”. Widely recognised as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Cape Town and the surrounding countryside provide just about as much diversity as is possible within such a small area. In addition to Table Mountain and the world-famous wine estates of Stellenbosch, the wild coastline and rugged interior provide classic scenery, history and unique flora. The trip includes some unusual wildlife encounters in the form of penguins, plains game, an abundance of birds and whales (in season). From Cape Town and Stellenbosch, the two oldest 'European' settlements in Southern Africa, we explore on foot and by minibus the lush wine estates, Du Toit Mountains, superb beaches and some of the finest National Parks, while in the evenings there is plenty of time to relax and enjoy a good meal on the Cape Town waterfront or in some of the great wine estates.
Extend your stay:
Extra accommodation at La Splendida Hotel: single from £47, double/twin from £70.
Extend your Holiday:
it is possible to link this holiday with trip KwaZulu Natal: DWK in the following way on the following departure dates.
Further Information
Special equipment required:
walking boots, sunhat, sun cream, waterproofs/windbreaker, water bottle and day pack.
Extra Expenses:
most days you will need a picnic lunch, and should allow about £5 per day (your guide will help you purchasing suitable items). Table Mountain Cableway costs £4 one way, and £7 return. Dinners can cost on average £5 - 12 per person, and you may spend a few pounds in the vineyards. Allow £20 - 30 for tipping. Mountain bike hire on day 9 costs approx £5 - 10.
Meals Included:
all breakfasts and 2 evening meals.
Transport:
we use a comfortable airconditioned minibus.
Children:
children under 16 can not join the group departure.
Joining locally:
the local joining point is the Hotel Splendida in Cape Town. A taxi from the airport will cost approximately £15.
Group & Staff:
Min. 6, max. 14, plus leader.
Accommodation:
La Splendida in Cape Town is a 3/4 star Art Deco style hotel with a very popular restaurant, views over the sea, and located on the beachfront promenade diagonally opposite the historic Mouille Point lighthouse. This was an easy choice for accommodation as La Splendida is also conveniently placed between Sea Point and the fashionable V and A Waterfront. Devon Valley Hotel is our second port of call, situated 6km outside Stellenbosch. This beautiful, cedarwood-clad hotel is set on a working wine farm amongst ancient trees and landscaped gardens, with magnificent views of Stellenbosch and the Helderberg. All rooms are en-suite. The Cat and Moose Whisky Pub offers the best selection of single malts in Africa while the Vine Leaf Restaurant serves innovative country cooking using farm-grown ingredients and features an award-winning wine list. The hotel has two swimming pools and a boules court.
Food:
The food is great, but the wine is really the highlight here. We have opportunities to try sample wines from Hamilton Russell Wine Farm (featured on the Queen’s wine list) and Bouchard Finalyson (Gold Medal 2000 International Wine challenge in London), amongst others. Our hotel in Stellenbosch specializes in country cooking, is also set on a vineyard and has a “Whisky Pub”. Steak and ostrich meat are both very good, and there is some fantastic seafood in Cape Town. There are plenty of options for vegetarians too.
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Day 1 | Depart London Heathrow on the flight to Cape Town. On arrival transfer to the Hotel Splendida. Land-only clients should meet at the hotel. | Day 2 | Short city orientation tour before an unforgettable 2-hour hike up Lions Head for sunset. | Day 3 | Walk through Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens then head for the top of Table Mountain, one of the finest day walks in the world. Follow the famous Skeleton Gorge and emerge onto the “Back Table”, the heath-like top of the mountain (4–5 hours). Return to city by cable car. If you do not wish to walk you can go up on the cable car. | Day 4 | Visit the penguin colony at Boulders Bay before reaching the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. Hike the shipwreck trail (3 hours), exploring wrecks and wild coastline before visiting Cape Point lighthouse. After lunch we walk to the Cape itself (1 hour). | Day 5 | lk from 16 Mile Beach to the beautiful lagoon near Langebaan. This National Park is famous for fossils, fauna and flora (August to October there are spectacular displays of wild flowers). To Cape Town for a sunset stroll on Bloubergstrand Beach. | Day 6 | Leave Cape Town and spend the day at the wine estates of Vergelegen, Lanzerac and Hamilton Russell (or Bouchard Finlayson). We base ourselves for the 4 nights near historic Stellenbosch, (NB August to early November we alter the itinerary to go whale watching at Hermanus Bay) | Day 7 | Short walk in Paarl Rock Reserve then head to the Franschhoek Valley, reminiscent of Provence in France. Walk from the Franschhoek Mountain Pass through the Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve (3-4 hours). To relax we enjoy a wine-tasting session on one of the smallest wine estates in the country - Dieu Donne. | Day 8 | One of the finest areas of the Cape is the 2000m mountains of Du Toit, renowned for trout fishing and beautiful rambles amongst protea-covered slopes. We have a choice of 4-6 hour walks depending on the season. We may see Baboon, Klipspringer, Black Eagle and even the spoor of the elusive leopards. Back to Stellenbosch via the famous narrow Bains Kloof Mountain pass. | Day 9 | Free morning to enjoy some last-minute shopping, a self guided walk in Jonkershoek Valley to Neil Ellis wine farm, or hire a mountain bike for a ride in the forest reserve. Afternoon transfer to Cape Town for our international flight. Those with land-only arrangements will leave us this afternoon in Cape Town. | Day 10 | Arrive London. |
Departures Between | Price from | 22 Oct 04**
05 Nov 04**
19 Nov 04 | *£1459 | 17 Dec 04 | *£1625 | 24 Dec 04 | *£1655 | | *Prices subject to confirmation |
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FLIGHT INCLUSIVE PRICE
Local payment 1100 Rand (approx. £100)
Single room supplement £150
Insurance £77
**Whale-watching season
***Land-only 9 days Fri to Sat
This holiday is operated by Exodus Travels Ltd. ATOL 2582.
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Cape Town And The Wine Lands
A Breathtaking scenery, abundant wildlife, wonderful walking and delicious wine-tasting
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