Cape Town and the Winelands: Urban Rhythm and Peaceful Countryside

Today you will head into Cape Town with a private guide and spend the day like a local. Explore the city with someone who knows it inside and out so you can seek out all the hidden gems on offer. Nothing is pre-planned so talk about what you'd like to see, and a route will start to materialise – that's planning done the South African way. It's an exciting way to tap into the city's rhythms and to experience it from the inside, not just as a passing tourist. This is also a great opportunity to pick up some first-hand tips for the rest of your trip. You will also collect your hire car today.

The hotel is located in the historic centre, allowing you to easily pay a visit to Bo-Kaap, Cape Town's Malay neighbourhood, to see the brightly coloured houses, as well as nearby De Waterkant which was part of the same area before the 1950 Group Areas Act. Today, this whole area represents the city's new urban values. Another flourishing neighbourhood is Woodstock. Pay a visit to the Old Biscuit Mill and its Neighbourhoods Market, the creative hub at The Foundry or the Woodstock Brewery, which is stealing a march on the craft beer scene. Below Lion's Head lies the suburb of Gardens, which originally served as a vegetable garden for the Dutch East India Company, while Company's Garden is as a beautiful reminder of the area's utilitarian roots. You'll also find designer studios and stores, galleries, boutiques and chic restaurants in this part of the city. The Gardens Shul, the oldest synagogue in South Africa, is also in this district as well as the Iziko South African National Gallery, featuring collections that reveal an entirely unknown side of modern art.

Today you can summit Table Mountain in its infamous cable car. Your cable car ticket is valid for seven days, so you can choose when to visit this legendary mesa (table topped mountain). Those in the know get there early in the morning to avoid the crowds, while the crowds themselves are still eating breakfast. Even before reaching the summit, you get great views of the city and the bay, and the cable car pods even rotate during the climb. Once you reach the top, the views are breath-taking, and there are several paths of varying difficulties if you want to take a wander to try and spot some rock hyraxes (over-sized guinea pigs), the mountain's main residents, before taking the cable car back down. If you're feeling particularly energetic, we can arrange for you to walk the entire way up, with a guide, along a well-known route. When legs are weary and throats are parched, head to the basement of Saint George's Cathedral (1901-1978) where you’ll find The Crypt, one of Cape Town's most iconic jazz clubs. Evenings spent there are always memorable and full of good vibes.

At the tip of Cape Town's rocky peninsula lies the Cape of Good Hope, one of the area's main attractions. A common misconception is that it's the point where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet, but this is actually further east, at Cape Agulhas. The peninsula is protected as a designated national park, with scenic Chapman's Peak Drive running along its west coast. Fynbos, a type of vegetation characteristic of the region, covers the soil and a wide variety of birds take advantage of the area's flowers, including the graceful Cape sugarbird and southern double-collared sunbird. Common elands, zebras and blesboks are also often spotted. On the coast at False Bay, walkways at Boulders Beach allow visitors to approach the colony of African penguins without disturbing them. From June to November, southern right whales also frequent the bay, among other marine mammals. We'll even deliver a fresh picnic to you in the morning to take with you on this unmissable day out.

Today you will drive to Wellington for a two-night stay in a Cape Dutch manor, built in 1712. Vineyards surround the house which has a breath-taking mountain backdrop and the manicured gardens and bright white colour of the house add to the incredible setting. The interiors feature a sophisticated 18th-century style, creating a comfortable, light, open and open space. The chef serves up a variety of tasty seafood and game dishes in either the dining room or on the spacious veranda. Feeling a bit chilly? Head for the fireplace in the tearoom. Want to do some exercise? Time for a few laps in the swimming pool, or head to the spa and indulge in a treatment. There are many outdoor activities on offer, too, including hiking, golf and clay pigeon shooting.

Today you will embark on a tour of the wine-growing areas and indulge in some wine tastings. Spend the day with a wine expert discovering South Africa's most beautiful vineyards. Meet with growers, visit the facilities and enjoy tastings at three of the major wine-growing areas – Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek. Southern African wines have become renowned around the world since they were made available on the foreign market following the end of apartheid. Among the red varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Pinotage (a hybrid created in Stellenbosch in 1925) dominate. Among the whites, Chenin Blanc, Riesling and Crouchen stand out.