100% customisable travel idea
Vineyards, fynbos and fine sand The West Coast and Cape Town in private homes
South Africa - Cape Town - Franschhoek - Wine Route - Banghoek Private Nature Reserve
100% customisable travel idea
South Africa - Cape Town - Franschhoek - Wine Route - Banghoek Private Nature Reserve
100% customisable for you
Night spent on the plane, arrival the next day.
Upon arrival, meet and greet and assistance with airport formalities. Then pick up your rental car and drive to Franschhoek, about one hour from Cape Town. Stay for three nights in an extremely comfortable, decidedly art filled house, that's a bit like a small museum. The private collection is on display from the entrance hallway, where photographs and paintings hang. It continues into the lounge with its bronze statue, oil paintings and a purple Chesterfield sofa. There are lots of books here too, and before you know it, you find yourself reading, a drink in hand, in front of the fireplace. The rooms display the same creative spirit and beautiful artworks, imbuing the whole place plenty of character. Outside, around the pool, the bucolic garden takes on a new charm with each season. Plum trees bloom in spring and the vines turn red in autumn.
Franschhoek is one of the oldest wine regions in South Africa. In the 17th century, the Dutch governor of the Cape was tasked with bringing wine growing experts over from Europe. In 1687, a small colony of Huguenots driven out of France by the revocation of the Edict of Nantes settled here. Franschhoek is Dutch for the "French corner". Today, vineyards cover the hills, dotted here and there with beautiful light-coloured colonial houses.
In your itinerary - Private mountain bike tour through the vineyards. With a guide who knows the region like the back of their hand, set off for a few hours cycling through the valleys and hills, where the climate is ideal for wine growing. Going from estate to estate, stop to take in the scenery and sample the local wines, with the Helderberg mountains in the background.
Things to see and do - Just fifteen minutes from the centre of Stellenbosch, visit the studio and incredible garden of artist Dylan Lewis. Sixty bronze sculptures, all crafted by hand, are on display in the 17 acre (7 hectare) garden. The place is truly one of a kind, and the visit is a magical experience. It takes around 90 minutes.
In your itinerary - Private tour of a vineyard. With a wine specialist, explore the estate that sits between the three wine towns of Stellenbosch, Constantia and Durbanville. After a pleasant walk through the vineyards and a tour of the cellars, you meet the owners, who organise a tasting for you in a breathtaking setting.
Drive to the Banghoek Valley and stay for three nights near the nature reserve, in a little corner of paradise reached by a country road that winds between mountains and forests. There, on the hillside, an adorable cottage awaits you, like something straight out of a fairy tale. Outside, there's a terrace, natural pool, hammock and sun loungers overlooking the garden. Inside, you'll find beautiful living spaces that are perfect for getting together. There's an open kitchen, a cosy lounge, and a dining area that opens out onto the outdoors. A fireplace and a braai (South African barbecue) will keep you warm in the evenings. The rooms are tastefully decorated, providing optimal comfort and a warm atmosphere. All this blends harmoniously with the stunning landscapes of the nearby nature reserve. The house is environmentally friendly and was designed to generate a minimal carbon footprint. There are solar panels and dam water is used to fill the pool. Any overflow helps to replenish the groundwater and water the property's 2,000 native trees. As an added bonus, all the fresh fruit comes from a nearby farm.
Things to do - Hike in Banghoek Private Nature Reserve, a beautifully preserved area that is home to rugged granite mountains typical of the Cape region, and gentle hills covered with the country's iconic fynbos. The shades of the shrubs, heathers and plants and their colourful flowers change with the seasons, shifting from silvery-green and grey tones in winter to bursts of bright yellow, pink and red in spring. The reserve is home to some wildlife too. You might spot graceful antelopes, lizards basking in the sun and the solitary, elusive Cape leopard, which is crucial to the local ecosystem. A large variety of birds, including endemic species, can be spotted flitting from bush to bush. Admire the beautiful African light as it shifts throughout the day. At night, when the sky is clear, the stars twinkle in an inky black sky, creating ideal conditions for stargazing.
With your rental car you're free to explore the area and roam far and wide, maybe even venturing as far as the West Coast National Park.
Drive to Kalk Bay, a small coastal village now part of Cape Town, and stay for three nights in a cottage bordering St James Beach. The light-filled house faces the sea, which takes on pink hues at dawn before returning to its alluring blue. At the rear of the building, there is access to a lovely garden where you can relax, have a drink or take a nap at any time of day. Inside, soft tones, artwork and wooden furniture create a successful seaside décor reminiscent of nostalgic memories of holidays by the sea. The bedrooms and bathrooms transport you to other, more oriental lands. As a bonus, there is a hot tub with a view.
On your itinerary - A private kayaking and snorkelling trip. Meet at a pretty little beach in the area that is perfectly sheltered from the wind, making it the ideal place to observe marine life and the penguins that make their home here. Aboard a kayak, you’ll paddle along the coast, gliding over the crystal-clear waters of Table Mountain National Park. The shallow reefs make it easy to admire the many tropical fish with a mask and snorkel. You may even spot a few endemic sharks.
Optional - A massage at home.
On your itinerary - Historic Cape Town in the company of an expatriate. Having fallen in love with this cosmopolitan city, your guide for the day settled in Cape Town nearly ten years ago. He is sociable and curious about everything, and will share with you the part of Cape Town that is particularly close to his heart. You will stroll among Edwardian, Victorian and Cape Dutch-style buildings. Your itinerary includes the Company’s Garden, which is South Africa’s oldest vegetable garden. It was created in the 17th century by the East India Company to supply ships travelling the silk and spice routes. Next, you will cross District Six, a rapidly changing neighbourhood and a hotbed of racial strife. Finally, your guide will take you shopping at Green Market Square, which is one of the city’s oldest markets and where you can find fabrics, jewellery and crafts from all over Africa. The tour ends in the Malay quarter of Bo-Kaap, which was built in the 17th century and is recognisable by its minarets and colourful houses, which are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Drive to the airport, return your rental car and catch your international return flight.
This suggested itinerary can be customisable down to the smallest detail, including duration, stops and content. An à la carte menu of experiences is also available to create a journey that reflects who you are.
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