Saint Clare Educational Scholarship Program – January 2013 is here!
Auction Ends: Jan 14, 2013 02:59 AM PST

Travel

Cape Wine Experience (South Africa): 6 Days/5 Nights for two people

Item Number
326
Estimated Value
5200 USD
Opening Bid
2650 USD

Item Description

 

 Photo: View of Cape Town

                          6-DAY/5-NIGHT CAPE WINE EXPERIENCE

Sir Francis Drake called it THE FAIREST CAPE IN THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE EARTH‚ and the British called it THE TAVERN OF THE SEAS. Today it is fondly called THE MOTHER CITY of South Africa. Table Mountain has been declared one of the modern Natural Seven Wonders of the World and Cape Town has been awarded the 2012 Design Capital of the World.

           Photo: Cape Town coast

ITINERARY

Day 1.  Arrive in Cape Town. Met at airport and transferred to your hotel.

             Check-in at hotel. Time to relax and freshen-up.

CAPE TOWN has a rich multi-cultural history because of its position as a stopping point for ships plying their trade between the east and the west. Today it is a meeting place for Africa and the rest of the world, which gives it its own particular vibrancy.

Dinner – included at the Harvey’s Restaurant at the hotel.

Overnight: Winchester Mansions Hotel - Seapoint (DB&B)

                        www.winchester.co.za 

OPTIONAL:  ½ Day tours:  Robben Island

Township & Heritage Tours                      

 

Day 2.  Cape Town City tour: Hop-On – Hop-Off bus.

The diverse cultural heritage and rich historic past are evident when one visits the various national museums and sights such as the Castle Good Hope dating back to the Dutch East Indies Company, Robben Island, the South African Cultural History Museum, the District Six Museum and the unique Gold of Africa Museum located in the historic Martin Melck House.

At your own pace you can stop off and visit the Waterfront, the Aquarium, St George’s Cathedral and the South African Museum, Table Mountain, Camps Bay and Seapoint along the Atlantic Coast.

Dinner – at leisure to enjoy great innovative local cuisine or one of the many restaurants at the Waterfront or in the city.

Overnight: Winchester Mansions Hotel (B&B)

        Photo: St. James Beach   

Day 3. CAPE TOWN

Full day Peninsula escorted scheduled tour.

A ride around the Cape Peninsula sets the tone for a touring holiday of spectacular proportions. The playgrounds of the rich and famous at Clifton and Camps Bay are passed through on the way to the Chapman's Peak and Hout Bay. Cutting into the cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the road makes for one of the most magnificent drives in the world. Cross over Red Hill and make your way through the historic navel town of Simon's Town before moving onto the wild and rocky promontory of Cape Point where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans are supposed to meet. Head out of the reserve clinging to the coastline, before turning inland through the thick forests of Constantia Neck to the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and the city.

Overnight: Winchester Mansions Hotel (B&B)

 Photo: Table Mountain

Day 4. CAPE TOWN – PAARL – FRANSCHHOEK - STELLENBOSCH

The scenic town of Paarl, only a 40-minute drive outside Cape Town is at the foot of the second-largest granite outcrop in the world.  Paarl proudly bears the title of the third-oldest town in South Africa. Standing tall on Paarl Mountain and celebrating the birth of Afrikaans is the Afrikaans Language Monument. Just outside Paarl is Drakenstein Prison, where Nelson Mandela spent his last years of captivity and started his walk to freedom.

Franschhoek, a tranquil village, twenty minutes from Stellenbosch, is known for its French Huguenot Heritage, fine wines and award-winning restaurants.

After breakfast transfer to Stellenbosch via Paarl & Franschhoek. Visit some the local premier wineries and estates en route such as:

La Motte wines have won a host of international awards and are highly sought-after. Their fine wines, including some exceptional reds, can be sampled in the stylish tasting room. Visit the museum and art Gallery. The largest room in the museum is dedicated to the life and art of one of South Africa's greatest masters, Jacob Hendrik Pierneef. A selection of works by other South African artists can also be seen

Enjoy some Huguenot legacy at L'Ormarin one of the prettiest wine etstates in the whole of the winelands. The Franschhoek Motor Museum on the estate houses one of the biggest collections of vintage cars in the world. L’Ormarin is also known for its horses but especially its wines, notably also a range of Italian varieties.

Plaisir de Merle, taste the wine and experience the biodiversity as this estate - a member of the Biodiversity in Wine Initiative. Its 500 ha of conserved land encompasses endangered Boland Granite Fynbos, Kogelberg Sandstone Fynbos and a variety of vegetation

            Lunch at a local restaurant or wine estate (own account)

Tokara sits on the hill overlooking Stellenbosch, the Cape Flats and Table Mountain. Powerful reds and delicate whites dominate an exciting range of wines, and an olive-oil plant nearby adds to the atmosphere of the area. End the day in the company of a real garagiste at Camberley and experience the real hospitality of a Cape wine maker.

Dinner – included at the hotel

            Overnight: Devon Valley Hotel 4* (DB&B)

                            www.devonvalleyhotel.com

 Photo: Cape Town from an aerial tram

Day 5:  STELLENBOSCH

STELLENBOSCH, the second oldest town in South Africa after Cape Town was established in 1679 by Simon Van der Stel, the Governor of the Dutch East India Company. The pretty university town is now the heart of the Premier Wine Route in South Africa.  Well-preserved historical houses and oak trees line the streets.  Four of these houses today form the comprehensive Stellenbosch Museum.  Its university of more than 16,000 students gives the town a vibrant and youthful atmosphere.

After breakfast enjoy the ‘Devon Valley Detour’ which includes:

-       A cap classique and meringue tasting at the house of JC le Roux

-       A cellar tour and barrel tasting at Middelvlei

-       Two glasses of wine at Clos Malverne (to be enjoyed with lunch – own account)

-       A guided vineyard walk with a valley viticulturalist

Afternoon at leisure to explore the historic university town in the heart of the Cape wine lands.

Dinner – at leisure to experience one of the many award-winning restaurants in Stellenbosch.

Overnight: Devon Valley Hotel 4*

                            www.devonvalleyhotel.com

 

Day 6.   DEPARTURE DAY / OPTIONAL EXTENSION

After breakfast time at leisure in before the departure to the airport.

            Depart Cape Town

                       

-       END OF ARRANGEMENTS -

Cost includes:

-       Accommodation in 4* hotels in Cape Town & Stellenbosch

-       Full buffet breakfasts daily

-       Two 3-course dinners: one in Cape Town and one in Stellenbosch.

-       Transfers and tours as per itinerary

-       Entrance fees as per itinerary

Cost excludes:

-       Meals other than stated

-       All drinks and refreshments

-       Items of a personal nature such as laundry, ‘phone calls etc.

-       Tips for drivers and guides

-       International and interior airfares

           

OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS:

-       Scheduled Garden Route tours

-       Scheduled day tours from Cape Town to Hermanus on the Whale Coast.

-       Self-drive along  the scenic Cape Country Routes from Cape Town, Route 62, the Garden Route to Knysna or Port Elizabeth

 

OPTIONAL UPGRADE – PRIVATE WINE TOUR with Specialist Wine Guide

(Suggested sample itinerary – will vary according to specific  interests &requests.)

STELLENBOSCH: Your first visit will be to a small family estate - Kanonkop with their famous wines. Call in at Muratie, the wine farm that belonged to a slave girl, and taste wines amongst the cobwebs, also an excellent Port amongst the champion reds. In the same area is Uitkyk (Lookout). See an 18th century homestead designed as a town house for Cape Town, but as a result of specific circumstances was built in the country. Taste some excellent wines, white and red, and even try one of the best brandies in the country, if available. Drive slowly through historic Stellenbosch and visit the winery of Neil Ellis, arguably the best Sauvignon Blanc producer in the wine lands.

Lunch at a local restaurant or wine estate (own account)

After lunch visit the small family owned estate of Middelvlei, do a cellar tour, meet the owner, and taste some of the best reds in the valley. Middelvlei is also known for its collection of animals and birds: a wallaby couple, hundreds of birds, Swiss goats, huge mountain tortoises, and a tame crow to mention a few.

Visit Rustenberg, Cape Dutch style of architecture and the most photographed homestead in Stellenbosch. Taste prize-winning wines and walk through a famous English Country garden.

SUPPLEMENT COST: US$ 120 per person (Min 2 pax)

Cost includes:

- Wine tasting and entrance fees

- Private specialist guide

- Transport in luxury mini-van or sedan

 

Item Special Note

The auction package expires one year from the date of the event, has no blackout dates. (Subject to availability --Rufaro Travel reserves the right to start the itinerary in either Cape Town or Stellenbosch to accommodate the desired travel dates.)

Rufaro