SOUTH AFRICA: WINE TOURS

The Wine Experience will be offering Wine Trips to South Africa.

CAPE TOWN & WINELANDS ADVENTURE – 4 Days / 3 Nights

• Day 1 : Arrival in Cape Town
• Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden
• The Mondela Rhodes Palace
• Table Mountain
• The Beluga Restaurant
• Day 2 : Discovery of the Peninslula
• The Cape of Good Hope
• Day 3 : Rugby time
• The Party Bus
• Pepenero, Paranga and Cubana
• Day 4 : Departure Day
• Winelands in vintage cars
• Franschhoek

WELCOME TO CAPE TOWN

Located 40 kilometres from the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Town is one of the most isolated metropolises in the world. Cape Town’s city centre lies cradled in a vast blue-grey amphitheatre formed by Table Mountain, Lion’s Head and Devil’s Peak. Few cities in the world can boast a more spectacular setting and it is certainly unrivalled in South Africa for its cosmopolitan ambience redolent with history. In its three-and-a-half centuries, the city has transformed itself from a remote colonial outpost to one of Africa’s most important cities. This teeming metropolis is a major commercial, financial and industrial centre and one of the southern hemisphere’s premier ports for container shipping and the export of fruit. It is also quickly gaining a reputation as one of the loveliest holiday destinations worldwide, with its idyllic summers and majestic, stormy winter seasons. The city centre includes the historic centre and residential districts, the Waterfront (the old harbour was transformed into an extensive shopping centre with cinemas, hotels, restaurants and bars) and the modern harbour. The rest of Cape Town is comprised of a series of suburbs and residential areas spreading around Table Mountain. Like many other South African cities, Cape Town is a city of contrasts. Not really European and not totally African, it is a curious blend of the Third World and the First. The diversity of its population and the number of varied districts make Cape Town a hybrid city set between two oceans.

Day 1 – Arrival in Cape Town

• Arrival at Cape Town International Airport
• Porters to take care of your Luggage
• A Guide will assist you for the entire trip
• Transfer by 28 Seater Coach to the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
• Light pastries with coffee/tea and juice at Silver Tree Restaurant
• After this visit, transfer to the Mandela Rhodes Place
• Welcome Drink and Check-in Buffet Lunch on the pool deck with Fantastic Views of  Table Mountain
• Briefing of The Road Rally with the Road Book
• Departure to the Foot Rally in the Cape Town Streets to end at Table Mountain
• Glass of Champagne whilst admiring the view!
• Back to the Hotel to freshen-up for Dinner
• Transfer to the Beluga Restaurant for Dinner
• Transfer back to the Mandela Rhodes Hotel

Day 1 – Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden

The Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens is one of the most beautiful gardens of its kind in the world, and is a must for any visitor to Cape Town. The Gardens have an incomparable site on the eastern side of Table Mountain. The 36- hectare landscaped section seems to merge almost imperceptibly with the 492 hectares of fynbos (native flora) that cloak the mountain slopes. Although there are some magnificent oaks, Moreton Bay fig trees and camphor trees, the gardens are devoted almost exclusively to indigenous plants. About 9,000 of southern Africa’s 22,000 plant species are grown in the gardens.

Day 1 - Mandela Rhodes Place

Mandela Rhodes Place is a unique concept of modern city living, with a subtle blend of old and new in the magnificent surrounds of Cape Town ́s ‘Old Town’. A choice of luxury accommodation and a wealth of leisure and retail shopping, surrounded by pedestrian streets provide you with an old world ambience and a modern sophistication. Mandela Rhodes Place offers the definitive city lifestyle with a choice of luxurious apartments, a host of leisure options and a wealth of retail facilities in the heart of metropolitan Cape Town.

Day 1 – Table Mountain

This world-renowned landmark and national monument presents many different faces and has meant many different things to those viewing its towering cliffs. With the summit 1086 metres above sea level at McClear’s Beacon, the mountain is composed of Malmesbury shale, granite and quartz sandstone. On the Camps Bay side lie the buttresses known as the Twelve Apostles. Lion’s Head and Devil’s Peak also form part of the protective backdrop to this beautiful city. On Signal Hill, once the vantage point used by port authorities to signal ships, a 19-century Howitzer gun still signals the advent of noon each day. The cableway is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city – it runs on a single-span wire cable, with strict safety standards maintained and a siren sounding for visitors as a warning of bad weather.

Day 1 – Beluga Restaurant

Beluga is a stylish eatery located in the Foundry, a wonderful 100 year old red-brick building that once housed one of the city’s oldest metal works, now converted into a modern interior design and office center in the heart of what is rapidly becoming Cape Town’s film and modeling district. The restaurant complex consists of a 160 seat dining area offering the best of new cooking – plenty of robust flavours, interesting ingredients and generous portions – all backed up with impeccable and seamless service. In addition, there is a superb Cocktail Bar featuring great drinks and retro- cocktails, and a welcoming Café, which spills out on to an enclosed courtyard, serving light meals and coffees from early till late. At Beluga you will find it all: tantalizing foods, interesting wines, great cocktails and aperitifs, fine ports and cigars and the warmest welcome. It’s a great dining experience for locals and visitors alike.

Day 2 – Discovering the Peninsula

• Buffet Breakfast at the Hotel
• New Briefing for New Road Rally to the Peninsula
• Departure by Toyota Quantum (8 pax per car) to Peninsula
• Arrival at the Entrance of the Cape of Good Hope
• Bicycle Ride until Buffel’s Bay (energy drink and muesli bar for Cyclists)
• Standard Lunch in Arabian Free Form Tent in Buffel’s Bay
• Return to the Hotel and time for freshen-up
• Departure by Rikki’s to the Africa Cafe Restaurant
• Transfer to the Mandela Rhodes Hotel

Day 2 – The Cape of Good Hope

“The fairest Cape we saw in the whole circumference of the Earth”, the great navigator Francis Drake exclaimed when he sailed into Table Bay in 1580. Through the centuries, it has been called many names of which “The Cape of Storms” (by Bartholomeu Dias) and “The Cape of Good Hope” (by the King of Portugal) are but two examples. During the 17th and 18th Centuries, sailors called it the “Tavern of the Seas” because fresh produce was grown locally and also shipped in, and later sold, to passing merchant ships. Nowadays, South Africans simply call it “the Cape”, an acknowledgement of its status as the Mother City of South Africa. As part of one of the Floral Kingdoms of the world, there are more species of plants in the Cape Peninsula National Park (7,750 hectares) than the entire British Isles. Some of these species are unique to the Cape, with 30 actually threatened with extinction. The vegetation of the Peninsula is characterised by “fynbos” (proteas and moorland). Moreover, baboons, wildebeest, mountain zebras, porcupines and ostriches as well as abundant birdlife are present in the park.

THE AFRICA CAFE

Hector and Portia started the African cuisine trend here may years ago and are still pulling the crowds into their restaurant on two levels in a modest House near Cape Town’s city centre. There are no starters, main courses or desserts, just a feast of food from around the continent. Eat as much as you like from the 15 dishes served at the table. Some of these dishes served may include Umbako (Xhosa pot bread with mealies); Malawian mbatata balls (sweet potato and cheese, rolled in sesame seeds); Moroccan couscous salad with corn, coriander, ginger and shredded carrot; Botswana seswaa masala (spicy lamb stew), and Malawian chicken macadamia (filleted chicken cooked in a macadamia nut sauce).

Day 3 – Rugby Time

• Buffet Breakfast at the Hotel
• Departure by Coach to the Township where you will meet locals and watch a rugby match
• The match will be entertaind by local band and Africans dancers
• Local Braai (known as a BBQ) organised together with local players
• Transfer to the Hotel for freshen-up
• Transfer to the Waterfront for some free leisure time
• The Party Bus Experience where you will be pick-up at the Waterfront
• 1st stop : starter and main course at Pepenero Restaurant
• 2d stop : dessert at Paranaa Restaurant
• 3rd stop : Mojito Cocktail at Cubana Restaurant
• Return to the Hotel with the Party Bus
• Spend the night at the Mandela Rhodes Hotel

Day 3 – The Party Bus Experience

The party busses are comfortable, reliable, safe and a whole lot of fun! Enjoy the comfort and luxury of our specially designed tour vehicle and leave all the arrangements to us. We supply experienced drivers and dedicated staff to look after your every need. All venues, catering and accommodation are of an exceptionally high standard for this completely new experience!

Day 4 – Departure

• Buffet Breakfast at the Hotel
• Departure by Vintage Cars to Boschendal Wine Estate in Franschhoek
• Gourmet Picnic Lunch on the lawns, under the trees
• Followed by a leisurely walking tour of Stellenbosch
• Transfer to the Cape Town International Airport
• Departure

Day 4 – The Cape Winelands

Today the Cape’s wine industry as well as the historic estate homesteads is one of the country’s most highly treasured assets. The first consignment of vines from German, French, Spanish and Bohemian vineyards arrived in the Cape in 1655. Jan Van Riebeek, then governor of the area, recorded in his diary on 2nd February 1659 that “Today, for the first time, the Lord be praised, wine was made from Cape grapes”. Professional winemaking in the Cape began only after Simon van der Stel, the new commander of the settlement and future governor of the East India Company, founded the second oldest Dutch settlement in South Africa. It was named Stellenbosch, after himself, and is situated in a sunny and fertile valley to the east of Cape Town. A great boost was given to wine production in South Africa by the arrival of Huguenot refugees from France, who settled around Franschhoek (“French Corner”), to the east of Paarl and Stellenbosch, between 1688 and 1690, and developed what is still an important wine- growing region. At the end of the 19th century, phylloxera ravaged South Africa’s vineyards, but by importing phylloxera resistant vines from America, South African winegrowers managed to reach their previous production level again by 1918.

Day 4 – The Winelands in Vintage Car

Boschendal Wine Estate was founded in 1685 by the French Huguenot, Jean Le Long. Abraham de Villiers bought Boschendal in 1715 along with Nicolas de Lanoy’s neighbouring property. The manor, as it appears today, was built in 1812. Moreover, the wines of Boschendal are famous worldwide, and these can be enjoyed along with a fine picnic lunch at this lovely estate. Its non- smoking restaurant, which also provides the picnic baskets, prepares delicious farm food. The picnic area is situated in the shade of pine trees on the lawn in front of the manor house with a pretty pond and gazebo in the middle.

STELLENBOSCH

Governor Simon Van der Stel established Stellenbosch as a frontier town on the banks of the Eerste Rivier in 1679. It is the second oldest town in South Africa (after Cape Town itself), and one of the best preserved. The town is full of architectural and historical gems featuring Cape Dutch, Georgian and Victorian style. Due to its large number of oaks, the town is still referred to as the ‘Eikestad’ (City of oaks). There are several interesting museums of which the Village (Dorp) Museum, which consists of four buildings dating from 1709 to 1850, is a good example. Stellenbosch is famous for its university, established in 1918. Being the first Afrikaans language institution to be created in South Africa, the university still plays an important role in Afrikaner politics and culture. Stellenbosch is also the core of the vineyards of the Cape region.

This Includes

• Meet & Greet at the Airport
• Domestic Flights from & to Johannesburg
• Porters in & out
• 2 Experienced Tour Leaders during the entire stay
• Transfers during the entire stay (by coaches, Rikki’s, vintage cars)
• Welcome Drink & a Drinks Budget
• Kirstenboch Botanical Gardens Entrance Fees
• Table Mountain Entrance Fees
• Peninsula National Park Entrance Fees
• Equipment for the rugby match
• The Party Bus Experience
• Wine tasting at Boschendal
• 4 Different Lunches
• 3 Different Dinners
• 3 nights Accommodation at the Mandela Rhodes Place

This Excludes

• International Flights
• Travel insurance Options as per program
• Tips & Royalties

This is the Perfect Wine Trip for couples, honeymooners, and people that love the outdoors, great wine, vintage cars, new experiences, and meeting interesting people !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gtcb723CUE4