6 DAYS SOUTH AFRICA: CAPE TOWN, WHALES AND WINES

Baie welkom in Suid-Afrika, Nayimkelekile eMzantsi Afrika, Welcome to South Africa!'As you step out of Cape Town International Airport, the warm welcome and buzz of the city greet you instantly. Pick up your rental car—it’s time for your adventure to begin! Your first drive offers a vibrant first glimpse of Cape Town before you settle into your hotel. From tomorrow, you're in full road-trip mode, exploring at your own pace. The beauty of self-driving? Total freedom! Choose what to see, when to go, and how long to stay. And with our handy travel guide and list of local eats and must-stop spots, you're all set for an unforgettable journey!

Accommodations:

• Silver City Lodge Hotel - VA Waterfront
• Gold Cape Heritage Hotel
• Platinum The Bay Hotel

Where the edge of the world meets the sea – that's where you find Cape Town, South Africa’s oldest and second-largest city, filled with endless highlights! From Robben Island and the Castle of Good Hope for history buffs, to Table Mountain and Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden for nature lovers. Boulders Beach with its clumsy penguin colony and Hout Bay with its lazy seals melt your heart, and for cultural highlights, you'd best head to the colourful Bo-Kaap for a free walking tour. Afterwards, the V&A Waterfront is your place to be: not just for food and wine, but also for a shopping spree and a tour on the Cape Wheel... or even a sunset cruise with an invigorating glass of champagne!

Accommodations:

• Silver City Lodge Hotel - VA Waterfront
• Gold Cape Heritage Hotel
• Platinum The Bay Hotel

The 122-kilometre-long drive along the South African coast to the coastal town of Hermanus takes around two hours and holds breathtaking views. Road trip? This is it! And once arrived, there's plenty to see and discover. Boredom? Definitely not here!

Activities:

Accommodations:

• Silver Whale Coast Ocean Villa
• Gold Grand Lux Boutique Manor
• Platinum The Marine Hermanus

You can drive from Hermanus to Franschhoek directly after breakfast, or start your day with an early morning bird excursion on the Klein River that will (re)ignite your love for birds. Via the jaw-dropping Theewaterskloof Dam, you first reach Betty’s Bay after 50 minutes, where you can watch the penguin colony at Stony Point Nature Reserve. After another 1 hour and 20 minutes, you reach Franschhoek, a lovely 17th-century city with lots of wine and food (and you are there in time for lunch)!

Activities:

Accommodations:

• Silver The Lab Franschhoek
• Gold Rickety Bridge Manor House
• Platinum Le Petit Manoir

Since this is the last day of your Western Cape itinerary, you might want to make the most of things before driving back to Cape Town. So head south to Stellenbosch via the Helshoogte Pass. Stellenbosch to Cape Town is another 52 kilometres, a 45-minute drive. In Cape Town, you can (and should!) pamper yourself on this last day with a first-class dinner, and start reminiscing about the wonderful days you have had in the Western Cape... And who knows? Maybe it's the end of your first but only the beginning of your second itinerary?!

Activities:

Accommodations:

• Silver City Lodge Hotel - VA Waterfront
• Gold Cape Heritage Hotel
• Platinum The Bay Hotel

All good things come to an end. This is your last day, and it's time to catch your flight home from Cape Town International Airport. Sad to leave…? Not to worry! You can also hop on a domestic flight to Johannesburg or Pretoria and add a few days to your holiday. How about meeting the Big Five (or Seven!) during a safari? Or relaxing at a picturesque beach? Let us know your wishes, and we will gladly organise a holiday extension to help you explore the other parts of South Africa.