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January culinary experience
CAPE COASTAL, GARDEN ROUTE AND WINE TOUR:
January (7 NIGHTS AND 7 DAYS)
Some highlights of the tour:
q The culinary journey begins in Cape Town, which was known for many centuries far and wide as the ?Tavern of the Seas?. Today it retains this reputation as a city where the traveller can rest, enjoy sumptuous meals and consume many a fine bottle of wine. We experience traditional Cape Malay and contemporary Cape food, visit Cape Point and taste the highly revered wines of the Constantia Valley
q Experience the excellent red wines of the Stellenbosch and Paarl wine regions
q Explore the top wine estate in the country - Vergelegen - its history, wines, cellar and cuisine
q Enjoy the spectacular coastal beauty of the famous Garden Route and the Knysna Lagoon. Not to be missed are the regional speciality of delicious cultivated Knysna oysters
q A ramble on Route 62 through the semi-desert region of the Klein Karoo accompanied by tastings of award winning ports and Karoo cuisine
q Country towns that have stood still in time - observe the beautifully preserved houses and taste the delicious country cuisine
q The Robertson Wine Route offering outstanding white wines and quite possibly the best and most delicious chardonnay in the country
ITINERARY
NIGHT 1: CHILLED CHARDONNAY WITH A PANORAMIC VIEW AND A WARM WELCOME TO CAPE TOWN
You will be collected from your guesthouse for sundowners on Signal Hill or at the 12 Apostles Hotel, followed by dinner at La Colombe Restaurant, which is constantly in the top ten restaurants in the country. Franck Dangereux's gem has the "foodies" flocking to his doorstep from all over. He is inspired in equal parts by his homeland and fresh ingredients. His secret is the use of the simplest ingredients, which are ingeniously combined and beautifully plated. The cuisine is French Provencal served in a relaxed poolside setting. www.lacolombe.co.za
This will be an opportunity for everyone to meet and for us to whet your appetite with a run down of the upcoming tour.
Overnight: Cape Town (Guesthouse or B &B)
DAY 1: BAYS & BEACHES, CAPE POINT, FAMOUS CONSTANTIA WINES, PENGUINS AND CAPE MALAY CUISINE
Today we enjoy a scenic coastal meander past the famous beaches of Clifton, Camps Bay and Llundudno. Highlights of the day are traveling over the famous Chapman's Peak Drive, visiting Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope as well as exploring the vineyards of Constantia - which is one of the oldest wine regions of the country. We stop to visit Klein Constantia rated in 2002 by US Wine & Spirits Magazine as one of the World?s 25 greatest vineyards. Delight in a seafood lunch or enjoy the best of fusion food cooked up in a rustic peninsula deli.
Dinner Highlight: Enjoy a demonstration on cooking Cape Malay cuisine which dates back to the 1600's.
Overnight: Cape Town
DAY 2: WINE ROUTE CULINARY MEANDER? Wine, olive oil, cheese, a picnic in a forest and overnight in the Franschhoek the culinary capital of South Africa
Today the tour explores the Stellenbosch, Paarl and the Helderberg wine regions. The day includes a cellar tour, wine tasting and a picnic at the famous Vergelegen Wine Estate. This estate dates back to the early 1700's and provides insight into a fascinating period of this country's history.
During the day we will taste award winning olive oil, sample cheeses and visit the second oldest town in the country - Stellenbosch.
Dinner highlight: Le Quartier Fran?ais ? South Africa?s most highly rated restaurant in 2004, winning awards for Best Chef and Best Restaurant in the country. Here we will enjoy a 4 course or 6 course tasting menu - depending on the size of your appetite. www.lequartier.co.za
Overnight: Franschhoek B& B
DAY 3: LAKES, LAGOONS, THE INDIAN OCEAN AND SEAFOOD.
We depart for the Garden Route; entering into Nature?s Garden with mountains, unspoiled forests, glistening lakes and lagoons.
In the late afternoon we arrive in the town of Knysna, which is set on the banks of a large estuary. The town is famous for its natural beauty, its seafood and its oysters.
Dinner highlight: 34 Degrees South The Market for a delicious deli-style seafood experience (or similar)
Overnight: Log cabins or B&B in Knysna
DAY 4: LOCAL BAKERIES, OYSTER TOUR, INDIGENOUS FORESTS AND A VISIT TO THE SPECTACULAR STORMS RIVER MOUTH
The day starts with a leisurely breakfast at a local bakery- Isle de Pain. After breakfast we take a short stroll to the Knysna Oyster Company for an Oyster Tour. Here you learn more about Oyster cultivation in Knysna and get to taste a coastal and a cultivated Oyster with a glass of sparkling wine.
After the tour we depart for the Tsitsikamma National Park, a 480ha rain forest with magnificent indigenous trees. In the park we do a short hike to the mouth of the Storms River for a spectacular walk over a suspension bridge and visit a Strandloper Cave.
Lunch Highlight: A picnic enjoyed in the Tsitsikamma National Park
Dinner Highlight: Up to you!
Overnight: Knysna
DAY 5: CHOO-TJOE TRAINS, OSTRICHES, CHEETAHS AND ONE OF SOUTH AFRICA?S TOP COUNTRY RESTAURANTS
After breakfast you head off from Knysna on the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe Train. Enjoy the magnificent scenery as the train passes over lakes, estuaries and forests. The train arrives at George Station around lunchtime. Lunch will be enjoyed in an old train carriage at the station. After lunch we head over the scenic Outeniqua pass to Oudtshoorn ? the feather capital of South Africa. Our first stop in Oudtshoorn will be at a Ostrich show farm followed by a visit to the Cango Wildlife Ranch to see crocodiles, tigers, cheetahs, hippos and an albino python.
Dinner highlight: Jemima's Restaurant, one of the top 10 restaurants in the country. Here the famous Le Roux sisters give contemporary expression to traditional Klein Karoo Cuisine. www.eating-out.co.za/online/jemimas
Overnight: Oudtshoorn at De Opotsal Country Lodge (or similar) www.deopstal.co.za
DAY 6: SEMI-DESERT, PORT AND A FIVE COURSE WINE AND DINE FEAST
Today we have an early start and begin the day with a visit to the spectacular Cango Caves. Here you can view breathtaking limestone formations in a wide variety of colours - a true subterranean wonderland. After a guided tour of the caves we head onto Route 62 for Calitzdorp ? the Port Capital of South Africa. The ramble takes us through the beautiful semi-desert Klein Karoo region with its well-preserved towns to Montagu where we check into the Mimosa Lodge (or similar).
Dinner highlight: Fraai Uitzicht - a local wine estate and highly rated restaurant - where a five course wine and dine menu awaits you. The emphasis is on home cooking and great wine. www.fraaiuitzicht.com
Overnight: Montagu (Mimosa Lodge or similar) www.mimosa.co.za
DAY 7: CHARDONNAY AND VETKOEK
After a leisurely breakfast we depart on the Robertson Wine Route which is renowned for its superb white wine and award winning chardonnay. Lunch will be a treat of cooking your own traditional South African ?Vetkoek? at Lys' Kombuis led by a colourful local lady who speaks only Afrikaans!
After lunch we meander back to Cape Town with an estimated arrival time of around 16h00
COST: To be advised. [currency calculator]
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
q The tour includes:
q Accomodation,
q All entrances unless stated as optional
q Breakfast daily
q Lunch and Dinner only on specified days only in order to allow you to select what you would like to from the menu.
q Lunch is included in the costs on: Day 2, 5 & 7
q Dinner is included on Night 1, Day 1, 2 & 6
q Note that alcohol and drinks are not included in the costs and are for your own account
q A 50% Deposit required on confirmation. The deposit is regrettably non-refundable.
q Luggage is restricted to 15kg's per person
q The operator reserves the right to substitute accomodation options as well as restaurant options stated on the tour.
q A minimum of four people are required for each tour. The operator reserves the right to cancel the tour should less than four people book the tour. Should this occur any fees paid will be fully refunded to the customer.
Note - we reserve the right to change our routes, conditions and rates without prior notice.
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