February culinary experience
CAPE COASTAL, WILDLIFE & WINE TOUR:
FEBRUARY (8 NIGHTS AND 8 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?. Here we experience traditional African food, visit Cape Point and taste the highly revered wines of the Constantia Valley.
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 Visit the Addo Elephant Park & Schotia Game reserve to view the South African wildlife on tours that are accompanied by qualified Game Rangers
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 (regional specialities are ostrich and lamb)
q Country towns that have stood still in time - observe the beautifully preserved houses, enjoy the art, taste the wines and savour the delicious country cuisine.
ITINERARY
7 FEBRUARY: 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 at 6pm, followed by dinner at the Savoy Cabbage Restaurant where fresh ingredients are emphasised to the extent that the menu sometimes changes twice a day.
This will be an opportunity for everyone to meet and for us to whet your appetite with a run down of the upcoming tour.
Dinner Highlight: Savoy Cabbage (www.eating-out.co.za/online/savoycabbage)
Overnight: The Trevoyan Guesthouse (www.trevoyan.co.za) or similar
8 FEBRUARY: BAYS & BEACHES, CAPE POINT, FAMOUS CONSTANTIA WINES, PENGUINS AND AFRICAN CUISINE
Today we enjoy a scenic coastal meander past the famous beaches of Clifton, Camps Bay and Llundudno. Highlights of the day are travelling 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 an African Feast at a restaurant in the City www.africacafe.co.za
Overnight: The Trevoyan Guesthouse (www.trevoyan.co.za) or similar
9 FEBRUARY: LAKES, LAGOONS, INDIAN OCEAN, WINE, OYSTERS AND SEAFOOD.
Today we depart for the Garden Route. As we pass Mossel Bay we enter into the Garden Route. Here can be found 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: B&B or log cabins in Knysna - www.abalonelodges.co.za
10 FEBRUARY: LOCAL BAKERIES, INDIGENOUS FORESTS, A VISIT TO THE SPECTACULAR STORMS RIVER MOUTH and A NIGHT DRIVE IN A GAME RESERVE
The day starts with breakfast at a local bakery - Isle de Pain. After breakfast 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. From here we travel through to Addo Elephant Park where you can see antelope, elephants, lion, buffalo, rhino and many different types of antelope. Tonight you will experience a guided night drive in the Addo Elephant Park with a qualified ranger in a 4 x 4 vehicle
Lunch Highlight: A picnic enjoyed in the Tsitsikamma National Park
Dinner Highlight: Light dinner prepared by Cape Fusion Tours before the game drive.
Overnight: Addo elephant park www.addoelephantpark.com (or guesthouse if the park is full)
11 FEBRUARY: ADDO ELEPHANT PARK REGION OR VISIT A LUXURY GAME RESERVE
Option 1: MODERATE PRICED OPTION
Today we spend the day in the Addo region. There are many options for activities during the day:
* Early morning game drive (R150pps)
* Horse riding among the wild animals in the park - inexperienced riders in the morning for two hours (R100pp), experienced in the afternoon for 3 hours (R150pp)
* Go for a hike with the elephants in the mountains in the morning - this is an amazing experience as you get to interact with the elephants R650pps (note that the tour is restricted to only 6 guests for each walk and includes drinks and snacks in the bush)
Evening highlight: visit a nearby private game farm called Schotia for their " "Tooth & Claw" Safari: (45 minute drive from Addo). Schotia is the oldest private game viewing reserve in the Eastern Cape, and offers one of the best chances to see lions in the wild. The Tooth & Claw is a guided drive in open topped vehicles. It begins in the late afternoon, and returns after nightfall. Late afternoon and evening game viewing is often the most rewarding time of day for game viewing as this is when animals are at their most active. This is especially the case with lion which are generally nocturnal hunters. Schotia is also home to white rhino, zebra, wildebeest, warthog, jackal, crocodile, and a large variety of antelope. The drive is followed by a traditional meal served under the stars in an thatched open air lapa. The drive leaves at 15h00 and returns at 21h00. www.schotia.com
Overnight: Addo Elephant Park
Option 2: LUXURY GAME EXPERIENCE
This is the option to choose if you wish to spoil yourselves. We spend the morning at Addo before heading for Lalibela Private Game Reserve in the same region. Here you will really enjoy a wonderful game experience as the groups are much smaller that will go on each game drive. An overnight experience includes all meals, drinks and two game drives. Lalibela is home to lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo, cheetah, hyena, hippo, giraffe, zebra and numerous antelopes. www.lalibela.co.za
Overnight: Lalibela
12 FEBRUARY: DOLPHINS, COASTAL RESORT AND RELAXATION
Today we return to civilisation and head for the coastal city of Port Elizabeth which boasts 40km of beautiful beaches. For lunch we head to the Boardwalk shopping complex for a light meal and some shopping. In the afternoon one has the option of either attending the excellent dolphin and seal show, relaxing on the beach or exploring the cities historical architectural gems.
Dinner highlight: Mauros - a mediterranean styled restaurant on the beach
Accomodation: Guesthouse in PE in the beach area (5th Avenue Guesthouse www.5thavenue.co.za)
13 FEBRUARY: OSTRICHES, CHEETAHS AND ONE OF SOUTH AFRICA'S TOP COUNTRY RESTAURANTS
Today we travel over the mountains and into the Klein Karoo - a semi-desert region - and head to Oudtshoorn which is the feather capital of South Africa. Here we visit an ostrich show farm and the Cango Wildlife ranch, followed by a relaxed dinner of delicious country cuisine.
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.
14 FEBRUARY: SEMI-DESERT, PORT AND A SIX COURSE WINE & DINE FEAST
Today we have an early start and begin the day with a visit to the spectacular Cango Caves. The caves are one of the world's natural wonders. 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 six course wine and dine menu awaits you. The emphasis is on home cooking and great wine. www.fraaiuitzicht.com
Overnight: Montagu (Mimosa Lodge www.mimosa.co.za or similar)
15 FEBRUARY: DELICIOUS CHARDONNAY AND A COUNTRY RAMBLE BACK TO CAPE TOWN
Our morning is spent exploring Montagu and the Robertson wine region, which is famous for its award winning white wines. Around midday we begin our journey back and stop en route to enjoy a taste of South African Afrikaans country cuisine at a roadside store where you are surrounded by antiques.
After a relaxed lunch we depart back to Cape Town
Arrival time: 16h00
Please advise if you would like us to book accomodation for tonight in Cape Town.
Also note that should you wish to extend your stay we will gladly assist with your bookings.
COST OPTION 1 ADDO REGION: TBA. [currency calculator]
COST OPTION 2 LALIBELA: TBA.
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: 10, 13 & 15 February
q Dinner is included on 7, 8, 10, 11 & 14 February
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 unless the tour is cancelled by the operator.
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 that two guests have already confirmed this tour)
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