Winding along the southwestern tip of Africa the Cape will delight you with its enigmatic beauty and natural sense of adventure. This region of Africa is a land of breathtaking hiking trails, peaceful valleys of vineyards, staggering mountains, and the charm of two oceans. With days packed full of activities both on land and water, this 13-day South Africa tour will showcase the very best of a landscape unlike any other on the planet. Starting and ending in Cape Town, the itinerary will connect...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Cape Town – Beautiful Sunset Hike On Lion's Head
Land in Cape Town and it will be hard to keep your eyes off of Table Mountain as it rises over a kilometer above the city. The standard thing to do would be to hike up Table Mountain, but there is a better option to serve as your introduction to the Cape. Lion's Head may only be 650 meters high, but the hiking route loops around the mountain. As you climb the steep and rugged steps, you will be able to take in the whole city, from the white beaches created by the Atlantic Ocean to the buildings nestled beneath the slopes. This will be a challenging hike, but it will only take an hour with your guide timing your arrival for the dipping sun.
From the summit, you will not only enjoy a fantastic view of Cape Town but your view is also backdropped by Table Mountain, and as you turn around, the peak will offer a 360-degree perspective and a truly magical sunset. By descending just as the sun dips into the ocean, you will be able to make it most of the way down before darkness with your final stretch assisted by your flashlight and the glowing lights of the city. Earlier in the day, you will have landed at Cape Town International Airport and been privately transferred to your hotel at the V & A Waterfront, where views onto the ocean and mountain are a great way to recuperate from your flight.
What's Included:
Day 2
Cape Town – Table Mountain and Thrills of the Coast
Day 3
Cape Columbine Nature Reserve – Mountain Biking and Discovering San Culture
Day 4
Cederberg Nature Reserve – Kayaking the Atlantic and the Wine of Cederberg
Day 5
Cederberg Nature Reserve – Sublime Hiking Trails on Classic Cape Landscapes
Day 6
Stellenbosch – Sunrise Hike and Afternoon in the Vineyards
Day 7
Stellenbosch – Mountain Bike Cape Winelands Vineyard Tour
Day 8
Hermanus – Kayaking With Whales
Day 9
Hermanus – Great White Shark Cage Diving in Nearby Gansbaai
Day 10
Cape Town – Penguins on the Beach and Riding Into Cape Town
Day 11 - 12
Cape Town – Free Days in Cape Town
Day 13
Cape Town – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Explore the best of Cape Town with four days in the Mother City, including a sunset hike up Lion's Head and with a chance to surf or kitesurf
- Discover indigenous San culture at the !Khwa ttu San Cultural Center, where a mountain bike trail will take you past zebra and springbok as you explore
- Kayak along the shore of Cape Columbine Nature Reserve, and then amongst the whales of Walker Bay in Hermanus
- Set off on some of Africa's most incredible hiking trails in the Cederberg Mountains, to journey through a landscape as surreal as it is serene
- Spend a day in Stellenbosch, the heart of South Africa’s wine industry to mountain biking through the valley of different vineyards
- Get up close with the ocean's apex predator on a great white shark diving experience
- Pass wild penguins on your journey to Africa's southwestern tip, and then bike to Cape Town on one of the world's most beautiful coastal roads
- Visit the hidden side of the Cape and visit destinations that are mostly untouched by tourism
Detailed Description
Africa is a continent of rich natural wonder; from deserts to the seemingly endless savannah and rainforest, thousands of miles of white coastline all the way to a peninsula that juts out on its southwestern tip, every landscape seems to redefine notions of nature's power. Mountains rise vertically, towering more than a kilometer above the beach or dotting valleys of vineyards. Two oceans collide, bringing with them a feverish clash of marine life. Twisted rock formations, hundreds of empty coastal bays, rugged mountain chains scorched green by fynbos shrubs all come together to create scenery unlike any other place on the planet.
This adventure tour will uncover the hidden charms and evocative beauty of the Cape. Your destinations will foster a connection with nature as you move actively through the land and water. You will go kayaking in a bay dotted with whales, mountain bike between beautiful vineyards, wander along some of Africa's finest hiking trails, and then cycle the sublime coastal road into Cape Town. Along the way, there are penguins, zebra, indigenous San people, quiet evenings spent beneath the stars and plenty of time to feel how the wild wraps itself around everything in the Cape. This vacation is not your typical sightseeing South Africa tour, and nor is it a journey around the famous sights. Your time spent in South Africa will bring a connection with nature and a chance to discover a unique land from some very unique vantage points.
Your 13-day tour will begin and end with two nights in Cape Town, a city that is defined by nature. Table Mountain is just the start, and you will be doing as the locals do in climbing Lion's Head for sunset. Cape Columbine Nature Reserve is full of hidden bays and ocean adventure, while the Cederberg Mountains provide some excellent hiking trails, not to mention a dose of rural Cape life. You will spend a couple of nights in Stellenbosch in the Cape Winelands and then get close to whales and great white sharks with a few nights spent in Hermanus. You will find the penguins on the beach and then cycle back into Cape Town from the tip of Africa.
Every activity will run at your pace, and there is no limitation on fitness levels or age for this tour. If you have an adventurous spirit, then this is the perfect way to discover the Cape. Your activities will be tailored to your interests and abilities, as your itinerary will be handcrafted for you.
Starting Price
$8,500 per person (excluding international flights)
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
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