10-Day Our Fairest Cape Tour

Guests are met at a location of their choice in Cape Town at the start of this private luxury tour. Today focuses on a few of the city’s signature highlights with your African Sky guide. Weather permitting, ride the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway for sweeping views across Table Bay and the Cape Peninsula, then enjoy an easy mountaintop walk along established paths and viewpoints. Table Mountain’s first recorded European ascent is commonly attributed to António de Saldanha in 1503, though local communities knew the mountain long before recorded European visits.

During the cooler part of the day, stroll through Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. Kirstenbosch was established in 1913 and showcases indigenous Cape flora, with themed gardens and conservatory displays. Don’t miss the Centenary Tree Canopy Walkway (“Boomslang”), which opened to the public on May 17, 2014, and offers a raised perspective through the treetops and fynbos. Return to your hotel for a relaxed evening in Cape Town.

This morning you set out on a circular Cape Peninsula drive, exploring coastal scenery, viewpoints, and nature reserves. Along the way, your guide shares context on early European contact and the region’s longer Indigenous history. Visit Boulders Beach to see the African penguin colony and enjoy time on the boardwalks for close-up viewing while respecting protected areas. Continue south toward the Cape of Good Hope section of Table Mountain National Park for dramatic cliffs, ocean panoramas, and short walks to scenic lookouts.

Afterward, travel Chapman’s Peak Drive, one of the world’s most spectacular coastal routes, hugging the Atlantic seaboard above Hout Bay. Pause at viewpoints as conditions allow, then return to Cape Town in the late afternoon. The remainder of the day is at leisure for the V&A Waterfront, beaches, galleries, or a sunset dining experience based on your preferences.

Today features a visit to Robben Island, Cape Town’s most famous historic site and a powerful symbol of South Africa’s modern history. Depart by ferry from the V&A Waterfront and cross Table Bay to the island, a ferry ride of around 30 minutes each way. The island’s past is complex: over centuries it served multiple purposes, including isolation and incarceration, long before it became globally known for political imprisonment during apartheid.

On arrival, join a guided experience through key sites on the island, including the prison facilities and Nelson Mandela’s former cell, where he spent many years of imprisonment. The excursion typically lasts several hours, after which you return by ferry to Cape Town. The remainder of the day is open for relaxed exploration of the waterfront precinct and nearby attractions.

After breakfast, depart Cape Town for the dramatic Cederberg region, driving north via the N7 through changing landscapes and farming districts. The route leads into the Olifants River Valley, known for citrus production, before turning toward the mountains and protected wilderness areas. As you approach the Cederberg, the scenery becomes increasingly rugged, with weathered rock formations, wide skies, and a sense of remoteness that defines this part of the Western Cape.

Your base is Bushmans Kloof, set within a 7,500-hectare private reserve and known for more than 130 San rock art sites, some dating back thousands of years. Your stay includes full-board dining and a choice of guided activities such as nature drives, rock art excursions, botanical walks, hiking, swimming, and stargazing. Specialist interests may also be arranged, and spa treatments are available at an additional cost.

After breakfast, transfer to the Overberg coast for a contrasting landscape of fynbos, forest, and ocean views. Grootbos Private Nature Reserve sits above Walker Bay near Gansbaai and is celebrated for its conservation focus, indigenous fynbos, and ancient milkwood forests. Settle in and enjoy a gentle introduction to the reserve with time to absorb the scenery, birdlife, and the unique plant diversity of the Cape Floral Kingdom.

Over the next two days, choose from guided walks, hikes, and nature experiences, with additional regional excursions available depending on season and sea conditions. Walker Bay is well known for seasonal marine life, and the area also offers options such as boat-based whale viewing (in season), shark cage diving in nearby Gansbaai, and scenic drives. Since around 2017, orcas have driven most great white sharks away from Gansbaai and False Bay, and cage dives now mostly see bronze whaler (copper) sharks, with only the occasional great white. Evenings are ideal for relaxed dining and unwinding with panoramic views.

This morning your guide meets you for the journey north to the Cape Winelands, traveling via fertile valleys and mountain passes en route to Franschhoek. Along the way, enjoy scenic stops as conditions allow, then arrive in the village known for its food-and-wine culture, galleries, and mountain-ringed setting. The area’s agricultural richness and long farming history are evident in the landscapes and historic estates.

Franschhoek’s identity was shaped by French Huguenot settlers in the late 17th century, and many early farm names still reflect their origins. This afternoon includes a visit to a local wine estate for a cellar tour and tasting, focusing on classic Cape varieties. Return to your accommodation with the evening free for Franschhoek’s celebrated restaurants and relaxed village atmosphere.

Today includes time in Stellenbosch, one of South Africa’s oldest towns and a center of Cape Dutch heritage, oak-lined streets, and established winemaking traditions. Enjoy a short orientation and time to appreciate the town’s architecture and setting before continuing into the surrounding vineyards. The region’s mild climate and fertile valleys support a wide range of wine styles and tasting experiences.

Visit two wine estates for tastings and insight into local winemaking, with selections tailored to your preferences. In the early afternoon, you are transferred to a location of your choice in Cape Town, bringing the tour to an end.