Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip

Western Cape Road Trip

Cape Town,The Winelands and Cape

Starting from between £2,400 to £3,825 per person for 12 days depending on the time of year, type of accomodation and activities

Itinerary Highlights

  • City life in cultural Cape Town
  • Beach vibes and whale watching from Paternoster
  • Epic landscapes and wildlife in the shadows of the Cederberg Mountains
  • Foodie and wine-lovers paradise in Franschhoek in the Cape Winelands
This adventure showcases a different side of South Africa, dodging the crowds by heading into the Western Cape. Your twelve-day tour begins with a stay in Cape Town where you can venture up Table Mountain by cable car, learn about South Africa’s dramatic history and make the most of the city’s award-winning restaurants. From here, explore Cape Point and its penguin residents before heading off along the west coast. Paternoster is a highlight along the way, with its whitewashed cottages, golden crescent beach and relaxed way of life. The Cederberg Mountains are your next stop, where you can get back to nature and seek out wildebeest, zebras and an array of beautiful birds. The icing on the cake is a visit to the famous Winelands, where you can spend an afternoon lazing in the sun with a glass of South Africa’s finest wine, followed by a potter around pretty Franschhoek village before heading home.
Strandloper Ocean Boutique Hotel - Paternoster - South Africa © Alain Proust/Strandloper Ocean Boutique Hotel
Strandloper Ocean Boutique Hotel - Paternoster - South Africa © Alain Proust/Strandloper Ocean Boutique Hotel
Landscape - South Africa © Olivier Romano
Landscape - South Africa © Olivier Romano
Antelopes - South Africa © thespecialistsa/markdescande/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Antelopes - South Africa © thespecialistsa/markdescande/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Abalone Boutique hotel  - Cape Town  - South Africa © Abalone House
Abalone Boutique hotel - Cape Town - South Africa © Abalone House
Cottage 1685 - Franschhoek -  South Africa © Droits reservés
Cottage 1685 - Franschhoek - South Africa © Droits reservés
Franschhoek - South Africa © Relais & Châteaux
Franschhoek - South Africa © Relais & Châteaux

Itinerary

100% customisable for you

This evening head to the airport in London for your direct overnight eleven-and-a-half hour flight to Cape Town in South Africa.

Land into Cape Town early morning, and head straight to your hotel to check in and freshen up for the day ahead. Start your South African adventure with a cable car trip up Table Mountain to get the lie of the land, with epic views over the city and down to the Cape Peninsula. Head back down to sea level and explore the city itself, with a private walking tour to learn about South Africa's dramatic history from colonial times through to the apartheid are and finally full democracy.

Discover the architectural gems from the Dutch and British colonial eras, and the colourful streets of Bo-Kaap. Enjoy dinner in one of Cape Town's many award-winning restaurants, which our Concierge can recommend and book.

Today on your Western Cape road trip you can explore the natural beauty of the Cape Peninsula, with a private tour down the coast to the most south-westerly point in all of Africa. Enjoy stopping at charming seaside towns along the way, and say hello to the residents of Boulder Beach, a colony of friendly African penguins. Spend time walking around Cape Point with its rocky cliffs, interesting plantlife and even the odd zebra joining you on the path. Soak up the beautiful scenery before heading back to the city for dinner.

Before leaving Cape Town, join a tour to a local township and learn about some of the wonderful entrepreneurial ventures run by local residents. It's now time to head north out of the city and enjoy a drive up the west coast to the next stop on your Western Cape road trip, the pretty village of Paternoster. The drive takes two-and-a-half hours, and on arrival you can settle into the relaxed way of life in this lovely spot, with whitewashed fishermen's cottages scattered among the sand dunes. For dinner this evening, choose from incredible fresh seafood in one of the little restaurants on the shore, or head to one of the smarter restaurants popping up in town.

Spend today in Paternoster, admiring the work of local artists in the studios and shops along the main road. Pick up a bike to explore along the coast, or flop on the beach, keeping an eye out for whales and dolphins. Enjoy the beautiful sunset with sundowners and scrub up for dinner at Wolfgat, a recent winner of the Restaurant of the Year gong at the World Restaurant Awards. With only 20 covers and six staff, Wolfgat is an intimate fine dining experience with a tasting menu inspired by the surrounding landscape.

Today on your Western Cape road trip it's time to say goodbye to Paternoster and drive towards the Cederberg Mountains, stopping to admire the beautiful coastal and mountain views along the way. Arrive at your luxurious retreat in the foothills of the mountains, set within a private reserve with wide open plains and rugged rock formations. Settle in and relax by the pool, or explore some of the 130 rock art sites on the reserve, many dating back over 10,000 years. The team at Bushmans Kloof are dedicated to preserving the legacy of the indigenous San people and their rock art.

Spend today exploring the beautiful reserve. As a predator-free environment, you can safely roam the land, biking or hiking to see the antelopes, baboons, wildebeests and zebras. Or you can join a bird-watching guided walk or nature drive after dark to spot intriguing nocturnal species.

Return to the lodge for sundowners on the terrace before dinner.

After the exertions of yesterday, you may want to spend today relaxing at the lovely spa on site, enjoying a massage or facial and time by the pool. If you get itchy feet, try your hand at fly-fishing at one of the reserve's dams, or canoeing through the waterways in the veld.

After dinner, spend the evening star-gazing the constellations of the Southern Hemisphere.

Today on your Western Cape road trip it's time to head south to the wondrous Winelands, and your home for the next couple of days in the pretty village of Franschhoek. Spend the afternoon walking or cycling around this fashionable town and admiring the views of endless vines with dramatic mountain backdrops.

Take your pick of the local restaurants for dinner and get stuck into their impressive wine lists. Our Concierge can recommend and book the best restaurants.

Today is all about the grapes. A local expert will guide you around the vineyards, offering extensive knowledge and insider tips to make the most of your day. Enjoy lunch overlooking the valley and visit a boutique winery to see the process behind the bottles. Foodies will love Franschhoeck, bursting with gourmet restaurants and dining experiences. We'll find the perfect place for your last night in South Africa.

Spend your last morning pottering in the shops of pretty Franschhoek village and filling the suitcase with bottles of your favourite Pinotage. It's time for the one-hour drive back to Cape Town airport to catch the overnight flight back to the UK. The flight will take 11-and-a-half hours, landing the following morning.

The flight will arrive in London at around breakfast time.

Why visit South Africa with Original Travel

Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.

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A few of the benefits of travelling with us to South Africa

  • Our local Concierges
  • The Original Travel app
  • Airport lounge access
  • Wi-Fi router and e-Sim
  • Destination Dossier
  • 24-hour helpline
  • Expert guides
  • 100% carbon absorption

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A rough idea of the price

Depending on the time of year, type of accommodation and activities

The estimated cost for this trip starts from £2,400 to £3,825 per person. The final cost of the trip depends on the way we tailor it especially for you. The final cost varies according to several factors, which include the level of service, length of trip and advance booking time. The exact price will be provided on your personalised quote. The average starting price for this trip is £3,060 per person.

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