Compare Gardens Tour by Cape Insights
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 11 days |
| Price From | Check price |
| Price Per Day | Check price |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Group tour |
| Lodging Level | Luxury |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | |
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Internal airfare and ground transport included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included |
9 Lunches and 6 Dinners |
| Description |
Explore the Cape, The Winelands and Johannesburg in springtime – taking in iconic sights, landmark locations and spectacular, shore-based whale watching in Hermanus. Find out about fynbos, and why the Cape Floral Kingdom is a botanical treasure chest, one of only six floral kingdoms in the world, the smallest yet by far the richest, and among the very hottest of global biodiversity hotspots.Home to more plant species than found in the entire northern hemisphere, with 70% of these plants found no where else in the world, this region is also one of the most threatened reservoirs of plant and animal life on earth. |
Day 1: Cape Town
On arriving at Cape Town, you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to a haven of tranquillity nestling in the Constantia Valley, The Cellars-Hohenort where you can relax and unwind.
Get together for tea and a garden walkabout with the resident horticulturalist, before dinner with informative guests in one of the country’s top rated restaurants.
Day 2: The Cape Peninsula
By way of cable car get an eagle’s view of the Peninsula and Waterfront from the top of Table Mountain.
If the Cape Floral Kingdom is a biological treasure chest, then one of its most brilliant botanical gems is the Cape Peninsula that harbours a staggering 2,285 species – with 1,500 alone on the mountain, just fewer than in all of Britain.
In the company of a horticulturalist, wind your way south along scenic Chapman’s Peak Drive to Cape Point, celebrated as the legendary meeting place of two oceans and one of the most dramatic viewpoints anywhere on earth, travelling back via the fishing village of Kalk Bay.
Dinner is at your leisure.
Day 3: Jewel In The Crown Of The Cape Floral Kingdom
Acclaimed as one of the world’s Magnificent Seven gardens, Kirstenbosch is also the first botanic garden in the world to be included in a World Heritage Site. It is the jewel in the crown of the Cape Floral Kingdom, with a huge indigenous collection that showcases South Africa’s floral wealth. Spend the day exploring it in a leisurely fashion with some botanical gurus.
Later, enjoy a walkabout with the owner of a very private jewel in an oh-so-sustainable garden.
Dinner follows at an award-winning restaurant set within indigenous gardens landscaped by Ann Sutton.
Day 4: More Cape Gems
Visit Stellenberg- a venerable Cape Dutch home, whose classical formal garden designed by internationally acclaimed David Higgs reflects the estate’s history dating back to the 17th century.
Walk round Green Point’s Biodiversity Park designed to be educational, inspirational and stimulating, that contains some 300 local Cape plant species, while hearing about the genesis of The Company’s Garden, the original vegetable garden laid out by the Dutch East India Company in 1652.
Lunch within The Waterfront – the Gateway to Africa, which holds a range of historical, cultural and maritime landmarks. The balance of the afternoon and the evening are at your leisure.
Some suggestions for independent sightseeing … or you can linger in the V&A Waterfront
A trip to Robben Island: It’s a World Heritage Site and tangible reminder of the past and pivotal symbol of triumph of the human spirit, where you get a first hand account of prison life from former inmates …
The ‘Museum Mile‘: Stroll along Government Avenue, a tree-lined boulevard that runs the length of The Company’s Garden, passing the power hub of the city – the Houses of Parliament, the Slave Lodge, the SA Museum, the SA National Gallery and the SA Jewish Museum.
Day 5: The Winelands / Franschhoek
Leave Cape Town for Vergelegen, the country’s premier estate, with its gracious homestead and spacious gardens – awarded the International Camellia Garden of Excellence, 1 of 17 in the world – hearing from the independent conservationist heading its biodiversity project and lunching here.
Go on an exclusive walkabout of an emerging indigenous garden and studio of Dylan Lewis, a foremost South African sculptor. Continue through Stellenbosch, a university town in the heart of the Winelands with oak lined streets and Cape Dutch gables, toRustenberg, another 1600’s farm with luch gardens and a Chartres-style labyrinth. Head up to Delaire Graff, a contemporary estate straddling two major wine areas, with an enviable art collection and landscaping by Keith Kirsten.
Franschhoek means French corner, because Huguenots fleeing from religious persecution settled here in 1688, bringing their wine making expertise and customs with them.
Stay in the heart of this picturesque village at the Protea Franschhoek for 2 night, dining at The Tasting Room, featured in The World’s 100 Best Restaurants.
Day 6: Vineyards & Valleys / Franschhoek
Explore some renowned estates. At Babylonstoren, follow resident horticulturalist around gardens inspired by the Company’s Garden design and recreated by Patrice Taravella of Prieuré d’Osan fame. Spanning eight acres, it’s divided into fifteen clusters with over 300 edible varieties of plants, lunching here on farm-fresh-fare.
At Boschendal, a historic estate restored by Gwen Fagan, ”smell the roses” of many original species cultivated at the Cape and in the East Indies in the 17th century.
At Solms Delta, track stories about the valley that chronicle 8,000 years and hear about its precedent-setting land ownership initiative.
Over sunset drinks with uninterrupted valley views, find out what inspired the owners of Haute Espoir to become a Biodiversity & Wine Initiative (BWI) and how they are transforming their habitat.
The evening is open, with an abundance of restaurants to choose from within this ”culinary capital”.
Day 7: Less Travelled Roads / Hermanus
Venture along less travelled roads, first stopping at Freshwoods, a rambling, romantic plantsman’s garden. Particularly valuable because of its conservation of old roses from the Cape and for preserving collections of wild roses, the World Federation of Rose Societies acknowledged its excellence with an Award of Merit.
Second stop overlooks a willow-clad dam, where a free-flowing country garden surrounds an historic house with the oldest cellar and watermill in the Overberg, where you’ll have an informal wine tasting before a light lunch. Last stop is the Hemel en Aarde valley, a highly regarded maritime wine district, before reaching Hermanus a sea side town with some of the best land-based whale watching in the world.
Supper is in a relaxed, modern-idiom restaurant overlooking Walker Bay, overnighting at The Marine.
Day 8: The Flanks Of False Bay / Johannesburg
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and a walk along the shoreline or perhaps a swim in the tidal pool, before leaving this whale-watchers paradise in mid morning.
In Betty’s Bay lunch and linger in The Harold Porter Botanical Garden, set between mountain and sea.
Winding along a scenic coastal drive you’ll have plenty of photo-ops before arriving at Cape Town airport in late afternoon, for your 2-hour flight flight to Johannesburg.
Check straight in to The Winston where chefs are on hand to create a tasty supper should you wish to relax and order in, since dinner is for your own account.
Day 9: Gallery & Garden Gallivant / Johannesburg
Constitution Hill is a historical landmark that tells the tale of South Africa’s difficult past and its remarkable transition to democracy. At The Constitutional Court hear about the genesis of its inspiring collection of artworks, all connected in some way to the highest court and its values.
Brenthurst Garden is rated as one of the finest in South Africa and placed among the great gardens of the world. It’s an oasis of calm where pioneer landscaper Joane Pim designed a European style garden for Sir Ernest and Lady Oppenheimer. Under Strilli Oppenheimer’s helming hands, there’s a new aesthetic of biodynamic and naturalistic gardening principles, though she has retained the original roses and link with The Quiet Garden Trust.
In the evening, you’ll be welcomed into a private showcase for an ‘insiders’ dinner.
Day 10: The Cradle Of Humankind / Johannesburg
A day with a different perspective – that unravels man’s span of evolution stretching back some 3.5 million years. Begin at The Origins Centre, a museum that showcases where and when things began.
Then head out to The Cradle of Humankind, a World Heritage Site where forty per cent of the world’s human ancestor fossils have been found.
Wander around Nirox Sculpture Park, a high end cultural hub set among lush acres, landscaped by Patrick Watson, alighting on artworks in unexpected places while reveling in the gardens’ tranquility and creativity.
Celebrate your last night under African skies in the heart of The Cradle at the appropriately named Roots restaurant, a member of the distinguished Chaîne des Rôtisseurs.
Day 11: Onward Journey
Following a leisurely breakfast, airport transfers are arranged to suit your home bound flight or onward safari connection where you discover the magic and mystery of Africa.
