Day 01
Table Mountain, Cape Town Heritage and Groot Constantia
- After departing the hotel, head for Table Mountain, which is part of the Cape Peninsula National Park. This area is also a World Heritage Site. The five-minute ascent to the top of Table Mountain offers a 360-degree view of Cape Town, the ocean, and the neighbouring peaks.
- At the top, enjoy spectacular views and a peaceful feeling of being over one thousand metres above the city below. The area at the top of the mountain is surprisingly large, leaving enough time to stroll around, enjoy the viewing platforms, and soak up the vistas.
- Enjoy the crisp air and clear visibility as you reach the summit, weather permitting. Your Cape Town guide will point out the highlights of one of the world's most famous views.
- After the descent, stretch your legs by walking through the Company Gardens. The humble vegetable patch that the first white colonists planted in the autumn and winter of 1652 still flourishes; over the centuries, it has changed beyond recognition, both in appearance and function. It is now one of the world's most attractive and botanically interesting city parks.
- Visit the Castle of Good Hope, the oldest building in South Africa built by European settlers, which once stood at the edge of the sea and today serves as the headquarters of the Western Province Command. The staterooms contain the William Fehr collection of furniture, paintings, china, and glassware. The military and maritime museums are also of great interest.
- Continue the tour with a drive past the Houses of Parliament, the City Hall, and the Slave Lodge before entering the "Bo Kaap", also known as the Malay Quarter. The architecture in this area is typical of what Cape Town was like 200 years ago.
- Proceed to the historic Groot Constantia wine farm, with its picturesque white-gabled Cape Dutch architecture. Constantia's history dates back to 1685, when Governor Simon van der Stel named his property Constantia after the daughter of his benefactor, Commissioner van Rheede, who granted him a farm here. Governor van der Stel planted orchards and vineyards on the farm, making Constantia the oldest wine-producing region in the Southern Hemisphere with an uninterrupted history of winemaking.
- Now drive another 15 kilometres from Cape Town's city centre. With the world-renowned Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens on its doorstep, the Constantia of today shares its heritage and landscapes of unsurpassed beauty with the locals who have made it their home. The Constantia Valley receives a steady flow of visitors throughout the year who come to enjoy the country lifestyle conveniently located close to all major attractions.
- Take a step back in time and experience how wines are made.
- Enjoy a 45-60 minute guided tour through a modern cellar, followed by a wine tasting and audio-visual screening.
Return to the hotel.
