The Gardens of South Africa
10 Day Sample Itinerary
The ideal time for this itinerary is late July through September, during the peak wildflower season. This privately guided tour is designed for groups of 10-18 persons with an interest in gardens, food and wine. We suggest adding on a safari at the end of this to complete your South Africa experience.
Begin in Cape Town, with visits to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, one of South Africa’s most famous World Heritage Sites, and to award-winning private estate gardens. View the Mother City from the top of Table Mountain and explore the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. Within days you’ll know all about the Cape Floral Kingdom – the unique collection of plants that exists only here, in a category of their own. This time of year is peak season for the carpets of wildflowers stretching from the Atlantic coast to the inland mountains. Your journey takes you to a Relais & Chateaux wilderness retreat and into the Cape Winelands for wine tasting and a gastronomic adventure. Walk the path of the magnificent seaside cliff gardens on Walker Bay where you’ll stand in awe watching the whales mating and calving in the waters below. A safari extension can be easily added to follow your Gardens journey.
Contact Duffle & Compass to custom-tailor this itinerary for your group's interests, budget range, travel dates and accommodation preferences.
Day 1 Cape Town
Upon arrival at Cape Town International Airport, you will be met by your English-speaking, SATOUR registered tour guide who is also a botanical and gardening specialist. Transfer to the Cellars-Hohenort, a 5-Star, Relais & Chateaux property in the Constantia Valley Winelands.
The Cellars-Hohenort is a haven of peace and tranquility with breathtaking views across the 9 acres of world renowned gardens and vineyard. The 18th century wine cellars and manor house have been magnificently restored. Accommodation is on a bed and breakfast basis.
Day 2
Enjoy a full English breakfast this morning at The Greenhouse Restaurant in the hotel before your guided tour of the gardens with head horticulturist – Jean Auld – who has created and is responsible for the high standards of these magnificent gardens. They have received a few awards from the Chelsea Flower Show held in London each year.
Transfer in a luxury coach to the lower cableway station at Table Mountain. After a light picnic lunch we will take the 5 minute ride in the high tech cable car to the summit for a guided walking tour of a relatively small area of this heritage site.
South Africa is the sixth largest plant kingdom in the world and many species are endemic (i.e. appearing nowhere else in the world) and many of these are found on Table Mountain. En route back to the hotel, we will take a city orientation drive through Cape Town, the beautiful Mother City of South Africa.
Day 3
Rise early for a Full English breakfast before departing for Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, one of South Africa’s most famous World Heritage Sites. After lunch at the Gardens, depart to one of Cape Town’s exclusive residential suburbs to visit the Stellenberg Estate. Our private tour of the gardens will be conducted by the proud estate owner or her head horticulturist, and will be followed by tea and cake on the lawn. Dine at the Cape Malay Restaurant at the hotel.
Day 4
Enjoy a Full English breakfast before departing for a full-day Peninsula & Cape Point Tour. Highlights include the scenic Chapman’s Peak Drive, a guided walk at the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, funicular to the top of Cape Point, African Penguin colony at Boulders Beach, scenic Indian Ocean route and wine tasting at the Groot Constantia Estate. Tonight you may choose to dine at one of the excellent restaurants located in the Constantia Valley area or the V & A Waterfront.
Day 5 Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve
Rise early this morning and enjoy a Full English breakfast in the hotel prior to check out and departure. You will head north on the West Coast highway to Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve in the Cederberg Mountains. This is peak season for the Namaqualand flower splendor and the best time of day to view the carpets of spring flowers is from mid-morning until early afternoon. The area from Cape Town all the way to St. Helena Bay has been recently declared an international Biosphere.
You will stop along the way to visit a historic missionary church and parsonage, a private farm where we can walk amongst the Babianas and Lapeirousias carpeting the lands, the tidal lagoon at West Coast National Park and Saldanha Bay before heading east. 
Arrive at Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Retreat in time for high tea followed by a drive through the wilderness reserve. This exclusive 5-star wilderness and wellness retreat has consistently received world-wide recognition for its warm and welcoming hospitality, delicious Cape cuisine, magnificent service and facilities, and applauded for its dedication to restoring and preserving the natural beauty of the 18,500-acre reserve. Your stay is on an all-inclusive basis
Day 6
Rise early for coffee, tea and biscuits before departing in open air vehicles with experienced and highly trained conservation guides for a predator-free wilderness experience. Bushmans Kloof is a retreat nestled in a vast landscape of ancient sandstone rock formations located in the majestic Cederberg Mountains. It is a safe haven for a myriad of indigenous plants, birds and animals. A dedicated custodian of the world’s largest open-air rock art gallery, it has been named a Natural Heritage Site. There are two game drives each day and besides the fauna and flora the reserve offers guided rock art walks and visits providing guests with a mirror into the world of the ancient Bushmen.
You can opt to be as still or as active as you would like to be. There is mountain biking, canoeing, and swimming in the crystal clear rock pools, horse riding or being pampered in the Spa. Once again you’ll enjoy a high tea of note before departing on a “sundowner” wilderness drive with drinks and snacks as the sun goes down. Dinner at this Relais & Chateaux property is a gourmet dining experience.
Day 7 Franschhoek
After breakfast at the lodge you will head towards Tulbagh. The town is steeped in history, quintessentially Cape Dutch, yet undeniably international, rustic and rural, though irrefutably sophisticated. Stop for lunch at the famous Paddagang Restaurant which provides authentic dishes from the area such as Smoor Snoek (type of fish), Waterblommetjie Bredie (Cape asparagus casserole) and Bobotie (curried beef served with yellow rice) and other continental dishes handed down by our European forefathers now known as Boland (country) cuisine complimented by excellent local wines. 
After lunch you continue via Wellington (a fruit and wine growing area) and Paarl to the gourmet capital of the Cape – Franschhoek. Here, amidst luscious vineyards and gracious Cape Dutch farmsteads, a picturesque village emits proud, ever-present memories of a 17th century Huguenot culture.
Check in at the Franschhoek Country House & Villas this afternoon. This restored manor house and former perfumery dating back to 1890, is situated on the outskirts of the village surrounded by enchanting vineyards and majestic mountains. Your stay is on a bed and breakfast basis. Tonight you can dine at one of the many award-winning restaurants in the area.
Day 8 Hermanus
After breakfast you will journey through the Overberg region and apple growing district of Grabouw for a visit to the seaside town of Betty’s Bay. Here you can visit the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens in the heart of the Cape’s richest fynbos region, home to species including the King Protea, Ericas and Restios.
Continue on to Hermanus, the largest coastal town in the Overberg, which is spread out along the magnificent sea cliffs on Walker Bay. Enjoy lunch at Seafood at the Marine located in The Marine Hotel. After lunch take a walk along the cliff path which is spectacular, especially during whale season, earning the village the 
reputation of offering the best land-based whale watching in the world. On occasion they come within meters of the shore making it even easier to see these giant mammals mating and calving in the waters below.
You will arrive at Grootbos Private Nature Reserve in the late afternoon. This is a place like no other. When world-renowned British conservationist David Bellamy says “The best example of conservation of biodiversity I have ever seen – Grootbos says it with flowers,” then one knows that he has discovered a truly exceptional nature destination. Overlooking the spectacular Walker Bay, Grootbos offers the unique combination of a 5-star operation and an outstanding example of conservation and human development initiatives. 
You will have a briefing on all activities that Grootbos has to offer guests during their stay. You will then be able to schedule all the activities that appeal to you. You can be as busy or as quiet as you want to be. Dinner is a 5-course affair in the lodge restaurant. Your stay here is on an all-inclusive basis.
Day 9
Relax or enjoy the activities of your choice. Whether your interest is birding, gardening, wild flowers, whale-watching, diving with Great White sharks or relaxing on spectacular unspoilt beaches, Grootbos has it all. You can also do more land based whale watching from the shores of nearby De Kelders.
Day 10 To Cape Town
This morning you will head back to Cape Town where you can continue on to a safari or begin your journey home.
Contact Duffle & Compass to custom-tailor this itinerary for you.
