Down to earth holidays

Description

There is everyone else’s Cape Town and Winelands tour, then there is Down to Earth Holidays’ Cape Town & Winelands tour! This is different, it is fun, it’s unique. It may be a little more expensive than some very basic tours with a similar-looking itinerary, but this packs in the experiences and fun that makes travelling so additive, and introduces you to aspects South African life that most visitors don’t get to see.

In Cape Town you get to see all the fabulous sights which cannot be missed, such as Table Mountain, Signal Hill, the Waterfront, plus you have free time to include Robben Island, Kirstenbosch Gardens and other sites you might want to include. On our Cape Peninsula tour (with no more than 10 people) we see the highlights such as Cape Point, Boulders Beach penguin colony, Chapman’s Peak Drive, Simons Town, and also the small fishing village of Kalk Bay. At Kalk Bay we will stop for tea with a local fishing family before heading back to Cape Town.

Our Alternative Wine Tour is fascinating and really great fun. It is also a wonderful day of getting to know some local people. You can visit the Lwandle museum, then we take you wine and cheese-tasting at Fairview Wine Estate. About noon we head for Kayamandi in Stellenbosch, and stop at the house of a Xhosa kamamma (a kamamma is a kind of head lady of her community) who will cook up a traditional hearty Xhosa lunch, and will be delighted if you get involved! If we can drag you away, we’ll then visit we visit Yellow, a gifted Bushman wire artist and find out about life and laughter from his perspective. You end your day at the homestay of another Kamamma, who will be eager and delighted to make you welcome.

The next day a hire car will be brought to you so that you can head off and explore the Winelands yourselves. It’s nice to have a combination of guided tours and freedom to explore.

The following day you also have a free day in Cape Town. But then this evening we take you out on the town on a Jazz Safari! Have dinner and meet with local Cape Jazz musicians who play a mix of western and African jazz which came out of the townships. It will be an unforgettable evening and a great way to end your Cape Town and winelands holiday.

Detailed Itinerary

1. DAY 1: Arrive in Cape Town. You will be met on arrival and transferred to your guest house. Free afternoon.
2. DAY 2: You will be collected for a half shared day city tour this morning, including Table Mountain, Signal Hill, a drive around the city to get your bearings, and District 6 Museum. Free afternoon, or optional trip to Robben Island.  B
3. DAY 3: This full-day shared tour (max 10 people) takes you to the famous Cape Point, the most southwesterly tip of Africa. On the way, we will drive along stunning routes such as Chapmans’ Peak Drive (if open), pass beaches of Camps Bay and Hout Bay and visit the penguins on Boulders Beach. At Cape Point Nature Reserve, a sanctuary for indigenous plants and animals, you will see one of the highest sea cliffs in the world, before heading for lunch at the Two Oceans restaurant. On the way home we will stop at the historic fishing village of Kalk Bay, and we will even stop for tea in the home of a local fishing family. B
4. DAY 4: You will be collected at 9am for your privateday tour of the Winelands. If you like museums, your first stop can be Lwandle Museum which tells you about the lives and times of the labourers who built up the towns and vineyards or the area. We then head for Fairview Wine Estate on the slopes of Paarl Mountain, to get a real taste of what the Winelands is all about. The owner, Charles back believes that “if you don’t have a happy winery, you’re not going to get good grapes!’. You can taste the various wines for yourself, including a brand made by the farm workers themselves. They also offer tasting of cheese made by the wives of the farm labourers.
   You’re bound to have worked up an appetite by now, so we head off to Kayamandi township in Stellenbosch We’re going to have a ‘cookup’ lunch with a Dreamcatcher* kamamma (a matriarch in her community). This is a wonderful experience and great fun, and the kamamma will be delighted if you get involved and she can teach you how to make some traditional xhosa dishes which you then have for lunch.
   If we can drag you away, we’ll then go and visit Yellow and his family. Yellow is a Bushman and a gifted wire artist.
   All this plus the fabulous scenery of the Winelands really does make this a day to savour. And tonight you will enjoy the warm hospitality of another Dreamcatcher* kammama for a homestay, including more gorgeous food. FB.
5. DAY 5: A hire car will be delivered to your homestay this morning so that you can head off and explore the Winelands by yourselves. Walk in the wonderful scenery, take another wine tasting tour, or simply head for your guest house in Franschhoek and wander round this charming village. B
6. DAY 6: Today you have a free day. You can either head straight back to Cape Town, see more of the Winelands or explore another nearby area. You need to be back in Cape Town by evening as at 7pm we’re coming to pick you up and take you for a Cape jazz safari! You’ll meet some of the local Cape jazz musicians, enjoy supper, and really soak up the flavour of Cape Town in an exciting and fun way. B.
7. DAY 7: You have the morning free, then drop your car off at the airport before your flight home. B

* The Dreamcatcher Foundation was founded 25 yrs ago by Anthea Rossouw. Its mission is to help help themselves out of the poverty trap, and to bring lasting dignity, skills and training to women, their families and communities situated across South Africa by job creation through the micro-business programmes of Dreamcatcher.

Is it for you?

This holiday is suitable for all ages and levels of fitness. Adults and children alike should really enjoy the variety this trip offers. All the accommodation is good quality, though the homestay will obviously be more quirky and unique than guest house accommodation. Please ask for more details if you’re unsure about this aspect of the holiday, but we've always found that this is a highlight for most people.

Best times to go

Summer (Oct-Feb) is generally hot and dry with temps from about 16-23°C. From Nov-Feb there is an occasional wind which can be cold and strong. Winter (May-July) is mostly cold and wet (7-20°C), with some sunny days.

Getting there

This holiday starts and ends in Cape Town. We can arrange flights for you or you can buy your own.

Responsible Travel

How your holiday helps:
Our Cape Peninsula tour backs to the fishing village of Kalk Bay by working with the local people.
The Alternative Wine tour: Dreamcatcher’s "Cookup & Homestays with Kamammas" gives back to the Kamammas and their helpers, creating work and income for a lot of people. Yellow’s family also benefits, as does the community guide, and the labourers at Fairview wine estate. The Dreamcatcher Foundation is one of the founders of community-based tourism in South Africa. With about 100 projects, they estimate that they benefit about 20,000 people. Through tourism ventures they work for the well-being and advancement of under-privileged communities in South Africa, with an emphasis on supporting women.
The Cape jazz safari breaks down cultural barriers as only music can so is hugely positive.

Carbon Offsetting :
For every client we take on holiday we plant 10 indigenous tree saplings. This is used as a poverty alleviation and biodiversity scheme as well as helping with carbon offsetting. Click for more details …

Giving to grassroots projects:
Our registered charity, The Tribes Foundation, is currently raising funds for a project in South Africa. The kindness of strangers can make a big difference, so if you’re a travel philanthropist considering donating to a worthwhile charity, please consider backing this excellent community project.

The Calabash Trust is a charity based in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. It works with poor communities based in the urban townships of Port Elizabeth. While the primary focus is nutrition and education, they also engage in job creation and skills training.

We will shortly have a page with photos of the school on www.the-tribes-foundation.org.

Shop ethically:
If you support buying fair trade, ethical and organic goods, please take a look at our online ethical shop for books, maps, travel gadgets, first aid kits etc before you travel. This is also a great place to find organic goodies and handmade crafts, many made in the countries and areas that we visit.

FOR MORE GENERAL DETAILS ABOUT OUR RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL PRINCIPLES, CLICK HERE.

Comments

Trip Code: SA1

Validity: 1-3-09 to 31-10-09

Individual Trip Dates & Prices

2+ people can take this holiday on most days of the year, subject to availability. Please call us to check availability.

1 March to 31 October 09 : from £720 pp.

• Prices are based on twin share, excluding flights.
• We can also arrange this trip for more than 2 people, so please ask for prices.
• Please ask about child rates (if available) and single supplements.
• Exchange rate fluctuations may affect these prices (see our Booking Conditions).

Duration: 7 days

Included
Airport meet & greet, transfer to guest house, accommodation based on twin share (B&B), 1 lunch and two dinners, half day Cape Town tour (shared), full day Cape Peninsula tour (shared), full day Alternative Winelands tour (private), Cape Town jazz safari (shared), 2 days car hire.

Not Included
Flights, tips, insurance, visas, items of a personal nature, drinks, meals not shown, cable car fee on Table Mountain, optional excursions, car hire options (eg second driver – please ask for details).