Classic Cape Town

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Full Itinerary Seven Day Classic Cape Town

Day1. Table Mountain and Robben Island
0820 to 1800 approximately

Highlights:
– Table Mountain by cable-car
– 360 degree views of the city
– Robben Island tourInclusions:
– cable-car fees
– Robben Island Ferry and Tour fees
– guide & transfers
– mineral water

Exclusions:
– drinks
– discretionary tips
– lunch

Table Mountain and Robben Island are grouped together because they provide two poles of story, two perspectives on history, and from a physical point of view, they are two significant spaces.Part I. Table Mountain

To start with the mountain, because from here we can see the entire city, and its important to start with an overview. It really helps to shape the city, physically and from a narrative point of view, in your mind.

We begin with a look at the ‘mother in the mountain’, from the foot of Lion’s Head, which provides lovely insight into the city, and from there we ascend Table Mountain itself by cable-way. From here we can see almost to the beginning of time, and so our guide maps out the city physically, and in doing so, provides a good introduction to what has happened between the physically spaces of the city, over a long period of time. We have plenty of time up here to enjoy the elevated perspective, walk about and enjoy the good air. We can walk to Maclears Beacon if we like.

Part II. Robben Island

Robben Island, known most famously for being the prison that Nelson Mandela was held in for the best part of 27 years. To visit this prison island is not only to commemorate in some way the actions and change-making decisions of leaders like Mandela, but also to see the city from a different perspective and with a changed mindset.

NOTE: this programme is subject to change depending on weather and other conditions. If necessary, Robben Island tour takes place in the morning, and Table Mountain visit in the afternoon. If the weather does not allow for either visit to take place, guests can use their tickets to experience both on another day.

Day2. City and Township Futures

What if the townships where the centre of Cape Town and not the periphery?

Highlights:
– New City Developments
– the Camissa, `Place of Sweet Waters’
– District Six Museum
– The Slave Lodge
– The BoKaap
– local food tasters
– township context and future potential
– meet township residents shaping the future of the city

Inclusions:
– local tasters
– Mineral water
– township `chisa nyama’ or hot meat lunch
– all entrance fees
– guide

Exclusions
– discretionary tips

Part1. Historic City
Cape Town is deceptive. The inner city – or the original, historic Cape Town city – is very very small, and is often seen as being the city in its entirety. It is no longer the epicentre of Cape town, but it is where the story of the city begins.

This half-day journey through the inner-city the city puts the guest in touch with its very earliest days as the home of the Khoisan, right through to 10 years into the future and what is anticipated. It’s not widely known, even by Capetonians, that the nation’s first banks started here; that Cape Town as a commercial city began with the Camissa River, which flowed down the mountain and into the ocean, at the point where the train station is; that before the arrival of the Dutch there were thousands of years other history and stories.

We are interested in all the stories, and attempt in the four hours, to cover the widest diversity of the stories that have defined the city, including stories of political history, with explorations into the impact of Nelson Mandela, Robert Sobukwe, Philip Kgosana and Cissie Gool, amongst others.

We include the District Six Museum and District Six the area briefly, as well as the Slave Lodge, and the old slave quarter, the BoKaap.

Part2. The present and future city – the Townships
You will hear a lot of things said about the Cape Flats and the Townships.

“The other side of town”, “The danger zone”, “Are you crazy, don’t go there!”

These are just some of the mild things said.

Consider the facts:

Of Cape Town’s population, the majority of us live in townships. Which means that the largest distribution of the city’s spend comes from the townships.

Of families living in houses, the majority are owned by the residents. Which means that there is very very little home loan debt, if any. Compare that with suburban areas, where the majority of residents are NOT homeowners, and where the majority of people have major debt.

Consider that Khayelitsha is the fastest growing suburb in the country, with a large middle class.

And finally – at least for the purposes of this writeup – consider that the future of Cape Town lies in the townships. That as the city grows and expands, it is expanding into the townships.

So what does the future hold?

On this four hour excursion we take the visitor into several of our townships, looking at some major sites and projects of transformation, and meeting some of the people that are making this change. We look at how the city and its townships were formed, and how the townships are being shaped into the future. It looks at models for economic and social integration. It looks at major transport changes. It looks at ways that townships might connect to each other and to the city as a whole.

And most importantly, this tour looks at the townships as the centre of the city, and not some fringe section. That is the most crucial difference in thinking.

Highlights:
– Cape of Good Hope (Cape Point)
– Chapman’s Peak (if not closed for roadworks)
– extraordinarily beautiful sightseeingInclusions:
– entrance fees Cape Point Nature Reserve
– guide & transfers
– mineral water

Exclusions:
– alcoholic drinks
– discretionary tips
– lunch

Table Mountain is not simply the table topped mountain the world knows so well, it is an entire mountain range, stretching from the Atlantic down the Peninsula to the Indian Ocean. It is itself an island, and the city has developed around it. It is the spine of Cape Town.On the Peninsula Route, we follow the perimeter of the Table Mountain range, going full circle around the mountain, passing incredible seascapes, and taking in some of the most magical sightseeing possible.

There is the majestic pass called Chapman’s Peak. There are quirky little suburbs like the arty Kalk Bay, the naval Simonstown and the natural bay called Hout Bay. There are two oceans, the Indian and the Atlantic. There is the Cape Point Nature Reserve, at the Good of Good Hope, the point of the Peninsula where these two oceans meet. There are the crazy penguins that hated the cold, just outside of Simonstown, and there are troops of baboons and some deer and other animals, in addition to some of the most incredible fynbos and plant biodiversity.

The Peninsula Route is a magical blend of all these elements.

Day4. Wine Route

Highlights:
– incredible scenery
– fine wine
– great stories from the winelands

Inclusions:
– x3 wine tastings (full day)
– guide
– vehicle
– mineral water

Exclusions:
– discretionary tips
– lunch

There are close to 500 wine estates in the Cape, most of them within an hour from Cape Town city. Our full day wine route focuses on a selection of our favourite estates in Paarl, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch, the three key winemaking regions, and some of the most picturesque areas of the Cape. Over an easy going day, we visit three, sometimes four estates, depending on timing and the guests’ capacity for tasting! Tastings in the Cape are big, and for most people, three sets of tastings satiates the palette. It’s a private tour though, so it’s up to you the guests!

Some of our favourite estates include Waterkloof in Somerset West, Reyneke in Stellenbosch, Meerlust in Stellenbosch, Solms Delta for their indigenous lunch menu…

Day6. Jazz Safari
The day is free. At 1900 you join Coffeebeans’ famous Cape Town Jazz Safari.
** Please note that the Jazz Safari takes place on a scheduled basis, meaning that you join other guests. It is the only scheduled tour of the Classic Cape Town programme **

Highlights: