HIGHLIGHTS OF SOUTH AFRICA - VALUE

The Franschhoek Wine Tram hop-on hop-off tour is one of the best ways to discover the true essence of the Franschhoek Valley – picturesque vineyards, breath-taking scenery, warm hospitality, world-class cuisine, fine wines and a 300-year history.

Passengers aboard the hop-on hop-off tour will experience a unique and leisurely way to see the Franschhoek Valley as they journey through rolling vineyards in a vintage style railway tram and open-air tram-bus stopping in at some of South Africa’s oldest and most distinguished wine estates.

A combination of tram and tram-bus transports passengers around a loop of stops allowing them to hop-off at each stop and experience the activities on offer, be it wine tasting, a cellar tour, lunch or simply a stroll through the vineyards and when they are ready, hop-on to continue the tour.

The tour takes passengers right into the heart of the Franschhoek Valley, with a narration focusing on the history of Franschhoek and wine cultivation in the valley and unparalleled views of the valley and vineyards.

Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve is part of the UNESCO declared Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve. Situated in the Franschhoek Mountains, the reserve offers spectacular views of the Franschhoek Valley, diverse plant life and over 30km of safe, well-maintained hiking trails (ranging from 2 hour walks to day hikes).

You can buy permits online at webtickets, at the entrance to the reserve or at select outlets in Franschhoek.

The Franschhoek Valley with its age-old oaks and rolling vineyards is known for its large array of cellars, from smaller boutique wineries to bigger cellars that offer visitors organised tours and tastings.

Home to some of the country's most loved cultivars and classic styles, these range from superb whites such as Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Semillon and Chenin Blanc, to the full-bodied reds of Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Pinot Noir and Merlot.

Some of South Africa's extraordinary Méthode Cap Classiques are produced here, and can be enjoyed during a trip along the Franschhoek MCC Route.

The wines made by the Vignerons de Franschhoek can be tasted, paired with wonderful food available from Franschhoek’s restaurants, many of which are found on the wine estates.

Pamper yourself with luxurious pampering at the Casuarina Spa

Relax and unwind at the Commodore's outdoor swimming pool.

Get in your daily workout at Commodore's gym.

One of the main features of a safari is a 4x4 game drive. On game drives you are able to get a lot closer to big game than on a self-drive safari, as you are guided by experienced rangers and in appropriate vehicles. The animals are generally habituated to the vehicle. This enables to you to get within five to 10 metres of the large animals - and safely!

All game drives are conducted in open 4 x 4 Toyota Land Cruisers; which are perfect for photographic and video opportunities. The afternoon game drives generally leave at 16:00 and include late afternoon game spotting, a sundowner stop and a game drive that continues into the night.

The team at nThambo are flexible when it comes to guests's needs and will go out of their way to ensure a special occassion is celebrated. Bush dinners and breakfasts are often arranged over the festive season, upon request or if there is a group of friends travelling together.

If this is something you would like us to arrange, please request this beforehand.

Our standard morning procedure is to take guests out on a game drive but if guests are interested we can arrange a bush walk after breakfast.

All Walking Safaris are led by qualified rangers who have had intensive specialised training in approaching dangerous game and we demonstrate how to behave when encountering animals. In addition to allowing you to view the larger mammals on foot, rangers will impart valuable knowledge about the surrounding vegetation.

A bush walk will allow you to track animals on foot and learn what types of tracks various species leave when traversing the bush. Bush walks are a great way to immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of Africa.

At Umkumbe we offer two game drives per day, one in the morning that departs at approximately 06h00 and the afternoon drive at 16h00. On the morning drive there is a stop for coffee and on the afternoon drive you will stop for sundowners. After sundowners guests will get to experience a night drive on the journey back to the lodge.

The night drives allow guests the opportunity to see the nocturnal animals not encountered during the day. Your tracker uses a powerful spotlight during the night drives to search for nocturnal animals, which include hyenas, aardvarks, bush babies, genet cats and mongoose.

After a full breakfast guests have the option of going on morning bush walk. Walks are led by qualified and trained field guides. You will have the opportunity to track wildlife, learn about the surrounding vegetation and how to read the African bush. If you're lucky you will enjoy a few close encounters with large predators.

Game walks are upon request and do not form part of the standard, set daily itinerary. Game walks are in English only and are subject to guide availability and weather conditions. They are not guaranteed.