You will be met on arrival at Cape Town's International Airport, and transferred to your hotel which is located in the popular V&A Waterfront area. After checking in, we recommend you take a walk through the Waterfront area, there are many restaurants and shops within easy reach of your hotel. The Two Oceans Aquarium is also well worth a visit.
Today, your first introduction to the beautiful Cape Winelands and the gourmet experiences waiting for you. The Highlights of today's tour:
- Immerse yourself in the quintessential South African foodie lifestyle and discover the art and science behind food & wine pairing
- Enjoy a morning stroll through the heavenly gardens at Babylonstoren where you’ll be inspired by the farm-to-fork approach to sustainable farming
- Visit 3 Franschhoek estates where you will indulge in unique food & wine pairings
- Taste local charcuterie, biltong, handmade chocolate, and many other South African foodie favourites
On this Ultimate Foodie Tour in Franschhoek you’ll taste excellent food and superb wine from some of the best estates in South Africa’s culinary capital, Franschhoek. Translated from Dutch as the “French corner,” French Huguenots settled in this breath-taking valley in 1688 and brought with them their French flair for cooking and lifestyle. This delightful region emanates the same food and wine driven approach to life, but with a uniquely South African twist.
Your foodie adventure begins at the famous gardens of Babylonstoren – a stunning winery and farm with magnificent gardens and beautifully preserved Cape Dutch architecture. Go for a stroll through the well-maintained gardens and learn about the fruit, herbs, nuts, spices, and vegetables that are grown on the estate. Every one of the 300 varieties of plants in the garden is edible or has medicinal value. Additionally, all produce is grown as organically as possible and in a biologically sustainable manner. The fruit and vegetables from the garden are harvested all year round for use in two farm-to-fork restaurants.
After working up an appetite, head over to Moreson wine estate, a tranquil garden paradise located on the outskirts of Franschhoek. Sit on the shaded patio while you indulge in locally sourced and 3 handcrafted charcuteries paired with award-winning Moreson wines. Each pairing strives to showcase characteristics of both the charcuterie and wine and how they can enhance each other.
Your third stop takes you to a heritage estate in Franschhoek where you will learn about the art and science of food and wine pairing as you enjoy 4 canapés perfectly paired with local wines. Discover how flavours and texture in food and wine interact with each other to create a totally new tasting experience. Your specialist guide will explain how components like sugar, acid, alcohol and tannins of the wine can be accentuated or minimized when paired with certain foods.
End the day at a fantastic Franschhoek estate where you will discover the essence of the South African foodie lifestyle. Take a seat and enjoy a premium food and wine pairing with Methode Cap Classique (MCC – wine made in the Champagne method) and delicious canapes from the restaurant kitchen.
Rate includes: 1 wine or coffee tasting, 3 unique food & wine pairings
Rate excludes: Lunch, Dinner
Today, experience the flavours that are unique to South Africa and Cape Town. With the traditional "Biltong" and "Droewors" (spiced and cured meat), and "Koeksisters" (sort of like a donut), you'll see Cape Town through the eyes and taste buds of a local. Cape Town is a melting pot of different cultural and ethnic groups that will share their foodie passion with you. The astonishing variety of food that Cape Town has to offer will let you taste the love the producers have for their craft. The city and surrounds are home to many cute coffee shops and local restaurants that will get your taste buds tingling.
With the rise of Cape Town’s coffee culture, hundreds of good coffee shops and cafes have sprung up. The city used to run on tea, but coffee has taken the lead. The last 10 years has seen the emergence of over 100 artisanal roasters alone. We start the “Foodie Adventure” with a visit to Truth Coffee, voted the Best Coffee Shop in the world.
When you’ve had your coffee fix, we’ll head on over to Honest Chocolate, the ultimate chocolate producer. Honest Chocolate started out for the love for chocolate. Chocolate that you can have in a healthy way. Honest chocolate makes sustainable, organic, raw artisan chocolate. In the café you get immersed in a chocolate experience and get to know everything about their local chocolate. Real chocolate lovers will love the “platter” style tasting where you get to sample some of their best sellers, heaven on plate!
Walking through Cape Town you will discover why it’s the ultimate foodie destination! Now it’s time to get some traditional local food. We make our way to a traditional butchery.
Biltong is a spiced and dried meat (also known as Jerky). The word biltong originally comes from Dutch – “bil” means rump and “tong” means strip so it is traditionally a strip of meat from the rump. Nowadays, biltong is made from many different cuts, predominantly beef but also from game animals and ostrich. “Droëwors” is a South African beef snack and literally means dry sausage. Produced from a thin sausage in a warm place where it dries fast.
The Bo-kaap is traditionally the Cape Malay quarter and is renowned for the spice trading that takes place there. We make our way to Atlas Trading Company. Established in 1946, it is a purveyor of fine spices, rice and rare products from across the world. The pungent smell of over 100 different herbs, spices and incenses perfumes the air at this cornerstone of the Bo-Kaap’s Cape Muslim community.
After stocking up some exceptional spices, we make our way to your Bo Kaap Cooking Class: Food plays an important role in the community life of the Cape Malay. They have always believed that it is not enough to simply provide your guests with good food; you must do more than that. You must entertain them with good conversation and make them feel welcome and appreciated.
During our visit you will learn to make rooti from scratch, fold samoosas and cook them, make flat bread from scratch, cook chilli bites and learn how to make a traditional Cape Malay curry. Finally, sit down and enjoy the fruits of your labour for lunch. Before leaving, you will be given the recipes of all the food you made to experiment once back at home!
Gin bars seem to pop up everywhere in Cape Town and all have their own personality. In a discreet location you’ll experience a journey of three hand-crafted South African gins exemplifying the vast flavour profiles of South African botanicals. Each gin is explained and tasted on its own then paired with a tonic and finished off with a unique, fynbos garnish, foraged by the bartenders themselves.
Rate includes: 1 coffee tasting; 1 chocolate tasting; Biltong & Droewors tasting; Cooking class with Lunch; Gin tasting
Rate excludes: Dinner
Today, embark on an incredible journey around the Cape Peninsula. Stroll along the boardwalk to overlook the Penguins at Boulders Beach. Visit the most south-western tip of Africa. Dine in the seaside village of Simon’s Town. Taste wine in historic Constantia.
This fantastic day tour from Cape Town to the Peninsula is designed to expose you to the sheer, breath-taking natural beauty of South Africa. You’ll feel like you’re in a James Bond movie when you drive along Chapman’s Peak Drive and towards the ocean. The steep cliffs and panoramic views mean that every curve of the road is a great photo opportunity. Your guide will find the best spots to stop along the way to take in the magnificence of your surroundings.
Next, make your way down the Peninsula to the most south-western tip of Africa in the Cape Point National Park. Capture an iconic photo at what seems like the edge of the world. You can choose to walk up the steep path to the iconic lighthouse or take the Flying Dutchman funicular (optional). You’ll experience a 360-degree panorama of the ocean, both peninsula coastlines, dramatic cliffs and the clean white sweep of Dias Beach far below. Mark that off your Cape Town bucket list.
Make your way to the famous penguin colony on Boulders Beach to watch the African penguins as they frolic in the waves. Take a walk along the wooden walkway over the pristine beach as you get up close and personal with these endangered birds. The African penguin is only found on the south-western coast of Africa and is expected to be extinct within 15 years.
After making some new "tuxedoed" friends, take a stroll through nearby Simon’s Town, home of the South African Navy. Discover the rich history of this seaside village and its maritime strategy that played an inseparable role in the history of the Cape of Good Hope and South Africa as a whole.
Next, enjoy a seafood “braai” (BBQ) lunch in this quaint seaside village.
By now you’ll be ready for some wine tasting! Make your way to the historic Constantia wine valley where you will head up the mountainside to enjoy wines from the highest tasting room in the Valley. Enjoy epic views as you drink award winning wines.
Rate includes: Seafood "braai" (BBQ) lunch
Rate excludes: Dinner
A day at leisure - we recommend a visit to the Old Biscuit Mill (if today is a Saturday). Otherwise, explore Cape Town and the Waterfront on your own.
Rate excludes: Optional tours, Lunch, Dinner
You will be collected at your hotel after breakfast, and transferred by road to the small village of Prince Albert. The driving time will be approximately 4.5 hours, excluding any stops you make en route.
Once you arrive in Prince Albert, check in at your quaint cottage in town. Each of the cottages are beautifully restored, one being an original labourers home, another a water reservoir. Others are rustic town houses of farmers who many years ago used the premises to water and rest their horses when they came to town for church services.
Prince Albert is a delightful historic village at the foot of the Swartberg Pass, which has been declared a World Heritage site. It forms part of the Karoo which is a semi desert area taking up a large part of central South Africa. Although the region is known for periodic devastating drought, the town escapes this as it is blessed with perennial water from the Swartberg (Black Mountain) and the village still uses the age-old water furrow system along its streets to irrigate gardens and small town farms.
Prince Albert enjoys a superb climate, with a high sunshine index, clear air and a night sky visibility that is spectacular. The village boasts many beautifully preserved Cape Dutch, Karoo Victorian and Georgian buildings – 13 of which are National Monuments. Its produce is famous, and includes sun-ripened fresh and dried fruit, especially figs and apricots. Karoo lamb, olives, olive oil and cheese are sought-after local delicacies. In the Prince Albert Valley to the south, farmers have restored vineyards last cultivated in the 19th century, and are already producing excellent wines.
This is a small village and everything you need is within walking distance. There are some excellent restaurants, so sit back, relax and enjoy the peace and quiet (and good food) of Prince Albert.
Rate excludes: Lunch, Dinner
Today, a full day's cooking course in a specially designed teaching kitchen, where you will learn about some of the South African classical dishes.
A true melting pot of culinary cultures and heritage has resulted in South African cuisine as we know it. An eclectic mix of traditional cuisine from far off lands which have been ‘nationalised’ and given a new identity, all now proudly South African.
Over the past decade, the teaching kitchen team has collected and refined the very best of classic South African recipes. If you want to learn how to make the best bobotie, bake the perfect melktert, or entertain with a comforting bredie, this course is for you. If you are curious about South African food and its techniques and flavours, the teaching chef will take you on a journey through snoek paté, samp and beans, old fashion chicken pie, lamb breyani and rooibos panna cotta.
Rate includes: Full day cooking course, lunch, dinner
Today, a half day's cooking course in the teaching kitchen.
Explore the Karoo through the food and seasonal ingredients of the region. You will be taken on a delicious journey through the history and cultural diversity of Prince Albert and surrounds. Cooking and story-telling combine in this class with the chef. Karoo on a Plate will give the recipes and skills to recreate classic and contemporary Karoo dishes in your home.
Take home the recipes and skills to produce oven-fresh brown bread, succulent lamb dishes, venison treats and a range of vegetable and dessert delights.
In the afternoon, a Foodie Tour: Whether it is tasty artisan breads and pastries, gingerbeer, vetkoek and roosterkoek, pickled olives and oil, figs, cheeses, wines and witblits, biltong and charcuterie, you are in for a charming tour of the towns’ food and culture. Take the option of a stroll along with a drive in the local Tuk Tuk or a leisurely cycle option; a guide will accompany you on this fun and tasty tour. Produce also on sale at various food suppliers at good prices. Please bring cash along.
Rate includes: Morning cooking course, afternoon guided Foodie Tour. Lunch, dinner
A day at leisure in Prince Albert. Relax, take a walk through town and just savour this beautiful village.
Alternatively, you may want to arrange another cooking class (available daily except Sunday) covering one of these topics (must be pre-booked) - these are available as either half-day or full-day courses:
- Vegan dishes
- Flavours of the East
- Mediterranean Alfresco Cooking
- Bread Course
- Healthy Lifestyle Cooking
- Baking Sweet and Savoury
- Meat Course
- Karoo Tapas
- Vegetables
- Flavours and Techniques
Other optional tours and activities:
- Astro Tour – stargazing of the southern hemisphere skies
- Prince Albert Art Gallery
- Evening Ghost Walk
- Visiting art galleries and craft shops
Rate excludes: Optional cooking classes and/or tours, lunch, dinner
You will be transferred from Prince Albert back to Cape Town's International Airport for your departure flight.
