Art, History, Culture, Food & Wine

Day notes

• Morning arrival in Cape Town
• Meet & Assist
• Transfer to Ellerman House

After checking in and freshening up, you will be taken to the Constantia Winelands for your first Museum visit.

The most buzzed-about art center to open in Cape Town in 2018, the Norval Foundation is a destination unto itself. Home to a gallery, a sculpture garden, a library, an outdoor amphitheater, and a restaurant, the complex features a whole lot more than simply art. Open to the public, it has rotating exhibitions and has a ton of other cool cultural experiences, including concerts. Set in Steenberg, adjacent to Table Mountain National Park, the magnificent, lofty, glassy building overlooks the surrounding wetland and mountains.

As an optional extra you can add on to before museum visit for lunch or after for dinner:

Watch the sun dip behind the mountains while sipping on bespoke cocktails, before enjoying dinner at their famous Skotnes Restaurant.

The Skotnes Restaurant is the culinary arm of the Norval Foundation. Named after legendary South African artist and teacher Cecil Skotnes, the restaurant is naturally at home in the world of art.

Just six months after opening in April 2018, The Skotnes Restaurant was voted one of Eat Out’sBest Everyday Eateries in the Western Cape for 2018.

Overlooking the foundation’s serene wetland and innovative Sculpture Garden, the Skotnes seamlessly integrates nature and architecture. The menu pays homage to classical South African cuisine, while updating its flavours and distilling its ingredients to their simplest possible presentation. All ingredients are sourced from local, small-batch suppliers, with the intention of supporting and uplifting local communities.

At the helm of the Skotnes is Executive Chef Phil de Villiers.

Day notes

Private Full Day Tour

Start your day with a tour of the largest Contemporary Art Museum on the African Continent, The Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa  with an assistant curator to help you discover this incredible space with its inspirational architecture.

Proceed to explore the city, by walking between the Art Installations with locals on the Sea Point Promenade and getting to know the city by foot. Learn fascinating stories that tell Cape Town’s history and modern day make up, engaging and overlooked by so many.

Continue on to the Company's Garden which was first built as a refreshment station for the trade route that rounded the tip of Africa between Europe and the east.  Ships sent by the Dutch East India Company would stop by after months at sea and stock up on fresh produce grown in the garden—hence, “The Company’s Garden”.

There is so much to explore in terms of history inside the garden. Near the Adderley Street entrance a statue of Queen Victoria stands overlooking the Slave Lodge, while a statue of Jan Smuts looks on. Just over the road is the St George’s Cathedral, known as the “people’s church”—even during the apartheid era, all races were welcomed. It was also the starting point for the 30,000-strong demonstration led by Archbishop Desmond Tutu in 1989—and where Tutu coined the phrase ‘rainbow people’ to describe the diversity of South Africa’s population.

The Garden is also home to the South African Museum,  home to thousands of interesting artifacts, is a retrophiliac's nirvana. As the national museum of the country, this grand and established space features fossils, stone tools, traditional clothes, and other items, some of which are almost 700 million years old. (The museum has been in the old monumental building since 1897, so it has a deep past itself.)  

Beyond that, there are dozens of little historical treasures you’d easily miss if you weren’t looking for them. There is the Rutherford Fountain—which still stands on the original spot where it was erected in 1864—and the well pump embedded in an oak tree which dates back to 1842. There’s also the oldest cultivated tree in South Africa—a saffron pear, propped up on huge steel crutches.

Enjoy lunch during your time at The Gardens.   (Lunch for own account). The Company’s Garden Restaurant is a big hit with locals. They serve traditional Capetonian fare, along with standard lunch food. The restaurant has a large outdoor seating area, interspersed with human-sized weaverbird nests to clamber in. The food is simple but delicious, and they have a variety of juices, beers, milkshakes, and wines.  

Continue on to the Iziko South African Gallery,  located in a stately white building, houses a collection of South African, Dutch, French, Flemish, and British works from the 17th century through modern-day contemporary art. You may wonder what British and Dutch pieces are doing in the national gallery of South Africa, but these works stand as a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage. Located at the base of Table Mountain, the gallery is in close proximity to loads of other sites.

Our last stop of the day will be The Castle of Good Hope.  A sprawling building near the shoreline of Table Bay, the Castle of Good Hope is a 17th-century site that draws large crowds. Your Guide will discuss the rich history of the colonial building, which dates back to 1666. There are a number of elements to see, from the prison cells to the governor's house to the gruesome torture chamber. 

Day notes

Full day private Table Mountain & Cape Town

Start the day with a return trip on the Table Mountain Cable Car, where you’ll learn about Fynbos, local plant life indigenous to South Africa and very rare. You’ll see Cape Town from above and if you’re lucky you’ll spot a Dassie (local rock rabbit or rock hyrax). 

After descending Table Mountain, visit the famous brightly coloured houses of the Cape Malay Bo-Kaap district whilst you learn about the storied culture and unique heritage of this vibrant people.  We will visit Monkeybiz to learn about their non-profit organization which strives to empower women to become financially independent, through the art of beadwork.

Enjoy lunch at Bo Kaap Kombuis "Kitchen".  (Lunch for own account).  A Restaurant serving Traditional Cape Malay Cuisine with a Majestic view of Table Mountain and the Beautiful Mother City.

After lunch we head to WHATIFTHEWORLD, with exhibitions rotating every six weeks,  it is an ever-changing contemporary art gallery that works with some of the country's most significant artists, both established and new to the talent pool. Here, you won't be viewing one curated collection from varying artists, but rather solo projects or multi-disciplinary installations. The gallery space is industrial and cool—the unfussy environment allows the art to really shine—and although exhibitions change regularly, you're guaranteed to see something that makes you think.

Head on to the South African Jewish Museum, Located next to the oldest synagogue in the country and the Holocaust Museum.  The South African Jewish Museum has a grand, sand-colored wall that's unmissable from the street.  Inside, interactive displays, audio-visual presentations, and artifacts take visitors back through the the roots of the Jewish people in South Africa. The primary focus here is on the Jewish heritage in the country, but there's also a permanent Netsuke exhibit with around 200 miniature Japanese carvings.

And our last stop today will be the Smith Studio, A contemporary art gallery founded in 2014, SMITH is one of the newer additions to Cape Town's art scene. It's dedicated to showcasing local talent, and exhibitions rotate about once a month. Although the gallery works with a stable of established artists, its founders are constantly on the lookout for brave new talent—that's why locals love it. If you're a collector looking to add pieces from cutting-edge artists to your collection, this is your jam.

Optional:  Dinner at Art @ La Mouette Restaurant in Seapoint.

http://www.lamouette-restaurant.co.za/art-at-lamouette/

Day notes

Private Full Day Heritage Tour

This mornings tour begins with meeting Christo Brand, ex Prison Guard to Nelson Mandela and  The Guard who really was Mandela's Friend. 

Christo will accompany you on the Ferry from the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront to Robben Island and share his experiences with you there during his time as Nelson Mandela's Prison Guard.  Visit the Robben Island Museum, most well-known as the prison where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27-year sentence, Robben Island, in Table Bay, is where many political activists were imprisoned during the Apartheid. Through the lens of the former prisoners, the museum here tells the emotional story of human rights and injustice. It's a four-hour experience; visitors catch a ferry to the island and hop aboard a bus for a guided tour of the most important sites, including Mandela's former cell.

After your ferry back to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, you enjoy lunch at the Waterfront (Included in price) with Christo and get to discuss and ask questions about his time with Nelson Mandela.

After lunch, you bid farewell to your newfound Friend, and head to The Everard Read Gallery, founded in Johannesburg in 1913,  the oldest commercial gallery in the country. Having been around for so long, it's garnered a stellar reputation for exhibiting emerging and established artists, both local and international. New exhibitions run every five weeks, so there's always new talent to see.  While it may not be as iconic as, say, the Zeitz, it certainly carries its weight as one of the country's finest contemporary art galleries.

Our last stop today will be Southern Guild, devoted to local craftsmanship, Southern Guild exhibits everything from jewelry to furniture. It's distinctly African with an emphasis on limited-edition high-end design. Here, you won't find historic pieces, but rather items produced by some of the country's most exciting makers. There's no permanent exhibition, but you'll see works by some of the country's coolest major designers. You can also browse the shelves in the adjoining store and maybe pick up a souvenir you can't get anywhere else.

Day notes

Full day Private Township Tour and Street Art Walking Tour

Start with a visit to The District Six Museum, which tells the heartbreaking narrative of a vibrant multiracial neighborhood whose members were forcibly removed during Apartheid in the 1960s. Located in a former church in downtown Cape Town, the museum invites viewers to observe the struggle of the District’s Six inhabitants, before and after they were involuntarily relocated. It’s a small and intimate space that offers a sobering reflection on one of the many tragic tales during this era of South African history.

We continue on to the Township of  Khayelitsha where our first stop will be an artisanal coffee at the Department of Coffee. Hear the story about this innovative group of young guys that are the first to bring coffee culture into the township. After you’ve enjoyed your brew, meander the sandy streets of Khayelitsha where you will be introduced to a variety of educational and inspiring street art.

After you’ve gotten a glimpse of how much pride there is in the community, it’s time to get involved! If you love kids, you’ll love teaching a class of eager Khayelitsha nursery school children. Or, you can choose to participate in an exciting sustainability program where you will assist local residents in planting gardens out of recycled materials. This immersive experience is sure to provide you with a whole new perspective and appreciation of life in the Cape.

After you’ve worked up an appetite, you’ll enjoy a traditional “township style” lunch at a local hotspot.

Once you’ve experienced the vibrancy and culture of the township, you’ll head back into Cape Town and explore the street art of Woodstock. Woodstock is the home of many of Cape Town’s artists and creative types and serves as an open canvas for an array of colourful artworks. Your guide will take you on a journey on foot through the streets and tell you the often inspirational meanings behind the murals posted by both local and international artists. You may even get to meet one or two of the artists in their studios. It’s a great way to experience Woodstock and get a better understanding of the area, its history and its residents.

Thereafter, you visit the Stevenson Gallery, A pioneering contemporary art gallery with spaces in Johannesburg and Cape Town, the Stevenson presents artists from near and far. While there's a strong focus on promoting local work, the gallery has been instrumental in bringing international talent like Thomas Hirschhorn and Glenn Ligon to the southern part of the continent. The gallery occupies a former garage in Woodstock, one of Cape Town's hippest 'hoods. The industrial space is clean and cool, with a good amount of room—you won't need to elbow your way to the art.

Our last stop today, will be The Irma Stern Museum.  Although Irma Stern was one of South Africa's more prolific artists, the Irma Stern Museum isn't heaving with tourists. Set inside the artist's former home and studio outside of the Cape Town CBD, the museum is fairly off the beaten track. The space is quiet and intimate, with a bright interior filled with Stern's paintings and furniture. The museum is fairly small and manageable,  If you have the time, don't forget to explore the tranquil garden.

Day notes

After relaxed breakfast, you will be collected from your hotel for your trip to the Winelands, where you spend the next 2 nights.

Your first stop will be The Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden.   This six-acre sculpture garden at the base of the Stellenbosch mountains showcases more than 60 pieces by Dylan Lewis, an iconic South African sculptor.  The carefully curated garden is blanketed with fynbos—a stark contrast to Lewis' bronze sculptures. Although the grounds feature some of his most iconic pieces, there's no one piece de resistance; rather, each sculpture stands on its own against a thoughtful, visually arresting backdrop.

The team at De Morgenzon, your second stop, believe in the power of music and vibrations. Here you’ll learn why playing baroque music is good for growing grapes. Taste for yourself and see if you agree!

When you’ve finished learning about Bach, Handel and Vivaldi your specialist guide will take you to the sleek and eco-friendly Cavalli Wine & Stud Farm for a wine tasting and lunch. Equus, the restaurant at Cavalli is excellent and the views of the surrounding mountain landscapes from the edge of the on-site lake are breathtakingly beautiful.

One of the Winelands’ best-kept secrets, the subterranean Equus Gallery hosts contemporary exhibitions of local artists and sculptors (all available for purchase) under a stretched translucent ceiling with backlit LEDs to simulate daylight. The public gallery also houses a number of noteworthy works from the estate’s private collection of South African masters, along with an impressive collection of rugby and sporting memorabilia.

Your final stop  Wine Tour & Tasting is at Hidden Valley Winery where you have the option of a wine and chocolate or wine and olive oil tasting to end off the perfect day in the winelands.

You will be transferred to The Delaire Graff Hotel, where you spend the next two nights.

Dinner is at leisure, and Delaire Graff offers a very good dining experience.

Day notes

This morning enjoy a relaxed breakfast at your hotel before exploring the Art at Delaire Graff Estate.

A world-class art destination in the Stellenbosch Valley, Delaire Graff Estate offers a rare chance for art aficionados to view some of Laurence Graff’s personal art collection in an outstanding setting. Frequently named one of the world’s top art collectors, Laurence Graff’s collection at the Estate is a carefully curated showcase of some of South Africa’s finest contemporary artists.

Take a stroll through the Gardens.  The description ‘botanical paradise’ barely describes the splendour of this wine estate, where more than 350 indige­nous plants and other imported, non-invasive species grow among shimmering water features and regal sculptures by masters like Deborah Bell, Dylan Lewis, Anton Smit and Lionel Smit. Take an afternoon to enjoy the tranquil garden setting, which blooms 365 days a year thanks to its celebrity horticulturalist designer, Keith Kirsten.

And to end the morning, some exquisite boutique shopping at your hotel.

The most fabulous jewels in the world

Designed in the style of an intimate salon, Emperor marble and Indian rosewood welcomes guests into our exclusive Graff store. The ultimate indulgence for any visitor to the Cape Winelands, enticing collection pieces and iconic stones are on display, each handmade in London by Graff’s Master Craftsmen.

After a relaxed morning and some lunch, you will be met and taken to Babylonstoren.  Enjoy a heavenly stroll through their magnificent gardens, followed by wine tasting and visit a to the superb artisanal deli.

Thereafter drive to a boutique Wine Estate to enjoy a private wine and braai dinner.  Discover the fine art of the braai (traditional South African barbecue) from a local chef as you cook up an incredible meal hosted at a local wine farm
Learn the tips and tricks that will make you into a respected “braai master”
Learn how to make traditional South African side dishes like “braai broodjies” (barbeque bread) and variety of salads, sweet potato, boerewors and much more – all with a gourmet flare!
Meet the resident winemaker and experience a one-on-one curated wine tasting
Enjoy a dinner with wines from the farm before returning to your hotel for the night.
 

Day notes

This morning, you will be met at your hotel for your 4 hour transfer to Bushmans Kloof, the ultimate wilderness experience to escape, rest, heal and be at one with nature, with wide open plains, mystical rock formations, crystal clear waterfalls and an abundance of flora and fauna.

En-route we make a stop in the Swartland for a unique wine tasting at AA Badenhorst Family Wines followed by lunch. (Drinks with lunch for own account).

Day notes

The next two days are yours to enjoy a few of the many activities offered at Bushmans Kloof.

Bushman tribes have lived in these antediluvian mountains for 120,000 years. They are mankind’s oldest nation. Here, in their ancestral home, the Bushman stained the rocks with oxide pigments, depicting a cultural and spiritual legacy that we at Bushmans Kloof are honoured to preserve and protect today.

Bushmans Kloof is the custodian of over 130 unique rock art sites, some as old as 10,000 years. The sites on the reserve may be viewed by guests, archaeologists and researchers. Since its founding, Bushmans Kloof has been dedicated to protecting this extraordinary treasure. Accordingly, we have been awarded the status of a South African Natural Heritage Site.

In 2004, the Bushmans Kloof Heritage Centre was opened, featuring an extraordinary collection of priceless artefacts, jewellery, dancing sticks, hunting kits, musical instruments, digging sticks and magical paraphernalia. The centre is a wonderful source of insight into the lives and culture of the ancient Bushman people.

Guides are available to take you on walking tours or drives of our spectacular nature reserve. Explore the wilderness in all its diversity. Enjoy ever-changing landscapes and some of the Cape’s most rare species that we pride ourselves in protecting. Sundowners and picnics are ever-popular, served at scenic spots throughout the drive.

In this extraordinary environment, there is much to be seen (and heard) after sunset. You may want to explore this dark world on an after-dinner drive under a canopy of stars. Enjoy unparalleled stargazing and spot elusive, nocturnal wildlife highlights such as the Aardwolf, African Wildcat, Bat Eared Fox, Cape Fox and Porcupine.

Day notes

After breakfast, transfer back to Cape Town International Airport for your flight home.