Explore a unique and often overlooked wine valley in a picturesque region with incredible vistas. By contrast in the afternoon, we become marine-focused as we follow one of South Africa's most scenic coastal roads that runs all the way around to Walker Bay.
Starting the day we will take the scenic R44 that hugs the coastline all the way from False Bay to Walker Bay. Your Marine Big 5 Adventure begins here, with a good chance of spotting whales and dolphin en route.
For our first stop of the day, we will explore the Stony Point Nature Reserve in Betty’s Bay, home to a breeding colonies of seabirds, we go in search of penguins - taking time to enjoy their character-filled antics in their natural environment.
Next, we take a gentle hike through the lush Harold Porter Botanical Gardens, an estate which lies sandwiched between ocean and mountain and includes marsh, heath, forest, gorge and dunes as well as stretches of fynbos. Learn how to use some plants for medicinal purposes, especially when we reach the Khoi-San Gardens.
Next, we will continue towards the Hemel-en-Aarde valley, we will first explore the area before enjoying a tasting at one of the many unique wine estates in the region. The Hemel-en-Aarde Valley is an escape from the norm of city life and should be enjoyed at a leisurely pace. The experience will leave you feeling refreshed and content. It was once said that “so high are the hills, which closely embrace the valley all around, that they seem to touch the sky and you cannot see anything but Heaven and Earth”.
For lunch we will stop at one of the lovely local restaurants in Stanford. The Tasting Room restaurant has a reputation for relaxation with the emphasis on fresh and inventive food of an exceptionally high standard. The chalkboard menu changes daily according to what is locally fresh and available, including items from our own vegetable garden.
This afternoon, we venture to the small villages, perched on the cliffs above the bay. From an elevated vantage point, you have a birds-eye view of the whales, and may possibly even see some calves. After thousands of years the crash of waves has carved a series of underground caves into the cliffs and these contain a glittering array of stalactites and stalagmites as well as ocean-filled rock pools, perfect for swimming.
Tour Code: Travelyst Master
Duration: 10 Hours
Group Size: Any size
Flexibility - adaptable on an hour to hour basis to suit your clients’ needs and changing weather conditions throughout the day. Where you go and what activities you do are up to you.
Adventure Utility Vehicle (AUV) – Our vehicle comes equipped with stand up paddles, mountain bikes, pre-packed hiking packs, surfboards and a fully stocked gourmet pantry with drinks included.
Top Adventure Guides - Viewed as the best in Africa in their specialist fields, our guides have a wealth of experience and stories to tell.
The tour shown is only an example, more or less can be done on the day. Click on the activities list and map for more information.
Includes:
- Private Adventure Guide / Driver
- Exclusive Use of Adventure Utility Vehicle
- Adventure Equipment
- Drinks - Soft Drinks, Beer, Wine & Selected Spirits
- Gourmet Pantry - selection of snacks and picnic items
- Unlimited travel in and around Cape Town, including as far as Winelands & Hermanus
Excludes:
- Surf Board, Wetsuit, and Tuition & Mountain Bikes – available at a supplement cost
- Entry, Attraction Fees and Park Fees – e.g. Aquarium & Cable Car
- Additional restaurant meals and wine farm supplied picnics
- Adventures beyond 100 km radius of Cape Town - e.g. Cape Agulhas, Ceres & Orange River
- Onward Transfer out of touring area. e.g pick up and touring in one location, drop off in second location
- Luggage transfers of more than two people (limited space due to onboard offerings)
- Extended Day Supplement – pick up before 8 am and drop off after 6 pm
Optional Enhancements: These are at an additional cost, please request a quotation from your Adventure Architect). These include the likes of Fat Biking, Horse Riding, Helicopter Transfers, Boat Trips, MTBing or Ebiking & Hop-On Specialists etc please refer to Additional Tour Enhancements Rate Sheet.
