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Where the Heavens Meet the Earth
Day 1 Cape Town Arrive in Cape Town where you will be met directly off the plane, escorted through a fast track Customs and Immigration route and transferred to the fashionable suburb of Camps Bay. Your destination is the infinitely serene and intimate Ezard House (pictures 1-2) where you will spend the next 5 nights. Settle into your luxury suite which enjoys sweeping views of the azure Atlantic and the surrounding mountains. (B) Days 2 - 5 Cape Town While the chef prepares your breakfast, admire the breathtaking coastal vista from the sunny atrium. A rental car will be delivered on your first morning so take the opportunity to go exploring. Numerous coves and secluded beaches can be found all along the coast and for those feeling energetic, there are several 'well-trodden' mountain paths of varying degrees of difficulty up to the summit of Table Mountain - or the aerial cable car with revolving floor and 360° views over the city is a less strenuous option! Follow the Cape Peninsula’s coastline and stop off for lunch in the seaside village of Hout Bay - we highly recommend Dunes Restaurant for its prime location on the beachfront and stunning views of Chapman’s Peak! Chapman’s Peak Drive, leading out of Hout Bay to Noordhoek is without doubt the Peninsula’s most impressive route. Further along the False Bay coast, you can join the locals as they gather at the Olympia Café and Deli in the village of Kalk Bay to eat the finest pastries in town whilst the fishing fleet brings in their catch. Another 'must' is a visit to the penguin colony at Boulders Beach in Simonstown where you can watch in awe as these fascinating creatures 'frolic and flap' in the surf (in 1982 there were only two breeding pairs but conservation efforts have boosted that number to nearly 3000 today). (B) Day 6 Hermanus Leave Cape Town today and head for Hermanus along one of the Western Cape's most wild and stunning coastal routes - known for its tumbling waves and rugged mountains. As you drive from Gordon’s Bay to Hermanus, you will pass small settlements of weekend cottages at Kogel Bay, Rooiels and Pringle Bay. The town of Hermanus sits on beautiful Walker Bay and is the ‘whalewatching’ capital of South Africa. Between July to November each year, nature lovers from all over the world gather in Hermanus to witness the sighting of the magnificent Southern Right Whales as they enter the sheltered coastal waters to calve. Your sumptuous refuge for the next 3 nights is Birkenhead House (pictures 4-5) - a delightful coastal retreat perched high on the cliffs of Hermanus. (B,L,D) Days 7 & 8 Hermanus Rise early to follow one of the spectacular mountain trails or cliff path walks. The newly established Hermanus Wine Route winds its way through the scenic ‘Hemel-en-Aarde’ (Heaven and Earth) Valley, with notable estates including the vineyards and cellars of Hamilton-Russell and Bouchard-Finlayson. Further along the Walker Bay coast, the coastal towns of Gansbaai and De Kelders are worth visiting for their cage-diving opportunities and pristine beaches. (B,L,D) Days 9 & 10 Franschhoek Head to the rolling vineyards of the Winelands today and make your way to the French Huguenot village of Franschhoek, cradled in the fertile Franschhoek Valley. Picturesque Franschhoek was founded by Huguenots, French Protestants, who were forced to leave their country to escape persecution back in 1688. They made a major contribution to the region’s wine production and most of the farms and wine estates bear witness to these early pioneers. Enjoy 2 nights at the charming Le Quartier Français (picture 6) - an intimate retreat in the heart of the village. The local cuisine - ‘a little French with a touch of Cape Winelands’ - has come to be known as ‘Cape Provençal’ - and you will find no better place than this delightful auberge to savour Franschhoek's gourmet prowess - complemented, of course by fine regional wines. Enjoy a superb picnic lunch under towering pines at Boschendal Wine Estate or try an old local favourite, La Petite Ferme, which offers great food accompanied by sweeping views over the valley below. (B) Day 11 Cape Town Head back to Cape Town airport today to drop off your car and board your return flight to the UK. (B)
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