It’s time to plan your annual family vacation, but this year, you’re looking to do something new and exciting. You want to visit a place that rewards your family with cultural enlightenment, historical insight, and precious family bonding time.
As a culturally and historically enriched region, Cape Town and its surrounding areas are prime destinations for those looking to broaden their horizons of worldly experiences and knowledge. Although the most popular tours and historic landmarks include Table Mountain, Cape of Good Hope, Kirstenbosch Gardens, and Dies Bo Kaap, every family’s itinerary differs depending on their personal preferences and needs. No two itineraries are alike.
Below is a 7-day sample itinerary that is designed to give you a better idea for what you and your family could expect on an African family vacation to the Cape Town region:
Day 1: The Mother City Tour: This tour celebrates the best of what Cape Town has to offer. After your first, peaceful night in Cape Town’s luxurious Mount Nelson Hotel, you will awake to a nourishing, traditional English breakfast in one of the hotel’s fine dining areas. After your meal, you will embark on a journey through historic Cape Town.
First, you will enjoy a tour up Table Mountain via rotating cable car, and then a tour of The Castle of Good Hope. Continuing on your exploration, you’ll visit gardens, the Green Point Light House, The Cape Town Stadium, V & A Waterfront, Die Bo Kaap, District Six, and the Kirstenbosch Gardens. Once you arrive at the Gardens, you will enjoy a delightful lunch, where you can reminisce about the morning’s adventures.
Day 2: The Peninsula Tour: After a rejuvenating last night at the Mount Nelson Hotel, you will embark on your next journey to Hout Bay. Here, you will take a boat to the beautiful Seal Island where you can relax and enjoy the African ocean breeze. After a day in the sun, you will head over to your next accommodation, The Last Word Long Beach Guest House.
Once you have freshened up at the hotel, you’ll be escorted to Boulders Beach where you will visit an African penguin colony and observe the penguins in their natural environment. Cape of Good Hope will be your final destination for the day.
Day 3: Wine Tastings and Butterfly Sightings: Today, you will relish in some of the Cape’s most exceptional wines when you visit Ernie Els’ wine estate for delightful wine tastings and a cellar tour. And depending on your preference of wine (red or white), you will be escorted to another wine estate where you will enjoy additional wine tastings.
For lunch, you will be brought to the award-winning Overture restaurant where you will delight in the eclectic variety of Chef Bertus Basson and Craig Cormack’s contemporary, Mediterranean, and South African culinary fusions. And don’t forget to follow the Chefs’ wine pairing suggestions!
After a spectacular lunch, you’ll visit the Butterfly World, where you and the whole family can witness a variety of butterflies, birds, reptiles, and peculiar insects.
Day 4: Taking the Scenic Route: Today, you will begin your journey from the Long Beach Guest House to the renowned Birkenhead Villa in Hermanus. During your trip, you’ll stop at various points of interest along the way as you soak in your picturesque surroundings. Whether you want to enjoy a picnic on the way, visit the penguins at Stony Point, or browse some local shops, your trip to Hermanus will, no doubt, be a memorable one.
Once you arrive at the seaside Birkenhead House, you’ll be escorted to your villa where you can lounge by the pool or sit on your private balcony as you look for whales in Walker Bay.
Day 5: The Possibilities Are Endless: Whether your family is comprised of walkers and hikers, beach lovers, ocean enthusiasts, horse lovers, or a mix of all four, Hermanus has it all. Choose from a whale watching cruise, a hike through Hermanus’ Fernkloof Nature Reserve, a relaxing day on world-renowned Grotto Beach, a Dyer Island cruise, deep sea fishing, horseback riding on the beach, or a rejuvenating day in the spa. Your every need and desire is met at Hermanus.
Is a African family vacation in the future for you? Let us know in our comments section.
