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| Viewing: World Heritage Site Flower Experience |
Package ID: 1397 |
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| World Heritage Site Flower Experience |
The Cape Floral Kingdom, a recently declared World Heritage Site and definite botanical hotspot has so much to offer! This tour specialises in sharing unforgettable natural diversity experiences.
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World Heritage Site Flower Experience
Day 1:
Arrival in Cape Town. Here the specialist nature guide will meet the group.
·Visit one of South Africa's most famous landmarks Table Mountain (Weather dependent)
·The rocky outcrops and steep cliffs of the mountain play home to a number of plants and animals. Table Mountain alone is home to approximately 1470 species of plants - more than the entire British Isles. Many of these are endemic (meaning they occur nowhere else on Earth).
·Exhilarating trip in a rotating cable car to the top of Table Mountain where the Dassie (Rock Hyrax), the closest living relative to the elephant, roam wild. Be guided through the natural wonders on the flat quartzite top whilst enjoying an awe-inspiring view of the Cape of Storms.
·Breathtaking Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, one of the world's most famous botanical gardens and renowned for the splendour and diversity of the Cape flora it displays and for the magnificence of its setting against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. Here a light lunch will be enjoyed.
·Be enriched by the incredible beauty of the Cape Floral Kingdom at its best. The estate covers 528 hectares and supports a diverse fynbos flora and natural forest. The cultivated garden (36 hectares) displays collections of South African plants, particularly those from the winter rainfall region of the country. An exquisite trip no visitor to Cape Town can go without.
·Shopping opportunity at the V&A Waterfront shopping centre and working harbour – South Africa’s number one tourist destination.
Overnight on BB basis.
Day 2:
Depart from Cape Town for the West Coast flower region.
Drive to a Private Nature Reserve - approximately 800 Ha in size and some 4km from the sea, which has both Karoo-oid and Sandplain fynbos vegetation and is home to the most incredible floral diversity. Here we enjoy a walk through the wildflowers and coffee at the conservation centre on the premises, which houses a herbarium and artists gallery.
Next stop is near Langebaan where we visit the West Coast National Park and in particular the Postberg Flower/Game Reserve, which opens only for flowering season and offers spectacular floral displays and also game sightings.
Light traditional lunch enjoyed in the reserve.
Then depart for your accommodation where dinner, a buffet, will be served.
Day 3:
After breakfast, depart for a local “ rooibos” plantation for a farm tour, to see how South Africa’s unique tea is cultivated and processed, and also learn about some of the local Fynbos regions of Namaqualand – Sandveld and Cedarberg fynbos which occur in this area. Lunch will be served on the farm.
Continue to Clanwilliam – a scenic town with breathtaking natural beauty and unique rock formations.
Afternoon visit to Ramskop Nature Reserve for a walk on the laid out pathways that offer us views of the Cedarberg Mountains and Clanwilliam Dam.
Overnight - Guest House in Clanwilliam for 2 nights on BB basis.
Day 4:
After breakfast we depart for a wild flower reserve in the Nieuwoudtville area for a tour.
The reserve has a large variety of flora and about 300 species are preserved here. Many rare bulbs occur in this area, which draws interest from around the world. A packed picnic lunch will be enjoyed in the reserve.
In the afternoon travel to Vanrhynsdorp where we have the opportunity to visit the well-known succulent nursery. This is the start of the famous Knersvlakte area – world renowned for the amount of succulents found in between the white quartzite pebbles.
Return to Clanwilliam for overnight at your Guest House.
Day 5:
Depart Clanwilliam for Darling – home to one of the country’s most famous satirists – Pieter Dirk Uys. He was infamous in the 1980’s as an outspoken political commentator and by disguising himself as a number of prominent figures, was able to openly criticise the old regime and poke fun at them and their policies. He has made this town his home and renovated and developed some of the old landmark buildings in Darling.
A light lunch will be enjoyed at his local theatre, housed in the old railway station. Continue to Cape for arrival in the later afternoon with the possibility of visiting some of the smaller flower reserves along the way.
Overnight at your Cape Town accommodation on a BB basis.
Day 6:
A tour to Cape Point in the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, which forms part of the Table Mountain National Park and is managed by the South African National Parks. The Nature Reserve is recognized globally for its extraordinary land formation, rich and diverse fauna and unique flora.
Fauna includes, to name a few, the mountain zebras, antelope, about 250 species of birds and several troops of baboons. Nowhere else in the world does an area of such spectacular beauty and rich biodiversity exist almost within a metropolitan area - the thriving and cosmopolitan City of Cape Town.
Also included in this ecological tour is a visit to Boulders Beach Penguin Colony, were there will be unsurpassed opportunities for photography and observation of the rare African Penguin. From mating to moulting, breeding to bathing, their daily lives are played out within a few meters of fascinated visitors.
Overnight at your accommodation on BB basis.
Day 7:
Full day to the Winelands and coastal area of the Western Cape.
Start the day by visiting the historic university town of Stellenbosch, famous for its oak-lined avenues. This is followed by a tour of a historical Cape Dutch wine estate in the Somerset West area for a cellar tour and wine tasting.
Then drive along the beautiful False Bay Coast line (which offers whale watching opportunities as one drives along) where we stop at the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens. Pollination, seed dispersal and germination - there is always something happening and a story to be told.
Follow the route to Hermanus. This bay, known as one of the best land-based whale watching spots in the world, may be teeming with Southern Right whales during the period between June and November.
Overnight: Hermanus
Day 8:
Morning activity – land or boat based Whale Watching Trip (weather dependent) – depending on preference in Hermanus. Approximately two and a half hours in the beautiful Dyer Island area having an up close and personal experience with the famous Southern Right Whales. These activities should be booked in advance and would be at an additional cost.
In the afternoon depart for Cape Town enjoying lunch along the way at Thandi Wine Farm.
Established in Elgin in 1995, Thandi’s aim is to empower previously disadvantaged farming communities. Thandi wines were launched in the UK with a top-quality Chardonnay and Pinot noir and their tremendous success soon prompted the introduction of a Cabernet Sauvignon. New releases planned for 2004 include a single varietal Sauvignon Blanc and two blends - a Sauvignon Blanc / Semillon and a Merlot Cabernet.
Another milestone was achieved in 2003 when Thandi became the first wine brand in the world to achieve Fairtrade accreditation. This was followed by a gold medal at the International Wine Challenge in London
Scenic drive over Sir Lowry’s Pass back to Cape Town.
Overnight at your accommodation on BB basis.
Day 9:
Morning at leisure. Shopping opportunity at local shopping centre.
Departure transfer from the hotel to Cape Town airport for your departure flight.
END OF SERVICES
All activities are weather permitting and subject to each excursion being fully operational at the time of visiting. Please note that no bookings have been made and activities are dependent on availability at the time of booking.
Looking forward to welcoming you in Cape Town!
Included in tour:
·Luxury transport with full insurance cover & fuel
·Accommodation – 3* and 4* comfortable Hotel and Guest House accommodation
·Licensed and trained eco-guide/driver
·Activities and entrance fees as per itinerary
·All meals as indicated per itinerary.
Excludes:
·Additional/ optional activities, flights, tips and gratuities.
·Drinks not provided.
·Items of a personal nature incl. laundry, telephone and curios.
We are a proud member of:
·SATSA (Southern Africa Tourism Services Association)
·WESSA (Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa)
·BOTSOC (Botanical Society of South Africa)
·CTGA (Cape Tourist Guide Association)
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