2 week family adventure in the Western Cape
Itinerary
Days 1-2 – Arrival in Cape Town
After an overnight flight from the UK, you will arrive at Cape Town airport and be met by the transfer to your guesthouse for the next three nights. After checking in, you can immediately cool off in the pool or explore the city’s highlights. Of course, a visit to Table Mountain is not to be missed. You can climb it in two hours on foot or take the cable car in about four minutes. Whichever route you choose: If the weather is clear in the morning, don’t hesitate to tackle it. The clouds can quickly gather on the mountain again, denying you the beautiful view of the city. Or venture out for a dance with one of the city’s street performers. Either way, you won’t be bored here.
Days 3-4 – Cape Town walking tour and free time
The next day you’ll be met by a local guide for an authentic family walking tour of Cape Town, visiting some of the lesser-known spots and historic neighbourhoods like Bo-Kaap – known for its colourful houses and Cape Malay culture. Your guide is a member of the Meljo family, a community with deep connections to the city’s history and culture and they love to share their personal stories and experiences to give you a good insight into the town’s heritage. The next day is free for you to explore the colourful city as a family, tackle Table Mountain if you haven’t already, and enjoy your final evening by the waterfront tucking into a delicious dinner.
Day 5 – Drive to Franschhoek
Less than an hour’s drive from Cape Town, you’ll find yourself in the heart of South Africa’s most famous wine region. The Dutch settled in Stellenbosch in the 17th century, while the French made their home in Franschhoek. The climate and fertile soil at the foot of the mountains turned out to be perfect for growing grapevines, which is why today there are over 200 wineries producing excellent wines. One of the oldest and best-known is Boschendal. If you’re already in the mood to explore, you can take a tour of the cellars and enjoy some wine tasting with a bit of cheese for a small fee. And the kids? They’ll have fun on the playground or with a game of pétanque.
Day 6 – On your bike through the vineyards of Stellenbosch
Today you’ll gather at 10 am at the start location where your family-friendly bike ride through South Africa’s vineyards begins. Older children get their own mountain bikes while younger ones join you in the back of the bike trailer*. Together with your guide, you will cycle through Stellenbosch and its surroundings. The route and pace will of course be adapted to the kids. Occasionally, there will be some heavy pedalling on the gravel roads, but this will take you to places you cannot reach by car. You will pass two different wineries where you will taste some wines. Your kids will play freely in the area with a glass of lemonade. The bike tour is 12 km and ends at around 1.30 pm.
You don’t have to worry that the kids will get bored along the way, at Spier they have a centre for birds and at Vredenheim there are zebras, springboks and other antelopes running around. You can sit down at one of the wineries for a quick lunch and afterwards, you can explore Stellenbosch and grab a bite at the end of the day.
* Children from 2 years old are allowed in the back of the bike trailer. If your child is younger than 2, the Franschhoek hop-on-hop-off wine tram offers a fun alternative to explore the wine route around Franschhoek.
Day 7 – Head to Hermanus
After breakfast, you say goodbye to the wine region and continue to Hermanus. Hermanus is a cosy fishing town which, over the years, has become a popular holiday destination for both international travellers and South Africans themselves. But what Hermanus is most famous for is whale watching. From the mainland, you may see the animals jumping out of the water or spot a water spout in the distance, but tomorrow you will see these beautiful creatures up close. For the next few nights, you’ll stay in a cosy B&B in the centre of Hermanus, where you can enjoy a delicious breakfast, including homemade bread. This afternoon, take a walk along one of the hiking trails around the bay or enjoy a relaxing afternoon in the centre of Hermanus.
Day 8 – Whale watching off the coast (June – November)
Did you get the chance to spot some whales from a distance in the bay yesterday? If not, you’ll get the opportunity to see them up close today. You’ll head out on a two-hour whale-watching trip off the coast of Hermanus. The tour starts in the bay, but soon enough, you’ll venture out into the open sea. Besides whales, chances are you will see dolphins and seals too. Between June and November, conditions for whale watching in the bay are excellent. Although boats are only allowed up to 50 metres from marine mammals, the reverse is of course not true. And because whales are very curious creatures, you can come face to face with one of these sea giants. If you’re travelling here outside of the whale watching season, there is still plenty to do in Hermanus from coastal walks to beach activities and kayaking.
Day 9 – Drive to Heidelberg
Today, you’ll arrive at Heidelberg, where farmer Neels and his family await your arrival to welcome you into their home. It’s only a 3.5-hour drive from Cape Town and right at the beginning of the Garden Route. The farm spans 1200 hectares, and along with over a thousand sheep and a herd of African cattle, you’ll also spot a few ostriches wandering around.
For the next couple of nights, you’ll be staying in a cosy cottage with two bedrooms and an open-plan living room and kitchen. There’s a fireplace in the kitchen that you can use as a spot for a braai—a traditional South African BBQ where wood takes the place of charcoal. If the weather’s good, an outdoor grill is also waiting for you.
Just to make things easy on your first evening, we have ordered a braai package which will be waiting in the fridge for you. This includes fresh salads, a potato bake, veggies, lamb chops, and ostrich sausages. You will only have to switch the braai on and enjoy!
Need a different menu? No problem, just let Neels know when you arrive, and he’ll take care of it.
Day 10 – Farm tour
Today, you’ll give farmer Neels a hand while exploring his estate. Unlike the more commercial ostrich farms near Oudtshoorn, the animals here have plenty of space to roam freely and are only fed sparingly. The sheepdog proudly shows off how he manages to herd an entire flock on his own. Or (depending on the season) Neels will show how the sheep are sheared or you’ll help feed the lambs.
In the afternoon, you can take your kids for a walk in the surrounding area or relax by the pool with a book, while the children have a handstand competition in the water.
Day 11 – Back on the road to Wilderness
The following day, breakfast is served right in the farmhouse living room. Expect fresh fruit, bread, and yoghurt, and if it’s breeding season (September – February), you’re in for an ostrich omelette. Outside of those months, the eggs come from the chickens.
After breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to farm life and continue your trip along the Garden Route to Wilderness, a small town located between the Outeniqua Mountains and the Indian Ocean. Here you will find long stretches of white sandy beaches, perfect for taking an afternoon stroll and the kids will love the experience of swimming in the Indian Ocean. If you have enough time and you are a fan of hiking, nearby Wilderness National Park is worth exploring, with trails for all ages and abilities.
You will be staying at a cosy guesthouse just minutes from the beach. With some of the best food in South Africa found in this region, there are plenty of local restaurants to enjoy a delicious family meal together.
Day 12 – Canoeing in Wilderness
Today, it’s time to head out on the water. You’ll need to prepare a packed lunch for today’s activity as lunch is not provided. After breakfast, there is a short drive to the Touws River where you will be kitted out with your canoeing equipment. Once you’re in the water, you’ll soon get the hang of paddling as you head to the towering forest, where you will be treated to incredible scenery. After around forty minutes, you will find a beach where you can land the canoe and continue by foot to reach a small waterfall. Now it’s time to have a rest and enjoy your picnic with the sounds of the river next to you, before heading back to your canoe for the paddle back.
Days 13-14 – Drive along Route 62 & Glamping in Oudtshoorn
Ready to drive along one of the most beautiful routes of South Africa? Route 62 takes you right through the outback past high cliffs, crystal clear rivers, vineyards and hot springs. After each mountain pass, the landscape looks different. In the coming few days, you’ll sleep in a luxury safari tent, located on the grounds of an ostrich farm. But the ostriches are not the only animals you can spot. There are also zebras, springboks, kudu, impala and other wildlife on the site. It almost feels like you are on a safari. You can enjoy the beautiful view over the lake from your own wooden terrace and there is plenty of space for the children to play.
If you’d like to join a jeep safari through the reserve, we can arrange this for you. A fifteen-minute drive from your glamping tent leads to Buffelsdrift, and together with a ranger, you’ll search for meerkats, zebras, rhinos, buffalo, giraffes, and antelopes.
Days 15-16 – Return to Cape Town
For your final night, you will head back to Cape Town, where you can explore anything you missed the first time around. The W&A Waterfront is a great spot in the evening, with its many restaurants and bars. You can grab a bite at one of the many places or go on a sunset cruise with views of the water and Table Mountain. Besides the shops, you’ll also find the impressive Two Oceans Aquarium and the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, offering a fresh perspective on African art.
You can also take a tour of Robben Island from the waterfront, where Nelson Mandela and his fellow freedom fighters were imprisoned. The tours are led by former prisoners, giving you a unique and personal insight into Cape Town’s and South Africa’s history.
The following morning, you will head to the airport and return your rental car, in preparation for your international flight back home.
Accommodation
