Delicious Gourmet Tour through the Cape of South Africa

As a Southern African Inbound Tour Operator we get a lot of requests from a wide variety of different clients – from online shoppers, to travel agents to return clients. Recently a Joberg based “operator” wanting to do a gourmet trip in the Cape approached us. Seeing as we have such an extensive network of foodie destinations & related things to do and experience– we gladly accepted the request and put together a tailor made package. Today we’d like to share it with our followers and other interested readers – to give you a little taste of the Cape.

Day 1
Group will be met on arrival at Cape Town International Airport and transferred to their hotel situated in the famed Victoria & Alfred Waterfront.

Tonight the group will enjoy a welcome dinner at the hotel’s restaurant, famed for its traditional Potjies and Cape Malay dishes.

Day 2
Group will depart after breakfast for Table Mountain. Enjoy a cable car ride to the top (weather permitting). Spend some time on top with the tour guide before returning to the lower station, from where the group will go to Signal Hill for more spectacular views and photo opportunities.

Enjoy a walking tour through the colorful Bo Kaap, stopping at the Spice Market, before going onto a local house to participate in a local interactive cooking experience.

After this unforgettable lunch, the group will have some time in the city center, stopping off at the Greenmarket Square open-air market and a walk through the Company Gardens. Arrive back at the hotel in the late afternoon, with the evening at leisure.

Day 3
Enjoy breakfast before the group departs with their tour guide for a Cape Peninsula Tour. Drive through Camps Bay and Llandudno towards Hout Bay, where the group will depart on a cruise to Seal Island. Continue on Chapmans Peak Drive to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve.

Lunch will be a memorable local seafood affair in Kalk Bay, followed by a visit to Simons Town and the Boulders Beach Penguin Colony.

The group will return to their hotel in the late afternoon, with the evening at leisure.

Day 4
This morning the group will have a little leisure time in the morning to visit the V&A Waterfront or just relaxing. The group’s tour guide will meet them at their hotel at mid-day to depart to the Constantia wine route.

A Gourmet Lunch will be enjoyed at one of South Africa’s best award winning restaurants, followed by a wine tasting at a select wine estate.

Finish off this beautiful day with a walking tour through the magnificent Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Return to the hotel in the early evening, with the evening at leisure.

Day 5
Group will depart after breakfast for the West Coast. Enjoy a wine and olive tasting with the owners of the farm en-route.

Arrive at the traditional outdoor beach restaurant at mid-day. This restaurant is set right on the beach – barefoot pleasure! There are several courses, all traditional dishes – from fresh mussels, fish, to potjiekos. This culinary experience will take a few delectable hours.

Return to Cape Town via Blaauwberg, stopping at the beach for that iconic photo opportunity. Arrive at the hotel in the early evening.

Day 6
The group will be met at their hotel after breakfast and check out, and depart on their journey into the heart of the Cape Winelands. First stop will be at a top sparkling wine producer. Enjoy a tasting with a difference.

Visit one of the oldest wine estates in the area for a wine tasting and light lunch, before checking in at the hotel situated in the Stellenbosch town center.

The hotel is ideally situated to explore this quaint village. There are many restaurants, shops, bars and clubs within easy walking distance.

Day 7
This morning the group will be met at their hotel by their tour guide and depart on a walking tour of the old part of town.

The group will then enjoy a rusk with indigenous teas, there will also be a visit to a small family-run butcher to taste some of their famed biltong and droewors. Lunch will be a trilogy of fragrant Cape dishes, complemented by a glass of excellent Stellenbosch region wine.

The last stop on the walking tour will give the group an opportunity to purchase some nostalgic local sweets in a brown paper bag at the oldest shop in town.

The group will then depart on their afternoon meander through the Stellenbosch wine route, visiting two or three beautiful estates. Return in the late afternoon, with the evening at leisure.
Day 8
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before the group will depart with their tour guide on their wine and dine tour through Franschhoek. First stop will be at a beautiful local wine estate where the group will enjoy a wine tasting paired with homemade charcuterie at the comfortable Farm Grocer bar counter.

The group will enjoy a walking tour through the heart of Franschhoek and a visit to the French monument before going onto their next wine tasting and cellar tour at another award winning wine estate. Lunch will be enjoyed at a traditional restaurant on La Motte Wine Estate. The group will enjoy a fine dining experience with a complementing wine selection. Each guest will also receive a hard cover recipe book with beautiful photography, Cape Winelands cuisine recipes and their history.

After lunch the group will enjoy a walk around the gardens before departing for the next tasting at a wine estate that also produce fine wines and unusual cheeses. Enjoy a cheese and wine tasting before departing back to Stellenbosch.

If time permits, enjoy one last wine tasting and a visit to a extraordinary art gallery before returning to the hotel. The group will have time to relax and freshen up before they will be met and transferred to the local township for an unforgettable show and farewell dinner.

The live performance showcases local talent in a setting that shares with their guests the vibrancy of township street life, featuring township food and a craft market in an arena overlooking the surrounding mountains.

Day 9
Enjoy one last delicious South African breakfast before check out and transfer to the Cape Town International Airport for the group’s homebound flight.

**End of Services**

As mentioned, we did this as part of a bigger group safari – we can of course assist with the rest of Southern Africa – adding on visits to KwaZulu Natal (excellent Indian and Zulu cuisine), Mpumalanga (Kruger Park, Sabi Sands, etc. Safaris), Gauteng (Egoli – place of Gold), Botswana, Namibia, etc. Contact us to work out a bespoke program to fit your specific taste buds.

South African Culinary Safari – Itinerary

Day 1
You will be met at Cape Town International Airport and transferred to the Steenberg Hotel.  Your Road Travel Africa representative will hand you your travel documents and will go through them with you, giving you self-drive tips and information on the many interesting places you can visit whilst in our country.  Dinner this evening is at Catharina’s Restaurant, Steenberg Hotel.  A fusion of classical cuisine amidst ageless splendor.  Experience the captivation of flavors – tempestuous, exotic, contemporary & delectable.
Overnight: Steenberg Hotel

Day 2
This morning after breakfast, you will be met by your Tour Guide and depart on a full day West Coast Tour visiting the West Coast National Park and the Mamre Mission Station.  The West Coast land may look dry, but hosts a range of fascinating plants, particularly the bizarre array of succulent semi-desert plants.  It comes alive in spring when millions of flowers blossom to carpet the earth in beautiful colors.  You will enjoy lunch at the Strandloper Restaurant in Langebaan, situated right on the beach.  Eat your way through approximately ten courses, from mussels to crayfish.  Return to your hotel in the late afternoon, with the evening at leisure.
Overnight: Steenberg Hotel

Day 3
This morning, your rental vehicle will be delivered to your hotel, so you can go out and experience Cape Town at your leisure.  A few suggestions are Table Mountain, Robben Island, the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and the beautiful Cape Town beaches.  Dinner arrangements will be made at the Cape Malay Restaurant at the Cellars Hohenort Hotel this evening.  This restaurant specializes in local South African cuisine, and is a unique dining experience in authentic Cape Malay food.
Overnight: Steenberg Hotel

Day 4 & 5
After breakfast, you depart for the Cape Winelands area.  Your days will be spent at leisure, exploring the beautiful Winelands with vineyards, excellent wine cellars and well-preserved historical buildings.  Wine farms in the Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek areas not only produce some of the country’s finest wines, they have also opened their cellars and properties to visitors, who are treated to wine tastings, cellar tours with the wine makers, excellent restaurants and tours of the farms.  Award winning Bosman’s ranks among the world’s greatest for its superb gourmet cuisine and service.  Among its achievements is the coveted Relais Gourmand status and best wine list awards, a tribute to its well-stocked cellar of 300 vintage wines.  Bosman’s international team of chefs, restaurant staff and sommeliers offer a most memorable dining experience.
Overnight: Grande Roche Hotel

Day 6
Today you will make your way to Hermanus for your last night in the Western Cape region.  This coastal town offers one of the best land-based whale-watching destinations in the world.  Dinner will be enjoyed at the Seafood Restaurant at the Marine Hermanus Hotel.  Seafood at the Marine is a lovely bright restaurant in the modern idiom where the only sea view will be on a plate.  The atmosphere is informal and busy but with emphasis on fresh fish and great style from the kitchen theatre.
Overnight: Marine Hermanus Hotel

Day 7
This morning after breakfast you will enjoy a very scenic drive back to Cape Town International Airport and drop off your rental vehicle at the airport before departing on your short scheduled flight to King Shaka International Airport.  On arrival in Durban, you will be met and assisted with collecting your rental vehicle.  You will then continue to Lynton Hall, where you will enjoy dinner before retiring for the night.  The culinary creations of Lynton Hall are inspired by its proximity to the Indian Ocean and the property’s traditional connections with colonial India.  The cooking philosophy initiated by the Five Star Master Chef is expressed in an avant-garde New World style where the emphasis is on flavor, texture and individuality – each dish carrying the signature of his energy and passion.
Overnight: Lynton Hall

Day 8 & 9
After breakfast this morning, you will make your way to Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse for the next two nights.  Dinner will be enjoyed at Cleopatra on both nights.  Passion and dedication are the keywords in the Cleopatra kitchen.  The Chef’s specialty is sauces, a subject very close to his heart.  He has long been obsessed with reduction techniques, which allow the full intense flavor of the food to shine through.  Fresh ingredients are essential, and being able to pick from the gardens minutes before serving is a real pleasure.  For the more exotic tastes, Richard spends hours hunting down local and imported ingredients of the highest quality – flying in fresh salmon from Norway and procuring genuine Parma hams and cheeses from Italy.
Overnight: Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse

Day 10 & 11
This morning after a delicious breakfast, you will drive to Phinda Private Game Reserve.  Located between the azure waters of the Indian Ocean and the lush waterways of the Greater Saint Lucia Wetland Park – a World Heritage Site – Phinda’s 17500 hectares span seven unique habitats.  You can look forward to two exciting game drives in open 4×4 safari vehicles daily led by experienced rangers and Zulu trackers, as well as thrilling optional activities on the water, in the air and on the beach.  Scuba Safaris: A 15-minute flight and short drive takes you to one of the top ten dive sites in the world. Diving the reefs of Sodwana Bay allows you to experience a portrait of marine diversity, with approximately 1200 species of fish and spectacular coral formations.  Maputaland Beach Adventures: A 15-minute flight and a short drive in a specially designed 4×4 beach vehicle takes you to the beautiful beaches of Sodwana Bay.
Overnight: Phinda Forest / Mountain Lodge

Day 12
After one last exciting game drive in search of the Big Five and a delicious bush breakfast, you check out and travel to King Shaka International Airport, in time for your connecting homebound flight.
**End of Road Trip**

Contact Road Travel Africa today to arrange your Gourmet Safari in South Africa.  We will gladly assist with excellent reduced rates on your accommodation, vehicle hire, day tours and restaurant bookings.  A package deal usually works out best, as this takes the stress out of finding suitable places to stay, great places to dine, good local tour guides, safe vehicles to drive and suitable routes to take.  We share our extensive local knowledge with our clients, and make sure you will have the holiday of a lifetime.

Celebrate Crayfish in the Style to which it has become accustomed

Its hard to believe, but the West Coast crayfish was not always the sought-after seafood delicacy it is today.  Once regarded as a pest, when they caught them in their nets fishermen would simply toss them overboard.  Wagonloads of dead crayfish were collected and sold to farmers as fertilizer.  It was only when markets abroad, France in particular, where they know a thing or two about good food, started to show an increasing interest in crayfish that fishermen began to can the product from 1890 onwards.  The popularity of the crayfish now means their dwindling numbers have to be controlled, through strict quotas and seasons.  Which is why the opening of crayfish season in November is a big deal on the West Coast.

Paternoster, in the heart of crayfish country, epitomises the wild beauty of the area, with its indigenous fynbos, sweeping white beaches, turquoise sea and craggy rocks which are home to the crayfish.  And matching nature’s grandeur in every way is Abalone House, Paternoster’s first five-star boutique guesthouse.  In the exotically appointed Saffron Restaurant, chef Darren Stewart creates exquisite world cuisine with an African twist.  Locally sourced seafood features prominently in his kitchen so the once-humble crayfish will be celebrated for the duration of the season – which lasts until April next year – with a delicious three-course menu of a delicately flavoured seafood bisque followed by steamed West Coast crayfish with garlic, parsley and lemon butter accompanied by basmati rice and ending with a chocolate croissant pudding with homemade Strawberry King ice cream.

Inspired by the vibrancy of Tretchikoff, whose iconic colorful prints adorn the walls throughout the establishment, and the surreal beauty of orchids, Abalone House’s 10 magnificent suites are designed around a tranquil central courtyard, some of which enjoy sea views.  Many suites also have private outdoor relaxation areas and there is even a rooftop Jacuzzi with a sea view – to relax after the work is done.  Or guests can cool off in the elegant swimming pool, before enjoying a relaxing cocktail in the Africa Bar.  In the guest suites, every creature comfort and business need has also been thought of and catered for.  All are luxuriously appointed, air-conditioned and have flat screen televisions and cappuccino/espresso machines, stocked mini-bars, ipod docking stations, CD and DVD players and a digital weather forecast station.  The extensive book and DVD libraries are available for the enjoyment of guests, and all suites also have built-in laptop safes.

Overnight guests can begin their stay with afternoon tea in the sun-splashed Orchid Room.  With its garden and sea views, it’s a calm space to relax any time during the day too – reading, playing board games or gazing out to sea through the antique telescope.  It is also where breakfast is served.  Abalone House is offering a special crayfish season package which includes an overnight stay, afternoon tea, a three course crayfish dinner, and breakfast.  For more information and reservations regarding this package call us today, we look forward to assisting you.