Cape Town Experience - Independent

On arrival in Cape Town, you’ll be met by a Peregrine representative at the airport and transferred to you hotel (approximately 1 hour). Your hotel is perfectly located between Signal Hill and the majestic Table Mountain in the Cape Town suburb of Tamboerskloof. After you settle in, the rest of the day is free for you to explore your surroundings. Walk the laid-back streets of Tamboerskloof, with its Victorian style homes and great access to the nightlife found on the nearby Long and Kloof streets.

Today you’ll retrace 350 years of Cape Town’s dramatic history on a three-hour morning walking tour. Specially trained local guides will bring the challenges facing the early Dutch settlers to life, as well as the dark times of slavery, colonial life in The Cape, the tragedy of apartheid, and then the joy and triumph of the new ''Rainbow Nation''. Your tour will take in historical sights such as the Castle of Good Hope, Grand Parade, and significant historic slavery sites such as the Slave Lodge and Slave Tree. At the Parliament Buildings and District Six Museum, you’ll learn about apartheid and get a valuable insight into the effects of racism and discrimination on the lives of ordinary South Africans. In Government Avenue near St. George’s Cathedral, Footsteps to Freedom tour guides will tell you about Cape Town’s three Nobel Peace Prize-winners; Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela and FW De Klerk. You’ll visit the building where the apartheid laws were passed and where they were later repealed after De Klerk’s dramatic speech at the opening of Parliament in February 1990. In Greenmarket Square and St. George’s Mall, you can’t help but feel the energy and pulse of the new South Africa. This afternoon travel down the spectacular coastline to Cape Point. On the way some of the highlights including Clifton Beach view, Camps Bay, Cape of Good Hope and Boulders Beach Penguin Colony.

Today enjoy a tranquil escape to the Winelands on a full day tour. We make our way to the Stellenbosch area for a cellar door tour and wine tasting to gain an appreciation for the wines of the area. Afterwards head into the town for a city tour through its leafy cobbled lanes and elegant mix of 18th century architecture. Next stop is Franschhoek and another estate for a lunch stop and perhaps a wine while enjoying the stunning views over the Franschhoek Valley. Alternatively the French like village street cafes are also recommended. After lunch head to Paarl via a prison that held Nelson Mandela captive for the final 13 months of his imprisonment and learn about his life. Once in Paarl visit the final wine estate for a cheese and wine pairing before heading back to Cape Town for the night.

Today is free for you to discover more of the many things that Cape Town has to offer. The city is a nature lover’s playground with beaches to surf, picnic and sunbathe at, and the peninsula-dominating Table Mountain to explore. You can hike up various routes or take the cable car to the top for fantastic views, while there’s also mountain biking on this iconic peak for those looking to get really active. For the history buffs, take a trip out to Robben Island, stand in Nelson Mandela’s old cell and learn about the political and social injustices of apartheid. From somewhere with a long and sad history, the island has now become a symbol of the triumph of the human spirit. Cape Town is also home to some of the best markets in the country – the food markets at the V&A Waterfront, The Old Biscuit Mill, and Oranjezicht City Farm Market are a feast for the eyes, and range from trendy designer food to laid-back, organic community veggies. Perhaps end your final night with a celebratory dinner in one of Cape Town’s many fantastic resturants.

Today your Cape Town experience comes to an end, and you’ll be collected from your hotel by our local operator and transferred to Cape Town Airport (approximately 1 hours) for your onward flight. Additional accommodation can be booked if you’d like to extend your time here.