When visiting this South-Western corner of South Africa, you will be walking in the footsteps of the ancient aboriginal hunter-gatherers of South Africa, the SAN- or Bushmen. They lived in deep and absolute harmony with nature- and each other- thus ensuring their survival for thousands of years. The tragic dispossession of their land and human rights almost permanently destroyed this unique race.

The good news is that land is being restored to surviving clans, providing the opportunity for self-sufficiency, for the preservation of their language, traditions and culture- and for once more being recognised as a unique component of our marvelously diverse society.

The tour encircles an area that encompasses fertile valleys that produce wine, fruit and wheat. The ancient mountains and rock-formations will astound you in their shapes and hues. They also provide rock-art trails, traditional communities living in harmony with nature and enterprises providing skills and jobs to local people. Pretty coastal villages have sustained local communities for centuries with bounty from the sea, and the coastal plains provides a lush carpet of multi- coloured wild flowers in the Spring. So come and share in the placid pace of life whilst enjoying superb wine, splendid food and stunning scenery and serene, soulful people.

Day One:

• Depart Cape Town for the charming inland town of Tulbagh, a jewel nestled in picturesque mountains. All the historic buildings have been restored after most of the town was destroyed by an earthquake in 1969. We walk down Church Street and step back in time, enjoying  the shops, coffee shops and restaurants.
• Proceed to the village of Piketberg through golden wheatfields, where we will visit a jam factory on Bo-Piketberg (on the mountain) which uses fruit grown in the area. We enjoy freshly-baked bread and sample the wonderful Jams made here.
• Depart Jam factory, descend the mountain and re-join the N7 North and travel past the town called Citrusdal, the gateway to the majestic Cedarberg, a pretty town that is surrounded by citrus orchards, and  is a major producer of Citrus Fruit, Wine and Rooibos Tea.
• Overnight Citrusdal. Piekenierskloof Hotel and Resort.

Day Two:

• After breakfast and check-out, we travel North to Clanwilliam.
• Arrive at the Clanwilliam Living Landscape Project, from where we will be taken by an expert guide on the Sevilla Trail in the unique Cedarberg Mountains via the Pakhuis Pass. We view up to 9 ancient San Rock-Art sites (full tour 3-4 hrs, may be shortened- ideally 3 sites in two hours).
• Travel to the quaint and isolated village of Wupperthal- home of our famous VELSKOEN- A shoe made of cowhide and dyed red- a truly iconic South African product. We return to our hotel in the late afternoon, where you may unwind over dinner.
• Overnight Clanwilliam. Canwilliam Lodge-4 star

Day Three:

• After breakfast and check-out, we proceed north along the N7
• Arrive Elandsberg Eco Reserve, a Rooibos and Fynbos Estate- where an expert field guide will take us on a guided tour aboard his Landrover.We learn about the environment, and visit the tea plantation and factory,where export-quality Rooibos tea is produced After the tour, we retire to the farm-house for a glass of refreshing rooibos tea
• We continue to Lambert’s Bay at the coast, where we visit Bird Island- natural breeding colony of Cape Gannetts and Cormorants- and enjoy lunch overlooking the harbour- own acc. We arrive at the beautiful fishing village of Paternoster- “our Father” in the early evening, after check-in and fresh-up we enjoy a scrumptuous dinner at the Voorstrand (front beach) Restaurant-, a historic 110 year-old wood-and-iron house with verandah.
• Overnight Paternoster- Abalone House Guest House.

Day Four:

• After breakfast and check-out we depart for Langebaan and enter the West Coast National Park for the stunning scenery of land, lagoon and sea. Langebaan lagoon.
• Continue to the quaint town of Darling,and visit Evita Perron- home to the famous SA satirist- Pieter Dirk Uys- enjoy a light lunch in his restaurant/revue bar.
• August and September, these two months are WILDFLOWER months so we visit the Tienie Versveld Wildflower Reserve as well as Weylandts Wildflower Reserve, both of them located close to the town of Darling.
• We stop at Blaauwberg Strand for the magnificent view of table Mountain and the city from across Table Bay- before setting off on our final leg into Cape Town.

Included:

Three night’s accommodation in 4 Star hotels and guesthouses, with full SA breakfast
Home-baked bread and Jams at Bo-Piketberg, Fruit Lipps Jams

Entry fees:
•    Elandsberg Eco-Tour 2.5 Hours
•    Bird Island at Lambert’s Bay
•    West Coast National Park

Excluded:

All meals and refreshments unless otherwise specified as above.
All items of a personal nature e.g. Room and Bar Service, Internet and phone calls, laundry, Medical- evacuation, consulting, hospitalisation, medication etc. Travel Insurance.

Rates

Adults –  From POA
Children under 12 – From POA
Children under 4 – No Charge