CapeTown GardenRoute
3
Day Itinerary •
South Africa
Three days in Cape Town and the Garden Route delivers the most extraordinary combination of urban mountain, colonial heritage and coastal wildlife in Africa, from the remarkable Table Mountain cable car and the extraordinary Robben Island Mandela cell to the fine Cape Peninsula drive, the remarkable African penguin colony at Boulders Beach and the extraordinary Constantia wine valley. This focused route covers the essential Cape Town experience. The extraordinary Table Mountain summit, the remarkable Robben Island UNESCO heritage and the fine Bo-Kaap on Day 1, the outstanding Cape Peninsula drive to Cape Point, the remarkable Boulders Beach penguin colony and the fine Kalk Bay whale watching on Day 2, and the extraordinary Constantia wine tasting and the remarkable Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden on Day 3.
Best Time To Visit
October to April for finest weather, August to November for whales
Getting There
Fly into Cape Town International Airport (CPT)
Getting Around
Hired car strongly recommended. Uber available in Cape Town.
Budget Per Day
Approx 800 to 2,500 ZAR per person per day
Difficulity
Easy, some walking on Table Mountain summit
DAY 1
CAPE TOWN
MORNING
TABLE MOUNTAIN CABLE CAR AND SUMMIT WALK
The most extraordinary urban mountain in the world, the remarkable Table Mountain rising 1,086 metres directly above Cape Town with the extraordinary flat summit plateau giving the finest 360-degree panorama of the Cape Peninsula, the Atlantic seaboard, the Cape Winelands and the distant Hottentots Holland mountains simultaneously. The remarkable cable car rotates during the 5-minute ascent. The fine 3km summit walk to Maclear's Beacon is the finest elevated walk in South Africa. Entry and cable car approx 450 ZAR. 30 min drive
MIDDAY
V&A WATERFRONT AND ROBBEN ISLAND
The extraordinary Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, the finest working harbour precinct in Africa, where the remarkable Table Mountain backdrop, the fine craft market and the outstanding Robben Island ferry give the most extraordinary heritage and leisure combination in Cape Town. The remarkable Robben Island ferry and guided tour including the fine cell of Nelson Mandela, where he spent 18 of his 27 prison years, is the most important political heritage site in South Africa. Ferry and tour approx 650 ZAR. 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
BO-KAAP AND CAPE MALAY QUARTER
The extraordinary Bo-Kaap, the most colourful neighbourhood in South Africa and the fine heritage quarter of Cape Town's Cape Malay community, where the remarkable brightly painted houses climb the slopes of Signal Hill above the extraordinary city bowl. The outstanding Cape Malay cultural heritage, the fine Bo-Kaap Museum and the remarkable architecture of the oldest surviving buildings in Cape Town create the finest neighbourhood walk in the city.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Signal Hill and Lion's Head hike above Cape Town, the finest city sunset walk in Africa, gives the most remarkable elevated view of the extraordinary Cape Town bowl, the fine Atlantic seaboard and the outstanding Table Mountain silhouette at dusk. The remarkable full moon hike to the Lion's Head summit, organised informally by Cape Town residents on full moon evenings, is the finest free outdoor experience in the city.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe Gannet or Truth Coffee, Cape Town Outstanding Cape Town breakfast. Extraordinary flat white at the remarkable Truth Coffee, the finest coffee shop in South Africa. | Lunch: Boulders Beach after Robben Island Outstanding fresh West Coast linefish at a fine Simon's Town restaurant after the extraordinary Robben Island tour. | Dinner: The Test Kitchen, Cape Town The finest restaurant in South Africa. Extraordinary modern South African tasting menu. Book months ahead.
DAY 2
CAPE PENINSULA
MORNING
CAPE PENINSULA DRIVE TO CAPE POINT
The extraordinary Cape Peninsula National Park drive, the finest coastal road journey in Africa, along the remarkable Atlantic seaboard through Hout Bay, the extraordinary Chapman's Peak cliff road, the fine Noordhoek beach and the outstanding Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve to the remarkable Cape Point lighthouse viewpoint. The extraordinary view from the Cape Point cliff, where the remarkable Atlantic and Indian Ocean systems meet, is the finest coastal panorama in South Africa. Entry approx 353 ZAR. 20 min drive
MIDDAY
BOULDERS BEACH AFRICAN PENGUIN COLONY
The extraordinary Boulders Beach in Simon's Town, where the remarkable African penguin colony of over 3,000 birds nests in the extraordinary granite boulders and swims in the fine sheltered bay. The remarkable African penguin is the only penguin species in Africa and the fine opportunity to swim alongside the extraordinary birds in the clear Cape waters is unlike any wildlife experience on the continent. Entry approx 220 ZAR. 45 min drive
AFTERNOON
KALK BAY AND FALSE BAY WHALE WATCHING
The extraordinary Kalk Bay, the finest fishing village on the Cape Peninsula, with the remarkable working harbour, the outstanding antique shops, the fine Kalk Bay Theatre and the extraordinary whale watching from the cliff above the harbour where the remarkable Southern Right Whales breach in False Bay from August to November. The fine Olympia Cafe is the most extraordinary cafe on the Peninsula.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Dias Beach at Cape Point, accessible by a remarkable 30-minute cliff walk from the Cape Point lighthouse, is the finest hidden beach at the southern tip of Africa where the extraordinary Atlantic surf crashes onto the remarkable rock formations in complete isolation. The outstanding shipwreck visible on the fine rocks below the cliff and the extraordinary isolation make Dias Beach the finest hidden Cape Peninsula experience.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast Good breakfast before the Cape Point drive. Pack provisions for the extraordinary Chapman's Peak road. | Lunch: Harbour House, Kalk Bay Outstanding fresh Cape linefish at the extraordinary Kalk Bay harbour-view restaurant. | Dinner: La Colombe, Constantia The finest restaurant in the southern suburbs. Extraordinary contemporary Cape cuisine in a remarkable wine estate setting.
DAY 3
CONSTANTIA
MORNING
CONSTANTIA WINELANDS AND WINE TASTING
The extraordinary Constantia Valley, the oldest wine-producing area in South Africa and one of the finest wine regions in the southern hemisphere, where the remarkable Cape Dutch manor houses of Groot Constantia, Buitenverwachting and Klein Constantia sit in the outstanding forested valley below the extraordinary Table Mountain Nature Reserve. The fine Groot Constantia estate from 1685, the oldest wine estate in South Africa, produces the most remarkable Muscat de Frontignan dessert wine in the country. Tastings approx 150 ZAR. 45 min drive
MIDDAY
KIRSTENBOSCH BOTANICAL GARDEN
The extraordinary Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, the finest botanical garden in Africa and one of the most remarkable in the world, with the outstanding canopy walkway through the extraordinary afromontane forest, the fine Fynbos biome collection and the remarkable King Protea garden. The extraordinary 36-hectare garden against the Table Mountain backdrop is the finest green space in South Africa. Entry approx 220 ZAR. 45 min drive
AFTERNOON
DEPARTURE OR ONWARD TO GARDEN ROUTE
drive The extraordinary R44 coastal road east from Cape Town through the remarkable False Bay coastline to the fine Overberg and the outstanding Garden Route, with the extraordinary Elgin valley apple orchards, the remarkable Houwhoek Pass and the fine Bot River wetlands marking the transition from the Cape Peninsula to the extraordinary Garden Route.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Chapman's Peak Hotel pub at the base of the remarkable cliff road, the finest pub in the Western Cape with the outstanding view of the extraordinary Hout Bay below and the remarkable Atlantic coast, is where local Cape Town surfers and the fine creative community gather for the best sundowners on the Peninsula. The remarkable Chapman's Peak Drive is one of the finest cliff roads in the world with extraordinary views at every turn.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast or Kalk Bay Good breakfast before the Constantia wine tasting. Fine Kalk Bay bakery alternative. | Lunch: Kirstenbosch cafe Outstanding lunch at the extraordinary Kirstenbosch garden cafe. Fine Cape cuisine in the remarkable garden setting. | Dinner: Cape Town farewell Outstanding farewell dinner at Jordan Restaurant or The Greenhouse in the fine Constantia wine valley.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
V&A Waterfront The Silo Hotel or One&Only Cape Town. Extraordinary Table Mountain views. Approx 3,000 to 15,000 ZAR per night. City Bowl Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel or Daddy Long Legs. Approx 2,000 to 8,000 ZAR per night. Budget Backpack Hostel or Rouge on Rose. Approx 400 to 1,200 ZAR per night.
Top Tips
1. Book Table Mountain cable car online. It closes in high wind and cloud , check the day before.
2. Book Robben Island ferry at least 3 days ahead. The extraordinary tours sell out completely in summer.
3. The Test Kitchen requires booking months ahead. The finest table in South Africa.
4. Chapman's Peak Drive tolls are approx 55 ZAR each way. Have cash or card ready.
5. Cape Town has a water security awareness programme. Conserve water as instructed by your accommodation.
6. Personal safety in Cape Town: avoid walking with valuables in the city bowl after dark. Use Uber.
Total Budget
900 to 16,900 ZAR/day