This 10-day driving itinerary is a wonderful and relaxed way of exploring the Cape Town, Winelands & Hermanus areas. The short driving distances between destinations mean that you sit back and enjoy the diverse landscapes, whilst being treated to the best that wine & whales have to offer.
Your holiday will start with 4 nights in Cape Town, where you’ll be staying at a guest house nestled at the foot of Table Mountain and offering views of the mountain and city. Here you are in prime location for exploring the ‘Mother City’. Cape Town has so much to offer, from hikes up Table Mountain or Lions Head, to beautiful scenic morning drives along the coastline to visit the penguins in Simon’s Town, perhaps stopping off at the Hout Bay market for a delicious late lunch on the way back. There are also an abundance of unique restaurants dotted around the city and the Atlantic Seaboard that are definitely worth visiting.
From Cape Town you will head off along the spectacular coastline to Hermanus, to start off the “whales” part of your wine & whales holiday. Between June and November, the Southern Right Whales come into the bay at Hermanus to calf, making this a very popular and exciting time for visiting the area. Hermanus offers ample whale sighting opportunities from the land, but your stay here will also include a boat trip so you can get a closer look at these awe-inspiring gentle giants of the sea.
Following your stay in Hermanus, you will head off inland towards Swellendam. Being the third oldest town in South Africa, Swellendam has a rich history, and still retains a country atmosphere. You’ll spend 1 night staying in the historical part of the town, at an owner run guest house, where you’ll be perfectly situated to take a stroll to some of the finest restaurants the town has to offer.
The last leg of your wine & whales holiday brings you along route 62, the world’s longest wine route, to the Franschhoek Wine Valley. You’ll be staying in the heart of the Franschhoek village, strolling distance to many great restaurants, you might struggle to choose which ones to visit. We recommend taking the Franschhoek Tram to visit some of the nearby wine farms – a super way to get around and explore this beautiful area, while spending the evenings eating out in South Africa’s culinary capital.
Now if you don’t have as much time, why not just sneak in a weekend away – either as a decadent escape from London (its only 12 hours away…) or as an add-on to a holiday in Cape Town. We have put together an example here of how you can indulge in whale of a weekend!
