Welcome to Cape Town, the jewel of South Africa! Known for its unique mix of cultures, as well as its natural wonders, Cape Town is a vibrant destination with something for everybody. Upon arrival at the airport, we are met and transferred to our hotel, with the rest of the day at leisure. Take time to explore some of the city’s premier attractions, such as the blue flag beaches of Camps Bay and Clifton or the world famous shopping destination, the V&A Waterfront.

Overnight: Commodore Hotel, Cape Town (3 nights)

(Exclusive hotel with swimming pool, restaurant & outdoor patio)

An exciting journey ahead as we enjoy a half day tour of Cape Town’s highlights, complete with a trip up Table Mountain*, the city’s most celebrated landmark (tour on shared basis – Private upgrades available, please inquire).  First, drive through the city centre and take in famous landmarks such as the Castle of Good Hope, build in 1666 by the Dutch East India Company, and baroque City Hall. As we follow the city’s main thoroughfare, Adderley Street, we’ll see St. Georges Cathedral, the diocese of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu. We pass by the Company Gardens and the Malay Quarter, also known as Bo-Kaap. This colourful collection of houses is home to the Cape Malay, descendants of slaves brought from Java, Ceylon and the Far East. Continue to witness the art of diamond cutting and discover the history of this industry in South Africa. Our tour ends with Table Mountain (weather permitting). An icon of Cape Town, this mountain is the most photographed landmark in the country. The cable car ride to the top offers stunning views of the surrounding city. Since the opening of the cableway in 1929, more than 22 million people have taken the trip to the mountain’s summit. Remainder of the afternoon and evening is free. (B)

Explore the stunning region around Cape Town as we tour from Cape Peninsula to Cape Point on this full-day adventure (tour on shared basis – Private upgrades available, please inquire). We start with the famous scenic drive that winds its way through Hout Bay and Noordhoek along the Atlantic Ocean (weather permitting). Framed by a towering cliff on one side and a steep drop into the ocean on the other, this 9-kilometer stretch of road takes more than 100 curves. We then experience the Cape of Good Hope* nature reserve, a World Heritage Site set at the end of Cape Town’s south peninsula. Enjoy a delectable 3-course lunch of local seafood (options for different dietary requirements available) at Seaforth Restaurant, set on a white sand beach with views of penguins. After lunch, we visit Simon’s Town beach, home to a colony of land-based African penguins over 2,000 strong (at additional charge), and Fish Hoek fishing village. We pass the University of Cape Town and Rhodes Memorial on our way back to our hotel. (B, L)

We enjoy a free morning with hotel checkout at 11:00 AM. Perhaps you would like to take part in an optional excursion to Robben Island* (please inquire for details), a UNESCO World Heritage Site located off the coast of Cape Town. Famous for serving as a political prison for over three centuries, the island was home to Nelson Mandela for 18 of his 27 years in captivity while fighting South Africa's apartheid regime. Weather permitting, regular ferries run from the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront to the island for a 3 to 4-hour guided tour led by former political prisoners.