Welcome to Grosvenor Tours - South Africa Tours, Luxury South African Tours and Trips

WINELANDS & GARDEN ROUTE

Many avid safari enthusiasts and first-time visitors to South Africa fail to realize the incredible history and variety that surround the tradition of good food and wine in the Western Cape. Often overshadowed by the spotlight of the Kruger's stunning wildlife or Cape Town's aesthetic beauty, is the celebration of an exponentially growing South African wine industry and the eclectic creations of Cape Cuisine. Jan van Riebeck, the Cape's founding administrator, planted the first recorded Cape wine in 1659, and since, the fertile soils and the ethnic and indigenous flavours of the area have swooned locals and tourists alike with gourmet pairings that indefinitely tantalize taste buds and romance palettes.

If interested in the delight of gastronomic hedonism, or if you're willing to explore a slightly different African angle - or even if you're a veteran South African traveller looking to indulge in some of the "finer" points in life, we strongly recommend considering our "gourmet" breakaway. If the itinerary seems slightly overwhelming, feel free to mix and match these days of pleasure with a Big 5 safari, or insert them as a post-extension to your travels!

3 Nights Cape Town at the Mount Nelson Hotel

Featuring on-site the "Cape Colony Restaurant"
Exectuive Chef Ian Mancais and Executive Sous Chef Nick Haszard invite you to experience a tailor-made culinary encounter at the Mount Nelson Hotel's Chef's Table. Located in the heart of the kitchen, you can enjoy out-of-the ordinary fare while gaining a 'fish-bowl' glimpse into the previously secret domain of a professional kitchen.

2 Nights Winelands (Franshhoek) at Le Quartier Francais

Featuring on-site "The Tasting Room"
Consistently rated among the world's best, this modern yet intimate sensory palace, is head chef Margot Janse's perfectly envisioned eating adventure. Whether you opt for the four-course, six-course, or eight-course plated menu, your meal will be exquisite and completely original. The vivid excitement of daily created combinations sourced from local produce, important luxury ingredients, and extravagant freshly caught seafood delicacies are enough to leave gastronaughts wallowing in their divine satisfaction. Not to mention, as a restaurant set proudly among the backdrop of over 300 nearby wineries, the vast and carefully chosen vino selection matures in the cellar awaiting your ultimate selection.

2 Nights Garden Route (Knysna) at Kanonkop Guest House

Featuring a variety of activities to balance the 5 previous days of wining and dinging - though numerous nationally ranked restaurants reside in the area for your booking pleasure

• Tsitsjukamma National Park - recognized for its forests, particularly the giant Outeniqua yellowwood
• Monkeyland - sanctuary for multi-specie free-roaming monkeys
• Scenic flights are offered by African Ramble who specialize in low-flying scenic flips along the magnificent coastline.
• Open cockpit gilders offer free flying over the stunningly beautiful Plettenberg Bay Lagoon.
• Visit the Plett Mountain Trout Farm - via a leisurely drive up the historic Prince Alfred's Pass. Rods are available for hire.
• Abseiling, woodcutter's journeys, eco-cruises, mountain biking and snorkeling. And for a real adrenaline rush, the highest bungi jump in the world is offered form the Bloukrans Bridge - a jump of 710ft!
• Walks in Nature's Valley boasts beautiful old yellowwood trees, wild bananas, ferns, etc.
• Robberg Natures Reserve is an untouched peninsula that juts out into the sea. It boasts three hikes, varying in distance and has an abundance of bird and wildlife.
• Stanley Island, the only privately owned island on the South African coast. It is also a private nature reserve with a wealth of animal and bird life, deserted sandy beaches and indigenous forest. Many birds, Springbok, Grysbok, Klipspringer and Warthog can be seen at close quarters.
• Mountain biking and horse riding are popular pastimes and there are numerous forest trails to explore.
• For anglers, there are great opportunities for both saltwater and freshwater fishing and fishing excursions and deep sea fishing trips are available.
• Many local companies offer wonderful boating trips to view the dolphins, whales, seals, sharks and birds with highly qualified personnel to guide you through the fascinating marine world and teach you more about our history and coastal geology.
• Scuba diving and snorkeling along the Garden Route are excellent. Sailing is available through local boat clubs and canoes are available for rental. Particularly popular are canoeing/bird-watching trips along the Bitou River.
• Golfing is available at the 18-hole course at the Plettenberg Bay Country Club, which is also a Nature Reserve, boasting a wide variety of birds and small wildlife. Or visit the 9-hole Gary Player-designed and course at Goose Valley.
• Visit the popular Art and Craft Route. There are a great many local artists and crafters in the area, and they are well worth visiting. Pottery, batiks, paintings, weavings and much, much more