Exclusive South Africa

Resting at the confluence of the Indian and Atlantic oceans, situated between the slopes of the iconic Table Mountain and the glistening sapphire waters of Table Bay, the exceptionally scenic city of Cape Town is in a class of its own.
Ellerman House is the quintessential urban retreat for travellers wanting complete exclusivity and privacy in Cape Town. Located in Bantry Bay, it offers spectacular Atlantic Ocean views against the dramatic backdrop of Lion’s Head. Clifton’s beaches are within walking distance, while the best local attractions are 10 minutes by car. Originally a private residence, the historic Cape Edwardian-style mansion features 13 rooms and suites, two ultra-modern villas, the tranquil Ellerman House Spa, an extensive wine cellar and indigenous gardens. Modern cuisine that reflects the best of local and seasonal flavours, excellent wine pairings, generous-hearted hospitality and tailor-made excursions add up to a world-class guest experience that remains authentically South African.

Situated below Table Mountain, Devil’s Peak and Lion’s Head, Cape Town offers a rich cultural and industrial heritage, grand splendour and an assurance of activity & excitement. Including all the ‘must-sees’ of any Cape Town day tour, this option is a geographical and cultural extravaganza, showing you Cape Town, from its historical beginnings to the dazzling, modern city it is today. 

The tour commences with a tour of Table Mountain. Enjoy panoramic views over the Mother City and the Atlantic Seaboard with Robben Island in the distance lying sleepily in Table Bay harbour.  In the city itself, stop at the Company Gardens. Enjoy a walk through the garden and a visit to the South African Museum.  This is followed by a visit to the Castle of Good Hope.  Built between 1666 and 1679 by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) as a maritime replenishment station, the Castle of Good Hope is the oldest surviving colonial building in South Africa. The drive through the city centre would also take you past the Houses of Parliament, the Grand Parade and City Hall from where Nelson Mandela first addressed South Africans after his release in February 1990. Return to your hotel upon completion of the tour at approximately 12:30 / 5:30.

Enjoy a scenic drive along the Atlantic Seaboard via Sea Point, Clifton, Camps Bay and Hout Bay, a quaint seaside village with magnificent mountain views. Continue onto Chapmans Peak Drive, one of the world’s most spectacular coastal drives towards the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and Cape Point. Watch the dramatic clash of the seas from the viewpoint which can be accessed by foot or the Flying Dutchman Funicular (additional cost to own account). A lunch stop (to own account) will be discussed with your guide en-route to Simon’s Town. Arrive in historic Simon’s Town, a village with charming Victorian architecture, a naval base and a large penguin colony at the beautiful Boulders Beach. Boulders penguin colony is home to a growing colony of the protected African penguin. Wooden walkways allow visitors to view penguins in their natural habitat. Continue on to the well-known Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.  Founded in 1913 in an effort to preserve South Africa’s unique flora, the gardens encompass five of South Africa’s six different biomes and is world renowned for the beauty and diversity of the Cape Flora it displays as well as for the magnificence of its setting against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. The tour ends with drop off at your hotel.

Idyllically situated in the Cape Winelands, this peaceful country retreat is one of the oldest towns in South Africa. The once sleepy little village was named Franschhoek, meaning ‘French Corner’ as it was founded by French Huguenots. The fertile valley of Franschhoek boasts a rich heritage showcased at the fascinating Huguenot Memorial Museum and the Cape Dutch architecture in much of the village remains remarkably well preserved.
Leeu Estates, an exclusive five-star Premium boutique hotel property with 23 luxuriously appointed rooms and suites, takes central position on 68 hectares of vineyards, landscaped gardens and fynbos (indigenous vegetation) in the Franschhoek valley. Located between the mountainside and river, just minutes away from the village of Franschhoek, it is the ideal setting for an elegant and sophisticated private hideaway, offering superb comfort, fine dining and platinum service. At the centre of this working wine farm is the meticulously refurbished 19th-century Manor House with its six rooms and suites. There are two rooms adjacent to The Manor House, and the remaining rooms and suites are located in spacious cottages among the gardens, oak trees and vineyards.

An expression of love, the Bokkie Garden is very close to owner Analjit Singh’s heart. The Afrikaans word bokkie means small buck but is also a term of endearment used by South Africans, comparable to ‘beloved’ or ‘sweetheart’. Pivotal to the Franchesca Watson designed garden with its herd of small buck is ‘Reflective Resonance’ by acclaimed sculptor Angus Taylor. It is a powerful piece in bronze and Belfast granite that is set to become a Franschhoek landmark.

Depart Cape Town City and head inland toward the heart of the South African wine industry, the world renowned Cape Winelands, which has come to produce some of South Africa and the world’s finest wines.

Explore the second oldest town in South Africa and walk down the canal-lined avenues, in the shade of giant oak trees and beautifully preserved historic buildings, cafes, boutiques and art galleries. Simon van der Stel – the Governor of the Cape Colony at the time – established the town in 1679 and the remaining Cape Dutch architecture gives a sense of this Dutch colonial history. However, ten years later in 1690, French Huguenot refugees settled in the area and planted grapes in the fertile valleys around Stellenbosch giving way to the birth of the South African Wine Industry. Enjoy a wine tasting before continuing on the tour.

Travel over the Helshoogte Pass to the town of Franschoek, which was also subsequently settled by the French Huguenots in the 17th century. Billed as the gourmet capital of South Africa, this charming town, in the most picturesque valley, retains a strong French Huguenot style represented in the longstanding architecture and lifestyle. Enjoy a wine tasting before taking the time to enjoy the fabled culinary skills of the Franschhoek chefs at one of the many award-winning restaurants (to own account).

Onward to Paarl, one of the Capes’s first farming districts. The town is set at the foot of the cluster of remarkable granite domes from which it takes its name. Renowned for its haunting scenic beauty and deep viticulture and fruit-growing heritage, Paarls fertile soil and Mediterranean-like climate provided the perfect conditions for farming. Settlers planted orchards, vegetable gardens and grape vineyards, thus rooting Paarl’s long and continuing history as a major wine and fruit producing area of South Africa. Enjoy a final wine tasting before returning to the bustle of the city after an enthralling day in the countryside. The tour ends with drop off at your hotel.

Inspired by ancient organic-shaped stones strewn along in the Sand River, the 12 glass-front suites at Singita Boulders Lodge all feature spacious interiors with fireplaces and open up onto expansive private decks with heated pools and outdoor showers – allowing guests to continuously connect with this incredible and vast wilderness.

Vast decks and walkways continue the immersion in nature, while various experiences and activities offer exclusive access to 45,000 acres in the Sabi Sand, which is known for its extraordinary high concentrations of game, including frequent leopard sightings – as well as encounters with animals like rhino, lion, buffalo, hippos and wild dogs.