Cape Town in 7 days

Day 1 · private 8-hour day

Cape Town & Table Mountain

Start high and finish by the water. Ride the cable car up Table Mountain, walk the painted streets of the Bo-Kaap, drive up Signal Hill for the view back over the city and Table Bay, spend time on the beach at Camps Bay, then end the day at the V&A Waterfront. A good first day: you see the whole city and get your bearings.

If the wind is up on the mountain, we simply swap this day with another one.

Stops

1. Table Mountain Aerial CablewayThe rotating cable car up Table Mountain, one of the New7Wonders of Nature, with views over the city, Robben Island and the Atlantic.
2. Bo-KaapCobbled streets and brightly painted houses on the slopes of Signal Hill, the historic heart of Cape Malay culture.
3. Signal HillA drive-up hill beside Lion's Head, popular at sunset for views over the city, Table Bay and Sea Point.
4. Camps Bay BeachA wide white-sand beach backed by the Twelve Apostles, with a palm-lined strip of cafés and restaurants.
5. V&A WaterfrontCape Town's working harbour with shops, restaurants, the Watershed craft market and the Robben Island ferry gateway.

Day 2 · private 8-hour day

Cape Point & the Peninsula

The classic Cape day. Down the Atlantic side past Hout Bay harbour and along the cliffs of Chapman's Peak Drive, out to the Cape of Good Hope sign and the old lighthouse at Cape Point, then back up the False Bay side to the African penguins at Boulders and the little fishing harbour at Kalk Bay. It's a loop, so you see a different coast on the way home.

Stops

1. Hout Bay HarbourA working fishing harbour where boats leave for Duiker Island's Cape fur seal colony.
2. Chapman's Peak DriveA coastal toll road carved into the cliffs between Hout Bay and Noordhoek, with lookout points over the Atlantic.
3. Cape of Good HopeThe famous rocky headland and sign at the south-western tip of the peninsula, inside Table Mountain National Park.
4. Cape Point LighthouseThe dramatic tip of the Cape Peninsula: a funicular and footpaths lead up to the old lighthouse above the cliffs.
5. Boulders Beach PenguinsHome to a colony of African penguins, seen from boardwalks, with a sheltered swimming beach next door.
6. Kalk Bay HarbourA fishing harbour where the day's catch comes in, in a village of antique shops and cafés.

Day 3 · private 8-hour day

The Winelands: Stellenbosch to Babylonstoren

Historic estates, mountain views and slow lunches. Begin at Spier in Stellenbosch, climb the Helshoogte Pass to Delaire Graff for the view across the valley, stop at Boschendal's old manor and lawns, and finish in the big formal garden at Babylonstoren. Your driver-guide does the driving, so everyone can enjoy the tastings.

Stops

1. Spier Wine FarmA historic Stellenbosch estate with wine tastings, a farm and open grounds.
2. Delaire Graff EstateA wine estate at the top of the Helshoogte Pass, with views across the Stellenbosch valley.
3. BoschendalOne of the oldest farms in the Cape Winelands, with a historic manor, vineyards and picnics on the lawns.
4. BabylonstorenA Cape Dutch farm known for its large formal fruit and vegetable garden, wines and farm-to-table food.

Day 4 · private 8-hour day

Beaches & lighthouses (an easy day)

Beach-hop down the Atlantic coast. Start with the sheltered coves of Clifton 4th Beach and the cove at Llandudno, walk the long sand of Noordhoek Beach to the old Kakapo shipwreck, stop at Imhoff Farm for farm animals and a bite to eat, and finish on the boardwalk at Slangkop Lighthouse in Kommetjie. A relaxed day that works well with children.

Stops

1. Clifton 4th BeachSheltered granite-boulder coves below Lion's Head, reached by steps down from Victoria Road.
2. Llandudno BeachA small cove between boulders and mountain slopes, known for sunsets.
3. Noordhoek BeachA long, open stretch of sand below Chapman's Peak, with the old Kakapo shipwreck along the beach.
4. Imhoff FarmA family farm near Kommetjie with farm animals, shops and places to eat.
5. Slangkop LighthouseA tall cast-iron lighthouse at Kommetjie, with a boardwalk along the rocky coast.

Day 5 · private 8-hour day

Hermanus whale coast

A full day out east along the coast. See African penguins in a quieter colony at Stony Point, walk among the fynbos at Harold Porter garden in Betty's Bay, then go on to Hermanus to look for whales from Gearing's Point and walk a stretch of the cliff path above Walker Bay. Best in the southern right whale season, and the coast and the cliff walk make it a beautiful day at any time of year.

Stops

1. Stony Point Penguin ColonyA quieter African penguin colony at Betty's Bay, on the coastal road towards Hermanus.
2. Harold Porter National Botanical GardenA fynbos garden between the mountains and the sea at Betty's Bay, with trails into the kloofs.
3. Gearing's Point (Hermanus)A rocky point in Hermanus known for land-based whale watching in the southern right whale season.
4. Hermanus Cliff PathA coastal walking path along the Hermanus cliffs, with viewpoints over Walker Bay.

Day 6 · private 8-hour day

The West Coast

Big skies and quiet beaches north of the city. Start at Bloubergstrand for the postcard view of Table Mountain across the bay, carry on to the Langebaan lagoon in West Coast National Park, known for birdlife and spring wildflowers in season, and finish in Paternoster, a fishing village of whitewashed cottages on the shore.

Stops

1. BloubergstrandThe classic postcard view of Table Mountain across Table Bay, from a long sandy beach north of the city.
2. West Coast National ParkThe Langebaan lagoon and coastal fynbos, known for birdlife and for spring wildflowers in season.
3. PaternosterA West Coast fishing village of whitewashed cottages on the shore.

Day 7 · private 8-hour day

Gardens, wine & False Bay (an easy day)

A slower day after the long drives. Walk Kirstenbosch garden and its Boomslang canopy walkway, visit Groot Constantia, South Africa's oldest wine-producing estate, then head to the False Bay shore for the colourful bathing boxes at Muizenberg and the tidal pool at St James. Easy walking and plenty of time to sit down.

Stops

1. Kirstenbosch National Botanical GardenA botanical garden on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, with the Boomslang canopy walkway through the trees.
2. Groot ConstantiaSouth Africa's oldest wine-producing estate, with Cape Dutch buildings and a museum.
3. Muizenberg BeachGentle surf, a long sandy beach and the colourful Victorian bathing boxes on False Bay.
4. St James Tidal PoolA sea-water tidal pool beside a row of brightly painted beach huts on the False Bay coast.