Trips
Cape Town and the Western Cape province is steeped in a rich history and is a cultural melting pot with its diverse and dynamic character. You will have the opportunity to discover this wonderful city and its diverse activities through an optional tours programme open to registered participants
Cape big-5 wildlife safari / aquila private game reserve experience
Aquila is the proud recipient of an Imvelo Award for our Social Involvement Program. The reserve provides over 120 jobs to the previously disadvantaged community of Touwsriver, and sponsors the local cricket team, as well as a
full-time school teacher. Less than 2 hours travel from Cape Town via the scenic Du Toitskloof Pass, Aquila Private Game Reserve is the perfect place for a break in style. On a three hour game drive we will track the “big five” (Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Rhino and Buffalo) with an experienced ranger, stopping en route to enjoy snacks and sparkling wine in the splendour of the bush. Visits to world-renowned rock art sites of the Khoi San (“Bushmen”) are also possible.
Duration: Full day tour
Date of tour: 8 Nov, 10 Nov, 12 Nov, 14 Nov, 15 Nov
Departure: 05h30 from your hotel
Arrival back: 17h30 to your hotel
Including: Return transport, accredited guide at the lodge, 2-3 hour game drive, light breakfast and lunch
Rate per person: R 1,630.00 (incl 14% VAT)
Cape Malay Cooking Safari
Perched on the slopes of Signal Hill, overlooking Table Bay, the Bo-Kaap is as idiosyncratically ‘Cape’ as the spicy scents and flavours that waft downhill from its eccentrically colourful cobbled streets. Our walk through the historic Malay quarter of Cape Town takes us through its nooks and crannies, its legends and secrets, as we hunt for the sources of those wonderful aromas and discover the distinctive cuisine of the Cape Malay community.
Featured on TV (Discovery Channel, RTL), in magazines (Winescape, Food & Home, Lonely Planet) and in the press (Cape Argus, Cape Times) the Cape Malay Cooking Safari is a truly special Cape experience, and a model example
of the Andulela philosophy of giving back to the communities that welcome us. A number of home businesses have sprouted up in this area as a direct result of the interest generated by this unique tour.
The adventure begins at the Bo-Kaap Museum, where an intimate group of no more than ten people will meet to enjoy the photo exhibition, and get a feel for the history and tradition of the area. Your guide will lead you on a leisurely stroll through some of the more historic streets, giving you a chance to appreciate the extraordinary collection of pre-1840 architecture that resulted in this area being declared a national monument.
Then its time to follow our noses towards the scents of ginger, coriander, cardamom, cinnamon, and chilli which drift tantalisingly from the storefronts and cafés, as we shop for ingredients to make a typical Cape Malay dish. It’s “hands-on” during the informal cooking workshop which follows in a Bo-Kaap family home. We learn how to mix Masala, fold Samoosas, and how to balance the delicate flavours of a Cape Malay curry.
Over a mug of faloodah (a traditional, lightly rose-scented milk drink) our hostess and cooking instructor will tell you more about the ways in which food, history and religion are interwoven in the Bo-Kaap culture. Then it’s time to sit back, relax, and appreciate your handiwork as you dig in to a full course traditional Malay Meal.
Duration: Half day
Date of tour: to confirm
Departure: 08h30
Arrival back: 14h00
Including: Return transport, accredited guide from pick-up to drop-off, guided walk & mini shopping safari Bo-Kaap, Bo-Kaap museum entrance when applicable, cooking session/demo, full course meal, small gift
Rate per person: R 460 (incl 14% VAT)
Cape Town and Peninsula tour
If you’re a stranger to Cape Town, this tour will give you a good orientation to the lay of the land. More than that, it will reward you with magnificent beaches, breathtaking views, fascinating history… and nature as nature intended. At the tip of the Cape Peninsula – 60 km south-west of Cape Town – the rugged rocks and sheer cliffs cut deep into the ocean to split False Bay from the colder waters of the western seaboard. This outcrop of the Table Mountain National Park is called Cape Point. Some say this is where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet. What we know for certain is that as many as 26 ships have met their match against this treacherous coast. At the Point, human history and nature’s drama share centre stage. And this is where our sense of adventure will lead us today.
We set off at 8:30, travelling along the Atlantic Seaboard via Sea Point past the playground of beautiful people: Clifton and Camps Bay. A brief stop at a Llandudno look-out point will give you a last glimpse at this side of the Cape Peninsula and the Twelve Apostle range, before we continue over the neck of the mountain and descend to Hout Bay, a quaint village and fishing harbour embraced by mountains and flanked on the one side by a safe swimming beach. (The optional Seal Island boat trip is not included in the cost, but well worth it.)
On along Chapman’s Peak Drive, one of the world’s most breathtaking coastal drives, to Cape Point and the Good Hope Nature Reserve. Here you will see the veldt covered in the famous "fynbos" vegetation of the Cape (with close to 1 100 indigenous plant species, some of which occur nowhere else on earth), and you may well chance upon birdlife, endemic antelope species and zebra, historic lighthouses and of course, shipwrecks. You’ll realize why they say "One Point, a million points of view"! After lunch at a nearby restaurant (not included in the cost), we drive on to historic Simon’s Town, a village with charming Victorian architecture, a naval base and a large penguin colony at the beautiful Boulders Beach. Your day of exploring nature and the great outdoors would not be complete without a visit to the worldacclaimed Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens – a vast expanse of indigenous veldt (528 hectares) and cultivated gardens (36 hectares) set against the eastern foothills of Table Mountain – a stone’s throw from the city. By now, the shadow of Table Mountain will be beginning to wrap over the gardens, as the sun starts its descent over the ocean lapping at the beach of Llandudno - across the mountain where we were this morning, so many memorable impressions ago.
Duration: Full day tour
Date of tour: 2 Nov, 10 Nov, 14 Nov, 15 Nov
Departure: 08h30 from the CTICC
Arrival back: 17h00 to the CTICC
Including: Return transport, accredited guide, entrance fees, Cape Point, Boulders and 3-course lunch applicable, cooking session/demo, full course meal, small gift
Rate per person: R 495 (incl 14% VAT)
The Cape Town Jazz Safari
Any seasoned traveller will tell you that to truly get to know the rhythm of a culture; you need to get to know the rhythms of its music. And in Cape Town, that means jazz. Cape Jazz is a distinctive mix of western and African influences, with riffs borrowed from all the kindred ports of the world, and infused with the jazz scenes everywhere, the jazz scene of the Cape tends to guard its secrets from newcomers. Finding the hot spots can take time and effort... unless a little Bird tells you where to look.
Featured in the UK Sunday Times, the Cape Argus, and Lonely Planet, our Cape Town Jazz Safari takes visitors right into the fabric of the city’s musical spirit, at the same time giving back to the local music scene. Join us on an intimate evening excursion into the living room of latter-day Cape jazz cats such as Mac McKenzie, Hilton Schilder and Robbie Jansen. Dinner, drinks, and exclusive performances by one of these virtuoso musicians will be followed by a taste of contemporary Cape Town sounds, as we venture out of the inner city to enjoy live jazz at a nightspot, or saunter across town for a nightcap at the home of a second musician. The tour kicks off at 7pm at the Distrix Café. There can be no more fitting place to begin our jazz experience than here at the foot of District Six, where old-school greats such as Basil Coetzee and Abdullah Ibrahim gave a musical voice to a nation’s heartache and hope.
Under the accredited guidance of a local jazz aficionado, you will then enjoy privileged access to Abdullah Ibrahim’s music school, "M7". A beautiful collection of black and white photos and an introductory talk will give you a feel for the city's distinguished jazz history. Next we move to the home of a key master musician, such as Cape Town's composer laureate Mac McKenzie. Mac lives in Bridgetown, which was the first coloured township of Cape Town. After Mac and his family have entertained us, it’s on to our last stop. On Mondays we will attend a local jam session, which typically involves a melange of cool jazz, bebop and Cape Town standards. On any other day, we visit a second musician such as local ivory-tickler Hilton Schilder for a final half-hour of ear-candy. This is an opportunity to experience a rarefied side of Cape Town. The Jazz Safari puts you in the talented hands of those who make a living from conjuring the city’s soul. You won’t want to miss a beat.
Duration: Evening tour
Date of tour: 10 Nov, 12 Nov, 14 Nov
Departure: 19h00 from the CTICC
Arrival back: 23h00 to the CTICC
Including: Return transport, accredited guide, private music w performance, dinner & beers at local musician's home, entrance fees (Monday night includes live music at a Jazz Club).
Rate per person: R 480 (incl 14% VAT)
Cape Winelands tour
You’d do well to set aside a day for this delectable tour designed to gratify all the senses. You’ll taste the offerings of the cellars, savour the food, smell the crisp Autumn air and view the vineyards now turning russet and red and orange as they prepare for their rest at the foothills of the lofty Boland mountains. You’ll perceive a sense of history, of seasonal change and social shifts and a rich and deeply rooted cultural heritage. This is the warm heart of the Cape Winelands, and you’ll be taken in by it… in a truly fulfilling way.
Our tour begins at 08:30, heading north-east to the wine-country along the N1. One of the Cape’s original farming districts – Paarl. The town is set at the foot of a cluster of massive granite domes from which it takes its name, meaning "pearl". If there is still dew left by the time we arrive, you’ll see these colossal "pearls" glitter like gemstones. Our first stop of the morning is the picturesque Seidelberg Wine Estate. Established in 1692 under the name Den Leuwenjagt, (The Lion Hunt) Seidelberg is blessed with one of the most spectacular settings in the Cape Winelands. An informative cellar tour and wine tasting will provide you with personalised insight into the finer points of wine making. Next, we’ll proceed to the town of Franschhoek, which was established in the 17th century when the French Huguenots arrived. You’ll see why this cosmopolitan village has become known as the Gourmet Capital of South Africa: restaurant after tempting restaurant offering the sights, smells and tastes of (mostly) French-inspired cuisine. Franschhoek complements the artistry of its chefs and winemakers with the breathtaking beauty of its setting, against a backdrop of towering mountains. We’ll enjoy a wine tasting at one of the numerous wine estates of the area, before taking time out to assess the fabled culinary skills of the chefs at one of the award winning restaurants.
Onward to Stellenbosch, over the scenic Helshoogte Pass, to the hub of the South African wine industry – a town under age-old oak trees, boasting great architectural beauty and steeped in South African history. You’ll walk down the canal-lined avenues, in the shade of the oaks that are now just starting to drop their leaves for their Autumn slumber. Whitewashed buildings, beautifully restored, open up to the sidewalk, offering glimpses into their cool interiors of yellow wood and oak. Coffee shops, galleries, antique shops and wine bars spill onto the pavements where professors and wine farmers, students and farmhands rub shoulders and exchange greetings with tourists and townsfolk. You’ll sense an air of quiet intellectualism and history in this university town, but it’s a tranquility often punctuated by groups of jovial students on bicycles, or tourists sharing their day’s experience in some foreign tongue. Thanks to the sheer abundance of wine estates on offer, we are truly spoilt for choice when we enjoy our final winetasting of the day in Stellenbosch. We return to the bustle of city life after a day of celebrating our senses in the countryside, and you’ll be back at the CTICC at about 17:00.
Duration: Full day tour
Date of tour: 8 Nov, 9 Nov, 10 Nov, 12 Nov, 14 Nov, 15 Nov
Departure: 08h30 from the CTICC
Arrival back: 17h00 to the CTICC
Including: Return transport, accredited guide, cellar tours, wine tasting
and 3-course lunch
Rate per person: R 580 (incl 14% VAT)
Table Mountain and City Tour
Cape Town reveals herself but shyly; the Mother City has so many fascinating facets and layers of interest to discover. Visitors pressed for time may miss some of the city’s most appealing places and activities, but this tour will take care of that. Including all the "must-sees" of any day-tour of Cape Town, it has been called a "geographical and cultural extravaganza" ! Hype aside, this tour will reveal to you the real Cape Town – from its humble beginnings as a seafarer’s stopover to the sophisticated shopping malls of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront.
You’ll begin your exploration with a tour of that ancient icon of the Cape – Table Mountain. This is your chance to come face to face with this monumental chunk of granite set in a nature reserve at the fringes of a city! An exhilarating cable car ride will whisk you to the top, from where the panorama is awesome! From this dramatic vantage point you’ll take in views stretching from the beaches of the Atlantic seaboard, the city itself – way below – Table Bay and its busy port, the northern suburbs and the blue mountains of the Boland Winelands, with False Bay in the distance. If it’s a clear day (and in March your chances are good), you will see as far as Cape Point at the southernmost tip of the Cape Peninsula!
After our descent to the lower cable station, we’ll wind our way down to level ground. Passing trough leafy residential areas, you’ll notice how the avenues make way for bustling streets as we draw closer to the centre of the city that is called a "Town"! Here, you’re in for a surprising change of pace: the famous Company Gardens. Some call it "an oasis of calm in the city rush", and with the trees, the squirrels and lunch-hour lovebirds it’s easy to forget that you’re in the middle of one of Africa’s most important cities. Spots of interest include a sundial dating to 1787, a saffron pear tree (believed to be South Africa’s oldest cultivated tree), a statue of Cecil John Rhodes, a rose garden and pools with brightly coloured fish. The South African National Gallery, the South African Museum and the Planetarium are situated within the grounds of the Gardens.
We’ll pick the imposing South African Museum this morning. Between these age-old walls you’ll learn interesting facts from our local history, but more importantly, you’ll leave the museum with a better understanding of the earth and its biological and cultural diversity, past and present. Next, we’ll explore the dank dungeons and dark history of the Castle of Good Hope, the oldest surviving building in South Africa (dating to 1666). Today, the Castle houses military personnel of the SA Army, the famous William Fehr Collection of historic artworks, and the Military Museum. Showing you just how culturally diverse our Mother City is, we’ll drive to the other side of town, to the Bo-Kaap (Upper Cape), also known as the Malay Quarter. This can be best described as a dynamic living cultural museum. You’ll get up close to the community and their brightly painted homes, and you’ll see the oldest mosque in the southern hemisphere. Plus you’ll learn about the unique culture, lifestyle and personality of the Cape Muslim community and their contribution to South Africa’s development.
Duration: Half day tour
Date of tour: each day of the congress
Departure: 08h30 / 14h00 from the CTICC
Arrival back: 13h00 / 18h00 to the CTICC
Including: Return transport, accredited guide, entrance fees, SA Museum, Castle of Good Hope and Table Mountain ticket
Rate per person: R 430 (incl 14% VAT)
Township tour
To really appreciate a place, one needs to get into the heart of its culture. And that is what this half-day tour will do for you. In a couple of stimulating hours, you will home in on three distinctly different communities that, through force of circumstances, have developed in unique and separate ways. Apart, as in that hateful word: Apartheid. Any understanding of present day conditions in South Africa is enhanced by looking at past injustice and the legacy of the struggle against Apartheid. Freedom has not come easily. On this tour you will pick up a wealth of insight into South African history. It includes a brief educational introduction to Cape Town, one of the world’s most culturally varied cities.
The Bo-Kaap (Upper Cape)
Turn your back on the skyscrapers and high-tech facades of Cape Town, and head back in time to the Mother City’s "Malay Quarter", a lively, living museum and home to the oldest mosque in the Southern Hemisphere (one of ten such holy places in the neighborhood). The traditional inhabitants of Bo-Kaap are proud of their rich cultural heritage. They are mostly descendants of slaves who had been imported by the Dutch back in the 1700s. It’s like entering a time warp. Brightly painted terrace houses line the streets, where men in robes intermingle with executives in suits and animated conversations are often interspersed with words in Arabic, Urdu and Afrikaans. Walking through the cobbled streets, you’ll discover the unique culture, lifestyle and personality of the Cape Muslim community and their contribution to South Africa’s development.
District Six
An ominous silence hangs over this wide expanse of nothingness in the midst of an otherwise high-density city. This desolate landscape – flattened by bulldozers – was once the vibrant home of a unique community whose lives had been inextricably intertwined with Cape Town. As a result of the Group Areas Act, 60 000 Capetonian families were forcibly removed from the area between 1966 and 1982.
The District Six issue remains crucial. You’ll gain deeper understanding as we examine the deserted area, now named Zonnebloem, and visit the museum that attempts to represent and recapture District Six in various ways – as a finespun tapestry of communal life torn apart but not forgotten. The area is scarred with many vacant lots where houses once stood. If you look carefully you will be able to see the foundations of the front porches and the remains of some of the pavement stones. And if you set your mind to it, you might imagine what life may have been like before the bulldozers roared in…
The Townships and Cape Flats
And now for something completely different… You may find it shocking and tragic or view it as an example of survival against adversity and injustice. Whichever way you regard township life, this tour won’t leave you unmoved. Seeking racial segregation, Apartheid policies disrupted all non-white population groups, distorted both rural and urban development and ensured hopeless overcrowding. Few houses were built. Sprawling satellite camps of seemingly endless shanties – makeshift structures of various materials – provide little more than a roof and some shelter. As we shall see, squatter settlements are seeking their own solutions as an economic necessity. Against all odds, township life prevails, in all its nuances.
As guests of local community workers, we’ll take a walk through a vibrant black community with all its different social strata. This is Langa… Cape Town’s oldest formal black township. You will have the opportunity to talk to residents and try the traditional African sorghum beer and ginger beer at a small township shop ("spaza") or a tavern ("shebeen"). We’ll witness the work in progress as hundreds of squatters, with the help of state grants, are setting about building their own brick homes. This tour will take you right to the heart of the communities. And in many ways it will touch your own.
Duration: Half day tour
Date of tour: 9 Nov, 10 Nov, 11 Nov, 14 Nov
Departure: 08h30 / 14h00
Arrival back: 13h00 / 18h00
Including: Return transport, accredited guide, entrance fees, District Six Museum, Tsoga Walk
Rate per person: R 300 (incl 14% VAT)
