Cape Town & Winelands
Trip Code: UBAP
Why we love it
Take a walking tour around Cape Town and learn about the hardships of slavery, colonial life in The Cape and the tragedy of apartheid., Relax in the college town of Stellenbosch with a glass of wine after an illuminating city tour., Take in the beauty of Cape Town's coast while driving along the Cape Peninsula via Cape Point Nature Reserve and the Cape of Good Hope., Visit some of the region's best wine estates and indulge in wine tastings, chocolate pairings and artisanal cheeses., Enjoy a free day in Cape Town to explore places such as Robben Island, Table Mountain and/or the atmosphere of the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront.
Is this trip right for me?
On Short Breaks Adventures, you maintain a good level of independence and freedom with the added bonus of having the details sorted out for you. You’ll have lots of free time and you won’t be accompanied by a trip leader. This means that all included activities and tours will be run by different local Intrepid partners, and these may operate independently from each other. The included activities and transfers will operate on a join-in basis, which means that you could have your adventure all to yourself, or others may join you along the way. If you would prefer to travel in a group with a dedicated leader, just get in touch with your booking agent and they will take you through some alternatives.
Regardless of where you stay, power cuts and breaks in hot water are sometimes unavoidable, as in any developing country. In particular, South Africa suffers from load-shedding: rolling blackouts that are engineered specifically to share out available power in the region.
Important information
1. An complimentary arrival transfer is included. Please provide your flight details at the time of booking or a minimum of 15 days before travel.
2. This is a join-in trip, so if other travellers have booked on the same date you may share some activities.
What to bring/pack
What you need to bring will vary according to the trip style you have chosen, the countries you are visiting and when you are travelling. Generally speaking, we recommend you pack as lightly as possible and make sure that you are able to carry and lift your own luggage, and walk with it for short distances.
Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice if you travel lightly. Smaller bags or backpacks with wheels are convenient although we recommend your bag has carry straps. You'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water and a camera etc for day trips.
Below are some ideas and helpful tips on what you specifically need for this trip.
ESSENTIALS:
- Closed in shoes. As most of our trips include some bush walking we highly recommend that you take a pair of comfortable, closed-in walking shoes. Closed-in shoes will help to protect your feet from cuts and scratches when walking through bush/grass-lands, and will also act as a barrier protection in rare cases against bites or stings from dangerous animals in this environment.
- Lightweight clothing. You will need to bring a mixture of lightweight clothing, some warm items for the evenings, and long shirts and pants for protection against the sun and mosquitoes in the malaria areas. Clothes should be easy to wash and dry. Avoid materials that are heavy, tough to dry, non-breathable, and retain heat or moisture, such as nylon, polyester, and denim. Instead, opt for lightweight, breathable fabrics like cotton, linen, and moisture-wicking synthetics designed for hot weather. Ex-military or military-style clothing and equipment are NOT recommended.
- Sun protection - hat, sunscreen, sunglasses
RECOMMENDED:
- A good quality, high-beam headlamp or torch for around the lodges and permanent tented sites at night. Some of these properties have limited lighting and are powered by generators that switch off at a certain time.
- Waterproof/windproof jacket is a good idea for wet days, and early morning or evening activities when it can be cool.
- Warm fleece and beanie for morning and evening activities including game drives where applicable.
- Personal medical kit. Large kits will be on hand at the lodges and from your group leader or local representative (on trips that have a dedicated group leader or local representative ) but we recommend you carry items such as mild pain killers, electrolytes and bandaids.
- Insect repellent.
- Water bottle. The sale of bottled water contributes to an enormous environmental problem around the world. In addition to the water in bottles, the production of a 1 litre plastic bottle takes 2 litres of water and 200ml of oil. A large proportion end up in limited landfill or discarded in waterways and natural environments.
- Camera with spare battery or power bank.
- Binoculars
OPTIONAL:
- Ear plugs to guard against a snoring room-mate.
- A good book, journal, music, podcasts, etc. for the long drives.
LUGGAGE LIMIT:
Please keep your luggage to a minimum. One small soft-sided bag plus a day pack (no more than 15-20kgs in total per person) is essential.We recommend against bringing hard/externally framed suitcases as they are difficult to store and can damage equipment and other travellers' belongings. If your trip is beginning and ending at the same location, excess luggage can usually be stored at your arrival/departure hotel and can be collected after your trip.
VALUABLES:
Please try to avoid bringing unnecessary valuables, and use your hotel safe. It’s also a good idea to purchase a money belt or pouch that is easily hidden. We strongly recommend that you photocopy all important documents e.g. air tickets, passport, vaccination certificate, etc. and keep the copies separate from the originals. While not valid, a photocopy makes it very much easier to obtain replacements if necessary.
BATTERIES/POWER:
Our trips have access to power to recharge batteries for phones and cameras every couple of days. We always recommend that you carry an extra battery or powerbank just in case.
CONSERVATIVE DRESS FOR WOMEN:
In many parts of Africa women travelers should dress modestly as there is a wide range of cultural differences. Wear skirts or shorts that reach just above the knee and tops that cover shoulders at a minimum. If visiting coastal areas wear a cover-up when you step off the beaches., PLASTIC BAG BANS ACROSS AFRICA
While Namibia holds people liable to a fine of N$500 or imprisonment for entering Game Parks with a plastic bag, Botswana has announced a countrywide ban on plastic bags to come into effect on 1 November 2018. The ban will make the importing, trading and commercial use of plastic bags a criminal offence. Exceptions will be made for plastics that are essential for health and hygiene. With these announcements, Botswana and Namibia join other African countries such as Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tunisia, Morocco, Rwanda, Uganda, Somalia and Eritrea that have banned plastic bags. South Africa imposed a levy on plastic bags in 2004 but they have not yet been banned.
Many countries are strictly enforcing this and have been searching luggage at border points. Camping stores are good for obtaining waterproof reusable bags, for dirty laundry etc, prior to departure.
Physical rating
Joining your group
Cape Milner Hotel, 2a Milner Road, Tamooerskloof, Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA, Phone: 27 (21)4261101
Alternate Joining Point
Joining instructions
If you have pre-booked an airport transfer please look out for our representative holding an Intrepid board with your name at the arrival terminal. Please do not go with anyone else. The driver will wait for an hour after your scheduled arrival time.
If you are delayed beyond one hour after your scheduled arrival time, please make your own way to the hotel.
If you are making your own way to the hotel there are safe and reliable airport taxis which will cost around ZAR300.
Finishing your trip
Cape Milner Hotel, 2a Milner Road, Tamooerskloof, Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA, Phone: 27 (21)4261101
Alternate Finish Point
If you have pre-booked a departure transfer, please inform your group leader or local representative and they will notify you of your departure transfer time.
If you are making your own way to the airport the hotel will be able to help book you an airport shuttle or taxi. Please ask at reception.
Meals & dietary information
Breakfasts included: 4
Lunches included:
Dinners included:
Your group leader or local representative will endeavour to cater to specific dietary requirements where possible, and vegetarianism and gluten intolerance will be catered for in most instances. There are, however some meals and activities that are fixed in advance and therefore cannot be modified to suit dietary requirements.
Please notify your booking consultant of any dietary requirements at the time of booking. For those suffering from particular food allergies, your group leader or local representative will endeavour to disclose to their fullest knowledge the main ingredients in dishes being consumed. It is, however, your personal responsibility to ensure that you do not ingest any foods to which you are allergic.
Climate & seasonal information
In case of emergency
While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.
We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.
You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.
For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us
In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:
Peak Southern Africa: +27828229407