BEHOLD SOUTH AFRICA’S WINES, WILDLIFE AND WORLD-CLASS CUISINE
A coming-together of cultures, cuisines, and landscapes, there's nowhere quite like South Africa. Its diversity welcomes you on all fronts, from proud multicultural communities to inspiring sea-to-sky landscapes. Traditional African roots and European-influenced cities are bound together by a complex history of segregation and a renewed commitment to reconciliation. Exploring culture through cuisine is an extraordinary way to experience South Africa’s many cultures. Cook lunch with residents of a nearby Zulu tribe, learn from local chefs how to cook distinctive Indian, African, and Cape Dutch specialties, and savor the magical wines from the verdant Cape Winelands.
9-Day South Africa Culinary Tour
Our tour samples bustling Johannesburg, where the township of Soweto looks to a modern future while honoring those who fought for equality; the dramatic Drakensberg region, where you can watch big game and views of the majestic mountains; sunny and subtropical Durban, ethnically diverse — predominantly Zulu but also with the largest Indian population outside of India; and breathtaking, coastal Cape Town, one of the most multicultural cities in the world.
Exceptional Experiences
- Discover Johannesburg, Durban & Cape Town
- Visit authentic villages, townships and farms
- Cook local dishes with renowned chefs
- Savor delicious wines in Stellenbosch
- View stunning wildlife and famous big game
South African cooking is a sensuous and flavorful meld of European and native African cuisines with prominent Malay, Indian, and Portuguese influences. The result is a unique fusion of flavors that echoes South Africa’s powerful and significant history as well as its distinctive ingredients. Indian spices, hearty meats, and farm fresh ingredients dance across your tongue in a seamless blend.
DAY 1: Johannesburg
After passing through immigration and customs, you will exit the airport, where our guide will be waiting for you with a sign. Feel the warmth of the African sunshine as you head to your boutique hotel in an upmarket suburb of Johannesburg. After spending the afternoon at your leisure, tonight’s welcome dinner will be at a quintessential South African restaurant where many of the traditional local dishes are cooked over a grand wood-fired grill.
Drive time: 40 minutes
Meals included: Dinner
DAY 2: Soweto Township
This morning, get to know the people of South Africa with a visit to the Soweto Township. Significant for its apartheid resistance, Soweto is where Nelson Mandela lived. It is also home to 1.3 million residents of traditional African heritage. Visit a number of historic sites along the way. For lunch, enjoy an authentic dining experience in Soweto at a restaurant known for its true “kasi” flavor. Kasi, meaning township, represents a vibrant community welcoming with lively local music and home-cooked Soweto food.
This afternoon, savor the beauty of the countryside as we make our way to the breathtaking Drakensberg region, a World Heritage Site. Once there, check into your manor hotel, which boasts uninterrupted views of the famous mountain range. Enjoy dinner, and relax for the evening.
Drive time: 4 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 3: Kitchen Tour and Zulu Village
This morning is your first of two wakings in the stunning Drakensberg region. Begin the day touring our country manor’s production kitchen to understand the philosophy of sustainable, responsible, and healthy food production and consumption, including the roles of permaculture (regenerative agriculture) and vermiculture (the use of worms to for compost) in their farm-to-fork cuisine.
Journey to a nearby Zulu village where you’re warmly welcomed with craft mahewu Zulu beer. Spend time with the village’s traditional herbalist, Mama Rati, who looks forward to sharing her extensive knowledge of South African herbs and plants and how they can be used in traditional healing. At a local homestead, the women of the village will prepare a traditional Zulu lunch.
Upon return to the hotel you can spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the farm, the kitchen gardens, or just relaxing. Dinner is an inspired farm-to-table meal served in the manor restaurant with stunning views all around. The menu changes daily with locally-sourced ingredients that reflect the harmony of land, people, and community.
Drive time: 1 hour
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 4: Indian Cooking Class in Durban and Flight to Cape Town
Durban is a coastal town that has the largest Indian population outside of India, so their local chefs teach us how to make the local Indian curry, a South African staple. Following the cooking class and the delicious lunch you’ve just prepared, you will transfer to King Shaka International Airport for an easy 2-hour flight to cosmopolitan and picturesque Cape Town. Check in to your boutique hotel, and the rest of the evening is free for you to enjoy.
Total travel time: 7-8 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
DAY 5: Cable Car Ride up Table Mountain and Walking Food Tour of Cape Town
Start the day with a cable car ride up Table Mountain, one of the most iconic features of South Africa’s topography. Rising over 3,500 feet above sea level, this massive plateau will provide you with unforgettable panoramas. Back in Cape Town, enjoy a walking food tour and sample a vast array of traditional Cape Town dishes. Nibble on popular African soul foods and sip coffee produced in a micro-artisan roastery as you stroll the streets with our expert guide.
Tonight you may choose to an optional meal at a unique African restaurant in the heart of Cape Town. Its 14-course Cape Malay and African menu will bring together flavors from across the continent for a truly African culinary experience.
Drive time: 30 minutes
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
DAY 6: Tour of Cape Point and Peninsula
A full-day tour of Cape Point and Peninsula starts off with a scenic drive along the Atlantic coast. Hout Bay is the first stop, where we’ll take in the scenery before continuing on to Cape Point Nature Reserve. Spot baboons, rhebok, Cape Mountain zebra, bontebok, and approximately 1,100 indigenous plant species. A fun funicular ride or hike will bring you to a stunning view of the Atlantic and Indian oceans. Back along the coastline toward Cape Town, stop to visit a local penguin colony and a quaint fishing village. Dinner tonight is at your leisure, giving you a chance to savor your last night in Cape Town.
Drive time: 4.5 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
DAY 7: District Six Museum and African Cooking Class
District Six Museum is a chance to learn more about a long and difficult period of South Africa history. Next, travel to the Langa township for a class at a small cooking school that provides underprivileged local residents with culinary job skills. Your participation helps support this worthwhile organization while giving you the opportunity to cook traditional African. Learn about African and Xhosa culture and cuisine, chat with residents, and–most importantly–contribute to a community initiative that is changing lives. After preparing and eating a delicious lunch, transfer to the Winelands and check into our Provencial-style retreat surrounded by gorgeous mountain views and the vibrant town of Franschhoek. The rest of the evening is free to enjoy.
Drive time: 2 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
DAY 8: Exploring the Winelands and a Cape Dutch Cooking Class
Begin with a scenic drive through the heart of the Cape Winelands, taking in jagged mountain ranges, expansive vineyards, and classic Cape Dutch homesteads. After arriving in the famous Stellenbosch wine region, you will enjoy your first wine tasting of the day set among giant oaks and beautifully preserved colonial buildings. Lunch will be in the Winelands followed by a short transfer to a resplendent Cape Dutch working farm situated on a 10,000-acre nature reserve. After a refreshing high tea, we will take an exciting guided drive in an open-top vehicle through the grounds to view springbuck, black wildebeest, baboons, foxes, lynx, and more. Upon returning to the grand lodge, you’ll enjoy a cooking class and interactive workshop that combine traditional farm favorites with fresh, local ingredients. Together we’ll prepare a delicious farewell dinner before returning to your Winelands retreat for the evening.
Drive time: 3.5 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 9: Depart for Optional Safari Extension
Following breakfast, our South Africa culinary tour ends. Transfer to the Cape Town International airport to depart for home, or set off on one of our incredible optional safari extensions.
Drive time: 1.5 hours
Meals included: Breakfast
Please note: This itinerary is designed to give you an idea of what to expect during our South Africa culinary tours but is not set in stone. What we actually do on a given day is flexible and can be tailored to the interests of the group.
Price includes:
- 8 nights boutique hotels (double room occupancy)
- All breakfasts, seven lunches and four dinners (including the meals you prepare in the cooking classes)
- Three authentic cooking classes taught by expert chefs
- Guided walking food tour of Cape Town
- Guided sightseeing of Johannesburg and Soweto, Cape Town, and the Cape Winelands
- Cable car ride up Table Mountain
- Visit a Zulu village
- Tour of Cape Point, including boat ride
- Wine tasting & wildlife in the Cape Winelands
- All entrance fees & ground transportation for activities included in itinerary
- Domestic flight from Durban to Cape Town
- Expert English-speaking tour leader
Price excludes:
- International airfare
- Travel insurance
- Optional evening excursions
- Drinks, snacks and remaining meals
- Optional activities outside of tour
- Discretionary gratuities
Note: This itinerary and package inclusions might be changed in time, subject to availability.