Unforgettable Day Trips To Take On Your Rest Days During The Cape Town Test

Unforgettable Day Trips To Take On Your Rest Days During The Cape Town Test

At a Glance: Top 5 Rest Day Excursions

1. The Cape Wine Region: Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, and Paarl.
2. The Cape Peninsula: Chapman's Peak, Cape Point, and Boulders Beach penguins.
3. Hermanus: The Marine Big 5 and spectacular coastal walks.
4. Aquila Private Game Reserve: A Big Five safari just 2 hours from the city.
5. Cape Town City: Table Mountain, Robben Island, and the V&A Waterfront.

Making the Most of Your Luxury Cricket Tour

Africa Travel’s exclusive tour to Cape Town this winter to watch England take on South Africa’s finest cricketers will be extraordinary. Staying in superior accommodation and enjoying the finest hospitality from the comfort of an Executive Suite, this is what a luxury cricket tour should look like.

But cricket is not the only part of the fun. When the players step off the pitch, your adventure continues. There is so much to see and do in the Western Cape that it is worth highlighting the Top 5 day trips which can be enjoyed when there is no cricketing action to follow.

Top 5 Cape Town Day Trips for Cricket Fans

1. The Cape Wine Region

This is an absolute must for any lover of stunning scenery, picturesque settlements, and some of the finest wine estates on the planet.

• Stellenbosch: One of South Africa’s oldest towns, famed for its Cape Dutch architecture, oak-lined streets, and the numerous wine estates that surround the settlement.
• Franschhoek: The gourmet capital of the Cape. This French Huguenot village is filled with bars, boutiques, and of course, premium wine estates.
• Paarl: Completing the scene is pretty Paarl. All three centres can easily be visited on a day trip.
• Bonus: Join Africa Travel’s escorted VIP cricket tour, and a guided excursion to Franschhoek featuring a wine-tasting and lunch on a historic wine estate is automatically included!

2. The Cape Peninsula

Head south of the city and follow the coastline as you pass the glitzy beaches of Clifton and Camps Bay to reach the harbour at Hout Bay.

Take the dramatic Chapman's Peak Drive, arguably the world's most scenic coastal road, to Noordhoek and then onto Boulders Beach, where visitors can walk and even swim amongst a colony of wild African penguins. Finish the trip off at Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope, where the rickety old funicular can be ridden to the lighthouse for spectacular ocean views.

3. Hermanus & The Marine Big 5

Well-known for being one of the best destinations for whale-watching, the charming fishing village of Hermanus is located less than 90 minutes from Cape Town. The village’s clifftop path runs right along the coast and is the perfect vantage point to view magnificent marine life.

Boat trips run to see the Marine Big 5: whales, sharks, seals, dolphins, and penguins. There are some superb wine estates close to Hermanus, and for the brave, shark cage diving is available in nearby Gansbaai. And remember, all of this can easily be enjoyed on a day trip from your Cape Town base.

4. Aquila Private Game Reserve

A safari as a day trip from Cape Town is such a thing possible? The answer is yes, at the Aquila Private Game Reserve, which is less than a 2-hour drive from the city.

A full day trip here will satisfy any short-term safari-seekers. After an early start, you will arrive in time for a morning game drive before brunch is enjoyed. Options in the afternoon include another 4x4 game drive, or a safari by quad-bike or on horseback, before the drive back to Cape Town, rounding off a day trip you will never forget.

5. Cape Town City Limits

For a final day trip, you don't even need to leave the city to enjoy everything Cape Town has to offer:

• Historical Sites: Visit fascinating Robben Island, a World Heritage Site and home for almost 20 years to Nelson Mandela.
• Natural Wonders: The city’s most famous iconic sight is Table Mountain, one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, which towers over the city below and can be reached on foot or by cableway. You can also wander the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, founded in 1913 and world-renowned for its diverse Cape flora.
• City Winelands: Wine-lovers can head to the city’s very own wine region, Constantia, to enjoy wine-tasting and lunch at the country’s oldest wine farm, Groot Constantia.
• The V&A Waterfront: Explore the many attractions of the Waterfront Development—shop for arts and crafts at the Watershed Market, enjoy the renowned Two Oceans Aquarium, or perhaps take a thrilling helicopter trip over the city.

Book Your Ultimate South Africa Cricket Experience

All of these unforgettable day trips can be seamlessly arranged by Africa Travel. To ensure you experience the absolute best of South Africa both on and off the pitch, Africa Travel offers two exceptional cricket tours built around the England vs South Africa series:

1. The Escorted VIP Newlands Package: An all-inclusive luxury experience featuring 5-star accommodations (the Winchester Boutique Hotel or the 5-star Radisson Collection Waterfront) over NYE, Executive Suite match tickets, and curated excursions (like the Catamaran cruise and Winelands tour).
2. A Bespoke Cricket & Safari Tour: A fully tailor-made itinerary allowing you to combine the thrilling Test matches or ODIs with an extended luxury safari in the Kruger National Park or a trip to Victoria Falls.

Start planning your bucket-list cricket adventure today:

• From the UK: Call 020 7843 3500
• From the US: Call +1 888 228 3417
• Email: info@africatravel.co.uk

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What are the best day trips to take during the Cape Town cricket test?

The top 5 most popular rest-day excursions include exploring the Cape Wine Region (Franschhoek and Stellenbosch), touring the Cape Peninsula (to see the penguins at Boulders Beach), visiting Hermanus for marine life, taking a day safari at Aquila, and exploring Cape Town's iconic Table Mountain and Robben Island.

2. Are any of these day trips included in the Africa Travel VIP Cricket Tour?

Yes! If you book our Escorted VIP Newlands Package, a guided day trip to the Franschhoek wine region (including a cellar tour and gourmet lunch at Vergelegen Wine Estate) and a luxury sunset catamaran cruise are fully included in your itinerary.

3. Can I really do a safari as a day trip from Cape Town?

Absolutely. While we highly recommend extending your trip to visit the Kruger National Park, if you only have a rest day, the Aquila Private Game Reserve is less than a 2-hour drive from Cape Town. It offers incredible day-safari options where you can spot diverse wildlife.

4. Where is the best place to see penguins near Cape Town?

The famous colony of wild African penguins is located at Boulders Beach, near Simon's Town on the Cape Peninsula. It is an easy and highly scenic day trip from central Cape Town via Chapman's Peak Drive.

5. Can I visit Nelson Mandela's former prison during my rest days?

Yes. Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was held for 18 of his 27 years in prison, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located just off the coast of Cape Town. Ferries depart daily from the V&A Waterfront.

6. How do I get to the top of Table Mountain?

You can reach the summit of Table Mountain either by hiking up one of the many scenic trails or by taking the famous Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, which offers stunning 360-degree views of the Mother City.

7. Can I completely customise my cricket tour?

Absolutely. We offer a Fully Bespoke / Tailor-Made Experience. Our travel experts can build a custom itinerary that combines your guaranteed cricket tickets with luxury safaris, beach extensions to Mauritius, or visits to Victoria Falls.

8. How can I book my Cape Town cricket tour and day trips?

You can book your VIP cricket package and arrange any additional rest-day excursions by contacting our expert team. From the UK, call 020 7843 3500. From the US, call +1 888 228 3417, or email us anywhere in the world at info@africatravel.co.uk.