Classic South Africa

Cape Town Day Tours, South Africa
PRICING AVAILBLE ON REQUEST

Cape Town, the Mother City, is historically, culturally, and visually, the most diverse, breathtakingly scenic and vibrant city you’ll have had the pleasure to visit! From its achingly beautiful natural attributes to its colourful culture; from decadent wine farms to captivating history and architecture - it’s tourist heaven. There’s no finer way to savour its pleasures than a guided day tour with Thompsons Touring & Safaris – from wonderful winelands and wine tastings, to riding the cable car to the top of Table Mountain, we’ll take you there in style, with great taste.

Please note the Scheduled Tour prices below have additional drop off and pick up points and will have other guests on board. The Private Tour pricing offers a vehicle and driver just for your use and allows more flexibility – please note that the venues visited will have other guests – it is just the vehicle and driver that is on a private basis. Pricing for both the scheduled and private options are per person based on a minimum of two people. Tours do get booked out quickly so to avoid disappointment we suggest booking well in advance of travel.

Cape Town City Tour - Half Day

Departs: Daily between 7:35am and 8:30am. Returns: Approximately 12:30pm.

This tour is designed to orientate and give you a full-color insight into the extraordinary magic of Cape Town. First enjoy a cable car ride to the summit of the legendary Table Mountain (weather permitting) for panoramic views, including the City and surrounding layout of this southernmost tip of Africa (tickets are for your own account). Next up you will pass one of the country’s oldest colonial buildings, The Cape Castle and the Company Gardens. Then you’ll be driven past Parliament Buildings, City Hall which is where Nelson Mandela made his first public speech after his release from prison and the Slave Lodge. Next, it’s up the cobblestoned hills to the beautifully colorful homes of the Bo-Kaap in the Malay Quarter. The tour ends on a sparkling note, with a visit to a diamond works where you’ll watch a professional diamond cutter as he creates every girl’s dream stone. Perhaps you’ll be taking one home.

Cape Point Tour - Half Day

Departs: Daily between 7:45am and 8:45am. Returns: Approximately 12:30pm.

The Cape Peninsula and Cape Point is wild, rugged, and undoubtedly one of the most memorable coastlines you’ll have encountered. The trip begins with a drive along Millionaires Paradise, eyeing the glamorous homes of Clifton Beach and Camps Bay which leave you in no doubt as to how it earned its title. From there, it’s on towards the charming coastal town and working harbor of Hout Bay - translated from Dutch it literally means Wood Bay. Then, driving over the legendary Chapman’s Peak Drive with its breathtaking views you’ll arrive at the Cape of Good Hope Section of the Table Mountain National Park and its rugged, intriguing landscape.

Next up is a visit to the delightful African penguin colony at Boulders beach (for your own account), before moving on to the historical naval port of Simon’s Town. It’s a wonderful half-day spent on the wilder side of this exquisite Cape coastline

Robben Island 

Departs: Daily, weather permitting. Ferries depart at 9:00am, 11:00am, 1:00pm and 3:00pm. Tour lasts approximately 3½ hours.

Board the Robben Island Ferry at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront and take part in a half day Robben Island tour (the ferry ride is scheduled even on the private option).

For nearly 400 years, Robben Island was a place of banishment, exile, isolation and imprisonment for political "troublemakers" and social outcasts. During the apartheid years Robben Island became internationally known for its institutional brutality.
Some freedom fighters spent more than a quarter of a century in prison for their beliefs. Nelson Mandela was one of them.
Those imprisoned on the Island succeeded on a psychological and political level in turning a prison 'hell-hole' into a symbol of freedom and personal liberation.
Robben Island came to symbolize, not only for South Africa and the African continent, but also for the entire world, the triumph of the human spirit over enormous hardship and adversity. Today, you will be escorted around the island, and given insight into the past and how the human spirit triumphs.

Bo-Kaap cooking safari - Half Day

Departs: Daily (subject to availability of the chef) at 10:30am Returns: Approx 1:30pm

Learn how to prepare traditional Cape Malay dishes (mixing spices, making a curry paste, making curry, samosa, and chili bites) and gain firsthand insight into this community. Enjoy the fruits of your labor at a 3-course sit down lunch (includes soft drinks and spicy tea). A parting gift of spices and heirloom recipes allows you to recreate these memories at home.

Feathers and Fins - Half Day

Departs: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 12:45pm and 1:45pm. Returns: Approximately 5:30pm.

This entertaining, family friendly, trip includes a visit to the Hout Bay World of Birds where adults and children can get up close and personal with nature, with over 400 different species to discover including birds, reptiles, mammals - don’t forget to visit the walk through monkey jungle! The tour continues with some of the finest beach views on the coastal drive to the Two Oceans Aquarium in the famous Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, where a magical underwater world awaits. Learn about mysterious deep sea creatures, dangerous predators and see a real “happy feet” family. Touch pools and tidal walks are part of the fun while puppet shows and play areas are on offer for younger children. Older children are not forgotten, interesting facts, fascinating discoveries, shark encounters and the chance to discover what really lies beneath the blue! Bring your family on this fun tour to see, touch, learn and play....who knows, they may even find NEMO! Includes entrance to World of Birds and the Two Oceans Aquarium.

Sea Kayaking - Half Day

Departs: Daily, subject to weather.

Weather dependant and excludes transfers – prices available on request.
One of the most unique places in the world - a penguin colony in suburban Cape Town! And the best way to see it is from the water. You’ll leave from Simon's Town Waterfront and paddle past the civilian and Naval Harbor and out to Boulder's Beach. After visiting the penguins, stop on a lovely semi-private beach for refreshments, swimming, and snorkeling (snorkels and bottled drinking water provided.) The double kayaks are very stable and perfect for those with no paddling experience.

Cape Peninsula Tour

Departs: Daily between 7:45am and 8:45am. Returns: Approximately 6:00pm.

On this tour you will see why the area earned the name of The Fairest Cape. Sit back and relax, as you’re driven along the exquisite stretch of coastline known as Millionaire’s Paradise – from Clifton to Camps Bay, to the exclusive beach hamlet of Llandudno – towards the charming working harbor of Hout Bay where you can embark on an up-close-and-personal Seal Island cruise lasting about 45 minutes if you choose to (for your own account). If you choose not to do the cruise you will have time to browse the shops and markets and perhaps enjoy a morning coffee at one of the restaurants at Mariners Wharf – the first harbor-front emporium in Africa.

You then wind your way along the legendary Chapman’s Peak Drive, hugging the cliffs and relishing the breathtaking ocean views. After a stop for lunch (your own account), visit the wild and beautiful Cape of Good Hope Section of the Table Mountain National Park, an integral part of the world-renowned Cape Floral Kingdom.

After, you’ll head back along the coast towards the City, visiting the historic naval port of Simon’s Town and the endearing African penguin colony at Boulder’s Beach (for your own account).

Next, you’ll head inland to the last stop of the day. In the summer months this will be at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. With the sun setting over the tall peaks of Table Mountain, the last rays sparkle on the trees and flowers. In the winter months (May 1st to Aug 31st), the last stop is at Groot Constantia where you’ll stop for a wine tasting and cellar tour of South Africa’s oldest wine estate.

Cape Town Tours - Evening Options

Sunset and Beach Dinner

Departs: Daily, September - May only. Between 5:30pm and 6:00pm. Returns: Approximately 10:00pm. 

Join your host and head out of the city before sunset. Savor a chilled glass of sparkling wine while overlooking one of Cape Town’s most beautiful beaches and taking in the sunset. You’ll be shown how to find the Southern Cross in the night sky (if the moon isn’t too bright!), before enjoying dinner at a sensational ‘out of town’ restaurant offering seafood and South African specialties.

If you’re celebrating a special occasion let us know and we can arrange request a separate table. As you return to the hotel, you’ll be able to enjoy the city lit up at night. Everything is taken care of – just enjoy!

Tailor made days out

We can also tailor make tours to match your interests or simply arrange for you to have a vehicle and driver available with no plan in mind to take you wherever you feel like going. Cape Town has so much to offer including Architecture, Art, and local clothing designers.

In addition to the beautiful Winelands, Cape Point and City tours, consider a family day out, to see seals, penguins, monkeys and butterflies; splash out on a hot shopping extravaganza; or indulge in a gourmet food and wine tour.

We can also arrange for you to go golfing, hiking cycling and sandboarding amongst other activities – please let us know if you would like more information on these activities!

All touring is based on using an air-conditioned 7-seater vehicle with a tour guide/driver.

Half Day Private Tours

Departs: Daily, on request. Trip can run from either 8:00am to 12:30pm or 1:30pm to 6:00pm and covers up to 150km (93 miles) of driving.

Half day custom trip with private vehicle and driver/guide.

Full Day Private Tours

Departs: Daily, on request. pickup time of 9:00am, drop-off time of 5:00pm and covers up to 250km (150 miles) of driving.

Full day custom trip with private vehicle and driver/guide.

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Johannesburg Day Tours, South Africa
Pricing Available on Request

Egoli, City of Gold. They came from far and wide to strike it rich in Johannesburg when gold was discovered in 1886. This multicultural ‘City of Gold’ still pulsates with entrepreneurial energy, power and the jingle of money, so its little wonder the pace is fast and furious. Let us guide you through this intoxicating maze.

Please note that Scheduled Tour prices have additional drop of and pick up points and will have other guests on board. Private Tours are available on request and offer a vehicle and driver/guide just for you and allows more flexibility – please note that the venues visited will have other guests – it is just the vehicle and driver that is on a private basis.

Johannesburg City Tour

Departs: Daily between 8:15am and 8:45am

South Africa’s largest city remains its financial and commercial heart. It’s in this fast-paced metropolis that the country’s radical political and social transformation is most evident – this is the ‘Rainbow Nation’ at work. It’s a heady experience, with contrasts of every kind round every single corner.

The tour sets off for Constitution Hill, home of South Africa’s architectural marvel, the Constitutional Court and site of Johannesburg’s Old Fort Prison (closed Sundays).  Explore the inner city of Johannesburg and the influence that the discovery of gold brought to this city and indeed South Africa. Then visit and explore the Maboneng Precinct, a wonderful example of urban regeneration of the east side of the Johannesburg business district which is now home to several independent retail, restaurant, art and entertainment venues – fresh and unique lifestyle offerings of this new exciting development. Return to your hotel via the  lush, up-market suburb of lower Houghton. Johannesburg is a city of contrasts, that’s for certain.

Soweto Tour

Departs: Daily between 12:45pm and 1:15pm

You know the name. It's a legend. SOWETO, acronym for South Western Township, is home to over 2 million people, who, despite living in crowded and chaotic conditions, have a tangible sense of community, one which ironically, the ordered, walled, elitist northern suburbs lack. Inside Soweto, you will visit the Kliptown Open Air Museum where delegates met in 1955 to adopt the Freedom Charter, now the cornerstone of the Bill of Rights and the South African Constitution.

This journey continues to Regina Mundi Church, site of many secret underground meetings of the then banned political parties. The next stop is the Hector Pieterson Museum, and discover the cause of the tragic riots which led to his death; guests will pass Mandela House, and give you time to visit this fascinating little museum (own account). Finally travel past the largest stadium in Africa, Soccer City, host of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final. Soweto is unlike a suburb you've ever seen or been to, yet the history of struggle encapsulated here is a cornerstone of the South African Story.

Apartheid Museum

Departs: Daily at either 8:30am or 1:30pm

The legendary Apartheid Museum is an interactive voyage of discovery, one which takes you from the dark days of, whites-only privilege, through to Nelson Mandela's historic release. This tour includes a pickup from your Johannesburg hotel in your private vehicle with a driver/guide. You will then be taken to the Apartheid Museum accompanied by your guide. The Apartheid Museum is a multimedia experience, with documentary film snippets, texts, sound clips and live accounts, recapturing life in the dark days of South Africa. It's a fascinating tour, filled with tales of bravery and sadness, but ultimately, it's a story with the right ending.

Lesedi Cultural Village

Departs: Daily at either 8:30am or 1:30pm

Five cultures in a day, that is what you will be exploring at the Lesedi Cultural Village, heart and home to families of a range of African tribes, all living harmoniously in true traditional homesteads. Experience the warmth and hospitality of people from the Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele, Sotho and Pedi cultures! The multilingual, multi-visual orientation depicts the history of South Africa, and will deepen your understanding of the complexity of our multicultural community.

Pretoria City Tour

Departs: Daily at either 8:30am or 1:30pm

Come on a cultural journey of exploration through one of South Africa’s capital cities, the Jacaranda City, so called for its breath taking purple lined streets when the jacaranda trees are in full bloom. Get ready to trace South Africa's extraordinary history via a range of imposing, intriguing museums and monuments, beginning with the legendary Voortrekker Monument, a memorial to the early settlers, followed by a visit to the Kruger Museum, the private residence of President Paul Kruger of the old Transvaal Republic. This City Tour ends with the Union Buildings, not only an architectural icon, but site of the emotionally charged scene which played out at Nelson Mandela's joyful inauguration as president in 1994. You'll be standing precisely where South African history turned the corner.

Journey to Freedom

Departs: Scheduled tours depart Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays between 8:30am and 9:10am. Private tour operate daily.

Many South Africans gave much, some gave all, to achieve a truly democratic South Africa. Depart on this full day tour which shares some of the journey, pain and struggle of those heroes; witness the places and experience the diverse museums where these momentous, tumultuous years have been so well documented.

The day begins at the Hector Pieterson Museum, where we start to unravel the cause of the devastating riots, before traveling past Mandela House, where you have the option of visiting this small museum (own account). The next significant stop is the fascinating Regina Mundi Church, site of so many of the underground meetings of the then banned political parties. Standing in here, you can feel the tension, picture the intensity, the strain on the faces of those brave souls, committed at any cost to changing the way of life of a nation.

After a break for lunch in Soweto at a local restaurant (own account), continue on to the legendary Apartheid Museum. This is an interactive voyage of discovery, one which takes you from the dark days of ‘whites only’ privilege, through to Nelson Mandela’s historic release. The Apartheid Museum is a multimedia experience, with documentary film snippets, texts, sound clips and live accounts, recapturing life in the dark days of South Africa.  It’s a fascinating tour, filled with tales of bravery and sadness, but ultimately, it’s a story with the right ending.

History of Humankind and Lesedi Cultural Tour

Departs: Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays between 7:00am and 7:30am.

We go right back to our beginnings, to the exceptional World Heritage Site of The Cradle of Humankind,  the world's richest hominin site, home to around 40% of the world's human ancestor fossils. The superb Maropeng Visitor Centre is truly an exciting, world class exhibition, focusing on the development of humans and our ancestors over the past few million years.

Continue on to the Lesedi Cultural Village where you may explore five cultures, heart and home to families of a range of African tribes, all living harmoniously in traditional homesteads. Experience the warmth and hospitality of people from the Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele, Sotho and Pedi cultures, and you’ll find it fascinating! The multilingual, multi-visual orientation depicts the history of South Africa, and will deepen your understanding of the complexity of our multicultural community. Then enjoy a traditional African meal, a fine way to round off a day of new experiences and fresh insights.

Pretoria and Cullinan Diamond Mine

Departs: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays between 8am and 8:30am. Please note that this tour requires a minimum of 4 participants to operate.

The Cullinan Diamond Mine is the site of the World's oldest and South Africa's third richest diamond mine. Premier mine opened in 1902 and together with it founded the pretty Victorian village of Cullinan. The Cullinan Mine produced the world's largest gem quality diamond, a massive 3106-carat uncut. This diamond was chiseled into 98 individual diamonds including the Great and Lesser Stars of Africa, the 2nd and 3rd largest polished diamonds in the World which are now set in the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom.

The tour starts with a 15 minute video before guests are led into the high security premises of the mine where you are shown the workings and machinery of the mine. You then visit the enormous open cast mine, excavated from Kimberlite rock which is now four times larger than the famous Big Hole in Kimberley. Continue to Cullinan Diamonds where you will view diamond cutting and polishing before you are invited to browse the loose diamonds and exquisite jewelry and perhaps make that special purchase.

After lunch at a local restaurant, continue with the cultural journey of exploration through the capital, the Jacaranda City, so called for its breathtaking purple-lined streets when the jacaranda trees are in full bloom. You're ready and set to trace South Africa's extraordinary history via a range of imposing, intriguing museums and monuments, beginning with the legendary Voortrekker Monument, a memorial to the early settlers. Travel on to the Kruger Museum, the private residence of President Paul Kruger of the old Transvaal Republic. Ending with the City Tour with the Union Buildings, not only an architectural icon, but site of the emotionally charged scene which played out at Nelson Mandela's joyful inauguration as president in 1994. You'll be standing precisely where South African history turned the corner.

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Durban Day Tours, South Africa
Pricing Available on Request

This is the wet ‘n wild city, where the sun shines all year round and the warm Indian Ocean calls. From the dramatic peaks of the exquisite Drakensberg Mountain Range to traditional Zulu villages, magnificent game reserves, historic battle sites and the warm Indian Ocean lapping onto wide, sandy beaches, KwaZulu-Natal is a tourist paradise. Let us help you discover the treasures of this region. All pricing is based on a minimum of 2 people traveling and includes the pick-up and drop off from Umhlanga hotels.

Drakensberg World Heritage Tour

Departs: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays between 6:00am and 6:30am. Returns approximately 5:30pm.

Discover the beauty of the undulating Drakensberg Mountain range as you travel through breathtaking vistas with a visit to the World Heritage Site of Giant’s Castle.

The enigmatic Bushman paintings in the vicinity are not far, so you set off on foot for a leisurely 2 mile round trip hike to the site of the caves to discover this magical legacy of the Bushmen (moderate fitness level required). Your guide there will share his knowledge of the paintings which date back 2 000 years. You’re bound to have built up an appetite, so enjoy a served lunch. Your return to Durban is via a visit to the Nelson Mandela Capture site – a historically significant moment in South African history and now commemorated with a world class sculpture, in memory of Nelson Mandela and his heroic role in the struggle against apartheid.

Shakaland Tour

Departs: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays between 8:30am and 8:45am. Returns approximately 4:30pm.

Experience traditional Zulu culture and customs at the largest Zulu kraal (a traditional African village of huts) in all of Zululand, look into the future with an iSangoma or traditional healer...all this and more, packed into one exhilarating day.

There will be some traditional Zulu beer for you to sample, while the craftsmen and community who make the spears, shields, beadwork, pots and their huts, open their doors so you can witness their skills and artistry. The Zulu dancers will thrill with their grace and energy, and you’ll be treated to a most satisfying lunchtime feast! Come live a day in the life of a traditional community – you’ll find it informative and a far cry from anything you’ve ever experienced!

Islandwana and Rorke's Drift Tour

Departs: Saturdays between 6:15am and 6:45am. Returns approximately 7:30pm.

Historians will love it for sure, but if you enjoy a really great story, the Battlefields Tour is for you too – it’s both a thriller and a drama.

KwaZulu-Natal is rich in Anglo-Zulu war history, where two of the most famous, at times heart-wrenching battles fought between the Zulu and British Armies took place. You visit the eerie battlefields of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift, and let your imagination paint mental pictures of the battle scenes played out here. Your tour includes lunch, then wind your way back to your hotel through some of the most spectacular scenery in the province of Kwazulu-Natal.

*A Specialist Battlefield Guide is available at a surcharge on request.

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Choose Your Own Day Tours - Call our Africa Specialists

Contact one of our experienced Africa Specialists to help decide how to spend your free days in South Africa. Call us at 1-800-387-2706.