Art Safari in South Africa

Your first morning in Cape Town welcomes you with 180 degree sea views and a fresh breakfast spread. Today, your personal guide is at your disposal for the start of your art safari in Cape Town. This morning we suggest a visit to Africa’s first and only, Museum of Contemporary African Art, the Zeitz MOCAA, as well as Southern Guild – a gallery showcasing the best of high-end South African design in a meticulously curated space. Familiarise yourself with leading South African designers including Porky Hefer, Otto du Plessis, Chuma Maweni to mention only a few. The Silo district also houses a collection of designer shops including exotic leather brand, Kat van Duinen’s flagship store, or the Watershed, an indoor market housing a large collection of locally made products.

For lunch, we treat you to a culinary journey at The Pot Luck Club, voted amongst the top 15 restaurants in South Africa, and among the best in the world. After lunch, you can browse the famous Biscuit Mill market at your own pace, discovering arts and crafts from local designers. Located in Woodstock, you can also choose to visit our selection of contemporary art galleries, namely, Blank Projects, Whatiftheworld Gallery, Michael Stevenson Gallery, and Goodman Gallery. Following your inspiring day amongst Africa’s leading art and design pieces, retreat to Ellerman House to spend your afternoon at leisure. For dinner, we delight you with a dining experience at FYN.

Today your art safari continues with a tour of The Norval Foundation, a stylish visual art museum boasting one of South Africa’s largest private art collections. Set on the scenically beautifully Steenberg Estate located just outside Cape Town, you can expect an exhibition of 20th – 21st-century visual art from South Africa and beyond, combined with an appreciation for nature. Amongst others, you will see artworks from leading South African artists such as Maggie Laubser, Gerard Sekoto, Cecil Skotnes, Irma Stern, Alexis Preller, and Sydney Kumalo. Along with this, you can also explore their sculpture garden featuring three-dimensional installations against a dramatic backdrop of mountains. Lunch will be served at Chef’s Warehouse at Beau Constantia, a mere 15-minute drive from the Norval Foundation.

Voted amongst the top restaurants in Cape Town, Chef’s Warehouse sits at the top of the Constantia Valley boasting some of the best views in Cape Town. Expect a seasonal and produce-driven menu and their signature ‘tapas-for-2’ serving. After lunch, your driver will transfer you back to Cape Town to spend the afternoon at leisure or alternatively, browse more contemporary art galleries in the city. This evening, a unique dining experience awaits you at Salsify, the latest venture of award-winning chefs, Luke-Dale Roberts, and Ryan Cole.

Today, we give you the chance to discover Cape Town’s classic attractions which can’t be missed on a visit to South Africa. Your personal guide will be at your disposal for the day. After breakfast at Ellerman House, visit the iconic Bo-Kaap, one of Cape Town’s most distinctive neighborhoods, characterised by a collection of colourful, Cape Dutch styled-homes predominantly owned by the Muslim community. This is the perfect time to learn more about Cape Town’s rich cultural history. Your next stop will be the famous Boulders Beach located in Simonstown, a small seaside town in the Cape Peninsula. Here, you will be introduced to one of the largest African penguin colonies in South Africa.

Following your stroll alongside the penguin colony, continue onwards to Noordhoek for lunch at The Foodbarn Restaurant. On arrival at Ellerman House, you can enjoy sunset drinks on the terrace overlooking the Atlantic Ocean before preparing for your dining experience at Janse & Co. Chef and owner, Arno Janse van Rensburg, will treat you with a menu of fresh and seasonal ingredients paired with boutique wines from the Western Cape in a contemporary space in the heart of Kloof Street.

A bitter-sweet farewell, today marks the end of your time in Cape Town, but also the start of your art safari in the Cape Winelands. Your private driver will collect you from Ellerman House at 09h00 for your transfer to the Cape Winelands. Before you reach your end destination, you will be making two worthy stops on the way – The Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden and Cavalli Estate. A short one-hour drive will transport you to Stellenbosch where you will have the opportunity to discover a 7-hectare sculpture garden set forth by South African sculptor, Dylan Lewis.You can explore the gardens at your own pace on this private tour of Dylan Lewis’ outdoor gallery alongside the art curator. As your introduction to the culinary journey in the Cape Winelands, lunch will be served at Cavalli Estate, an acclaimed wine and equestrian farm boasting a fine-dining restaurant, wine-tasting facility, contemporary art gallery, and luxury boutique. With panoramic views of the Helderberg mountains, endless vineyards (26 hectares to be exact) and indigenous fynbos gardens, your first lunch in the Winelands is bound to be one that you will remember. Continue your journey to your end destination – Leeu Estates located in the Franschhoek Valley. After a seamless check-in at your luxury suite, you will have the afternoon at leisure. The property features 17-suites, an art gallery, spa, restaurant and a wine studio to be enjoyed during your stay. This evening you will wine and dine at La Petite Colombe, acclaimed as one of the top restaurants in the world, at Le Quartier Francais Hotel.

Wake up in the beautiful winelands and enjoy a leisurely breakfast at Leeu Estates. Today, you will have the opportunity to visit Franschhoek’s top art galleries, at your own pace. Galleries not to miss in Franschhoek includes the Everard Read Gallery located in the town center. Your private driver for the day will transfer you to Stellenbosch where your art safari continues at Delaire Graff Estate – one of the most prestigious wine estates in the Cape Winelands. Here, you will enjoy a private wine tasting of the estate’s best wines, followed by a lunch with a view at The Delaire Graff Restaurant. The property also boasts a private collection of art by prolific artists from South Africa and beyond – including sculptures by Dylan Lewis and Lionel Smith.

After your art inspired day in the Winelands, retreat to Leeu Estate for a time at leisure. This evening, dinner will be served at Pierneef a La Motte – set on the proclaimed wine estate, La Motte. The restaurant’s name was inspired by La Motte’s admiration of South African artist, Jacob Hendrik Pierneef, and many of his original artworks can be viewed on the property. Chef, Eric Bulpitt brings to life the concept of heritage cuisine – a fusion of traditional South African dishes with a contemporary twist in presentation.

After a memorable stay in the Cape Winelands, it is time to continue your art safari in the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve. An early breakfast will be served at Leeu Estates, whereafter your driver will transfer you to Cape Town International Airport for your South African Airways flight departing at 10h50 and arriving at Hoedspruit Airport at 13h10. Here, a private transfer will escort you to luxury bushveld living at Cheetah Plains Lodge. Check into your exclusive-use safari house comprising of two lounges, dining area, outdoor boma, wine room, and a heated swimming pool. Cheetah Plains boasts state-of-the-art architectural design and features a collection of valued artworks by South Africa artists to the likes of Dylan Lewis’ bronze sculptures and Lionel Smith paintings.

Besides luxury of the highest standards, you can also expect eco-friendly game drives in your electric game vehicle, a designated field guide and spa therapist, as well as a private chef. Your stay at Cheetah Plains includes twice-daily game drives, all meals and a selection of South African wines and beverages. At 16h00 you will depart on your first afternoon game drive for your introduction to the greatest wildlife sightings on earth. Expect to see the big cat sculptures of Dylan Lewis come to life as you spot your first leopard in the wild. Return to the lodge after dark and enjoy your first dinner in the African bush.

Expect an early wake-up call from your dedicated field guide as you prepare for your first-morning game drive in South Africa’s oldest private game reserve and the birthplace of sustainable wildlife tourism in Southern Africa. Thanks to the two rivers which cross Sabi Sand, abundant sightings of leopard, lion, rhino, elephant, buffalo, cheetah, zebra, giraffe and hyena are on the table. Mid-morning you will be served coffee in the bush and shortly after you will return to the lodge for an excellently prepared breakfast spread by your private chef. The rest of your day can be spent as you see fit – spend time at leisure at the swimming pool overlooking the African bushveld or discover the property’s curated space of South African art.

If you would like to partake in something a bit more active, partake in a guided walking safari in the bush or make use of the on-site gym. At around 16h00 you will set out for your second game drive of the day. Your day comes to an end as you enjoy a sunset drink on a lookout point and head back to the lodge. This evening, dinner will be served outdoors and you will have the opportunity for guided stargazing.