Cape Town Vacations
At the southern tip of the African continent lies a city overflowing with charm. The powerful Table Mountain stands with pride, and fertile winelands produce distinctly elegant varietals. Opportunity for evocative adventures and comforting luxuries intertwine as a Cape Town vacation from Zicasso unveils a city truly remarkable for any visitor.
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Gastronomic Getaway to Leading Cape Town Wine Estates
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Zicasso specializes in custom tours, vacations, and safaris tailored to your interests and preferences. From private African safaris to culinary experiences in Europe, submit a trip request to share your ideas and travel style.
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Reviews of Zicasso's Cape Town Vacations
Based on 253 verified traveler reviews.
The following is what we wrote to the travel agency directly:
I am writing this in lieu of the survey and hope that we cover the questions. First of all, THANK YOU!!! Our agent was wonderful and accomodating in reference to the scheduling and the itinerary. She was charming and friendly and was quick to respond to my questions and requests.
Upon arrival, the woman from our tour company was nice, accomodating.
The Faircity Hotel was just what we ordered, easy and near to a couple of things. Our guide from the tour company was nice and informative. I highly recommend the Cradle of Humankind and wish we had spent a little longer there but we arrived too late. We went to the Sterkfontein Caves and would not recommend it for people of our age although it was interesting. (We're not really cave people anyway) The Apartheid Museum was good but not outstanding. We had done a lot of reading before the trip.
Next, we got our car and drove to Hazyview. Oh, we added a GPS in the rental. We had brought our own but you should recommwend to people that they make sure that their GPS has South Africa in it. I had checked it at home trying to find Johannesburg and our GPS found it so I assumed they had S Africa, but somebody later told me that there is a Jburg in the US that GPS pick up! The driving wasn't bad at all, in fact, very good and easy even for us Americans. The Tanamera Lodge was out of this world--beautiful and well managed. We drove up to Bourne's Pothole, etc, etc, which shouldn't be missed.We stopped for lunch in Graskop on the way, a cute little touristy town.
Our next leg was a long trip from there to Swaziland. Uneventful and easy to get thru the borders. Since we stopped at other craft places on the way, we didn't make it in time to see the candles or glass. The Mountain Inn accomodation was OK. We had dinner there amongst throngs of tourists but the food was good.
Then on to St Lucia Amazulu Lodge. We had been given a note at the Mountain Inn that the front office closes at 6 and we could call when we got there. Problem is--no phone!! Luckily, some other tourists were there and let us in and told us where to park the car--and therre was a night watchman who found the key for us (non-English speaking) We walked around St Lucia which is a nice town and walked out to the estuary.
We next drove to Hluhluwe the Zulu Nyala Safari Game Lodge--very good experience. The rental car was picked up the next day.
Our transfer to Durban went smoothly as did the transfer from the CT airport. We stayed at the Underberg Guesthouse, which we would recommend highly. Fortunately, our in country contact had discovered that I had booked one day short there and scrambled for us and found another guesthouse for the last night--Wergelen--terrific!!!!!!!!
CT: Robben Island (good), Greenmarket Sq--fun market and lots of cafes around; District 6 Museum, a little disappointing but we're glad we went, the V and A Waterfront for a nice lunch. Oh, and the Red and Blue buses which are hop on hop off buses touring CT and environs. Oh, our trip to Cape Point which had been arranged by the Underberg was wonderful and beautiful, stopping by several small towns. The penguins were delightful! (There was a major fire on the Cape for a couple of days, which was really sad but interesting watching the helicopters trying to put it out with seawater)
Our car was delivered to Wergelen. And we decided that we had too much stuff for the remainder of the trip so Fiona, the owner of Welgelen helped us find a shipper for our suitcases which should arrive in the PHL airport soon.(!?)
The drive to Stellenbosch and Franshoek was wonderful. The River Manor Boutique Hotel was a great find, easy walk into town, good breakfast, nice staff. We went to Oppie Dorp, good food and not expensive and to Ernie Eels restaurnat, the Big Easy--again good food. We drove thru Franshoek on the way to Hermanus since it had been recommended and the trip is FANTASTIC. (I am glad we had gotten used to driving on the left side by then thru the mountains!) We went to several wineries, including the one owned by Ernie Eels (beautiful views!!) and some others.
\Hermanus was a cute town, touristy, good for one night. Beautiful seaside.
\Oudtshoorn was very interesting as a one time deal. Not a must but good for once. The Mooiplaas GH was a good accomodation. Not much to do in the town.
Driving to Plettenberg Bay was nice. Enrico's Restaurant is about 15 mins out of town and a really nice place, highly recommended for beauty and food. By the water. Also stopped for oysters in Knysna, asking at the tourist office where good oysters were. (Quay Four), an informal place on the water with great oysters. Driving to Port Elizabeth was uneventful. We arrived late at the No 5 Boutique Art Hotel and left very early for our flight, but the hotel was magnificent and we wished we had spent a couple of nights there.
Flight to Joburg and onto Maun were fine. At that point Desert and Deltas Safaris took over and WOW--we were treated royally and it was so interesting and lots of fun and LOADS of pix. I'm glad you chose the combination of venues thru DDS, water, Okinavango Delta, Moremi, Xugana. We saw lots of animals and birds. The weather was great (a little too dry for them) but good (and hot) for us.
Victoria Falls: Transits went well and timely. We booked the sunset cruise thru the tour company that picked us up in Kusane to V Falls. We went to Zambia and Zimbabwe sides of the falls.(walking and taxi) There's a competition between the countries as to which side is better. We loved both. Zimbabwe gave a better overview but Zambia felt intimate and more into the falls. My camera shorted out in the falls in Zimbabwe, our last day :((( but it had put in 6 weeks of great pix.
All in all, a TERRIFIC trip which we would recommend to anyone (who can afford it :( ) We want our adult children to go someday. Our travel agency did a wonderful job of making sure we were well taken care of and getting us to absolutely great places.
Thank you!!!!
Barbara and Loren C
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Nothing but great things to say about our experience with this Africa safari travel planner!! The day after we entered our Zicasso request online, we were contacted by our agent. We clicked immediately. She got right away what we wanted to achieve during our trip and began helping us to develop a workable plan. If we drove her crazy with all of our revisions, you would never have known it: she was focused, resourceful, and upbeat, offering great advice at critical junctures to come up with a plan that met our needs and maximized both our time and convenience. She went the extra mile to ensure that we had a great trip, checked in frequently to find out how things were going and made great recommendations for restaurants and local attractions. We felt very pampered and we were! The outlines of our final trip included stops in Cape Town; the Blyde River Canyon; Kruger National Park; Victoria Falls; Botswana; and Johannesburg.
The company made all arrangements for us at two great safari camps: Kings in Kruger, and Shinde in Botswana. Both were excellent – knowledgeable guides; incredible surroundings; generous and welcoming staff. We lucked out and managed to see the Big Five in just two days! A highlight of the Botswana safari was spending 45 minutes observing a pride of eight lions congregated about 40 feet away from our open-air jeep. At Kruger, we had a similar up-close and personal viewing experience of two leopards and two white rhinos.
Our travel company also made all arrangements for five internal flights and pick-ups and one wonderfully guided day tour of the Blyde River Canyon: there was never a hitch! We even crossed four borders. The hand-offs were smooth; the transport vehicles clean and comfortable; the drivers safe and enthusiastic. All the practical details were attended to from tasty box lunches to confirmation calls the day before transfers.
Our travel company also arranged two wonderful tours in Cape Town for us and we were especially privileged to have them led by the Managing Director of the company. He is a consummate professional and was incredibly knowledgeable and informative about every topic that we discussed. He is also charming and delightful on a personal level and all of these qualities are reflected in the company he manages. Our two day-tours were to the Cape of Good Hope which included a spectacular gourmet multi-course wine-paired lunch at the Flagship, a restaurant located in the home of the chef and situated near the edge of the sea in Simon’s Town with beautiful views all around. We were joined by a handful of other quests and spent a lovely afternoon in their company sharing a great culinary experience.
The Managing Director also led us on a one day tour that included stops at Hermanus in the Western Cape for whale watching and at two beautiful towns in the wine country – Franschhoek and Stellenbosch. We tasted the extraordinary wines of the Delaire Graff and Tokara estates, both of which had distinctive architecture and art, but the Delaire setting was breathtakingly luxurious.
All in all, an unforgettable trip thanks to this company!
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We had high expectations about our trip to South Africa. Others who have been on safari have raved about it. Although we travel a lot, this was our first time using a travel agency. I'm the type that likes to research the options and make decisions based on our personal preferences, however, I knew I was over my head planning a three week trip to an area we knew nothing about. Working with this Africa safari travel company was fantastic and they exceeded every expectation we had for the trip. Every detail was thought out and planned for, even ones we did not know would be helpful like an escort through Johannesburg airport.
We gave our travel company our flight arrival and departure dates and an overall budget. They booked our hotels in Cape Town, Winelands, and 2 safaris as well as a 2-night trip on Rovos Rail. In addition, they made dinner reservations, booked a personal guide for the first part of our trip, arranged airport transportation. Every choice they made was one I would have made myself and matched our style perfectly.
Our trip to South Africa was much more than we expected which was focused on the safari aspect. Cape Town is beautiful, the mountains are stunning, the restaurants had some of the best food we have ever had, topped only by the food we had at our next stop in Franschhoek and Stellenbosch (Winelands). You'll think you are in any high end European restaurant. The wine tours, restaurants, scenery and towns in Winelands far exceed our experiences in Napa and Sonoma which we live near. I wish we had planned extra time there.
We thank this company for the wonderful experience, have fallen in love with the area and can not wait to go back!
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Zicasso matched us with two excellent travel agents who were both professional, responsive, and knowledgeable. We selected this travel company. Our agent, Richelle, worked with us to design an itinerary that transformed our wish list into an incredible African journey. Her prompt responses to our questions or needs were greatly appreciated.
We were attempting to see a lot of South Africa and Namibia in only two weeks. Throughout our trip, the accommodations, transfers, guides, restaurants, flights, and activities that Richelle had arranged or suggested were superb. She helped us create a portal for our trip that served as a source of information, pick-up times, e-tickets, and things like our allergies that restaurants knew ahead of time. Additionally, she was there for us as we were traveling in case we had a problem or question. We can't say enough about her professionalism, patience, and genuine concern that our vacation would be everything we hoped for.
Our itinerary was ambitious, but Richelle's preparation made it possible. First, we spent three days at Marataba. The accommodations, food, and staff were first-rate. Our guide on the safaris was excellent and the variety of game we saw was impressive.
The next part of our trip was in Cape Town. We arrived in a storm that the locals called "the storm of the century". There was extensive damage and some loss of life as well. While the storm certainly curtailed some activities, the following days had brilliant sunshine. We had a great time visiting the V&A Waterfront, a colony of African penguins at Boulders Beach, enjoying the gorgeous coastal scenery along Chapman's Peak Drive, and a too-short visit to the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. Our accommodations at the hotel in Sea Point were excellent for location and the professional staff.
After three days in Cape Town, our guide drove us for about an hour to the Cape Winelands. We arranged for two wine tastings in Stellenbosch. The winery was outstanding for the beautiful views and excellent wine. We also saw zebra and impala in the field just in front of the outdoor verandah. We had lunch at a boutique hotel and winery with spectacular views and delicious wine and food. Our accommodations at the hotel in Franschhoek were outstanding. The setting, service, food, and beautiful views were a highlight of our trip. Our room was large and beautifully appointed. An example of their generous hospitality was that all items in the minibar, including a bottle of wine produced at their winery, were gratis. We regretted having to leave after only one night's stay.
Our guide then returned us to the airport in Cape Town for our flight to Walvis Bay, Namibia. We were met by our driver at the airport to transfer us to the hotel in Swakopmund. The hotel was on the Atlantic Ocean and a perfect location to explore the town. The staff was top-notch. Warm, friendly, efficient, willing to help you arrange drivers, restaurant reservations, or figuring out how to work the TV remote.
After three days in Swakopmund, our excellent guide drove us to the lodge in the private Kulala Wilderness Reserve. Once again, the warm hospitality of the staff here and throughout our travels will stay with us for a long time. The lodge is a gateway to the magnificent dunes of Sossusvlei. Our guide was outstanding. He was an excellent driver over some awful roads and sand, and the depth and breadth of his knowledge were impressive. He cooked us a lovely chicken and salad lunch out in the desert. He drove us to Windhoek for our flight back to Johannesburg and our return home.
There will be many wonderful things to remember about our journey in southern Africa, but Richelle's excellent guidance and the warmth of the African people are what will stay with us the longest.
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Our African vacation was the trip of a lifetime! After a year of planning with our agent, we were truly on our way. We flew Qatar airlines, business class and had a wonderful flight. The club was beautiful and extremely spacious. Our guide was wonderful, always on time and very informative. We had daily trips to Robben Island, Cape Hope, Table mountain, the city of Cape Town and so much more. Our visit to the wineries was beyond perfect. A magnificent lunch at Tokara, tastings at Ernie Ells, Haute Carriere, Rupert were individualized and perfect. The towns of Franschoek and Stellenbosch were charming. We went to dinner in a winery in Constancia, Buitenverwachting that was wonderful. We even treated ourselves to a tasting dinner at Nobu!!!
The Rovos Train was perfect. The service, meeting Mr Rovos himself and hearing his story, the food was all very special. We had the master suite with its own soaking tub...amazing. The staff was wonderful and full of old world charm. Truly living the good life
Our night at the African Rock Hotel was delightful. It was small and very comforting, beautiful grounds for relaxing and wonderful food..
Upon arriving at Tinga, our first bush camp, we thought we were truly living the life of the Rich and Famous. I said to my husband, Kardashian's move over, because we have arrived. The accommodations, food and service were fabulous. Our safari's were wonderful, full of excitement and amazing seeing all the animals in their natural settings. We were not on a time schedule, so if they knew the animals were somewhere special, we were there watching.
Dulini, our next camp was a little smaller, only 6 cabins, but even more detail to the client, We were really treated as if we were the only guests there. A very special treat was being taken to our room after safari and being surprised with a candlelit table set for the 2 of us outside with a bucket of champagne. The menu was on the table and we were to call our personal butler when we were ready to order. To top this, they had a bubble bath with candles lit up in the bathroom!! Beyond fabulous....
Next to Victoria Falls hotel. It was somewhat of a hassle going thru immigration, but we survived! Our room looked out to the falls and the beautiful gardens. The buffet breakfast was amazing. After being in the plush camps, we were a little disappointed in the hotel...what a shame. We had dinner al fresco at the restaurant and got bitten alive...The only time during the entire trip. We could have done without the sunset cruise, especially since we were going to be on the river for 3 days. This is the only thing we would have changed. The tour of the falls, helicopter and elephant rides were terrific....
Last stop, the Zambezi riverside hotel. We had a beautiful room in the front with double balcony perfect for watching the beautiful sunrise and sunsets. The room was very comfortable and the staff warm and friendly. The meals were good, wine ever flowing and a good chance to meet some great people. The water safaris were wonderful and were somewhat different from the ones in Kruger. Our trip to the village gave us a first hand experience of how the natives actually live. It was wonderful having the 3 experiences, as they each were a little different.
The personnel and workers at each camp were wonderful. Everyone called you by your name and truly wanted to do whatever they could for you. A wonderful experience in each one, was when the crew would do their songs and dances for us. It was wonderful to see them in their natural settings, so warm and giving..
We have traveled all over the world, and can truly say this was a trip of a lifetime and a "true life experience" . We don't think we will ever have another vacation to top this. Thank you to our agent for all her hard work. Our memories will last forever.
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