South Africa, an Elegant Adventure starting Sept 1, 2023

billzappa

If anyone else starting this date, but using gift of time to arrive a day early, we'd like to compare notes and plan to explore Cape Town. Most likely would be taking shuttle from Belmond Mount Nelson to the waterfront,
Bill and Betty Z

Cheekyrn

Hi. We are Jim and Linda I. We will be joining you. Can’t wait. So excited for this adventure. We will be joined by a couple that are dear friends and a cousin and his SO..I think we will also be taking shuttle to the waterfront the day before It’s about a 40 minute walk to the waterfront

British

Cheekryn, It’s years now since we took this tour and I was not sure why you say the hotel has a shuttle or is a 40 minute walk from the waterfront until I just saw you have a choice of hotels in CapeTown, so I am assuming that you are staying at the Belmond hotel. I wonder why Tauck has done this as The Cape Grace hotel remains one of our favorite Tauck hotels. The personal service is awesome, the hotel is a short walk from the waterfront and they have a couple pf luxury free limos you can use to take you anywhere. For example, when we were there, the Kirstenbosch garden’s were not part of the tour and a limo and driver took us there and back. When we went to CapeTown again and not staying at that hotel, we visited there for lunch in our free time. I had the best vegan tasting menu one time there, I’m not a vegetarian or vegan and it was amazing. The spa was also excellent.

Cheekyrn

I think the cape grace will be shut down for extensive renovations. When we first booked we were staying at the cape grace. The hotel changed just this past week

British

Ah, that’s a shame. Please post a review of the Belmond, it would be good to know of an alternative and about the shuttle service.

MCD

Cheekyrn, you're correct. Mike Henderson is blogging now from CapeTown. He's staying at the Cape Grace, but mentioned that it will be shutting down for 6 months for renovations.

voikk32

I just returned from Cape Town and stayed at the Belmond Mount Nelson. It's everything you expect from an historic Belmond property. It was lovely and welcoming; food was great; high tea is a delight; there are 2 pools, one for everyone and one adults only. Live cocktail music at the dinner hour as well as tea. My room was incredibly comfy and well appointed and I had a great view of the fountain on the back side looking towards the expansive lawn area.

The shuttle runs every other hour starting at 9 down to the waterfront area and drops you at the Table Bay hotel. It returns on the half hour.

I was there for 6 days and was sad to leave it.

JanP

We are scheduled on this tour in September 2024. Hopefully, the Cape Grace will have been fully renovated and reopened by then.

Margrocks

My Son and I are going on the Elegant Tour on June 2, 2023. We are looking forward to this adventure! We have been informed of the hotel switch to the Belmond Mount Nelson. @voikk32 , I appreciate the review! I am considering a 9 am tour to Robbins Island, do you know if the shuttle service runs before 9 AM?

voikk32

Margrocks--the first shuttle leaves at 9 am. You might be able to get a ride from the hotel but at extra cost in order to make the 9 am tour. I took a 1 pm tour and took the 11 am shuttle to the waterfront and puttered around until it was time to go board. I think we had to be there one half hour prior to boarding.

gladysorlando984

Isn't Robbins Island included in the tour? It was when I went in 2012.

British

Gladys, they stopped going quite a while ago, there are several theories why, one is the dangerous sea conditions.
Just a note to say it is Robben Island. It was a fascinating place to visit. Our tour had a very colorful guide who was the one who led tours for celebrities when they visited.

billzappa

Jim & LInda, looking forward to meeting you & your whole group. We don't get in until about 5:30 on Aug 30, so will explore area on the 31st before the meet & greet. Glad to hear how shuttle operates. We had thought about trip to Robben Island, but probably won't do.

gladysorlando984

You are right British, I misspelled the name, the tour guide we had at the Island had been in prison there, He was wonderful. We also had a wonderful tour guide that gave a lecture prior to embarking. What a shame that Tauck doesn't go there any more.

Cheekyrn

Hi bill and Betty. We arrive on the 31st at 14:30 so I imagine around 16:00 at hotel. Looking forward to meeting you as well. This will be our first adventure to Africa and to say we are excited is an understatement

alisonclary

Hey there! I’m going on the Sept 6th tour with my parents and my cousin. We are doing a full day tour of the winelands before the Tauck tour starts. https://www.toursbylocals.com/seewinelands-CApeTown-SouthAfrica-Privatetour

-Alison