South Africa: Fabulous Ladies Wine, Diamonds & Safari Tour

22 May 2027

1 Jun 2027
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Our Fabulous Ladies’ Wine, Diamonds & Safari Tour of South Africa is BACK for 2027!

There is genuinely no other wine touring experience like this anywhere else in the world. Over eleven days you’ll go from the buzz of Cape Town, through the historic Cape Winelands spending time with some of South Africa’s top women in wine, stopping in at South Africa’s most famous diamond producer and then finishing at a private game reserve on the wild edge of the Eastern Cape.

From the moment you arrive onto the African continent, you’ll be looked after every step of the way. From your VIP meet and greet at Cape Town airport and private airport transfer through to the very last goodbye at the end of safari, you’ll be fully escorted for this tour and will never have to think about a thing.

DIVA MOMENTS

VIP Welcome

Your South African adventure begins with a VIP airport meet and greet before stepping into the vibrant energy of Cape Town. Settle into luxury before gathering with your fellow travellers for your first fabulous dinner overlooking one of the world’s most beautiful cities.

Sip with South Africa’s Leading Women in Wine

Meet the remarkable women shaping South Africa’s wine industry as they personally welcome you into their wineries. Hear their stories, taste exceptional wines and enjoy insider experiences that simply aren’t available to regular visitors.

A Vineyard Picnic Among the Vines

Relax over a beautifully prepared gourmet picnic surrounded by rolling vineyards, mountain views and centuries of winemaking history in the spectacular Cape Winelands.

Blend Your Own Signature Wine

Step behind the scenes with an expert winemaker and create your very own personalised bottle of South African wine to take home – a unique souvenir of your journey.

Lunch at Some of South Africa’s Most Beautiful Wine Estates

From contemporary architectural icons to historic Cape Dutch estates, every meal has been carefully selected to showcase the very best food, wine and scenery the Cape Winelands has to offer.

Discover the Story Behind the World’s Most Famous Diamonds

Visit South Africa’s most iconic diamond producer and uncover the fascinating history of diamonds, craftsmanship and the extraordinary gems that helped shape the nation.

A Private Safari Experience

Trade vineyards for the African bush as you arrive at your luxury private game reserve. Venture into the wilderness with experienced rangers in search of lions, elephants, rhinos, buffalo and elusive leopards.

Sundowners on Safari

There’s something magical about enjoying a glass of South African wine as the sun disappears over the African bush while wildlife roams nearby. It’s one of those moments you’ll remember forever.

Luxury in the Heart of the Wild

Wake to the sounds of the African bush from your luxury safari lodge, where elegant accommodation meets one of the world’s greatest wildlife experiences.

The Big Five

Experience the unforgettable thrill of spotting Africa’s iconic Big Five in their natural habitat. Every game drive offers something different and every sighting feels like a privilege.

This spectacular South African journey brings together three of the country’s great pleasures: world-class wine, extraordinary food and the unforgettable thrill of safari.

Over the course of the tour, you’ll stay in designer boutique hotels, luxury five-star accommodation and an exclusive private safari camp reserved just for your group. From the energy of Cape Town to the beauty of the Cape Winelands and the wild landscapes of the Eastern Cape, every detail has been curated with style, comfort and insider access in mind.

This is a small group journey for just 12 wine and travel loving women, fully hosted from start to finish by Fabulous Ladies’ Wine Society founder, Jane Thomson OAM. With Jane’s personal relationships woven throughout the itinerary, every winery visit feels intimate, generous and deeply connected. At each stop, it is the winemaker or owner herself welcoming you in, pouring her wines and sharing the stories behind them.

Begin in Cape Town, staying at the stylish Canopy by Hilton on Kloof Street, perfectly placed among the city’s restaurants, bars and galleries. Enjoy premium local sparkling on the summit of Table Mountain with the city at your feet, then step into Cape Town’s food and wine scene on a guided eat-and-sip walk. A spectacular wild-food feast by Veld & Sea brings the landscape to life through a multi-course meal foraged, cooked and paired from the coast and mountainside around you.

From there, travel into the Cape Winelands for four nights at Mont Rochelle, Sir Richard Branson’s magnificent five-star wine estate in Franschhoek. This is wine country at its most beautiful: mountains, vineyards, elegant hospitality and extraordinary food. Private tastings with South Africa’s leading women in wine sit alongside exceptional dining experiences at celebrated restaurants including FYN, Rust en Vrede and Chefs Warehouse, each known for showcasing South African cuisine at its most creative and refined.

You’ll also visit Delaire Graff, the Jewel of the Cape Winelands, where art, gardens, wine and diamonds come together in one dazzling experience. Explore Africa’s premier diamond boutique, wander through blooming gardens and enjoy a setting that captures the glamour and beauty of the Winelands.

The journey finishes with three nights at a five-star safari camp in the malaria-free Eastern Cape, booked exclusively for your group. With no other guests in camp, the experience feels personal, peaceful and truly special. Head out on game drives in search of the Big Five, return to the comfort of your luxury camp and share those once-in-a-lifetime safari moments with a small group of women who love travel, wine and adventure as much as you do.

This is South Africa with soul, style and access: incredible women, remarkable wines, unforgettable meals, beautiful places to stay and the magic of the African bush.

Tour Price:   Twin Room AUD$23,995 per person.  Private Room AUD$28,995 per person.

Please note a ‘willing to share’ option is not available.

Tour Starts: Cape Town

Tour Finishes:  Cape Town

Tour Dates:   22 May – 01 June 2027

PRICE INCLUDES:

Fully escorted by Jane Thomson OAM, from Cape Town

3 nights’ boutique accommodation, Canopy by Hilton Longkloof, Cape Town

4 nights’ luxury accommodation, Mont Rochelle Hotel & Vineyard, Franschhoek

3 nights’ luxury tented suite accommodation, Kariega Settlers Drift, Eastern Cape

Airport transfers on arrival & VIP Meet and Greet services at Cape Town International Airport

Hotel porterage

Touring and activities as per the itinerary

Breakfast daily

17 Main meals as per the itinerary inclusive of wine

Return economy class flight from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth

Private transport throughout

Local English Speaking guide for days 1-8

Government taxes

NOT INCLUDED:

Airfares and departure taxes; transfers unless stated in the itinerary; items of a personal nature; phone calls; passport and visas; laundry or tips not covered in the itinerary. Personal transport; excess baggage; security and government taxes; travel insurance.  Meals not specifically mentioned in the itinerary; additional beverages (unless specifically described). Optional excursions or activities that may be offered but are not included in the tour price. Any alcoholic beverages before/after/during meal (other than those indicated).  Any changes you choose to make during your trip.

MAY 2027

Day 1 – Saturday 22:  Welcome to Cape Town

Welcome to Cape Town! You’ll be met in the arrivals hall with a VIP meet-and-greet, whisked through the airport formalities and driven to your hotel, the stylish Canopy by Hilton on Kloof Street, your home for the next three nights. Settle in and enjoy the late afternoon at leisure.

This evening your South African adventure begins in style. We gather for welcome drinks on the rooftop of The Silo, the landmark hotel perched above the V&A Waterfront, before being escorted to the Wisdom Room for a beautiful food-and-wine paired private welcome dinner. There’s no better place to raise a first glass together!

Stay: Canopy by Hilton Cape Town Longkloof
Meals included: Dinner

Day 2 – Sunday 23:  Constantia & the Cape Peninsula

After breakfast we set off for the Constantia Wine Route, the oldest wine-growing corner of the Cape, with more than three centuries of winemaking behind it — and, wonderfully, a growing number of women now at the helm of its estates. It’s a lovely full-circle moment when you remember that the very first person to own land here was a woman: Catharina Ras, granted the farm now known as Steenberg back in 1682.

At Steenberg we’re welcomed by Carryn Wiltshire and Simone Haikney for an executive tasting in the private cellar, where you’ll sip the estate’s celebrated 1682 Pinot Noir Cap Classique alongside a flight of flagship wines. From there we cross Ou Kaapse Weg towards Cape Point to meet Roushana and her team for something truly special: a Veld & Sea wild food experience. Across five courses you’ll taste the season itself — herbs gathered from the mountainside, seaweed foraged from the coast, edible flowers picked from the garden — all paired with local wines and wild sodas, while the foragers and chef share the story behind every dish.

If time allows, we’ll slip away to a quiet beach to visit an African penguin colony, well away from the crowds, before making our way back along the spectacular Chapman’s Peak Drive. Then the evening is yours – we’ll happily point you towards the Time Out Market at the Waterfront, where fourteen kitchens from some of the city’s best chefs sit under one roof.

Stay:Canopy by Hilton Cape Town Longkloof
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3 – Monday 24:  Exploring Beautiful Cape Town

You may want to keep breakfast light this morning, because you’ll be eating your way through Cape Town before the day is done! We begin at the top, ascending Table Mountain by cable car (weather permitting) to take in those famous views from every vantage point. At the summit we toast the city below with a glass of superior Cap Classique, chosen for us by Caroline of Caroline’s Fine Wines.

Back down in the heart of the city, we meet our specialist guide for a walking journey told entirely through food and drink. This is Cape Town seen through her flavours and her people: traditional treats, artisan producers, local wines and the stories behind them, with plenty to taste at every stop. This is lunch for the day, and then some.

Tonight we dine at FYN, one of the most celebrated restaurants on the continent and a regular on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, for a food and wine pairing that lingers long in the memory.

Stay:Canopy by Hilton Cape Town Longkloof
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 -Tuesday 25:  Sculpture, Hemel-en-Aarde and Franschhoek

This morning we check out and set off for the Cape Winelands, a short and beautiful drive from the city. Our first stop is the Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden near Stellenbosch, where more than sixty of the artist’s bronzes are set along kilometres of paths winding through indigenous fynbos – a wild, contemplative kind of beauty.

We carry on over the mountains into the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, one of South Africa’s great cool-climate regions. At Hamilton Russell Vineyards we’re hosted by Talita Engelbrecht, alongside Berene Sauls of Tesselaarsdal – whose own label is one of the most heart-warming stories in South African wine – for a tasting and a relaxed farm-style lunch. In the afternoon we visit Hasher Family Estate to meet winemaker Natasha Williams, the talent behind her own label, Lelie van Saron.

Tonight we check into the stunning Mont Rochelle, our home for the next four nights, and dine in-house at MIKO.

Stay: Mont Rochelle, Franschhoek
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 – Wednesday 26: Your Day to Explore Franschhoek

A gentler day, and a welcome one.  Franschhoek is a sleepy, gorgeous little town made for meandering. Wander the main street, browse the galleries, book a treatment at the spa, or simply do nothing at all with a glass in hand. In the evening we head out together for a late dinner at Protégé, where refined, flavour-packed cooking meets an easy, unfussy kind of fine dining.

Stay: Mont Rochelle, Franschhoek
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6 – Thursday 27:  Cape Winelands & Diamonds

Today is the one the name of this tour promises. We start at Bartinney Estate with winemaker Ronell Wiid for a Cape Fynbos and Wine tasting – a multi-sensory experience that changes the way you taste, and a lovely nod to the estate’s work conserving the Cape’s extraordinary biodiversity.

A short drive brings us to Delaire Graff, the Jewel of the Cape Winelands. Two estate ambassadors will walk you through gardens in permanent bloom, past sculptures and works from Laurence Graff’s personal collection of South Africa’s finest contemporary artists. There’s time to step inside the Graff boutique – Africa’s first – where the diamonds are every bit as dazzling as the setting. Then a tutored tasting on the terrace, wrapped in mountain views, with platters of local cheese and charcuterie.

In complete contrast, the afternoon takes us to Stellekaya, a boutique cellar right in the middle of Stellenbosch, to meet Jane Lello and Rose Kruger and taste the noble red varietals they do so well.

Dinner tonight is at Chefs Warehouse at Maison, a relaxed, contemporary Winelands table with all the warmth of an old friend who happens to cook beautifully.

Stay: Mont Rochelle, Franschhoek
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 – Friday 28:  More of the Delicious Cape Winelands

A leisurely start, then off to Jordan Wines near Stellenbosch for a guided walk through the cellar and the winemaking, followed by a picnic lunch out among the vines. From there we visit Mitre’s Edge to meet winemaker Lola Nicholls, whose family-run boutique winery has focused on red wines and Bordeaux-style blends since the late nineties.

Our final night in the Winelands is a memorable one. We dine at Rust en Vrede, set in the estate’s original cellar – now a historic monument turned elegant dining room – for one of the great wine-paired dinners in the Cape.

Stay: Mont Rochelle, Franschhoek
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 8 to 10 – Saturday 29 to  Monday 31:  Safari Time

After breakfast we say goodbye to the Winelands and fly from Cape Town to Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), where we’re met and driven out to Kariega Private Game Reserve. Here, at the beautifully secluded luxury camp Settlers Drift, the pace changes entirely.

Your days settle into the wonderful rhythm of safari. Early coffee before a morning game drive, when the animals are at their most active, with a refreshment stop out in the bush. Back to the lodge for breakfast and a lazy midday siesta, or a nature walk if you’re feeling active. Afternoon tea, then out again for the senset drive and that great safari ritual: sundowners in hand as the light turns golden. Evenings are spent together over dinner, swapping the day’s sightings, sometimes around an open-air boma fire.

Everything here is included – all your meals, selected beverages, your game drives and activities. Three nights simply to be present in the wild and experience the true Africa.

Stay: Kariega Settlers Drift (fully inclusive of all meals and snacks)
Meals included: Fully inclusive of all meals and snacks

JUNE 2027

Day 11 – Tuesday 01:  Homeward bound

One last morning game drive and breakfast before we check out and make our way back to the airport for the flight to Cape Town. From here you’ll either connect to your international flight home, or carry on with your own South African plans. Whatever comes next, you’ll leave with a heart full of memories, a new circle of wine-loving friends, and a serious love for South Africa.

Bon voyage!

Cape Town

Canopy by Hilton Cape Town Longkloof

Nestled in the heart of Cape Town’s vibrant Kloof Street precinct, Canopy by Hilton offers the perfect blend of contemporary design, local character and effortless comfort. Surrounded by some of the city’s best restaurants, cafés, galleries and boutiques, it provides an ideal base from which to explore Cape Town. Stylish guest rooms feature modern South African touches, while the hotel’s welcoming atmosphere and central location make it easy to experience the energy and creativity of this remarkable city.

Franschhoek

Mont Rochelle

Set amongst rolling vineyards in the heart of the Franschhoek Valley, Mont Rochelle is Sir Richard Branson’s spectacular five-star wine estate and one of South Africa’s most beautiful luxury retreats. Surrounded by breathtaking mountain scenery, the estate combines elegant accommodation, exceptional dining and its own award-winning winery. With beautifully appointed rooms, peaceful gardens and panoramic vineyard views, Mont Rochelle offers the perfect setting to relax, indulge and immerse yourself in the beauty of the Cape Winelands.

Eastern Cape

Kariega Settlers Drift Safari Lodge

Located in a remote and untouched part of the Kariega wilderness, Settlers Drift offers a unique tented safari combined with 5-star luxury. The lodge consists of 9 spacious tented suites, each with stunning views and secluded viewing decks. Gazing down from the decks overlooking the Bushman’s River, it feels as if time has stood still since the last feet to have touched this remote valley were those of the 1820 Settlers as they guided their wagons across the river. The luxuriously appointed and perfectly positioned tented lodge delivers the ultimate guest experience.

These tour-specific terms and conditions must be read in conjunction with The Fabulous Ladies standard terms and conditions.

Travelling Divas is offering this tour as a 3rd party sales agent.  The tour is operated by The Fabulous Ladies Wine Society.

A minimum of 8 guests is required for this tour to depart. The maximum number of guests is 12. If minimum numbers are not reached, we will discuss this with you well before departure to finalise how to proceed i.e. re-quote with less participants or cancel the departure. If Fabulous Ladies cancel the departure your tour deposit will be refunded.

We do not refund deposits for any other reason than The Fabulous Ladies Wine Society cancels the departure.  Travel Insurance is compulsory for you to travel on this tour to protect against cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances.

Once full payment is received the price is guaranteed. Until that time, the price is subject to change. This tour has been converted to Australian Dollars from US Dollars and may be subject to currency fluctuations.

A reasonable level of fitness and mobility/stability is required due to uneven terrain, cobblestones, cellar access and more.

A $4000 non-refundable deposit is required once confirmed. Once minimum numbers are met, deposits are converted into USD and forwarded to our supplier.  Please note we will make no conversions until minimum numbers are met and the tour is a confirmed departure.

A second payment of $5000 will be due once the tour departure is confirmed.

Deposit is by a payment link via the booking form to secure your spot. We accept American Express, Visa or MasterCard. Merchant fees are applied at this time to the deposit payment.

All payments are processed by E-way – a secure payment gateway that is certified to stringent levels of certification.

Please note interim payments may be required due to meet supplier terms and conditions.

Please do not book your flights until we confirm the departure.

Please ensure you check SmartTraveller for the latest destination travel advice and consult your health professional regarding any vaccination requirements prior to travel.

If you cancel your booking after paying your deposit, cancellation fees will apply. These include the loss of your non-refundable deposit, any unrecoverable third party costs and a AUD$750 cancellation processing fee. No refunds are available for cancellations made within 12 weeks of departure.

It is your responsibility to ensure your passport is up-to-date and has a minimum 6 months validity from your departure date from South Africa.  Please check with your travel professional regarding visa requirements.

Please check with your medical professional regarding any vaccinations required for travel to South Africa.

Please check Smartraveller for destination updates.

Final payment is required by 15 March 2027.

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