Klein Karoo Taste Tour
Discover the sights, scenes, smells and sensational flavours of the Klein Karoo, hosted by wine and olive oil tour guide and author, Glynis van Rooyen.
The Klein Karoo dazzles with its vast landscapes, magnificent mountain passes and down to earth people. We take the scenic Swartberg Circle Route, the road less traveled, and find the tastiest hidden treasures made from centuries-old recipes by the locals themselves. And there are always surprises!
ONLY R2,000 pp/pd sharing!
4 Nights 5 Days, R10,000 pp sharing!
INCLUDES: Transport, accommodation and tastings.
EXCLUDES: Meals, drinks and optional activities
OVERNIGHT AT: Night 1 & 2, Rooiberg Lodge. Night 3, De Rust. Night 4, Prince Albert
Minimum 4 persons. Book now for your preferred dates.
ITINERARY
DAY 1 – Overnight at Rooiberg Lodge
09:00 - Depart for a leisurely drive through the undulating hills of the Overberg, to Riviersonderend where we have a coffee stop at the original Ou Meul Bakery. For those who cannot resist, try a delicious little pastry to top up your breakfast and fortify you until lunch time.
12:00 - Arrive in Riversdale for an interesting detour to the suburbs of this town where we will visit the Old Gaol and/or the Julius Gordon Africana Museum.
Most importantly, we will shop for our supper tonight – a braai, of course, but using the best lamb and wors in the Overberg.
Lunch at the Old Goal (local speciality)
After lunch we take the Garcia Pass into the hinterland. The 11,7 km long Garcia's Pass has a long and winding history predating 1860 connecting the farming town of Riversdale on the coastal plateau, with the inland Karoo town of Ladismith. It is a beautiful drive at any time of year - particularly the upper-plateau section where the road winds gently between the hills, mimicking the course of the river.
At the bottom of the pass we stop to explore Eden, an unusual and unexpected oasis of olives and wine almost at the crossroads between the road to Ladismith and the road to Rooiberg. We’ll linger for a tasting and then be on our way through the increasingly Karoo-like vegetation to Rooiberg Lodge.
There should be time for a swim or a walk at the Lodge after we have checked in. We’ll light the braai and start preparing our supper over a glass of the good stuff.
DAY 2 – Overnight at Rooiberg Lodge
07:00 - Take a walk up the mountain behind the Lodge for a magnificent view of the Klein Karoo and work up an appetite for breakfast.
09:00 - Optional breakfast in the Lodge dining room
10:00 - We take a morning drive to explore the area, stopping for a tour of Mont Rouge Olive Farm, an impressive set-up where table olives are cured and you can taste unusual olive caviar. After the farm we will visit the Van Wyksdorp Mall for lunch and a shopping expedition.
The afternoon is free for more hiking, swimming or just relaxing beside the pool at the Lodge.
Dinner is a set menu in the Lodge, or another braai, depending on your choice, decided in the morning.
DAY 3 – Overnight De Rustica Olive Estate
09:00 - Depart the Lodge for a drive over the magnificent Rooiberg Pass to Calitzdorp. It's a road for the less hurried traveller and offers wonderful views on both the northern and southern sides with valleys and ridges bedecked in fynbos. The pass has an altitude variance of 509m over a distance of 14 km producing an average gradient of 1:27 with the steepest parts measuring in at 1:7. All these considered, it is one you simply have to drive at least once in your life.
In Calitzdorp, the Port capital of South Africa, we’ll stop for a wine and port tasting and then take a meander through the village before heading to Oudtshoorn for lunch. After lunch we meander on to De Rustica where we will spend the night in the revamped stables, Ashers Stable Stay.
16:00 - A tour and tasting at the fabulous De Rustica Olive Estate at the foot of the Swartberg Mountains. Precilla Steenkamp will take us through a tutored tasting that will leave you in no doubt as to the different styles of olive oil – delicate, medium and intense. The De Rustica Extra Virgin Olive Oils are highly awarded with Gold medals at the SA Olive Awards, ABSA Top 10 oils in South Africa and Gold medals at the top international competitions in New York, London and Los Angeles.
After a delicious dinner and some olive oil inspired side dishes, we’ll do some star gazing in the tranquil atmosphere and starry night of this Little Karoo farm.
DAY 4 – Overnight Prince Albert, Karoo Cottages
09:00 - Depart De Rustica after breakfast for a tasting at the Doornkraal Padstal, an institution in this part of the world and the most fascinating farm stall ever, with unusual products such as Quince Cheese, Karoobosie salt and Kinderkop marmalade!
Our next stop is a lay-by in beautiful Meirings Poort for a breath of fresh air and a sip and a bite of something, then on to Prince Albert.
A quick check-in at Prince Albert where we’re staying in quaint little Karoo cottages
OPTIONAL WORKSHOP: A COOKING CLASS at the African Relish Cookery School. Spend a delightful afternoon cooking up a dinner which we will all enjoy together (R875 pp, includes dinner).
DAY 5 – Home
Our journey home takes us over the most spectacular pass of them all – the Swartberg Pass. We’ll meander over the pass enjoying the incredible views before turning our heads south on the homeward road. En route we’ll have a pit stop at Ronnie’s Sex Shop, meander over the Tradouw Pass and then straight back to Cape Town or our point of departure.
KLEIN KAROO TASTE TOUR
4 Nights 5 Days, R10,000 per person sharing
(ONLY R2,000 pp/pd)
Glynis van Rooyen
Director of SunSwept Tours
glynis@hermanus.co.za
+27 82 775 8843