The Executive and Members of the National Bailliage of Afrique du Sud invite you to come and experience and explore with us – our cities, towns, vineyards, mountains, botanical gardens, coastline, cultures, restaurants and the ‘Big Five’.

Use your air miles and loyalty points to fly into Johannesburg and then immediately on to Cape Town or stop to catch your breath and spend two or three nights at game lodge in the Lowveld.   There’ll be an opportunity to do this in reverse too, at the end of the Grand Chapitre.   South African Airways is a member of the Star Alliance group and some of their flights may have direct flights to Cape Town from Europe.

Consider flying from either Atlanta GA (Delta), SAA/Star Alliance from Washington DC (Dulles) or New York (JFK) over the weekend 14th September to arrive in Cape Town via Johannesburg or stop to transfer for a three night stay at Singita Ebony, an award winning luxury game lodge in the Kruger National Park. We’ll arrange an overnight stay at the Airport InterContinental.

Our programme is designed to give you time to get over the jet lag ‘at leisure’ and at your own pace, we are GMT +1.

• For the first few days, ‘hop on hop off’ the Red Bus which will take you to around the Cape Peninsula, to the Table Mountain cable station, in and around the City Centre, to our famous Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in their Spring splendor and more.
  
  For a ‘bird’s eye’ perspective of Table Mountain and the Peninsula, there is a Civair helicopter available to take you on a special flight, dropping in for lunch on the Steenberg wine estate in Constantia. (4 pax per flight). Weather permitting one can take the ferry to Robben Island.
   
• Our first coach trip into the winelands of Stellenbosch will depart on Sunday 16th, visiting Blaauwklippen and Jordan Wine Estates. Lunch will be hosted at Delaire Graff where you can enjoy a breath taking view of both Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. Wonder at the magnificent Spring indigenous gardens, their new cellar and the priceless private South African art collection. Naturally their wine maker will be on hand to host you.
   
• If you are not catching your breath on the ‘hop on hop off’ bus this Monday 17th, it is time to visit Die Bergkelder, a unique cellar in the Papegaaiberg on the outskirts of the historic old town of Stellenbosch. It is the home today of some of the Cape’s finest wines and magnificent hand carved vats. Then follow in the footsteps of the early explorers over the Helshoogte Pass to Franschhoek. This area became the home of the 176 Huguenots who fled persecution in France in 1688 and planted the first vineyards.
  
  The first stop is Chamonix , well known for their high quality white wines and especially their Chardonnay Reserve and Sauvignon Blanc Reserve. After a brief walk through the town it is time for lunch at Bread & Wine on the Môreson. Dinner will be at Il Leone close to your hotel, just outside the V&A Waterfront.
   
• Tuesday 18th pack your camera and hope to be the first to see the whales in Walker Bay as you travel over Sir Lowry’s Pass towards the most part of Africa. You will stop in this apple growing region of Elgin at the Paul Cluver Estate. The cool climate allows them to produce both top white and red wines. Their winemaker, Andries Burger is a Burgundian at heart, having worked at many vintages at top domains in Burgundy.
  
  On to Hermanus, to The Marine, where winemakers from the Hemel-en-Aarde await you. You lunch overlooking Walker Bay will be paired with some of these wines. You will return to Cape Town via the scenic route around False Bay. Dinner will be a ‘taste’ of South African tradition.
   
• Wednesday 19th, an early start to Cape Point to see where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans ‘meet’. Yes, vines grow here too so a stop at the Cape Point Vineyards is scheduled. Lunch will be served nearby at The Foodbarn. This is the day to officially welcome you all to our Grand Chapitre at the Twelve Apostles Hotel overlooking the Indian Ocean, just past Camps Bay. It will be our opportunity to introduce you too, to our Sommelier finalists from around the Chaîne world and members of the Court of Sommeliers.
   
• Ever seen a wine barrel being made from French Oak? Today, Thursday 20th is the day for this at the Radoux Cooperage, outside Stellenbosch, followed by a visit to the van Ryn Brandy Distillery and Cellars. Here you will have the opportunity to taste some of the Award winning brandies and meet the Brandy Masters. We are proud producers of some of the finest brandies in the world. Lunch will be served at the award winning restaurant ‘Overture’ on the Hidden Valley Estate with its panoramic view of Table Mountain and False Bay. Dinner will be served at Durbanville Hills Winery.
   
• While the Sommeliers are being ‘tested’ on Friday morning (21st), there’s an opportunity to either attend a cookery class or visit two more of the winelands of Franschhoek. First stop is Boekenhoutskloof and then to La Motte, home not only of their award winning wines, but the Pierneef art collection and museum. Just down the road to Paarl for lunch at Grande Roche to experience wines from this region, which is also home to the KWV. Tonight we announce the winners of the 6th International Sommeliers competition and induct them into the Chaîne at The Table Bay Hotel.
   
• The historic Manor House and vineyards of Groot Constantia beckon on Saturday morningwith lunch with some of the winemakers from the region at the Cellars-Hohenort. Jan van Riebeek planted the first vines here in 1674. Tonight is the occasion to welcome you all to our Induction Ceremony at The Mount Nelson Hotel, to be followed by the gala dinner. An opportunity for any international members to be intronised too!
   

Decision time. Do you stay on longer to:

• Time at leisure till Wednesday morning to join the famous Blue Train at 08.00 on 26th for the luxury travel to Pretoria
• Fly to Johannesburg and on to Hoedspruit to go on safari, staying either at Royal Malewane, Thornybush Main Camp or
• selected four star lodges – all are in the Timbivati.
• Fly to Johannesburg and on to the Victoria Falls
• We’ll arrange a personalized trip up the Garden Route to Plettenberg Bay, to Kwa Zulu Natal – staying in Umhlanga Rocks or to
• Johannesburg, Pretoria and Sun City.
• Join the group up the West Coast to Paternoster for lunch to enjoy wines from the Darling and Swartland regions.
• Just ask, and we’ll try our best!

Update: 12/10/2011

The Blue Train

The Blue Train has an aura of mystique about it. Kings and presidents have travelled on this magnificent moving five-star hotel. Its very name has become synonymous with the ultimate in luxury and personal service.

For more information: www.bluetrain.co.za

Departure Cape Town : 08h50 Wednesdays
Arrival Pretoria :            12h30 Thursdays
Download Intinerary

Departure Pretoria :      08h50 Mondays
Arrival Cape Town :       12h00 Tuesdays

Download Intinerary