Eco Marine Cruise to meet the Marine Big 5

Where: Kleinbaai, Gansbaai

For bookings contact: Dyer Island Cruises 082 801 8014

Trips Daily: Weather permitting

DECEMBER SPECIAL: 50% discount to all South Africans

Arguably, the only place in the world where you have the opportunity to meet the Marine Big 5 of the ocean: sharks, whales, dolphins, seals and penguins.

Even though the southern right whales have left for the feeding grounds of Antarctica, you might still have the opportunity to encounter a resident Bryde's Whale or even a Humpback Whale on this exhilarating boat trip as well as any of the three species of dolphins, common-, bottlenose- and the humpback dolphins who frequent these waters.

You will spend some time at the shark cage diving boats to where you will have the opportunity to experience some shark action from the safety of your boat. Next Stop; Dyer Island where you can enjoy the antics of the comical, yet endangered, African Penguins. and numerous seabirds!

December is the pupping season for the 60 000 strong seal colony on Geyser Rock. Protect tour ears for the bleating of the newborn seal pups can be deafening! The infamous Shark Alley separates the two islands Over the next few weeks, this seal colony will double in numbers- another marine spectacular!

The enthusiastic guides on the boat will point out the numerous seabirds species along the trip and also some of the interesting landmarks that won Gansbaai a coveted global conservation destination award.

Wine Tasting

Where: Stanford Wine Route

Contact (restaurant) : +27(0)72 639 6135

Wine Shop daily: 8.30am to 5.00pm.

The extremely child-friendly Stanford Hills is a boutique winery at the foot of the Kleinrivier Mountains on the Stanford Wine Route. Taste some of their award-winning hand-crafted wines and don't forget to take some home! After all, it's holiday, remember! The food is truly world-class, prepared with veggies and herbs freshly picked from their own garden. You might have to turn around disappointed so rather give them a call to make a lunch reservation!

The Tasting Room restaurant has a reputation for laid-back fun, with the emphasis on fresh and inventive food of an exceptionally high standard and serves wonderful breakfast and lunches, popular with both the locals and visitors. A renovated original farm cottage is the setting for the charming tasting and bar area, with views over a dam to the Stanford valley beyond.

The wine shop is a quirky rustic affair open 7 days a week from 8.30 am to 5.00 pm. The staff are local they will passionately captivate you with their stories about the area and their wine.

But there is more; the shop sells indigenous flowers picked at the farm and a range of homemade and regional products. Book in advance for the horse riding tour through the vineyards.

Choose a forest adventure

Where: Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Hermanus

Click here to Book Online

Contact info ( 9hr-17hr): 079 495 3987

SA Forest Adventures offer a unique Mountain and Vineyards Quad Biking Trails in Hermanus that has both been identified as one of the top ten quad trails in South Africa. This scenic trail is often featured in movies, commercials and on a number of travel agent itineraries.

You do not need any experience for this one and a half hour adventure which will take your trough through the beautiful Hamilton Russell and Southern Right vineyards. Follow the trail up the Rotary way through the fynbos and into the Fernkloof Nature Reserve. Remember to bring your camera as your stop at the look-out points will give you a spectacular birds-eye-view of Hermanus and Walkerbay. In season, you might even spot a whale!

Duran Proper is a local tour guide and the owner of Proper Trips.

He offers tours in the whole Western Cape