There’s an old saying that the more you know, the better it gets. As Albert Einstein said, “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” That urge to have one last look around the bend, or ask just one more question is a vital life force inside each of us. It’s for these reasons that having your own personal guide with you in an exciting new destination, especially in a diverse and fascinating city like Cape Town, is so valuable.

Guides are there to explain the whys and hows of the strange new place you find yourself in, to show you the back roads and side streets and introduce you to other fascinating locals. They have the knowledge, stories and insight to explain what you are seeing and give you a useful frame of reference. By understanding more about your destination, you are able to take so much more from the experience. They can tell you why Cape Town has three times more plant species than the United Kingdom when the last leopard was seen in its hills and what it was really like to have Nelson Mandela as a president. These are the insights that can give depth and colour to your travels.

This is what inspired us to create Guided Scintilla, a Cape Town-based touring concept that puts you in control. Our day tours are led by personable and expert guides who share a deep passion for travel. What distinguishes our day tours even further is that they are completely flexible and can be customised according to whatever you want to do and see, while also relying on our expert knowledge to point you in the right direction.

What does a Guided Scintilla day tour entail?

On a Guided Scintilla day tour, you’ll explore Cape Town in a specially customised vehicle, which is equipped with everything you need, including an onboard pantry, toy box, inflatable stand-up paddle-boards, and hiking packs for whenever adventure beckons.

Our tours are perfect for the whole family with experiences that prioritise quality family time and offer fresh air, exciting explorations, and unforgettable adventures for both young and old. Food is another key ingredient in our tours, which can include anything from wild beach picnics to chefs’ tasting tables.

Our Specialist Guides can tell a good story

We know that travellers are looking for experiences that are unique and memorable and give a real understanding of the place they’re visiting. They want to go home with their own stories, which is why we look for passionate guides who know how to tell a good story themselves. Viewed as the best in Africa in their fields, our guides have a wealth of experience and knowledge to share.

We work with a wide variety of top-class guides and pride ourselves in partnering them with the right guests. For example, there’s Charlene, a passionate foodie who seeks out the newest hotspots to share with her epicurean-minded guests. There’s also Josh, who loves any excuse to get in the water, hike Cape Point or share his extensive wine knowledge with his guests. And, there’s also Jacqui, an environmentally-conscious free diver who’s also a SUP and yoga instructor and also happens to know the best places to shop!

What are the recommended day tours?

Our day trips celebrate the best that Cape Town and its surrounding areas have to offer. The City & Table Mountain Tour is the best way to get a sense of Cape Town. You’ll learn about the city’s rich history and diverse culture, and you’ll get to enjoy the breathtaking views from Table Mountain. The Cape Peninsula Tour will see you spend as much time as possible out of the vehicle so that you can really immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the peninsula. You’ll hike to secluded beaches, explore hidden coves, and search for shipwrecks.

The Overberg Tour not only allows you to track the magnificent Marine Big 5 – including the graceful Southern Right Whale, elusive Sharks, playful Dolphins, charming Seals, and delightful Penguins – but also immerses you in the breathtaking beauty of the Overberg’s coastal paradise. And the Cape Winelands Tour takes you to family-friendly wine estates that cater to everyone, including children! These estates provide ample space for kids to burn off energy, while parents indulge in wine sampling, sipping, and swirling.

If you want to immerse yourself in the best that Cape Town has to offer, get in touch with one of our travel curators and we’ll tell you more about Cape Town’s best-guided tours – best experienced with one of Guided Scintilla’s passionate experts.