The Soul of South Africa: A Jewish Journey

Arrive at Cape Town International Airport, where you will be warmly welcomed and transferred to your hotel.

Settle in and take in your first impressions of Cape Town, a city of striking beauty and layered history, before gathering for an opening dinner. This first evening sets the tone for the journey ahead, as Viv Anstey and Lauren Snitcher, leaders of the local Melton School, offer a warm and meaningful welcome and help frame the days we will share together.

Overnight: Cape Town

Begin the day with breakfast at the hotel, followed by an orientation session with our educator Professor Richard Mendelsohn, that will frame the days ahead and invite you into the rhythm of shared learning and exploration.

Visit the historic Cape Town Hebrew Congregation (Gardens Shul), the oldest Jewish congregation in South Africa, where the story of Jewish life in the region comes alive.

Continue to the South African Jewish Museum, for a guided tour through the rich and complex history of South African Jewry, weaving together personal stories, migration, and identity.

At the Cape Town Holocaust & Genocide Centre, deepen your understanding through a powerful and moving encounter with memory and testimony, guided by founding director Myra Osrin together with Melton educator and curriculum writer Ronnie Gotkin, author of Jewish Journeys.

Enjoy a relaxed group lunch at Café Riteve before heading out on a walking tour through Cape Town's historic heart. Stroll through the lush Company's Gardens, once the vegetable garden of the Dutch East India Company, and continue to Greenmarket Square, Church Street, and Long Street, where the city's layered past meets its vibrant present.

From there, board the bus for a broader look at the city, including a visit to the colorful Bo-Kaap, the historic Cape Malay Quarter, known for its brightly painted homes and deep cultural roots.

Return to the hotel for an engaging talk by a guest speaker, followed by an evening at leisure to explore, dine, or simply relax.

Overnight: Cape Town

After breakfast, set out along one of the world's most celebrated coastal routes, where the Atlantic shoreline, Camps Bay, and the dramatic Twelve Apostles Mountain range create an unforgettable panorama.

Arrive at Cape Point, where ocean meets sky in a spectacular display of natural beauty. Ride the Flying Dutchman Funicular to the lighthouse and take in sweeping views at the edge of the continent.

Continue to Simon's Town, a charming coastal village, and then to Boulders Beach, where a colony of African penguin's waddles freely along the shore, offering a delightful and unexpected encounter.

Stop in the artistic seaside town of Kalk Bay, known for its galleries, cafés, and relaxed atmosphere, before returning to Cape Town.

Enjoy dinner and evening at leisure.

Overnight: Cape Town

Following breakfast, take the ferry to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years. This visit offers a profound and personal perspective on South Africa's struggle for freedom.

Return to the city and, weather permitting, ascend Table Mountain by cable car. From the summit, enjoy panoramic views that stretch across the city, ocean, and surrounding mountains.

As Shabbat approaches, join the Melton Cape Town community for Kabbalat Shabbat services, led by a local chazan, followed by a warm and welcoming Shabbat dinner. Seated with local hosts, this evening offers a unique opportunity to connect, share stories, and experience Jewish life in Cape Town firsthand.

Overnight: Cape Town

Enjoy a slower Shabbat morning, with time to rest, reflect, attend services at a local synagogue, or explore at your own pace.

Gather with the Melton Cape Town community for meaningful Shabbat programming, creating space for learning, conversation, and connection.

After a shared lunch, continue with an afternoon learning session that invites deeper reflection on the themes of the journey.

As Shabbat draws to a close, come together for Havdalah, marking the transition from sacred time back into the week ahead.

Enjoy dinner at leisure.

Overnight: Cape Town

After breakfast, depart Cape Town and travel into the heart of Cape Winelands. Arrive in Stellenbosch, a town of oak-lined streets and Cape Dutch architecture, and visit the local Hebrew Congregation, offering a glimpse into Jewish life in this region.

Enjoy a wine tasting and picnic lunch at Backsberg Family Wines, a family-owned vineyard known for its history and commitment to sustainability.

Continue to Franschhoek, home to the Huguenot Monument, where you will explore the legacy of French settlers and their influence on the region.

Travel onward to Oudtshoorn, where you will check in to your hotel.

Enjoy dinner and evening at leisure.

Overnight: Oudtshoorn

After breakfast, continue your exploration of the Klein Karoo Visit the CP Nel Museum, housed in a former synagogue, and the Queen Street Synagogue, both reflecting the once-thriving Jewish communities of the area.

Experience the unique landscape of Oudtshoorn at an ostrich farm, where you will learn about this iconic local industry, followed by an opportunity for leather shopping.

Explore the magnificent Cango Caves, a vast underground wonder of limestone formations shaped over millions of years.

Continue along the famed Garden Route to Plettenberg Bay, arriving at your hotel for check-in.

Enjoy dinner and evening at leisure.

Overnight: Plettenberg Bay

After breakfast, enjoy a day of extraordinary wildlife encounters. Visit Knysna Elephant Park, where you will have the chance to observe and learn about rescued elephants in a responsible sanctuary setting.

Continue to Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary for a guided tour, encountering big cats and other animals while learning about conservation efforts.

Return to the hotel for dinner and evening at leisure.

Overnight: Plettenberg Bay

Depart after breakfast and travel to Tsitsikamma National Park, where you will walk through ancient indigenous forest, surrounded by towering trees and the sounds of nature.

Continue along the dramatic coastline to Port Elizabeth, where you will visit Donkin Reserve and the Jewish Pioneers Memorial Museum, offering insight into the early Jewish settlers of the region.

Drive to the hotel for check-in, followed by dinner together.

Overnight: Port Elizabeth

After breakfast, fly to Johannesburg and begin your exploration of South Africa's political and historical landscape.

Drive through Pretoria, passing the Union Buildings, the Sammy Marks Museum, and the Voortrekker Monument, each reflecting different facets of the country's past.

Continue through Church Square and visit the historic Paul Kruger Street Synagogue area, with the possibility of viewing the Constitutional Court, a symbol of modern South African democracy.

Return to Johannesburg for hotel check-in.

Enjoy dinner and evening at leisure.

Overnight: Johannesburg

Today is devoted to understanding South Africa's recent history and its ongoing journey.

Visit the Apartheid Museum, an immersive and deeply moving experience that traces the rise and fall of apartheid.

Continue to Soweto for a guided tour, offering personal insight into life during and after apartheid.

Visit the Johannesburg Holocaust & Genocide Centre for further reflection, followed by lunch.

As Shabbat approaches, gather for Kabbalat Shabbat services and a shared dinner, bringing the group together once again in community.

Overnight: Johannesburg

Enjoy a Shabbat morning with services and time for rest and reflection.

Spend the afternoon at leisure before gathering for a farewell dinner, celebrating the journey, the learning, and the connections formed along the way.

Conclude with Havdalah, marking the end of both Shabbat and this shared experience.

Overnight: Johannesburg

For those not participating in the post-trip program, after breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer to the airport for your departure flight, carrying with you the memories, insights, and relationships that have shaped this remarkable journey.