The Story Behind A Taste of Cape Town
Hello, I’m Ru-an Zietsmann, the owner and private tour guide behind A Taste of Cape Town.
I grew up in Stellenbosch, in the heart of the Cape Winelands. After high school, I moved to the United States on a tennis scholarship and later travelled internationally playing tennis. Those experiences gave me an opportunity to see different parts of the world and meet people from many different backgrounds.
Eventually, I found my way back to something much closer to home.
My love of driving, travel and the Cape led me into private tour guiding. What started as an interest gradually became a passion for creating personalized experiences for visitors who want to discover more than the standard tourist itinerary.
Growing up in Stellenbosch gives the Winelands a special significance for me. I love introducing guests to its wine estates, restaurants, mountain scenery and hidden corners, but A Taste of Cape Town has grown to encompass much more than wine.
From the dramatic landscapes of the Cape Peninsula to Constantia, Franschhoek, Hermanus and the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, there is an extraordinary variety of places to explore around Cape Town.
A More Personal Way to Experience the Cape
I believe the best private tours shouldn’t feel rushed or mass-produced.
Every guest is different. Some arrive with a detailed list of places they want to visit; others simply tell me what they enjoy and leave the rest to me. I tailor each day around the people I’m travelling with, their interests and the kind of experience they’re looking for.
That might mean discovering an exceptional Cabernet Franc at a small wine estate, enjoying a long lunch overlooking the vineyards, stopping somewhere simply because the view is too beautiful to drive past, or changing the itinerary entirely because we’ve discovered something better along the way.
It’s this flexibility and personal attention that I want A Taste of Cape Town to represent.
My aim is simple: to show my guests the Cape that I know and love, while providing the comfort, privacy and attention to detail that make a private tour genuinely memorable.
If you’re planning a visit to Cape Town, I’d love the opportunity to show you around.
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