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South Africa

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Black-maned lions framed against desert dunes, powdery beaches lapped by two oceans, star-studded night skies, jagged mountains – South Africa is the place to go wild.

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Best places to visit, leave the planning to a local expert.

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Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Location and unique flora combine to make these 5.28-sq-km botanical gardens among the most beautiful in the world. Gate 1, the main entrance at the…

Constitution Hill

Johannesburg

Do not leave Jo'burg without visiting Constitution Hill. One of South Africa's most important historical sites, the deeply moving and inspirational…

Cape of Good Hope

Simon's Town & Southern Peninsula

This 77.5-sq-km section of Table Mountain National Park includes awesome scenery, fantastic walks, great birdwatching and often-deserted beaches. The…

Kruger National Park

In terms of wildlife alone, Kruger is one of the world's greatest national parks. The diversity, density and sheer numbers of animals is almost…

Apartheid Museum

The Apartheid Museum illustrates the rise and fall of South Africa’s era of segregation and oppression, and is an absolute must-see. It uses a broad…

Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve

Blyde River Canyon

This stunning 260-sq-km reserve centres on the 30km-long Blyde River Canyon, where epic rock formations tower above the forested slopes and eagle-eye…

Table Mountain

Around 600 million years old, and a canvas painted with the rich diversity of the Cape floral kingdom, Table Mountain is truly iconic. You can admire the…

Three Rondavels Viewpoint

The area's highlight, with a staggering view of these enormous rounds of rock, their pointed, grassy tops resembling giant huts carved into the side of…

Top picks from our travel experts

15 of the best things to do in south africa.

uShaka Beach

The somewhat sheltered beach at uShaka Marine World marks the southern end of the Golden Mile.

Robben Island

Green Point & ­Waterfront

Used as a prison from the early days of the VOC (Dutch East India Company) right up until 1996, this Unesco World Heritage site is preserved as a memorial…

Pot Luck Club

The sister restaurant to Test Kitchen is a more affordable Luke Dale-Roberts option. Sitting at the top of an old silo, it offers panoramic views of the…

South African Astronomical Observatory

Northern Cape

During the day you can take a guided tour of the huge research telescopes, including the Southern African Large Telescope, but it's the two-hour night…

Sterkfontein Caves

One of the most significant archaeological sites in the world, Sterkfontein Caves include a permanent hominid exhibit and a walkway down into the…

Hector Pieterson Museum

This powerful museum, named after the 12-year-old boy shot dead during the student protests in Soweto on 16 June 1976, illuminates the role of Sowetan…

Bay of Plenty Beach

At the heart of the beachfront along Durban's Golden Mile. Popular with sunbathers and beach-sports enthusiasts.

Blue Lagoon Beach

This playful beach once had a reputation for being dangerous, but after an extensive revamp it's now a haven for families. There are playgrounds, food…

Test Kitchen

Luke Dale-Roberts creates inspired dishes with top-quality local ingredients at his flagship restaurant – generally agreed to be the best in Africa…

Shortmarket Club

Star chef Luke Dale-Roberts' latest venture hides in plain sight on the street it is named after. It's a gorgeous attic space with a wall of paper…

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park

The Elephant Coast

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi is one of South Africa’s best-known, most evocative parks. Covering 960 sq km, it is best visited in the dry winter months (May to…

KwaZulu-Natal

Created as a set for the telemovie Shaka Zulu, the slightly Disney-fied Shakaland beats up a touristy blend of perma-grin performance and informative…

Boulders Penguin Colony

This picturesque area, with enormous boulders dividing small, sandy coves, is home to a colony of some 3000 delightful African penguins. A boardwalk runs…

Goegap Nature Reserve

This 150-sq-km semidesert reserve, 8km east of Springbok past the airstrip, supports some 600 indigenous plant species, 45 mammal species and 94 types of…

Addo Elephant National Park

Sunshine Coast

Located 70km north of Port Elizabeth, South Africa's third-largest national park protects the remnants of the huge elephant herds that once roamed the…

Namaqua National Park

Your experience at Namaqua National Park depends a lot on when you visit. From October to July it's an extremely quiet place to hike or spot birds against…

Mandela House Museum

Nelson Mandela lived with his first wife, Evelyn, and later with his second wife, Winnie, in this four-room house, just off Vilakazi St. The museum…

Partly housed in a building that looks like a giant grassy mound on one side and shiny modern steel on the other, Maropeng is an all-in-one information…

Dwesa Nature Reserve

The Wild Coast

One of South Africa's most remote and beautiful reserves, Dwesa Nature Reserve blends lush forests, winding rivers, open grassland and rugged coastline,…

Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip.

Best Things to Do

From safari to wine tasting, experience the best of South Africa with these top things to do.

Things to Know

Get excited but also be prepared for adventure. Here's what you need to know prior to your first South African safari.

Transportation

South Africa is twice the size of Texas, which can make getting around a little tricky. But don't worry – we've got everything you need to know.

Visa Requirements

Don't spoil your trip to sensational South Africa by not having your travel documents in order. Here's what you need to know about visas for South Africa.

Money and Costs

No matter what your budget, get the most from your money while traveling in South Africa with these helpful tips.

Traveling with Kids

South Africa has plenty to offer families, from safari experiences to resort stays. Here are the best kid-friendly experiences.

Best Road Trips

South Africa is home to some of the most stunning landscapes on the planet – it's the perfect road-trip country. Here's our pick of the best.

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Experience the real South Africa

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Tips & Advice

Mar 19, 2024 • 6 min read

A country of astonishing diversity, South Africa will cater to you no matter what kind of traveler you are. Here are a few essential places to visit.

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South Africa Tours & Trips

Take a safari through South Africa's famous Kruger Park , or get your heart racing at the outdoor playground of KwaZulu-Natal. Tantalise your tastebuds with the finest wines of Stellenbosch, follow the coastline to spot penguins and southern right whales, snack on some biltong as you explore Johannesburg's vibrant arts scene, or fall in love with all things sand, shells and surfing at Jeffrey's Bay. With adventure packages that pass through forests and lagoons on the Garden Route or visit the stunning Cape Town, this pocket of Africa deserves a place in your passport. Check out our 10 day South Africa itineraries .

250+ South Africa tour packages with 1,796 reviews

• Christmas & New Year

Garden Route & Addo Group Adventure - 6 Days

I had the trip of my life! Joined a wonderful group with the best guide I ever had (Wendy!!!). Wendy is just perfect in Organisation and besides that she’s an amazing person. We all had a lots of fun, enjoyed a fantastic trip to Garden Route and Addo and it’s just a question of time when we will come back to have a tour again. I highly recommend Earthstompers ! An unforgettable experience.

5-Day Group Garden Route & Addo Adventure Tour (one-way)

Nicely planned tour of Garden Route, no moment wasted. Hit all the highlights and a couple surprises too! Accommodations were great and full of character, as was Chrstine our guide. Enthusiastic and took great care of all of us! Don't hesiitate to book this tour!

Explore Cape Town & Kruger National Park National Geographic Journeys

The entire experience was amazing! I felt comfortable with both of the CEOs and was thankful the drivers were local. It was one of those trips, after having booked it and the plane ticket, didn't have to worry about anything else such as food, transportation, lodging. It was nice to have everything taken care of. We started at Cape Town, then headed to Soweto, then to Kruger National Park, and some private game reserves. Cape Town has world class dining and so many things to do and explore. The visit to Soweto was made all the more spectacular after we learned our guide had been a part of the events/history. It was amazing to hear from her. Kruger was a fun experience, but nothing like the private game reserves. You'll see if you go on this trip. I highly recommend it. It was a very pleasant trip and I can't wait to go back to South Africa.

Kruger in Depth

Fantastic itinerary, great guide and met some amazing people

11 Days Cape Town, Garden Route & Kruger

We cannot express our gratitude enough to this company for an amazing trip. I travelled with my grown up daughter and although am fit was a little nervous as did not want to be on a party trip. The communication with Eunice was excellent and she organised us our own twin room and bathroom. Our Capetown leg was amazing with Tariq our guide who was professional, informative, lots of fun and looked after us so well. Our backpackers were basic but clean and the trip from start to finish was so well organised. Our Jhb Kruger part of the trip was also amazing. We saw so many animals and our guides were informative and our accomodation was great. The best was staying in Marc’s treehouses where you will see the best of nature. If you are laid back, easy going and enjoy young people from different cultures and great experiences this trip is for you. Thank you to all the amazing staff for your exceptional service and helping us create lifelong memories,

7 day Garden Route, Cape Point and Winelands Combo

Amazing experience for my 7 day trip!! Everything we saw was beautiful and the whole tour was organized nicely. Gehrald was absolutely phenomenal and we were so happy to have him as our guide for five days. He is truly special and cares so much about what he does and how great of a time his visitors have. He really made all the difference! For our one day trips, JP and TK were fantastic as well. We really learned a lot and had a great time!

10 Days Cape Town, Garden Route & Addo Package

Sehr tolle Reise mit vielen tollen Erlebnissen und Aktivitäten :)

Looking for tours beyond just South Africa?

Explore tours with itineraries going through multiple countries, including South Africa.

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Explore Kruger National Park National Geographic Journeys

Great trip, from our stay at Malikana Guesthouse and the hospitality provided by Soekie and her family to our forays into Kruger National Park and Karongwe Game Preserve. We had the opportunity to see so much, even had a chance to walk with cheetahs! Our tour group was phenomenal which made it that much better and Guillaume and the guides who took us through the game preserves made sure we saw the Big Five and so much more. My family and I would highly reccomend this trip.

South Africa: Tryst with the Wild Life & the Iconic Cape Town

Great itinerary, would have added Soweto as part of the standard to make the experience complete. CapeTown guide/driver was very pleasant, knowledgeable, prompt, and made us feel safe.

South Africa : Wildlife, Garden Route & Mother City Cape Town

Our honeymoon vacation through South Africa was amazing! We got to see a little of everything and even with all the traveling around it was stress free. Our guide was terrific and we would 1000% book again!

5 Day Garden Route Adventure Including Addo

The tour was excellent thankyou Dylan Curtis to take care about the group all the time, he gave us the best Vibes from Africa. Nereida

Kruger Experience - Lodge (5 days)

Overall this tour was fantastically organised and a must do if you’re heading to South Africa! All the local guides were very friendly, had a vast range of knowledge and very helpful. They were very willing to answer questions and give info of the country on the whole. The safari guides knowledge of the animals was exceptional and tailored the safaris to what we request which made it even better. There were some early mornings and quite a bit of traveling, as described on the trip notes, but it’s totally worth it for what you see in the 4 days. You still get a chill day at the lodge which is very nice with the options of a massage. Would have loved to have been told a couple more options for the free day like the rehabilitation centre close by for example - but can appreciate most people want the free time to chill. Potentially on the 4 day itinerary have the chilled day in the middle to break up the early mornings? But the itinerary is obviously very well thought out and runs so smoothly so you can sit back, relax and enjoy Kruger. The bundox lodge is perfect! Amazing food, awesome staff and very comfortable in such a unique setting. If you have the cash it is definitely worth doing this tour to Kruger for the stress free nature and the very well thought out itinerary. Had an amazing, once in a lifetime experience!

5 day Best of South Africa Highlights: Garden Route with Addo National Park

This is an excellent tour and I can wholeheartedly recommend it. The Hotspots2c team, both in the office before the tour and our guide were great, and the tour itself took us to some wonderful places. All the accommodation was very good and the activities were well chosen.

5-Day Kruger National Park Big 5 Safari & Panorama Route Tour

An experience I will never forget! I was lucky enough to see the Big 5 which was incredible. The itinerary is very well put together so I felt like I experienced Kruger to the fullest. I stayed in one of the chalets which was basic but very comfortable. Every meal was delicious with variety for vegetarians.

• €30 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

• Coach / Bus

South African Escape

Very good and would thoroughly recommend it to my friends. The accomadation was reallly nice just long trips in the bus and the 1 night stays were tiring but that couldnt be helped because of the distance to Kruger Park.

• 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

What people love about South Africa Tours

With Gareth we had a great, well organized short week, too short but ful of information, entertainment, fun.

An excellent tour which we couldn’t fault. Our guide, Rochelle, was superb. She was knowledgeable, always helpful and cheerful. We did everything we wanted to do and more. Highly recommended.

This tour was one of the greatest travel experiences I've ever had. Our CEO Alfred Dovey led the way throughout South Africa with such care and knowledge about everything we did while providing clear direction of what each plan of the day was and where we needed to be. I feel was was able to see, learn and experience South Africa in a way I could have never done on my own. I highly recommend this G Adventure tour.

South Africa Destinations

• Western Cape (139)
• Limpopo (58)
• Cape Point (20)
• Guateng (13)
• KwaZulu-Natal (10)
• North West (7)
• Eastern Cape (6)
• Kruger National Park (121)
• Addo Elephant Park (17)
• Pilanesberg National Park (15)
• Victoria Falls (11)
• Sabi Sand National Park (6)
• Blyde River Canyon (5)
• Table Mountain (25)

Travel Styles

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South Africa Tours starting in

• Starting in Johannesburg (188)
• Starting in Cape Town (155)
• Starting in Port Elizabeth (15)
• Starting in Durban (12)
• Starting in Pretoria (10)
• South Africa Travel Guide | All You Need to Know
• Best Time to Visit South Africa 2024/2025
• 10 Best Family Safari Holiday Packages 2024/2025
• Best 10 Day South Africa Itineraries (with Reviews)

A First-Timer’s Trip to South Africa

• Copy Link copied

PHOTO BY ANDREW MOORE

If you’ve never been to South Africa , deciding where to go can be daunting. Which safari parks and which cities are musts, how do you travel between them, and where do you stop along the way? Ignacio Maza of the Signature Travel Network, and a member of the AFAR Travel Advisory Council , is here to help with an itinerary that covers varied highlights of the country in 12 days.

You’ll visit its two most famous cities: Cape Town and Johannesburg. You’ll see sites that are older than history itself, like the Cradle of Humankind, and the country’s most famous national park, Kruger, where you can spot the big five safari animals, as well as countless other wildlife. Ignacio’s trip also includes time sampling fine homegrown wines and learning about Huguenot heritage in the scenic Cape Winelands. In short, you’ll leave with a rounded sense of South Africa, past and present—and the likely desire to make a future visit.

Itinerary / 12 DAYS

Trip highlight, a toast to south africa.

TRIP DESIGNER

Ignacio maza.

DAY 1 Cape Town

PHOTO BY NEILJS

DAY 2 Cape Town Tour

PHOTO BY SOUTH AFRICA TOURISM

DAY 3 Cape Peninsula Tour

Day 4 last day in cape town, day 5 cape winelands.

PHOTO BY MARCO ZANFERRARI

DAY 6 Franschhoek

Day 7 travel to timbavati private nature reserve, days 8 and 9 timbavati private nature reserve, day 10 travel to johannesburg, day 11 johannesburg.

PHOTO BY PEDRO RIBEIRO SIMÕES

DAY 12 Depart

• Destinations
• Africa & Middle East

South Africa

Nomadic Matt's Travel Site

Travel Better, Cheaper, Longer

South Africa Travel Guide

Last Updated: November 10, 2023

Offering amazing safaris, rugged mountains, world-class wineries, an endless coastline, and lively cities like Cape Town , South Africa is a magical destination that is often overlooked by budget travelers.

Annexed by the Dutch and British before gaining independence in 1931, South Africa struggled with apartheid from 1948 all the way until 1990. The remnants of that dark time can still be seen around the country today, however, things have been improving and the country has been moving forward in leaps and bounds.

While South Africa still struggles with corruption and petty crime (be sure to watch your stuff while you’re here) , its rich but tumultuous history, incredible natural beauty, and international culture make it a worthwhile stop on any round-the-world itinerary. It also has the most UNESCO sites in all of Africa!

This travel guide to South Africa can help you plan the perfect trip without breaking the bank to ensure you make the most of your time in this incredible country.

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on South Africa

Top 5 Things to See and Do in South Africa

1. Enjoy Cape Town

Hike up Table Mountain, explore Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, tan on pristine beaches, visit Robben Island, and go on a wine tour. Cape Town has it all, so spend as much time as you can here. There’s also lots to see outside the city, including Boulders Beach ( where you can see penguins ) and Cape Point.

2. Learn about Apartheid’s tragic past

Gain a deeper understanding of South Africa by visiting the Apartheid Museum in Joburg, taking a tour of Robben Island (where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years in prison), and exploring Soweto (SOuth WEstern TOwnships), a township created by the Apartheid government in Gauteng. It’s a dark, eye-opening era to learn about.

3. Explore Kruger National Park

Kruger National Park is the biggest, most popular, and busiest game reserve in the country. It’s a huge park with over 2 million hectares (almost 5 million acres) of space brimming with wildlife (including the Big 5). A basic three-day budget safari costs about 12,000 ZAR.

4. Drive the Garden Route

This route stretches along the Indian Ocean from Mossel Bay to St Francis, offering beautiful landscapes, serene beaches, picturesque towns, scenic wetlands, and sprawling wineries along the way. The journey is only about 200 kilometers (125 miles), but don’t rush — it’s best to spend a few days stopping and exploring as you go.

5. Day trip to Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)

Formerly called Swaziland, this tiny country was renamed in 2018 (Eswatini means “land of the Swazis”). There are several large game parks and reserves here, making it a great destination for more wildlife spotting. Be sure to visit Hlane Royal National Park. Borders can be a bit slow, so check the wait times before you go.

Other Things to See and Do in South Africa

1. partake in extreme sports.

South Africa offers over 100 extreme sports, including bungee jumping, sandboarding, skydiving, parasailing, jungle zip-lining, scuba diving, and more! Prices vary but expect skydiving to cost around 2,800-3,100 ZAR and bungee jumping to cost around 1,400 ZAR. The world’s third-highest bungee jump point, at Bloukrans Bridge, is here in South Africa (it’s 216 meters/708 feet). If you’re going to go cage diving with sharks, make sure you avoid companies that chum the waters to entice the sharks as that isn’t an ethical or sustainable practice.

2. Explore KwaZulu-Natal

People flock to the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) on the east coast to relax, tan, ride the waves, eat amazing food, drink, and spot animals. KwaZulu-Natal’s game-rich Zululand and Elephant Coast in the north provide great wildlife spotting. This is also the birthplace of so many famous and powerful South Africans, including former presidents, the founder of the African National Congress, anti-apartheid leaders, and one of the most influential monarchs of the Zulu Kingdom, Shaka Zulu (1787-1828). KZN has diverse landscapes, interesting activities, and a mix of city life and rural-tribal life. One thing that’s consistent throughout the region is the level of pride in the Zulu culture.

3. Surf the waves

Dungeons Beach, near Cape Town, is a great place to spend some time if you have experience riding gigantic waves. Really — only surf here if you’re a seasoned professional, as the cold water and unpredictable waters are dangerous for new surfers. Beginners should visit Jeffreys Bay (J-Bay), about 75 kilometers (47 miles) west of Port Elizabeth, which is famous for its awesome right-hand point breaking waves. Muizenberg on False Bay is one of the best options for winter longboarding when the north-westerly wind picks up, and Durban has waves ideal for newbies and pro surfers alike. Group surfing lessons cost around 350 ZAR, including equipment.

4. Explore the Cango Caves

These caves, located in the Swartberg Mountains in the Western Cape Province, are 20 million years old and stretch for 4 kilometers (2.5 miles). You can see the exquisite stalagmite formations during the subterranean tours and learn about its history from the Interpretive Center. The standard tour costs 150 ZAR, while a more adventurous (and longer) tour is 220 ZAR, though you should only take this tour if you’re comfortable crawling through very tight spaces. Wear sensible footwear when visiting.

5. Hike Table Mountain

One of the best things in Cape Town is hiking up Table Mountain. It’s a steep, tiring climb that takes around two hours, but the views are worth it. There’s a nice little cafe and a cobblestoned area to walk around at the top so you can relax and admire the view when you’re done. Once you successfully reach the summit, you can take the cable car back down. A one-way ticket is 210 ZAR for adults or 320-390 ZAR for round-trip tickets. Be sure to dress appropriately and bring water as the weather can change quite quickly.

6. Admire the Big Tree in Tsitsikamma National Park

Estimated to be about 800 years old, this majestic Yellowwood tree is located in the Tsitsikamma National Park along South Africa’s Garden Route. This tree of epic proportions stands 36.6 meters (120 feet) high and has a trunk circumference of 9 meters (30 feet). There is a 500 meter (1,640 foot) wooden walkway through the indigenous forest leading to this tree, and from there, you can journey onto a 3-4 kilometer (1.5-2.5-mile) walk if you follow the Ratel Nature Walk signposts. Admission is 12 ZAR. While you’re here, you can also hike many of the other trails in the park, which stretches 80 kilometers (50 miles) along the coastline.

7. Sleep in Gandhi’s house

Did you know that Mahatma Gandhi spent 21 years in South Africa? While he was there, Gandhi’s close friend and German architect Hermann Kallenbach designed and built this farmhouse in 1907, which then served as Gandhi’s South African base from 1908-09. The house is called Satyagraha House and is situated in Orchards, Johannesburg. It’s the spot from which Gandhi developed his plan for passive resistance against the British Empire. It’s been beautifully restored and provides free day visits or overnight stays in one of its seven rooms (prices from 3,080 ZAR).

8. Drive the Namaqualand Flower Route

The Namaqualand Flower Route is a 650-kilometer (404-mile) drive from Yzerfontein to Richtersveld National Park. While you can drive it in one day, most people break it up into sections and take a few days to do it. This region bursts into a sea of color every spring (mainly mid-August and mid-September, peaking in August) when over 4,000 species of flowers bloom. Head north to Springbok, and then make your way down in a southerly direction so the flowers are facing you. The flowers are best viewed on non-overcast days between 10:30am-4pm, so plan your trip accordingly. The Goegap Nature Reserve provides picnic areas and overnight facilities as well. Expect to pay between 320-1,200 ZAR per night.

9. Visit the wineries

South Africa is one of the biggest wine exporters in the world, exporting over 300 million liters (80 million gallons) of wine each year. Visit the vineyards to taste some incredibly fresh wine against a serene, mountainous backdrop. Cape Town is most popular for these tours, but there are great wine regions all over the country, including the Coastal Region, Klein Karoo, Breede River Valley, Olifants River, and Cape South Coast. Jump on an 8-hour day tour that goes from winery to winery, sampling all sorts of wine while learning all about the history of winemaking in South Africa. Tours start at 950 ZAR for a half-day tour.

10. Drive the Sani Pass to the Roof of Africa

Drive the Sani Pass Mountain route in Lesotho — the only route over the Drakensberg escarpment into the mountainous Kingdom of Lesotho. Since it first opened in 1955, the Sani Pass has offered an exhilarating journey as it twists and turns upwards through rocky cliffs that peak at 2,873 meters (9,425 feet) above sea level (hence the name “the Roof of Africa”). Only 4×4 vehicles are allowed on the road, which is treacherous and has been the site of countless accidents. As an alternative to attempting the drive yourself, several tour operators offer day tours, generally costing 940 ZAR. Afterward, bask in your victory as you enjoy a drink at Sani Mountain Lodge, known for being the highest pub in Africa!

11. See the Durban Beachfront

For decades the Golden Mile beachfront in Durban has been popular with cyclists, joggers, and leisurely strollers. You can also explore the Indian District, where dealers in traditional kurtas and saris hawk incense, ornately embroidered fabrics, and aromatic spices. Other sights in the city include visiting the KwaMuhle Museum, the Durban Botanical Gardens, the Tala Game Reserve, the Inanda Heritage Trail, or seeing a Sharks rugby game. Surfing is another popular activity here thanks to the ideal oceanic conditions.

12. Tour Riemvasmaak Community Conservancy

In 1973, under apartheid, 1,500 people were forcibly removed from this area. After the elections in 1994, they were able to return and now welcome visitors to their community. The park is located in the Kalahari Desert, making for some stark — but beautiful — landscapes, with unique rock formations and translucent green fluorite mineral deposits. There are many 4×4, hiking, and mountain biking trails here, as well as plenty of hot springs. There are small guesthouses and camping plots if you’d like to stay overnight.

13. See the penguins

The African penguin is the only penguin to breed on the continent. You can see them at Boulders Beach or Stoney Point Nature Reserve at Betty’s Bay (both locations are a short drive from Cape Town). You don’t often get to see penguins outside of zoos, so it’s definitely worth the drive to see this colony of penguins living their best lives on the beach. Try to arrive before 11am to get the best view of the penguins with the fewest crowds around. Entrance fees range from 25-152 ZAR and full-day guided tours cost 780 ZAR.

14. Surf the waves at Muizenberg Beach

Known for its iconic multi-colored huts on the boardwalk, this is a laid-back neighborhood in Cape Town with a multi-cultural vibe. If you want to hit the waves, you can rent a board for as little as 250 ZAR and a wetsuit 150 ZAR for the day (also available for cheaper by the hour). If you don’t know how to surf, you can also register for SUP or surf lessons at one of the surf shops nearby. Group surf lessons are 235-310 ZAR.

15. Safari in other national parks

While Kruger gets all the love, check out Pilanesberg National Park, Addo National Park, Umfolozi National Park, and the St. Lucia Wetlands. Without the crowds of Kruger, you’ll have ample opportunity to get up close to elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos, and more. From Johannesburg, the Madikwe Game Reserve, Pilanesberg Game Reserve, and the Dinokeng Game Reserve are just some of the options for nearby safaris.

16. Go whale watching

South Africa is one of the best places in the world to go whale watching. If you’re visiting between June and November, there’s an excellent chance of spotting Southern right whales, Bryde’s whales, and orcas. The town of Hermanus, located 120 kilometers (75 miles) southeast of Cape Town, is the base for many of the best whale-watching companies in the country. Some reputable companies include Southern Right Charters, Hermanus Whale Cruises, and Xplora Tours. Expect to pay around 900-1,020 ZAR for a two-hour tour.

  For more information on specific cities in South Africa, check out these guides:

• Cape Town Travel Guide

South Africa Travel Costs

Accommodation – A bed in a 4-8-bed hostel dorm costs 250-300 ZAR per night, and around 215-230 ZAR per night for a dorm with 10 or more beds. A private double room costs 600-935 ZAR. Free Wi-Fi is standard and many hostels also include free breakfast and/or have a kitchen, as well as a swimming pool.

For those traveling with a tent, campgrounds can be found all around the country. Expect to pay between 100-400 ZAR per night, depending on the facilities and location.

If you are looking for a hotel, budget hotels range from about 850-1,200 ZAR for a twin or double in big cities and get cheaper in more rural areas. Standard amenities include Wi-Fi, private bathrooms, and air-conditioning. For a hotel with amenities like free breakfast and a swimming pool, expect to pay at least 900 ZAR per night.

Generally, accommodation prices are higher in Cape Town and Johannesburg and inside of any national parks. If you want to cut your prices, think about staying away from the city center, in lesser visited towns, and outside of the national parks when you’re going on a safari.

In the low season, you can find hostels and hotels for 10-20% cheaper.

Airbnb is also an option around the country, though it’s most commonly available in larger urban areas. A private room costs 300-600 ZAR per night while an entire home or apartment costs at least 700-900 ZAR.

Food – Due to its history of colonization and immigration, South African cuisine is a mix of indigenous, Dutch, British, Indian, and Malaysian culinary traditions.

Above all, South Africa is known for its meaty meals. A favorite pastime of South Africans is the braai , an open-air barbeque that originated in the townships of Johannesburg. Often served with your plate of barbeque are chakalaka , a dish of onions, tomatoes, peppers, carrots, and beans, and pap, a maize porridge.

Other popular dishes include bobotie (a baked dish of curry-spiced minced meat with egg on top) and potjiekos (a stew with meat, veggies, and potatoes). Common desserts include melktert (a custard tart) and malva pudding (like sticky toffee pudding).

Overall, restaurants in South Africa are pretty affordable. At a café, some coffee and a small meal cost 100 ZAR. At a casual restaurant serving traditional South African cuisine, expect to pay around 150 ZAR for a meal.

In terms of traditional barbeque, prices for one person vary, but are usually between 100-220 ZAR. Be sure to try biltong (thinly sliced air-dried meat), droewors (air-dried sausage), and boerewors (farmers sausage) if you’re a meat-eater.

A delicious dish that originated in the Indian community is bunny chow, a spicy curry served in a bread bowl that can also be served vegetarian. This dish is usually found at street food and takeaway spots, costing around 65-90 ZAR. At a sit-down Indian restaurant, expect to pay 90-140 ZAR for a typical curry meal.

In terms of fast food, a meal at Nando’s or another fast-food chain costs about 60-85 ZAR per person. A Chinese takeout meal costs around 75-125 ZAR.

At a nicer restaurant, a three-course meal with wine costs 280-320 ZAR per person, though you can find some main dishes for around 120 ZAR. In the same types of restaurants, a burger is 100-130 ZAR, a whole pizza is 120-160 ZAR, and a pasta dish is 90-155 ZAR.

Expect to pay around 30-35 ZAR for a beer and 50-70 ZAR for a cocktail. A glass of wine is 45-60 ZAR, while a bottle costs 120-250 ZAR. A bottle of water is 11 ZAR, soda is 20 ZAR, and a cappuccino is 25 ZAR.

The low-cost alternative to eating out is to buy groceries. A week’s worth of basic groceries for one person costs around 400-550 ZAR. This gets you basic staples like rice or pasta, seasonal produce, and some meat or fish. If you want to keep costs low, avoid expensive items like chicken, beef, and cheese.

Backpacking South Africa Suggested Budgets

On a backpacker’s budget of 850 ZAR per day, you can stay in a hostel, cook most of your meals, limit your drinking, do mostly free activities (walking tours, enjoying nature), and use public transportation to get around.

On a mid-range budget of about 1,900 ZAR per day, you can stay in a private hostel or Airbnb room, eat out for most meals, enjoy a few drinks, take the occasional taxi to get around, and do more paid activities like going on a safari or taking surf lessons.

On a “luxury” budget of 3,600 ZAR or more per day, you can stay in a hotel, eat out anywhere you want, rent a car, do more safaris and adventure sports, drink more, and do whatever else you want. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages — some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in ZAR.

South Africa Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

It doesn’t cost a lot of money to travel around South Africa. Except for adventure sports and tours, everything is relatively cheap. But that doesn’t mean you can’t save more money! Here are some tips for saving money in South Africa:

• Pitch a tent – Most hostels have yards that they allow travelers to pitch a tent in. It costs much less and you still have the option to use the bathroom, kitchen, and other amenities.
• Work for your room and board – South Africa has plenty of farms and an active WWOOFing community. If you’re looking to stay for a while, cut your food and accommodation costs by spending some time working on a winery or farm.
• Sleep on the train – The Shosholoza Meyl train service connects Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, East London, Komatipoort, and Musina. Prices vary depending on where you are going, but a one-way ticket from Cape Town to Johannesburg costs around 690 ZAR and takes over 24 hours.
• Rent a car – Renting your own car is the best way to get around South Africa since the buses can be quite slow. Prices vary depending on what sort of vehicle you get, but they are generally around 500 ZAR per day.
• Drink in hostels – Most hostels have a small bar where socializing after a day of sightseeing is the thing to do. Local beer and wine can be purchased cheaper here than most bars and restaurants. If you’re going to drink, this is the place to do it!
• Cook your own food – Purchase groceries at discount supermarkets like Pick n’ Pay or Checkers to prepare meals at your hostel. This will cut down your costs significantly!
• Bring a water bottle – The tap water here is generally not safe outside of urban areas so bring a reusable water bottle with a filter to save money and reduce your plastic use. LifeStraw is my go-to brand as their bottles have built-in filters to ensure your water is always clean and safe.

Where to Stay in South Africa

Looking for a budget-friendly place to rest your head in South Africa? Here are some of my suggested places to stay:

• 91 Loop (Cape Town)
• Never at Home Green point (Cape Town)
• Curiocity Backpackers (Johannesburg)
• Kruger Inn Backpackers (Kruger)
• The Kingdom Resort (Pilanesburg)
• 1322 Backpackers International (Pretoria)

How to Get Around South Africa

Public Transportation – Public transportation is available in the larger cities, though it is notoriously unreliable (and I wouldn’t recommend taking buses or vans within the cities for safety reasons). I also definitely don’t recommend taking the metro around Pretoria or Johannesburg as they’re not safe.

If you must use public transportation, I only recommend MyCiTi buses in Cape Town, which costs 7-13 ZAR for up to 20 kilometers (12 miles), and the People Mover in Durban (6 ZAR per ride, or 16.50 ZAR for a day pass).

Taxi – Instead of buses, minibusses, or shared taxis, I suggest calling for a private taxi. Rates are generally low and vary between cities. In Cape Town, rates average 12 ZAR per kilometer, often with a minimum charge of 30 ZAR.

Ridesharing – Even safer than taxis is Uber, which is available in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, and Port Elizabeth. This is how I recommend getting around if you’ll have phone service while you’re there.

Bus – Buses are generally the most reliable public transportation between cities, with trips costing anywhere from 250-700 ZAR. The most popular operators are:

• City to City

Since Greyhound pulled out of South Africa in 2021, Intercape is now the main bus provider, with an extensive reach throughout the country. For longer distances, you can choose a more comfortable reclining seat on their overnight Sleepliner bus.

City to City offers a less expensive, no-frills service that goes to many off-the-beaten-track places, including townships and mining towns.

In terms of prices for main routes, the 18-hour bus from Cape Town to Johannesburg costs around 380-600 ZAR, while the 8.5-hour bus from Durban to Pretoria is 225 ZAR.

To find bus routes and prices, use BusBud .

Train – Train rides are less common but more comfortable and safer than buses. Shosholoza Meyl (South African Railways) has long-distance trains that serve Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein, Durban, East London, Johannesburg, Queenstown, and East London. They’re comfortable and safe, making various stops at smaller towns along the way. Both tourist and economy classes are affordable options.

The overnight journey from Johannesburg to Cape Town costs around 750 ZAR and is a gorgeous ride with a dining car, showers, and accommodation in a two- or four-berth compartment (if available, couples are given coupes and single travelers and groups are put in compartments). If you are traveling alone and you want a coupe to yourself, you’ll need to buy two tickets.

The economy class is fine for shorter daytime trips; however, it doesn’t have sleeping carriages and is not a comfortable or safe option for overnight travel.

Tourist-class sleepers can get fully booked a month or so ahead, especially on popular routes, so plan ahead.

For those who are interested in luxury, the famous Blue Train , which runs from Pretoria to Cape Town, costs 38,000 ZAR for a luxury double berth. The trip lasts a few days and includes wine, cigars, great food, and comfortable compartments. It’s the fanciest way to see the country!

Flying – Depending on the route, domestic fares are generally affordable. It costs 750 ZAR from Cape Town to Johannesburg, 1,000 ZAR from Cape Town to Durban, or 600 ZAR from Pretoria to Durban. The main budget airlines are Kulula and FlySafair.

Car Rental – If you plan on exploring a lot, a small car can be rented for 500 ZAR per day. Check with your hostel to see if they recommend a certain company to book from. Otherwise, Around About Cars, Avis, Budget, Hertz, and other car rental companies exist in South Africa. Make sure you get insurance and keep all the paperwork as accidents are not uncommon.

You can use your driving license from your home country, provided it is in English (or you have a certified translation). However, if you get stopped by the police, they usually ask to see your passport too so keep at least a photocopy in your car.

When to Go to South Africa

The best time to visit South Africa’s parks is from May to September. This is the dry season and wildlife is easier to spot because there’s less vegetation around waterholes, so you can see the animals as they gather to quench their thirst. As this is winter, mornings and nights are chilly.

May and September are wonderful times to visit because it is less cold and, especially in September, the wildlife viewing is excellent. Most days are sunny, there is little to no rain, and there are very few mosquitos.

The winters are mild and produce average highs of approximately 17°C (63°F). This is the low season, so the parks are not crowded (save for Kruger during school holidays).

The wet season (summer) runs from October to April. This is after the first rain, so the scenery turns green and the country looks lush and fresh. This is the best time for bird watching because most of the migratory birds are around. When it does rain, it doesn’t rain for long so you can usually wait it out. Seeing animals is harder since there are more lush landscapes and more places for the animals to be hidden or blocked by trees and bushes.

Parts of South Africa see summer highs get up to 28°C (81°F), with averages closer to 25°C (77°F). Prepare for much larger crowds in the national parks when there are school holidays.

Generally speaking, temperatures are more consistent throughout the year at the coast, while the arid/mountainous areas of the interior see the greatest fluctuation in seasonal temperatures. Even in the Kalahari Desert, nighttime temperatures can drop below freezing. It’s a good idea to pack for all occasions, as often people joke about how you can experience all four seasons in one day in South Africa.

How to Stay Safe in South Africa

South Africa requires extra vigilance because there’s a lot of petty crime here. While you’re unlikely to ever be in any real physical danger, petty crime and harassment are rampant. Avoid carrying expensive gear and lots of money, especially late at night. Always keep your valuables secure and never dress flashy. Do your best to fit in at all times so you don’t stand out as a target.

Don’t walk around alone late at night. If you have a rental car, keep your doors locked at all times to prevent theft and carjacking. Never leave anything in your vehicle overnight as break-ins can occur.

Solo female travelers will want to be cautious here. Avoid traveling alone when you can and don’t travel alone at night. Always keep an eye on your drink when out at the bar and be extra careful in crowded areas as sexual harassment isn’t uncommon.

Crime rates are higher in the townships (settlements established during apartheid for forced racial segregation), but that doesn’t mean avoid them altogether. Just visit during daylight hours, especially with a local guide.

Be extra careful in Johannesburg, where crime rates are the highest in the country (although again, it’s mostly petty crime). If you’re driving, pay attention to what’s happening behind your car as well as in the front. If someone exits a car and starts approaching you, move on quickly.

If you’re going to visit Hillbrow, Berea, Joubert Park and Yeoville make sure you do it with a local as these are riskier neighborhoods to explore on your own.

If you’re worried about getting ripped off, you can read about common travel scams to avoid here.

If you do experience an emergency, dial 10 111 for assistance.

Always trust your gut instinct and make copies of your personal documents, including your passport and ID. Forward your itinerary along to loved ones so they’ll know where you are.

For more in-depth coverage of how to stay safe in South Africa, check out this post we wrote that answers some frequently asked questions and concerns.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

South Africa Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
• Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!

South Africa Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on backpacking/traveling South Africa and continue planning your trip:

How to Save Money When You Visit Cape Town

The 5 Best Hostels in Cape Town

The 12 Best Things to Do in South Africa

Cape Town Itinerary: What to See and Do in 4 (or More) Days

Six of the Greatest Safaris in Africa

24 Photos from My Safari to Kruger National Park

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• Where To Stay
• Transportation
• Booking Resources
• Related Blogs

17 Absolute Best Places to Visit in South Africa (+Map & Tips)

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: February 19, 2024

If you are reading this because you searched for the best places to visit in South Africa , then it probably means that you already know that South Africa is one of the most remarkable countries in the world and that you are considering a trip there.

Go for it! South Africa is one of the most beautiful destinations you’ll ever visit!

South Africa is so special and unique that it’s often called The World in One Country . And so it is! S-A is like a perfect mix of the very best of the entire world in one place. At the same time, it’s like no other place on Earth…

In this article, you can find a list of the very best places to see in South Africa. 17 incredible destinations in South Africa that are worth a trip from the other side of the world. Find out!

Disclosure:  This article is sponsored by South African Tourism . It’s not a secret that South Africa is our absolute favorite country in the world, so we are really excited to be working with them to inspire you to discover this incredible country. All opinions and enthusiasm about South Africa are, of course, our own.

We fell in love with South Africa the first time we visited it many years ago and I’m sure you’ll feel the same way too. It’s a place that captures your heart forever.

Below, you can find the list of the  most amazing places you should visit in South Africa .

This is in no way a complete list, but it should give you a good idea of what to expect and where to go when visiting for the first time. It’s the list of the very best things to do and places to see in South Africa .

I ranked this list by putting my own favorites on top. So if you are limited in time, I suggest that you start with the top of the list and work your way down. At the bottom of this article, you can also find the map indicating all the main tourist attractions in South Africa mentioned in this post. Find out!

TIP: If you are not sure how to plan your trip, please check our South Africa 2 week itinerary that covers most of the must-see places in South Africa. Please note that it’s a very complete itinerary, but it doesn’t leave much extra time to explore deeper.

If you want to visit every place from this list, you’ll need at least 3 weeks and it will be rushed. If you want to see all the best places in South Africa mentioned in this article AND have some time to explore somewhat deeper, you’ll probably need at least a month…

These are the best places to visit in South Africa:

1. Cape Town

If there is one place you absolutely have to see in South Africa, it’s Cape Town . It was the oldest European establishment in South Africa (1652) and is therefore often referred to as the Mother City.

It’s difficult to describe in just a few words what Cape Town is all about. You really have to experience it in order to be able to appreciate the mingle of African and European cultures, a mix of tradition and modern, and the unique blend of city life and nature…

If South Africa is the world in one country, then Cape Town is the world in one city. Absolutely not to be missed when visiting South Africa!

Here are some of the main places you have to see in Cape Town : Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, Table Mountain, Signal Hill & Lion’s Head, Robben Island, Bo-Kaap area, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Two Oceans Aquarium, and also the city center with its local markets, shops, restaurants, and museums.

TIP:  If the gondola to the top of Table Mountain is open, go there first. It often gets closed due to high winds, so don’t leave it for the last day.

2. Cape Peninsula

Together with Cape Town, Cape Peninsula  is one of the most impressive regions of South Africa. This is one of those places that you really don’t want to miss!

The absolute highlights of the Cape Peninsula include Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point and the stunning 12 Apostles   coastline from Camps Bay to Hout Bay and further south along Chapman’s Peak Drive .

Not to be missed is Simon’s Town with Boulder’s Beach penguin colony (yes, you can see wild penguins in South Africa!) and also an ocean walkway from  Muizenberg to Kalk Bay via St. James beach is really nice. Groot Constantia wine region in Cape Peninsula has spectacular scenery and some of the best wines in South Africa.

Also, in Hout Bay you can take a boat to see a seal colony – it’s called Duiker Island , but most people just refer to it as Hout Bay Seal Island. This is a very popular tourist attraction, so you may want to book in advance. For a more unique experience, you can even go snorkeling with the seals .

TIP: One day is hardly enough to see the highlights of Cape Peninsula. So if you can, try to spend at least a few days in this area. I recommend at least a week for Cape Town and Cape Peninsula, with 3-4 days being an absolute minimum.

3. The Garden Route

Another absolutely amazing region, the Garden Route is one of those places you really have to see in South Africa as well. This +-200km stretch between Mossel Bay and Stormsrivier is one of the most scenic routes in the world, but you have to take the time in order to truly appreciate it.

You could drive the Garden Route in just half a day, but you won’t see much just by sitting in the car. So ideally you take at least a couple of days to explore this area. 

Some of the nicest places along the Garden Route are Storms River and Tsitsikamma National Park , Robberg Nature Reserve , Plettenberg Bay , the whole area around Knysna (don’t miss the Heads and the Featherbed Private Nature Reserve!), Wilderness , and the beautiful coastline along the entire route.

Oudtshoorn , famous for its ostrich farms and Cango Caves , is a bit out of the way from the rest, but it’s also considered as part of the Garden Route. Well worth a visit.

TIP: If you are traveling with kids or if you just love wildlife, don’t miss Monkeyland and Birds of Eden   (both just next to each other). Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve is a great place for a family-friendly safari along the Garden Route and Knysna Elephant Park is one of the best ethical places to interact with elephants in South Africa. 

4. Kruger National Park

Without any doubt, Kruger National Park is one of the best-known places to visit in South Africa. If you want the best wildlife safari experience in South Africa, then Kruger NP is definitely the place to be.

Kruger is the oldest and also the biggest National Park in South Africa. To give you an idea, with 2,000,000 hectares (20,000 km 2 ), it’s about the size of Israel or the state of New Jersey. In other words, Kruger NP is huge! Ideally, you plan to spend at least 2-3 days in Kruger NP and make several game drives.

Hundreds of animal species call Kruger home and it’s also the best place to see the Big 5 in South Africa. The Big 5 refers to five most difficult African animals to hunt on foot: lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and Cape buffalo. Hunting is really not cool anymore, but this term is widely used as a sort of ‘5 must-see African animals’ list.

There are 101 ways to explore Kruger National Park. You can opt for one of the many luxury lodges and private safari rides , organized day tours , or you can drive and explore Kruger NP with your own car. No matter which way you choose to explore Kruger National Park, it’s a place that you really must see in South Africa!

If you have never been on a safari before, please check our ultimate guide to safari in Africa .

TIP: Combine a visit to Kruger National Park with the nearby Panorama Route and Blyde River Canyon (see below).

5. Blyde River Canyon & Panorama Route

Blyde River Canyon is one of the most beautiful natural landmarks of South Africa. It’s also one of the largest canyons in the world.  Due to its proximity to several main entrances of Kruger National Park, Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve and the whole Panorama Route make a very popular day trip in the area.

Together with Kruger NP, Blyde River Canyon is one of the most popular tourist attractions in northern South Africa.

Start your day with breakfast at the famous Harrie’s Pancakes in Graskop . Then head north to the Pinnacle , God’s Window , and Wonder View . Further highlights of the Panorama Route include Lisbon Falls and Berlin Falls , also  Bourke’s Luck Potholes , and Lowveld viewpoint . But the most impressive of them all is the Three Rondavels viewpoint . The scenery here is simply spectacular!

Three Rondavels was one of the first places we visited just after arrival in South Africa and that image stayed with us forever. It was here that we fell in love with this amazingly diverse country and realized that it has so much more to offer than we ever imagined… Don’t miss if you are visiting Kruger NP and have a day to spare!

If you have more time, you can also consider a visit to the Echo Caves  or a small museum-town called Pilgrim’s Rest.

6. Hermanus

Hermanus is my husband’s favorite place in South Africa, one we always wish we had stayed longer at…

The town itself isn’t that special, but its coastline is second to none! Grab a picnic and explore the beautiful coastal walking path. The bay near Hermanus is known as the best place to see whales and dolphins in South Africa and it definitely lives up to its reputation!

You can take a whale watching boat tour and get really close to these majestic animals, but you can usually also see them from ashore. Both experiences are very different and each special in their own way. I really recommend both – taking the boat tour and also walking the coastal route in Hermanus and watching whales and dolphins from the shore.

Please note that whales are not always around. The best time to see whales in Hermanus is between June and December, but some years they arrive earlier or leave later, so you just never know. 

We have been on many whale-watching tours all over the world, but nowhere did we see so many whales from so close by as in Hermanus. There were tens of whales just meters away from our boat… We also saw hundreds of dolphins while walking along the coast. It sure is one of the best places to go whale – and dolphin-watching in the world.

TIP: Nearby Gansbaai is also a beautiful place with a stunning coastline and a good chance to see the whales. It’s not as well known and therefore much less visited than Hermanus, but it’s a perfect place to visit for those who have more time in the area and looking to discover some off-beat hidden gems.

7. South Africa Wine Region: Stellenbosch and Franschhoek

South Africa has become world-famous for its wines and the best region to see the wineries and taste some wines is the beautiful area between  Stellenbosch, Paarl, and Franschhoek.

This wine region is just a short drive from Cape Town and is therefore really easy to visit, even if you only have limited time in South Africa.

Stellenbosch and Paarl are bigger towns and I’m not sure if they are worth a visit, but the nearby wineries and the surrounding scenery is a must. We loved the quaint little Franschhoek town with its white buildings, hilly landscapes, and a very cozy atmosphere. Such a beautiful region – a place you have to see in South Africa!

TIP: Don’t drink and drive! If you are staying in Cape Town, you can visit the wine region with an organized day tour. Here is one of the best-rated and most complete wine region tours from Cape Town  that I was able to find. 

8. Cape Agulhas – Southernmost Tip Of Africa

Cape Agulhas, the Southernmost place in Africa , is so far from every other landmark in South Africa and main tourist routes that it doesn’t get the attention it deserves. But what a beautiful and unique place it is!

Standing at this point where two oceans meet you truly feel like you’ve reached the end of the world…

The best way to visit Cape Agulhas is by making a stop there on your way from Cape Town to the Garden Route (or vice versa). We once did it in a day, just stopping there when driving from Knysna to Cape Town, but it was a really long drive.

TIP: I suggest that you break the drive and either stay in Cape Agulhas or in the area around Hermanus or Gansbaai for one night.

9. Drakensberg

Another wonderful region a bit off the beaten tourist path in South Africa is the Drakensberg mountains . The Dragon Mountain is a +-200km mountain range between the Kingdom of Lesotho and KwaZulu Natal province in South Africa, a few hours drive from Durban. 

The region is known for its incredible vistas, countless waterfalls, mountain streams, rock pools, caves, and tranquil scenery pretty much undisturbed by human development. The Drakensberg is the highest mountain range in South Africa and if you visit here in the winter (July) as we did, be prepared for the freezing cold temperatures at night.

Theoretically, you could visit the Drakensberg region just for a day, but ideally, you spend at least a couple of days here. There is a wide range of outdoor activities available, such as hiking or golf to mention just a few…

TIP: If you stay close to the Underberg area (we stayed at this hotel ), you can pop over the border and visit Lesotho for a day ( day tours are available too). 

10. Addo Elephant National Park

If you are looking for a malaria-free family-friendly safari experience in Africa, Addo Elephant National Park is one of the very best places to do that.

South Africa’s third-largest National Park is located in the southern part of the country, close to Port Elizabeth and just a few hours drive from the Garden Route.

As the name suggests, Addo Elephant NP is a perfect place to see wild elephants. This park is home to over 600 elephants and they are all around. Many other African animals live here as well and if you are really lucky, you may even get to spot The Big 5…

TIP: You can easily explore the park on a self-drive safari. But – as always – a guided open-jeep safari tour will give you a very different experience. If you come here for a few days and have your own car, I suggest you do both – visit the park on your own but also book at least one safari ride.

11. iSimangaliso Wetland Park

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, iSimangaliso Wetland Park has a lot to more to offer than it looks at first sight. It’s not that widely known and definitely not one of the main tourist attractions in South Africa, but it’s well worth a trip.

iSimangaliso Wetland Park has it all: beautiful scenery, unique landscapes, white-sand beaches, snorkeling, diving, and lots of wildlife. You can expect to see rhino, zebra, buffalo, troop baboons, wildebeest, and even elephants, to name just a few…

One of the main reasons tourists visit this area is to see hippos in the wild. iSimangaliso Wetland Park is a paradise for water-loving animals and is, therefore, one of the best places to see hippos and crocodiles in South Africa .

TIP: You can visit the park by car, but if you really want to get close to the hippos and the crocodiles in a safe way, it’s best to book St. Lucia estuary boat tour . The boat tour takes just two hours, so you can spend the rest of the time self-driving and exploring the park.

12. Pilanesberg National Park

Just over 2 hours drive from Johannesburg, Pilanesberg National Park is probably one of the easiest and best-accessible places for a wildlife safari in South Africa.

Pilanesberg Game Reserve is set in an extinct volcanic crater, where the soil is rich with grasslands, perfect for wildlife. A man-made lake, Mankwe Dam, is used as a drinking waterhole – a perfect place to see African animals.

Wildlife here includes zebras, lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards, and many other species. Because the park is rather small, it’s quite easy to find the animals, even if you come here just for a few hours.

TIP: You can visit Pilanesberg National Park  as a day trip from Johannesburg , but if you have some time to spare, stay a few days. If you like places like Las Vegas in the US , don’t miss the nearby  Sun City with entertainment for young and old.

From luxury resorts and casinos, waterparks and golfing, to outdoor activities, wildlife viewing, and even hot air balloon safari – this area truly has it all.

13. Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park

One can never have too many safari experiences in Africa, right? So if you are visiting St.Lucia/Durban area, then I really recommend a day trip to  Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park .

This park is not as well known as Kruger and the other National Parks mentioned above, but it’s just as beautiful and offers amazing wildlife viewing. Africa’s Big 5 live here and, of course, many other animals.

TIP: You can visit this park on a self-drive safari or take a guided safari tour from Durban . If you want to make the best of your short time, you can also opt for a tour that combines Hluhluwe and iSimangaliso Wetlands, mentioned above.

14. West Coast National Park

Just an hour drive north of Cape Town, West Coast National Park is the locals’ favorite, so if you come in a warm season, expect it to be busy. This park has beautiful beaches, stunning coastlines, scenic hiking trails, wildlife, and lots of wildflowers.

Springtime (August – September) is the best time to see the flowers and the park might be even busier than usual. 

West Coast National Park is considered a real jewel. It’s not a must-see in South Africa if you are short on time, but if you are staying in Cape Town and have a day to spare, definitely check it out!

TIP: There aren’t many facilities here; it’s all about nature. So if you come for a day, make sure to bring some food and plenty of water. 

Durban is considered one of the cities that you should see in South Africa. We found that there were better ways to spend our time in South Africa than visiting its cities… so we didn’t stay in Durban longer than necessary. Just in case you wonder, Cape Town is a whole other story, one city you have to see.

Nevertheless, if you are traveling in this area, you shouldn’t miss Durban. One of the best things to do here is go to the beach and stroll the Golden Mile , visit UShaka Marine World  or Durban Botanic Gardens .

Durban is also a good base for a day trip to the earlier mentioned Hluhluwe-iMfolozi NP and iSimangaliso Wetland Park, and also to the Drakensberg mountains. A really interesting thing to do in Durban is also this Shakaland and Zulu culture day trip .

TIP: If you are short on time, fly from Durban to Port Elizabeth or Cape Town – it will save you lots of driving. 

16. Johannesburg

The largest city in South Africa, Johannesburg’s history goes back to the 19th century. It’s hard to believe that this bustling city with a population of 1 million started as a gold-mining settlement.

If you want to learn about South Africa’s long part to democracy, then don’t miss Soweto township ( go with a guide! ) which was once home to Nelson Mandela and also Desmond Tutu. 

Must-see in Johannesburg is the Apartheid Museum and Constitution Hill , a former prison complex. Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and tens of thousands of others were imprisoned here at some point in South Africa’s turbulent history…

17. Namaqua National Park & Namaqualand

Namaqualand and Namaqua National Park , close to the Namibian border, are so far from all the other tourist attractions in South Africa that you’ll hardly ever see it mentioned as one of the best places to visit in the country. It’s actually more of a hidden gem of South Africa.

Come spring and the dusty valleys are transformed into a magical wildflower wonderland. The whole area is covered in colorful flower carpet, attracting local visitors and international tourists alike.

If you are visiting South Africa in August-September and feel like getting off the beaten path, you may want to include this unique region in your itinerary.

Best places to visit in South Africa on the map

In order to help you plan your trip to South Africa and visit as many of the highlands as possible, I created this map indicating all the places mentioned in this article. This way you can get a better idea of where everything is located and plan accordingly.

How to use this map:  Use your computer mouse (or fingers) to zoom in or out. Click on the icons to get more information about each place. Click the arrow on the top left corner for the index. Click the star next to the map’s title to add it to your Google Maps account. To view the saved map on your smartphone or PC, open Google Maps, click the menu and go to ‘Your Places’/’Maps’. If you want to print the map or see it in a bigger window, click on ‘View larger map’ in the top right corner.

So, this is our list of the most beautiful and trip-worthy places to visit in South Africa . If you are wondering where to go and what to see in South Africa, now you should have a much better idea.

South Africa Travel FAQ

Here are some of the popular questions our readers ask about visiting South Africa:

South Africa is a year-round destination and every season has something to offer. The best time to see wildlife in Kruger National Park is the dry season between May and October. Whereas the best time to visit Cape Town and the Garden Route is between September – November and from March to May.

South Africa is huge and there are so many beautiful places to see. But if you have to choose just one area to visit, we recommend Cape Town and Cape Peninsula.

South Africa is not the safest place to visit in the world and the crime rate is quite high. That being said, if you are cautious, aware of your surroundings, and do not take unnecessary risks, crime against tourists is really not that common. We visited South Africa several times, also with kids, and we never experienced any problems.

No, South Africa is not an expensive destination. The biggest cost or the trip is the flight to get there. Accommodation, food, and activities are quite cheap in South Africa. But – as everywhere in the world – a lot depends on the choices you make and mostly on the accommodations that you choose.

2 weeks is the minimum time if you want to see the most beautiful places of South Africa. If you have about 10 days, spend 3 days in Kruger NP and fly to the south of the country for the rest of the trip. If you have 1 week or less, it’s best to concentrate on just one area – either Kruger NP and surroundings or Cape Peninsula and the Garden Route.

TIP: When planning a trip to South Africa, make sure to also check our South Africa itinerary . It contains most of the highlights of South Africa from this list and shows you how to see all the best places in just two weeks. Check it out – it will help you plan a trip of a lifetime!

And if you are traveling with a family, check out this guide for more info on what to expect and where to go when visiting South Africa with kids .

If you found this post helpful, don’t forget to bookmark it and share it with your friends. Are you on Pinterest? Pin these images!

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Sunday 30th of October 2022

Hi, South African here living in Jhb. A must is Oribi Gorge Southern KWAZULU-NATAL, if planning a Durban trip. I love traveling my country as well as other African countries.

We just got back this September from a road trip to Etosha National Park, Namibia. As always we absolutely loved it.

Sunday 6th of November 2022

Thanks for the additional tip and happy travels, Vennie!

Sunday 18th of September 2022

This is so helpful! I will definitely go to South Africa someday. Thank you so much!

Monday 19th of September 2022

Glad to hear that. Hope you can visit South Africa one day - it's a wonderful country!

Wednesday 4th of May 2022

Thanks Jurga! This is a great source of information. Just planning a three week trip to South Africa for December 2022. My first trip to South Africa since 1991. You've given me plenty of ideas for my itinerary.

Oh, lucky you! We're also contemplating another trip to S-A soon. Good luck with the planning and have a great trip! PS We also have a guide with a sample 2-week South Africa itinerary - check it out. You could build on it if you want to visit all these places and add more since you have 3 weeks.

Tuesday 22nd of March 2022

Thanks for sharing such a beautiful informative information on the blog. I have read your other posts which are all really informative for any traveler before arriving South Africa.

Wednesday 23rd of March 2022

Glad to hear you found our guides useful. Happy travels!

Thursday 10th of February 2022

The end of this month I am going to travel to South Africa by myself. I am 21 years old and I am from the Netherlands. The first 2 weeks I am going to work at an Baboon orphanage center in Phalaborwa, which is next to the Kruger National Park. In these two weeks I will have some free time to visit the Kruger Park on a safari. After the two weeks I have 4 weeks to travel by myself to see other beautiful places in South Africa, and stay in hostels etc. My idea is to take a flight after the two weeks from Hoedspruit airport to Durban or Kaapstad, and then stay there for a while and see other nice places. Do you guys have any tips for my journey?

Kind regards,

Friday 11th of February 2022

Hi Jesse, this sounds like an amazing experience for you! With 4 weeks to travel in South Africa (and already having seen Kruger before), you can see a lot. Durban - Drakensbergen area is nice, but I'd definitely try to spend more time in the south - the Garden Route, Cape Town, etc. If you are not renting a car, it will be a bit more difficult to explore outside the cities, but you can find a lot to do in/near them too. If you choose just one place, then Cape Town is really the best option. And you can also take some tours if there are some places you absolutely want to see and can't easily get to on your own. Hope this helps a bit. Have a great time in South Africa!

The Perfect One Week, Two Week, and Three Week Travel Itinerary For South Africa

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• Last Updated On: January 13, 2024

South Africa is still one of my favorite countries in the world. Sure, I lived there for a few years, but I also traveled extensively through the country and got to see so much of it. I always get questions on how I should spend a week, two days, two weeks, or even three weeks in the Rainbow Nation. There is no definitive answer because there is SO MUCH to see in this country and everyone has different interests. Nevertheless, two weeks is enough to scrape the surface of what the country has to offer and this would be my perfect itinerary.

Update Sep 2021: South Africa has been hit hard with COVID-19 and the entry requirements are always changing. Currently, South Africa allows visitors who are vaccinated and have negative PCR tests. The country is open but mask mandates are in full effect and restaurants might close earlier than normal. Keep up with the most recent guidelines! 

Where I went in South Africa

In total, this itinerary is for anyone that has 14-16 days  to spend in South Africa. At the end of this post, I have also included how I would craft a trip with around  7 days (1 week), 10 days (1.5 weeks) and  21+ days (3 weeks+)!

• Johannesburg
• Kruger National Park
• Port Elizabeth
• Plettenberg Bay
• Wine Country (Stellenbosch/Franschhoek)

If these places ring a bell and sound like the places you want to visit, this is the perfect itinerary for you! Also note that South Africa is far from just about everywhere so budget the necessary time get there and home. To see this itinerary in real use by someone other than myself, I used it to craft up a South Africa and Mauritius honeymoon game plan for my friends! Read their personal recount of their amazing South Africa and Mauritius trip.

Detailed Posts

• Cape Town Round 1
• Cape Town Round 2
• The Ultimate Cape Town Travel Guide
• Cape Point, Muizenberg beach, Boulder’s Beach Day Itinerary
• Clouds Estate Hotel Review
• De Zeven Wine Farm Hotel Review
• Bloukrans Bungy Jumping
• Garden Route Part 1 – Planning and Addo Elephant Park
• Garden Route Part 2 – Plettenberg and Knysna
• Garden Route Part 3 – Oudtshoorn to Hermanus
• Guide to South African Wine Country
• Perfect 1 day Itinerary for the Wine Country
• The Perfect South Africa and Mauritius Honeymoon

Full Itinerary

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The itinerary starts in Cape Town, and ends in Johannesburg. I’d recommend to book flights arriving into Cape Town, and flying out of Johannesburg. This itinerary, of course, can be done the opposite way around as well. If you don’t want to do fly home from a different airport, there are plenty of cheap airlines that fly regularly between the two cities like  Mango Airlines,  Kulula,  and  FlySAFair,  you’ll just need to budget the time accordingly.

Is South Africa Safe?

Many of you might also be wondering if South Africa is a safe place to travel at the moment. I’ve answered all of those questions in depth , as well as whether you need vaccinations for malaria . Be sure to read that before heading down to the Rainbow Nation!

Day 1-4: Discover Cape Town

The Cape is South Africa’s gift to the world – Nelson Mandela

The trip starts in Cape Town , or what I like to call the world’s most naturally beautiful city . The Mother City, as it is affectionately referred to in South Africa, is South Africa’s most scenic and most popular city. It’s not difficult to see why. Cape Town is sandwiched between a dramatic mountain range famous for Table Mountain , and the southern Atlantic ocean with a plethora of white sandy beaches.

There are also world class restaurants in this city serving cuisine from all over the world, bars, concerts, museums, and so much more. I spent weeks just checking out the best cafes in Cape Town alone. Take the ferry to Robben Island and tour the former prison that Nelson Mandela called home for 27 years.

There is some incredible hiking to be done in Cape Town. Table Mountain and Lions Head are an absolute must. There is a cable car that goes to the top of Table Mountain, but Lions Head can only be hiked. My favorite place in the whole country might be at the top of Lions Head during sunset. The views of the ocean, the city, and Table Mountain next to it is perhaps one of the reasons Cape Town is the one place I’d move to in a heartbeat (if I could).

Just outside of town is perhaps one of the most scenic drives in the country, Chapman’s Peak. The drive is along the edge of a windy mountain, with the most beautiful ocean views on one side. Penguins can also be seen at Boulders Beach along the way. This all culminates into southern tip of the continent at Cape Point, also known as the Cape of Good Hope . This is where the Indian and Atlantic oceans converge, and it makes for some absolutely breathtaking views. If you’re keen to make this day trip, then definitely read my Cape Town to Cape Point itinerary !

Recommended Hotels to stay at in Cape Town

Cape Town has countless options to stay with beautiful views all abound. Here are some of my favorite places

• Houghton Views Guest House
• CB-One hotel
• The POD Camps Bay

Day 4-6: Wine Taste Stellenbosch or Franschhoek

East of Cape Town is South Africa’s famous wine region . It’s not as famous as places like Italy, France, or Napa Valley, which is a absolute travesty and a complete blessing. It’s a blessing because the crowds aren’t as chaotic, and prices are extremely reasonable for wine tasting. The views and landscape in Cape Town’s wine region is absolutely unparalleled.

For a detailed and perfect one day itinerary, click here.

Stellenbosch makes Napa Valley look like someone’s back yard. That isn’t to say California’s wine region isn’t a nice place, it’s just my way of saying that South Africa’s wine region is that much more beautiful. Let’s also not forget that a typical wine tasting in South Africa costs R30-40, whereas a similar styled wine tasting in a place like Napa Valley is $25+ (10x the price!).

There are numerous wine regions in South Africa, like Constantia, Stellensbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl, Durbanville etc. but the easiest and my favorite area is Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. Make sure to drive to different wine farms to sample the various styles of wine making in South Africa. The wine farms also have some of the best restaurants in the country so make sure to plan ahead of time where you’d like to have lunch.

Some of my favorites are Delaire Graff, Morgenster, Tokara, Oldenburg, Vergelegen, Dieu Donne, Waterkloof, Jordan.

If you’re looking for ideas of places to stay, look no further than some of my favorite wine farms in Clouds Estate and De Zeven . Make sure to read my in depth reviews of those places to get your wanderlust going.

Where to stay in Stellenbosch

• Banhoek Lodge
• Clouds Estate

Day 6-12: Road trip on the Garden Route – Part 1

This might be my favorite drive in the world. The Garden Route of South Africa is famous for its incredible scenery, charming coastal towns, and wildlife. There’s so much to do and see along the Garden Route, I actually wrote about it in three separate posts. The Garden Route is the stretch of coastline in the Western Cape stretching from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town. It is the ultimate road trip in my opinion and would be my first choice of road trips to repeat.

Obviously one could spend far longer than 6 days driving along the Garden Route but for a two week itinerary of all of South Africa, this will be enough to see the main highlights.

Hermanus – 1 night

Starting from wine country, I went great white shark diving early in the morning. These cage dives usually start at 8-9am and last until noon. From Gansbaai, we spent the rest of the walking around Hermanus , a quaint ocean side town famous for its whales. When in season, between May and Nov, right whales regularly frequent the shores of this town. It’s also home to spectacular beaches and some of the best kite surfing in the world.

Oudtshoorn – 1 night

From Hermanus, we left early in the morning to the town of Oudtshoorn , stopping in Swellendam for lunch. Outdshoorn is a town in the Karoo region of South Africa. The Karoo is a huge swath of semi-desert like land in South Africa’s heartlan. It is a place of immense spaces, wide-angle horizons, craggy mountain ranges, conical hills, an ancient inland seabed, and a sky so big that at night it feels like you can touch the stars.

It’s totally different than the scenery along the coast and gives you a small flavor of the different terrains of South Africa. Oudtshoorn is known for the Cango Caves and its plethora of ostrich farms. Wild and farmed ostrich roam here so make sure to try some in this town. One night is enough here.

Knysna and Plettenberg Bay – 3 nights

The next day begins with a drive back towards the coast. Stop in the town of Wilderness for stunning panoramic ocean views, and lunch before driving towards Plettenberg Bay and Knysna . Because of the limited time, there’s really only enough time to stay in one place. I’ve stayed in both towns and they are both amazing places. If I had to do it again, I would stay in Plettenberg Bay and take a visit to Knysna.

Plettenberg Bay is more chilled, and has plenty of nice beaches. Knysna is slightly more busy (but nothing on the Garden Route is really that busy), and has amazing lookout points of the surrounding area. Both towns have world class restaurants so you really can’t go wrong in each place.

Make sure to visit the Knysna Elephant Sanctuary, as well as take a day hike to the Robberg Peninsula.

Where to stay in Knysna and Plettenberg

• Milkwood Manor
• Chez Pierre

Port Elizabeth – 1 night

Leave Knysna/Plettenberg early the next day and stop at the infamous Bloukrans bridge for some bungy jumping. This isn’t just any old bungy jump, it’s the highest bungy bridge in the world at 220m (710ft) high. You can read all about my experience here.   If bungy jumping is just not for you, there’s a bar at the edge of the cliff where you have perfect views to watch people jump to their deaths.

From Bloukrans, make a stop in the Tsitsikama National Park and take a walk from the famous suspension bridge that allows you stunning views of the area.

From here, drive to Port Elizabeth

Day 13-15: Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg to Kruger NP

Port Elizabeth marks the end of the Garden Route. Drop off the rental car here and take an early morning flight (as early as possible) to Johannesburg. We took the 6:30am flight on British Airways, and arrived in Johannesburg just after 8am. Upon landing, have your safari company PICK YOU UP from the airport. There’s no reason to go into Johannesburg as it is a 5 hour drive to the Kruger National Park . We made it in time for an afternoon game drive.

3 days and 2 nights in Kruger National Park

The Kruger is South Africa’s largest and most popular game reserve. It’s home to all the wild animals you’ve ever had on your bucket list, and is a great place to see the big 5 (lion, buffalo, rhino, elephant, and leopard). We spent a total of three days and two nights in the Kruger National Park. This gave us 1 afternoon game drive on the first day, 1 whole day of game drives for the second day, and 1 morning game drive on the third day. I felt like this was enough as you’re doing nothing except sitting in the back of a truck.

The Kruger is also one of the few game parks in Africa that allows you to self drive. Although we chose to go with a Safari company that arranged everything, it’s super easy to rent a car from the airport and drive out yourself and do your own game drives. This is definitely the option I would choose if I were to do it again.

Last day in Johannesburg

Johannesburg is an underrated city that the media paints in an unflattering light. However, I called this place home for almost two years! It is a great place to live and to work, but it is not the best place to spend your time as a tourist. There aren’t many must see sights here. A day trip to Soweto and the Apartheid museum, followed by a visit to the Carnivore restaurant to sample all different types of game meats is probably enough for most people.

Game Lodge Options

There are hundreds of game lodges in South Africa of all varying price ranges. If you need you some ideas for your own trip whether it’s a honeymoon or not, here is a list of lodges for each budget range th

Budget Lodges Under $500 a night

• Raptor Lodge
• Rhino Ridge
• Aha Thadaku River Lodge
• Masodini Game Lodge
• Rockfig Lodge Madikwe

Lodges between $500 to $1250 a night

As for planning honeymoons, I have largely used lodges under $1000 as this is much more budget friendly for those looking to keep their honeymoons below $12,000. I think at this range, you get the 5 star luxury experience without breaking the bank (completely). For almost all travelers out there, lodges in this price range will more than suit your needs and wanderlust.

• 57 Waterberg
• Mhondoro Safari Lodge
• Kapama Buffalo Camp
• Clifftop Hideaway
• Makweti Safari Lodge
• Madikwe Safari Lodge
• Elephant Plains Game Lodge
• Rhino Sands Safari Camp
• Rhulani Safari Lodge

Lodges over $1250 a night

In this price range, you’re looking at some serious over the top luxury. However, I’d say for the average traveler, you probably don’t need to step up to these prices because the lodges in the previous price category have everything you need. Some of these lodges can be well over $2,000 a night but if you have the cash, this is for you.

• Marataba Mountain Lodge and Marataba Safari lodge
• Thornybush Lodge
• Leopard Hills Private Game Reserve
• Jabulani Safari
• Any of the Singita Lodges
• Any of the andBeyond lodges
• Kapama River Lodge
• Kapama Karula
• Royal Madikwe Safari lodge

Day by Day breakdown

Day 1: Land in Cape Town, pick up rental car and explore Cape Town Day 2: Explore Cape Town, hike Lions Head Day 3: Cable Car up Table Mountain, drive to Cape Point in afternoon Day 4: Explore Stellenbosch Day 5: Stellenbosch/Franschhoek Day 6: Cage diving with great whites, explore Hermanus Day 7: Drive to Oudtshoorn, visit ostrich farm at night Day 8: Morning visit to Cango Caves, drive to Plettenberg/Knysna Day 9: Plettenberg/Knysna Day 10: Plettenberg/Knysna Day 11:  Bloukrans, Tsitsikama, Port Elizabeth Day 12: Fly to Johannesburg in morning, Kruger NP Day 13: Kruger NP Day 14: Kruger NP in morning, end in Johannesburg Day 15:  Early morning flight home

One week itinerary for South Africa

How about if you only had  ONE  week in South Africa? This is tough. The country deserves a lot more than 1 week but nevertheless, this is how I would structure a 1 week trip. Let’s assume you have all 7 days in South Africa without worrying about flights. If this is your first trip to Africa and you want to go on the iconic safari, I would focus my visit on Cape Town and the Kruger .

Day 1-4: Cape Town

Spend your first 4 days in Cape Town and the surrounding regions. Instead of spending two nights in the wine country, make it a day trip by starting early in the morning as soon as the wine farms open (usually around 9am). Spend another day visiting Cape Point and seeing Cape Town’s sights. Time permitting, take a day trip  to the Great White cage diving in Gansbaai.

Day 5-7: Johannesburg and Kruger

Take an early morning flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg. Have your safari operator pick you up from the airport and do the 3 day/2 night Kruger National Park tour mentioned above. The safari tour will end on the last day after a morning game drive. Immediately drive back to OR Tambo International airport after the game drive and fly home that night. Make sure to schedule your flight later in the evening as it will take ~5 hours to drive from the Kruger to Johannesburg.

10 day itinerary for South Africa

10 days gives a little more time to see South Africa. To be honest, I wouldn’t go all the way to South Africa without at least 10 days. Nevertheless, I know some people just can’t swing the time so anything is better than nothing. This is how I would structure 10 days.

Similar to the 1 week itinerary, I would spend my first 4 days in Cape Town. Make day trips to Cape Point and Boulders beach for penguins and breathtaking views. Then another day would be dedicated to shark diving in Gansbaai, followed by two days of hiking, eating, and drinking enjoying all that Cape Town has to offer.

Day 5-7: Wine Country

The next few days can be spent either in the wine country or on a condensed version of the garden route. Personally, I don’t think 3 days does enough justice for the Garden Route, so I’ll opt for enjoying world class wine at dirt cheap prices and views that no other wine region in the world can match. My favorite place to stay in Stellenbosch is Clouds Estate, but make sure to book well in advance if you feel like staying here. There are much cheaper options available as well of course.

Make sure to visit as many wine farms as you can handle because there is so much diversity in the wine, food, and scenery in this part of the country. Read my perfect wine tasting itinerary. 

Day 8-10: Johannesburg and Kruger

Same itinerary as the Kruger safari from the one week itinerary.

Three week South Africa itinerary

If you’re lucky enough to have  three  weeks, there is so much more to explore in South Africa. As per the two week itinerary, I would add the following:

• Stay an extra night in Cape Town
• Spend extra day in Hermanus
• Instead of flying to Johannesburg from Port Elizabeth, continue driving on the N2 along South Africa’s wild cost towards Durban
• (Optional but recommended): Stay at a private game reserve in the Kwazulu-Natal province around Durban instead of going to the Kruger

South Africa’s Wild Coast

The area between Port Elizabeth and Durban is called the Wild Coast. This area receives less tourists than the Garden Route, and is far less developed than the Garden Route towns. This area, also known as the Transkei, is home to the Xhosa people (which you’ll never pronounce right). It functioned as its own independent state during Apartheid and you can see that the infrastructure here is vastly undeveloped compared to their Afrikaner neighbors in the Western Cape. It’s totally a safe place to travel. Nevertheless, the contrast between natural and urban scenery can be noticed here.

For any scuba divers, make sure to stop and have a few dives at Aliwal Shoal. This dive site, while not much to look at in terms of corals, is home to numerous species of sharks. You can easily be diving with dozens of different sharks swimming around you.

In addition, even further up from Durban is the beautiful St. Lucia Wetland park which is home to beautiful beaches, dunes, swamplands, and diving. Sodwana Bay, located in this natures reserve, is one of the best places to dive in South Africa and also one of the cheapest destinations in the world to become certified.

Adding on a tropical beach to South Africa

South Africa enjoys a huge coastline with some fantastic beach. However, if you have the time, and are looking for a more tropical setting with idyllic white sand beaches, turquoise waters, and seas of palm trees, South Africa’s neighboring countries offer much more in this regard.

Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Zanzibar are popular additional destinations for those visiting South Africa. I’ve traveled extensively through most of these countries and they are absolutely stunning places. There are regular flights from Johannesburg to many of these destinations as well. Some inspiration and further reading for those interested:

• Ile Sainte Marie, Madagascar
• Nosy Be Archipelago, Madagascar
• Quirimbas Archipelago, Mozambique
• Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique
• Zanzibar, Tanzania

All of the above offer something unique. If time (and money) was of no worry, I would visit the Quirimbas Archipelago . I think the northern part of Mozambique is something truly special and the beaches there are the nicest I’ve ever seen. Madagascar is a close second, but there is so much to do on this beautiful island, I would save it entirely for another trip.

Otherwise, for simplicity and ease, Zanzibar is your best bet as far as quality accommodation and simplicity go. I spent over a month traveling through Zanzibar  so make sure to read through my posts about the Tanzanian paradise if you want to go.

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• The Ultimate Safari Guide For Kruger National Park, South Africa
• 26 Amazing Things To Do In Cape Town, South Africa
• The Perfect Cape Town, Garden Route, Safari, and Mauritius Honeymoon Itinerary

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Hi, we have flights booked to Johannesburg April 25. Which safari company did you use that picks you up there please?

Hi there usually I would drive myself otherwise lots of companies will pick you up. Shuttle king is one of the options that I have used to book trips for my readers

Hello, We are contemplating a trip to South Africa in June 2023 and your blog has really got me excited. However, I’m not sure if June is the ideal time. We would like to do all that you mention including the 3 week itinerary. Could you comment on the Garden route and Vineyards during that time of the year? thanks Ami

Hi Ami, June is winter time in the Cape but the weather is still overall mild. It doesn’t get super cold there in the winter times. You can expect temperatures to be betwen 15 and 20 on average but more varilability when it come to rain.I’ve had many people go during this time and they’ve still loved it!

Hi Johnny, Your itinerary as described may be ok for people having a lot of time (and money) to waste! You suggest to spend 3 days for Cape Town (and region), 2 days for wine tasting in Stellenbosch (??), 3 days to stay in Knysna (and region) doing I don´t know what, 3 days for the Krüger Park “doing nothing except sitting in the back of a truck” (your own words). As per my own experience, during a round trip of 2 or better 3 weeks, one is able to visit a lot more locations in South Africa, one more beautyful than the other. But for this kind of traveling, one must stay up early in the morning and focus more on seeing spots of interest than having a good time drinking wine… Sorry for this. I know well that travelling around the world is a matter of individual taste.

Hey Melchior, of course you have a point. Sometimes it’s better to just chill and drink wine but no need to write a blog post about in that case.

This was the best blog I found! Thank you so much! I couldn’t find the time of year you recommend. I saw online that August is good for Kruger but Capetown will be cold. When is the best time to enjoy Capetown and still attempt to see the big 5. I really want to take my fiancé for his 30th in August.

Thanks Daniela! Yes what you say is true. However, you can see the Big 5 year round and Cape Town has pretty mild weather year round as well. ALthough it won’t be hot and you will have times where it rains a lot, Cape Town is sitll generally quite pleasant in the winter. I think taking him for a trip in End August/Early Sep is totally fine!

We are looking to plan a trip to South Africa with possible beach add on for just over 3 weeks, your guides have been so useful. Are victoria falls worth a visit?

We are looking to travel either January or february time, what is the weather like during these periods as i keep finding mixed reviews?

Vic Falls is great to visit in Feb as it’s just after the summer rains and you’ll see the waterfalls at its strongest. Sometimes it’s almost too strong with the mist being in full force. It does rain more often in these months so you might not be able to do as many other activities but you’re going to see waterfalls anyhow! Overall, Vic falls definitely worth the visit but don’t try and overdo it with too much in the itinerary is my recommendation

I am searching for South Africa topic on the internet, and I found your blog. This is really helpfull.

Thanks Ruma

When doing the Garden Route is it necessary to book accommodations in advanced or could I handle that upon arriving at each destination? Also, do most locations along the route have low budget accommodations such as hostels. I am traveling on a relatively tight budget. Any other tips for saving money in South Africa?

Hi Simon, I think if you can book ahead definitely do especially during the summer months as things tend to book up fast. As far as hostels, i know they have them in many of these towns but i can’t comment on any of them as i’ve never stayed in one along the Garden Route. Generally, it’s not that expensive. I would take the Bazbus to hop on and hop off depending on where you want to visit and assuming you have a lot of time. Hope thath elps!

I have read your blog and found it very informative. I have about a month of free time before I start working. My plan was to spend approximately two weeks in South Africa and then I would love to spend another two(ish) weeks traveling in another country, or multiple countries. I was wondering what other countries you would recommend. I would be looking for some diversity so perhaps something different than South Africa and ideally something that is relatively cheap and easy to get to from South Africa (probably Johannesburg.

Any information would be appreciated!

Hey Simon, I think if you have another two weeks in another country, I’d recommend checking out Namibia. It’s not that expensive and is quite easy to get aroudn as you can rent a car and essentially road trip the whole thing. It’s also stunning and offers a very stark contrast to South Africa with its desert landscapes.

Alternatievely, if you’re feeling adventurous, take a flight from Johannesburg to Maputo and travel up the coastline of Mozambique. Some very beautiful beaches and fantastic diving if you’re into that! Hope that helps.

Thanks for the response!!

Hi Johnny, Great information here. We are planning a trip to SA and Vic Falls in ZImbabwe this August. We land in Jo burg and take a rental and drive to a lodge the next day. Stay there three days and then drive back , maybe take a trip to the scenic route. Fly next day to Vic Falls, Zimbabwe and then fly back to Jo Burg after three days and catch a connection to the USA. A couple of questions: -How are the driving conditions in SA on the way from Jo burg to Kruger area? -I heard that tipping is expected. Can you give me an idea of how much cash in rand I should keep per day for tips? -Is there an ATM in the airport or is it better to use a exchange bureau?

Thanks so much Narayan

Hi Narayan, the main highways are great in SA. Even the roads in the Kruger are fantastic which is why many self drive. Tipping your safari guide is expected and I would say something like R100-200 should be enough depending on how fancy your lodge is. As for exchange bureaus, i’ve been to almost 70 countries and the only time i ever exchange cash is when there is a black market with better rates. There are ATMs everywhere and outside of cash tipping, everyone takes card.

Hello , we are planning to do south africa for 15 days ( last week of November and first week of December ) – do you think we can do the visit in reverse order as in starting from Johannesburg Kruger park and then heading to capetown and doing wine tours etc towards end part of our trip and back to Johannesburg for our flight back home sadly

Hi Vikas, you can definitely do this in reverse no problem. Or alternatively, you can just take a flight in the beginning from Joburg to Cape Town (like when you first land). These flights are cheap and fly often.

Thanks for the post, very informative.

Hey Johnny,

Just want to drop by to say thanks for all the resource here.

I’ve just been on a short trip to South Africa about a month ago. Until now, I can’t stop raving about the place. I’m already scheming of ways to go back.

Thanks a bunch and hoping to see more of your travels!

Hi Linus, thanks for the kind words! Glad you liked South Africa and your trip! Keep traveling my friend!

Hello Johnny,

your blog is extremely helpful. Thank you. I am planning to travel to South Africa from India from 17th – 25th Nov (9 days) including travel time. Can you please help me with a detailed itinerary? The purpose of the trip is mostly to unwind. So a lot of beach and wildlife/natural scenery is preferred.

Hi Saurabh, with that time frame, I would visit cape town for a few nights, and then fly to Durban area to visit the beaches and game resreves in the KZN area. Beaches there are very expansive and untouched. Not totally tropical like Mozambique and Zanzibar but it is beautiful there.

Hi Johnny! Your site is really a big help to the itinerary that I’m planning to do. Half honeymoon, half adventure for 15 days at the end of October. Doing a safari in Shamwari as I wanna do a relaxed itinerary for our SA trip. It would be best to do an overnight stay in Stellenbosch or just head there for day trip? Any restaurant recommendations in Cape Town and Garden route? I hope we can get more info cause there aren’t too many online.

Thank you!!!

Hi Leah, it really just depends on how much you like wine regions! I think if you’re going to road trip the garden route, then you should def stay at least one night in the wine region since you’ll be passing through it. I would do the one day itinerary , and then stay the night in Franschhoek on your way towards the coast.

As for restaurants, some of my favorites in Cape Town are the Hussar grill, Pot Luck Club, Chapman’s Peak hotel, and Bo Kaap Kombuis. There are too many to recount :).

Thanks so much for all the useful info on your blog. My husband and I along with 2 single ladies are planning a trip in February, March, and part of April 2019. We would like to spend some time in SA at the beginning of that trip. Is February a good time to go? Also should we perhaps rent a house or apartment for a few weeks in Cape Town as a base? Thanks for your answer.

Hi Phyl, Feb is the perfec ttime to go to Cape Town in my opinion! If you have no time limit and see yourself spending some extended time in SA, then Cape Town is definitely a great place as a home base. There are some incredibly amazing Airbnb’s in Cape Town that you can rent for extended periods. Obviously rent a car as well and then take day trips around the area. If you want to see teh Garden Route, then you’ll need to spend a few days away from Cape Town so perhaps do that after you’ve stayed in Cape Town and explored the area. Hope that helps!

Hi, Johnny and thank you so much for your blog. My husband and I and 2 single ladies are planning to go to SA in February with no time limit to our trip. Should we just rent a 3 BR apartment or house in Cape Town and make that our base for doing some of the things you mention? As I said, we have no time limit. Thanks.

Thank you so much for this post – its great! In terms of the road trip do you think it would be okay to take the baz bus instead? We are two female travellers and I can’t drive so it would be unfair to put that on my friend and hence we would prefer the bus.

Would love your thoughts on this!

Thanks, Maham

Hi Maham! Yes the Baz Bus is a great way to see the Garden Route! It leaves daily during the summer and stops at all the hot spots along the garden route. I liked driving myself because it gave me flexibility to stop wherever I wanted to but I can certainly appreciate not being comfortable driving as well. Also, I think you should plan on another day or two extra if you’rel ooking to follow my itinerary and want to hit up all the places along the garden route. Enjoy!

Hi Johnny! thanks for the great tips in your blog- awesome stuff!! I looking to cover cape town, kruger and victoria falls – would you be able to give some advice on how i can structure the trip? Am pretty lost the planning in SA and beyond… Am looking to fly in to capetown and out of Johannesburg….

Hi Jo, I think you got the right idea so far. I would fly into Cape Town and spend a few nights. Fly to Joburg and do the Kruger safari for a few nights. Afterwards, I would fly to either Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe or to Livingstone, in Zambia . Both cities have airports with flights from Joburg and both are at Victoria Falls. I think 2-3 days is plenty enough for victoria falls, but if you want to do what I did (which is go to both towns), then perhaps 4-5 days would be better. My favorite thing to do there was definitely the Devil’s Pool on the Zambia side. Enjoy your trip!

Your site is so fantastic and has been great in helping me plan my trip to South Africa! Definitely going to read through your other SA posts!

Thanks! I am glad to have helped. South Africa is still one of my favorite places in the world so I always recommend people to go there if they can spare the time!

Combing through all your SA post. Awesome stuff, man! I’m planning a trip some time Aug-September. Doing the reverse route from PE to Cape town. A week sounds enough? Thanks a bunch for all the resource

Hi there, yes a week will be enough for just the garden route portion in my opinion (without Cape Town). Cape Town deserves a few days on its own!

Great blog! We are planning a trip to south Africa in June and will be in Kruger for 6 days since that is where the conference is meeting. Sounds as though a trip to the Cape Town and surrounding areas will work well for a final week.

Are there options to hire a car from Joberg to Kruger if we are not going with a Safari service?

Hi Joan, what a great place to have a conference! Yes, it is very easy to rent a car from OR Tambo and drive yourself to Kruger and self-drive through the park. The roads in the Kruger are in great condition and there are easy paths to take to have DIY safari experience. Many local South Africans choose this option as it cuts down dramatically on costs. Enjoy!

Hi Johnny- I’m doing a 16 day trip at the Ed of April. My itinerary is pretty similar to yours but as of now I’m tempted to make some additional stops to blyde river canyon and the drakkensberg mountains. I’m a very outdoorsy person and figured I could find some cool day hikes there. Thoughts?

Hi myles, that is absolutely a great idea! If you can swing it, can certainly recommend the gods window hike in blyde River canyon. The whole area is great for hikers and the views are breathtaking! It gets cold so be prepared for that!

Great website and great itinerary, looks and sounds like an amazing time. Just wondering how much you ended up spending (minus flight) for this trip? Thinking of going in January and would love to do something similar!

Thanks Sabrina!

Since I lived in South Africa for awhile, I never actually did those exact itineraries. I just listed them out to help people and those are the itineraries I would do given all the time and experience I got while living there.

All in all, I would say a solid two week trip trip of Cape Town, Garden Route, and Kruger NP will be around R20,000 to R25,000 per person. Obviously costs can be much lower if you decide to stay in hostels but we stayed in little guesthouses, hotels, and airbnbs.

If you are travelling through South Africa and are staying in Cape Town then you should definitely visit Table Mountain and Robben Island. So many interesting and fun things to do. Welgelgen Boutique Hotel is only a few miles from all that Cape Town has to offer and it is located right in the heart of the CBD.

Hi I’m planning a 8 day trip in October Planning on spending 3 days in Cape Town For the rest would you suggest The Garden Route or Kruger?

Hi there, you can’t go wrong with either option! The big question is do you want to go on a safari and see some wild animals! If the answer is yes, they you should go to the kruger!

are you familiar with the zulu nyala safari in the Hluhluwe area of SA?

Unfortunately not but I do have a friend that stayed there once. I only went to Sodwana Bay which is near for scuba diving. Place looks amazing however!

Good stuff! We enjoyed reading your blog. How did you manage to reach Kruger by 11.30am? Can you connect direct from Johannesburg to Nelspruit within the short time with your luggage? Which airline did you book? We

Hi Peter, assuming you’re flying from Cape Town to JHB that morning, there are numerous flights that leave in the early morning. You can connect to Nelspruit from OR Tambo but most tour agencies in the Kruger will pick you up from JHB airport and it’s about 4-5 hours to the park from there. 11:30 is probably too early. 3:00pm seems more reasonable which is just in time for a sunset game drive!

The Ultimate 2 Weeks in South Africa Itinerary

A 2 week South Africa itinerary is all about adventure: this beautiful country tops bucket lists around the world for good reason.

Where else can you see majestic animals like elephants and lions up close in the wild, indulge in a fantastic food scene that rivals the best cities around the world, admire stunning coastline, sip delicious local wines, road trip to your heart’s content, camp on a budget one night and then spend thousands on a luxurious lodge the next–all in one place?

South Africa is a truly amazing country, and it quickly rocketed its way up the list to be one of our very favorites.

And, after wrapping up this 2 week South Africa itinerary, we bet you’ll feel the same way.

Here’s how to plan the perfect 14 day trip to South Africa!

Table of Contents

How We Structured This 2 Week South Africa Itinerary

Cape town: 4 days, cape winelands + cape peninsula: 2 days, garden route (+ hermanus): 3 days, kruger national park: 3 days, more than 2 weeks in south africa, getting around south africa, safety in south africa, the best time to visit south africa, what to pack for 2 weeks in south africa.

Some links in this post may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please see our disclosure policy for more detail.

South Africa is a large country, and depending on whether you are flying in and out of Johannesburg, Cape Town, or a mix of both, you’ll likely want to order this 2 week South Africa itinerary in a different way.

For travelers flying into Johannesburg, we recommend starting with Kruger National Park, before flying from either Nelspruit (next to Kruger National Park) or Johannesburg (about 6 hours of driving from Kruger National Park) to Cape Town.

If your schedule allows it, consider pausing for one day before heading to Kruger National Park in order to check out some of the best things to do in Johannesburg .

If you’re flying into Cape Town, we’d recommend starting in the Western Cape and then booking a round-trip flight to Nelspruit to experience Kruger National Park.

On the other hand, if you’re, say, flying into Cape Town and out of Johannesburg, you may want to drive all the way to Port Elizabeth along the Garden Route after experiencing the Western Cape and then fly to Nelspruit from there.

For reasons of practicality, then, consider each of these suggested stops on our 2 weeks in South Africa itinerary to be mix-and-match destinations that can be re-ordered depending on the logic of flight patterns.

We wrote the itinerary from the perspective of someone who is landing in Cape Town, traced a logical pattern through the Western Cape and Garden Route, and then added Kruger National Park and Johannesburg to the end of the itinerary to be placed where they make the most sense for your South Africa trip.

Since a portion of this itinerary for South Africa is a road trip, you’ll also need a rental car for part of your journey (though if you’d prefer not to drive, there are some workarounds).

Shop rental cars for your trip to South Africa today!

Cape Town quickly became one of our favorite cities in the world.

Known for its easy access to incredible nature, beautiful coastline, and great food scene, Cape Town is an invigorating city that is easy to fall in love with.

Top Things to Do in Cape Town

Hike lion’s head..

This short afternoon hike is the perfect way to experience Cape Town’s outdoor culture and to get fantastic views of both Table Mountain and the city of Cape Town.

Ride the cable car up Table Mountain.

Recently named one of the Seven New Wonders of the World, Table Mountain dominates Cape Town’s skyline and is an unmissable feature of the city.

Bear in mind that Table Mountain does have a tendency to be covered in clouds, so if you wake up one morning of your stay and see it clear and visible, head to the top immediately!

Visit Bo-Kaap.

Cape Town’s colorful Cape Malay neighborhood of Bo-Kaap is a bit Instagram-famous these days, but that’s no reason to stay away: it’s beautiful!

Eat all the food.

Cape Town is bursting with incredible restaurants, from burger joints (Jerry’s Burger Bar) to brunch spots (Clarke’s Bar and Dining Room), to the often-voted best coffee in the world, served with a heaping side of elaborate steampunk decor (Truth Coffee).

Be sure to build plenty of time into your South Africa itinerary to enjoy Cape Town’s food scene!

Things to Consider in Cape Town

Uber is a popular way to get around..

Other options include navigating the somewhat limited public transportation system and renting a car.

We considered Uber to be by far the simplest option for navigating Cape Town, and it is quite affordable in the city!

…And on that note, Cape Town isn’t incredibly walkable.

Sure, you can walk around downtown safely enough, especially during the day–but practically speaking, Cape Town is a very sprawling city. Think Los Angeles, not Lisbon .

Major attractions like Table Mountain require a dedicated chunk of time and a car or bus ride in order to reach them, and some popular spots (like Muizenberg Beach and their colorful beach houses, or Chapman’s Peak Drive) are half an hour or more away from the city center.

Keep this in mind when deciding how much sightseeing you can fit into one day, and also where to stay while in Cape Town!

If you want to visit Robben Island, you’ll need to book ahead.

You can book your tour here , and they often sell out several days in advance.

Keep in mind that the ferries are weather-dependent, too!

Where to Stay in Cape Town

Urban Hive Backpackers  — Featuring great reviews and a prime location right along Long Street, you’ll be right in the center of the action staying at Urban Hive Backpackers!

There are plenty of restaurants, bars, tour companies, and even a souvenir market within a short walk from the doorstep.

Check rates & book your stay at Urban Hive Backpackers!

Number 5 Guesthouse  — Located on a quiet road but just minutes away from the action on Kloof Street, Number 5 Guesthouse boasts excellent reviews, a delicious included breakfast, and an attentive staff at midrange prices.

Check rates & book your stay at Number 5 Guesthouse!

Cloud 9 Boutique Hotel & Spa — If you would like to be pampered during your 3 days in Cape Town, look no further than Cloud 9.

Here you’ll find an excellent location within short walking distance of plenty of restaurants and boutiques, on-site spa services, a rooftop pool, and an incredible view of Table Mountain!

Check rates & book your stay at Cloud 9 Boutique Hotel & Spa!

Wine and penguins: what could possibly be more fun than that?

After leaving Cape Town, we recommend renting a car and making the second stop of your 2 weeks in South Africa itinerary the Cape Winelands and Cape Peninsula.

Choose a vineyard for a night or two of relaxation and tastings and enjoy experiencing a completely different side to South Africa from Cape Town.

Prices range from extremely reasonable to ridiculously high, depending on the level of luxury you’re seeking.

After enjoying a night or two in wine country, take a short drive to the Cape Peninsula to say hello to the wild penguins who live on Boulders Beach and to see the famous Cape Point!

Top Things to Do in the Cape Winelands & Cape Peninsula

Attend a wine tasting (or several)..

The Cape Winelands are covered in wineries, from large operations with elaborate tasting rooms to small, family-run businesses.

Be sure to sample several varieties, and aim for different pairings, too!

Locally made cheese, biltong, and even chocolate are served, depending on the winery in question.

Visit Boulders Beach.

Nearly everyone who is planning a 2 week South Africa itinerary is looking forward to the penguins–they’re one of the best-known features of the area!

Though Boulders Beach and its penguin colony are popularly advertised as something to do in Cape Town, the truth is, they’re located about 45 minutes outside the city.

So, with 2 weeks in South Africa, it makes sense to dedicate some time to heading out to them individually, rather than squeezing in a day trip.

There is a small fee to enter the beach, and while there is a swimming area (and occasionally penguins head over there for a visit), people are not allowed to get on the beach or swim in the area that the bulk of the penguins congregate.

Drive along the Cape Peninsula to Cape Point.

Cape Point was long considered to be the southern tip of Africa–and even though we’ve since learned that honor actually belongs to Cape Agulhas, this beautiful national park is still worth a quick visit.

The drive from Boulders Beach to Cape Point is one of the prettiest we have ever taken, and the views from Cape Point aren’t bad, either!

Things to Consider in the Cape Winelands & Cape Peninsula

Depending on how you structure your wine tastings, you may need to arrange safe transportation..

This could come in the form of a tour, a shuttle, an Uber, or a taxi–but if everyone in your traveling group plans to partake in the wine, you’ll definitely need a driver.

We didn’t leave any of our tastings in a safe state to drive!

If you aren’t a wine drinker, consider heading straight to the Cape Peninsula.

The Cape Winelands are beautiful, but the wine is definitely their biggest selling point.

With only 2 weeks in South Africa, consider using your time elsewhere if you avoid alcohol.

On your way out of Cape Town, consider stopping at Muizenberg Beach if you haven’t already.

This is the famous surfing beach that is home to colorful beach huts lined up along the sand.

If you aren’t a surfer, you probably won’t make it over to Muizenberg Beach during your time in Cape Town, simply because of the distance–it’s about a 30-minute drive from the V&A Waterfront.

If you’d like to see it, be sure to stop by and check out the beach while you have a car available and are headed in that general direction!

Where to Stay in the Cape Winelands

The Cape Winelands are far too broad to give a thorough list of suggestions for your 2 weeks in South Africa.

Whether you want to stay close to Cape Town, hit up the popular Stellenbosch, or find a country property far from any town, you’ll have a plethora of options.

We can certainly recommend the property we stayed at as an affordable option that makes semi-geographic sense between Cape Town and the Garden Route:

Leipzig Country House & Winery — This property is so beautiful, that the prices seem almost too good to be true!

The rooms are lovely, the views delightful, the wine tasting, and there are plenty of other vineyards nearby for tastings as well.

Just make sure to give them 24 hours’ advance notice if you’d like to have dinner served–we booked at the last minute and unfortunately missed out.

Check prices & book your stay at Leipzig Country House & Winery!

The Garden Route runs along South Africa’s southern coast from the town of Mossel Bay all the way to Eastern Cape, is often ranked as one of the most beautiful roads in the world , and is a fantastic addition to a 2 week South Africa itinerary!

Though it isn’t technically part of the Garden Route, I’m including the town of Hermanus in this section as well.

Hermanus is a popular and logical stop between Cape Town and the Garden Route, known for its beautiful coastline and its nearby Great White Shark population!

Top Things to Do on the Garden Route

Admire the beautiful nature views..

The Garden Route is ultimately about the views: the coastline, the forests, the gorges, the wildlife.

Whether you’re admiring it from your car, from the beach, or from a hike, be sure to enjoy the views during this part of your South Africa itinerary.

Swim with seals.

Talk about a wildlife encounter that you won’t forget anytime soon!

Seals are very playful, and we were so sorry to miss this fantastic experience due to the weather during our South Africa trip.

Hopefully, you can squeeze it into your 2 weeks in South Africa itinerary!

Enjoy some hiking.

The Garden Route is covered in amazing hikes that show off South Africa’s nature at its best.

Be sure to find a couple nearby wherever you decide to stop!

Seek out some adventure.

Does bungee jumping, paragliding, and/or cage diving with Great White Sharks sound like the adventure for you?

The Garden Route has you covered (but we do highly suggest doing some research into the ethics of the whole shark diving thing).

Things to Consider on the Garden Route

Familiarize yourself with the norms of driving in south africa..

We’ll get into this in a lot more detail below, but to keep things short and sweet: check your insurance before renting a car in South Africa, stay vigilant about safety, and, of course, remember that South Africans drive on the left!

Sketch your stops ahead of time.

Do you want to stop in Hermanus, Wilderness, Kn ysna, Plettenberg Bay, or all of the above?

If you follow this 2 week South Africa itinerary, you should have about 3 days for the Garden Route, so unless you are willing to cut time elsewhere, you won’t be able to cover it all.

We recommend picking a couple of must-see spots or activities and going from there.

Luckily, the driving distances aren’t long–Cape Town to Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape is only a little over 8 hours driven straight through–but time management will be key to getting the most out of the Garden Route in 3 days.

Where to Stay Along the Garden Route

Similar to the Cape Winelands, the Garden Route spans an enormous geographic area, and what areas you choose to focus on will determine where you stay (and what kind of trip you’re on–for example, do you need family-friendly hotels in South Africa ?).

That being said, we had a fantastic experience at our property in Wilderness and can highly recommend it!

Sea La Vie — This boutique guesthouse is adorable!

Located just a short walk from the center of Wilderness and with a clear view of the beautiful beach, Sea La Vie has everything you could want in a boutique property: a friendly manager, two dogs who live onsite, a delicious breakfast, and great decor.

We would love to return one day!

Check rates & book your stay at Sea La Vie!

With its enormous size, impressive animal population (including plenty of big cats ), and easy accessibility, it’s no surprise that Kruger National Park is one of the most popular places for a safari in the world!

Kruger National Park is a must-see on any 2 week South Africa itinerary, and even though it is geographically separated from the rest of these destinations, it is absolutely worth the effort required to reach it.

Top Things to Do in Kruger National Park

Stare in awe at all the animals..

Really, a visit to Kruger National Park doesn’t require a long list of things to do: spotting incredible animals on a safari is what the park is all about!

True, you’ll need to decide whether to self-drive or not–we get into that a bit below–but ultimately, all your time in Kruger National Park will more or less be dedicated to admiring wild animals in their natural habitat.

Try to spot the Big Five.

Don’t know exactly which animals these are?

We didn’t either until we arrived.

The Big Five are the lion, leopard, elephant, water buffalo, and rhino (both white and black).

Fun fact: these animals are not known as the Big Five because of their beauty, elusiveness, or anything having to do with how they interact in the wild–they were named the Big Five because hunters considered them the five most dangerous animals to hunt on foot.

The nickname has stuck, but these guys are far from the only impressive animals to see in Kruger National Park.

Things to Consider in Kruger National Park

To self-drive or not: that is the major question..

In Kruger National Park, most visitors choose between self-driving (which is exactly what it sounds like), booking game drives (these are held in the large trucks that are synonymous with safaris and come with a guide), or a mix of both.

Enterprising visitors can also take walking safaris, but they need to be booked well in advance!

The major benefits of doing a game drive are having a guide to help spot animals… and also having all the other guides help spot animals, as the guides communicate via radio and will let each other know where something exciting has been spotted.

It’s also, of course, more relaxing–no one has to drive!

Alternatively, self-driving is cheaper, more personal, and comes with tons of freedom.

We considered booking a game drive during our time in Kruger, but ultimately we had too much fun exploring alone to bother spending the extra money to book an experience.

Animals were everywhere –we had no problem spotting on our own–with only the elusive leopard evading us during our time in Kruger.

Frankly, we adored the freedom of driving around for hours at a time (roads were in great condition), and our self-driving game drives were one of the highlights of our time in South Africa.

If you do choose to self-drive, we recommend searching via Discover Cars to find the best rental company (with the best reviews) for your dates.

Shop rental cars for your Kruger National Park safari today!

Try to eat lunch at Lower Sabie Rest Camp one day.

Looking for insider tips for visiting Kruger National Park ?

Be sure to eat lunch at Lower Sabie Rest Camp!

The restaurant here overlooks a major watering hole, and we couldn’t believe the views during lunchtime!

Between arriving at the restaurant a bit before midday and leaving an hour or so later, we spotted dozens of animals making their way to the location.

Lounging hippos, a prowling hyena, a family of elephants, tons of giraffes, plenty of water buffalo, and more all showed up to delight us as we ate lunch.

For the love of elephants and sanity, don’t get out of the car!

This should seriously go without saying, right?

But alas: despite dozens of signs and instructions stating to stay in the car, we still saw multiple people get out of their cars in the presence of wild animals while in Kruger–a couple of them even walking toward elephants that had babies with them!

Stupid. Dumb. Reckless.

Don’t do this.

If there’s only one safari tip you follow, make it this one: for the sake of both you and the wildlife, stay in your car.

You probably don’t need a four-wheel-drive vehicle.

This is a common question, and when you’re planning your 2 week South Africa itinerary it’s bound to come up.

A four-wheel-drive vehicle is unnecessary for Kruger, especially if you’re planning on sticking to the more-traveled southern half of the park (most people do: Kruger National Park is roughly the same size as Israel and Wales).

We got by just fine in the tiniest, most compact car the rental company had on hand, and our fuel bill thanked us for it!

Where to Stay in Kruger National Park

Choosing where to stay in Kruger National Park essentially comes down to one question: would you rather stay on a private game reserve off-site, or within the park itself at one of the rest camps?

Private reserves can offer more luxury but also require driving into the park for each game drive, which can eat up lots of time that could be better spent admiring animals.

Personally, unless you’re after a true luxury experience, we recommend staying within the park itself.

You’ll be a lot closer to the action, and these aren’t campsites like you would think of on hiking trips!

Cabins and restaurants onsite are the norm for the popular rest camps (there are some smaller ones that are for self-catering visitors).

You can book campsites here , and be sure to do so as soon as you’re sure of your dates–they fill up fast!

We stayed at Satara and enjoyed it, though would have slightly preferred staying at Lower Sabie had we been able to get in (they were fully booked when we booked a month in advance).

If you’re looking for something away from the crowds, Olifants is beautiful and further north than the other two I mentioned.

Alternatively, if you’re self-driving throughout your time in Kruger, you could book one night at several camps and slowly make your way through the park without needing to double-back.

This method will be our first choice when we make it back to Kruger National Park!

Two weeks in South Africa isn’t nearly enough to cover the entire country–which is perfectly fine because it makes it easy to justify coming back to cross more spots off your South Africa bucket list !

If you have more than 2 weeks in South Africa, consider adding on time in the coastal city of Durban (there are lots of fun things to do in Durban ), visiting the Addo Elephant Park, road tripping the Wild Coast (the less-stylized cousin of the Garden Route), exploring Johannesburg , and, checking out the stunning Drakensberg Mountains.

For luxury seekers, out-of-this-world safari lodges and a ride on the decadent Blue Train might call your name.

You could also easily spend far more time in Cape Town–we based ourselves there for a month and never got bored–or extend your trip into the small countries almost or entirely enveloped by South Africa, Lesotho, and Swaziland.

More than any other country we have visited, South Africa reminds us of our homeland of the USA, and a major reason for that is the car culture.

South Africa is a large country that is not densely populated, and the result is that it is–for better or worse–a fantastic country for a road trip.

You won’t necessarily need a car to check out the best things to do in Johannesburg or Cape Town, or even in Kruger National Park if you choose to exclusively explore via organized game drives, but to complete the Garden Route and see the Cape Winelands, renting a car is practically a must.

If you absolutely do not want to drive during your 2 weeks in South Africa, backpackers can consider the Baz Bus that travels throughout South Africa’s main tourist highlights (it has mixed reviews and a difficult-to-manage schedule, but it is an option).

Spendier travelers might consider booking organized tours to take them out to various highlights.

Coming from the USA and having rented cars in several countries including Ireland, Costa Rica, Croatia, Italy, and Mexico, we found the driving perfectly fine in South Africa.

The roads were primarily in very good condition, the traffic organized and reasonable, and once we got used to the whole driving on the left thing, we found road tripping in South Africa to be a positive experience.

Tips for Driving in South Africa

South africans drive on the left..

Simple, I know, but definitely a change to be aware of for those of us used to driving on the right!

Not all rentals come with unlimited kilometers.

If yours doesn’t, be sure to add up the approximate number of kilometers you plan to drive and add any extra charges to your rental car budget.

We found the costs very reasonable, but it’s best to be aware of what you are getting into.

Use Discover Cars to find the prices, reviews, and requirements of several companies at once–both local and international.

Rental insurance is a must.

We found driving in South Africa to be a very comfortable experience, but it is still a country with quite a bit of car-related crime (we’ll get to that in a second) and, for many of us, unfamiliar driving practices.

Be sure to ensure the vehicle you rent, be aware of any excess/deductible you will be responsible for in the event of an issue, and if you plan to use your own policy rather than one through the rental company, double-check that they will cover driving in South Africa.

Carjackings are a problem in South Africa.

This sentence sounds scarier than it is, truly–we never once felt unsafe driving in South Africa–but for this reason, it is recommended to stick to well-traveled, touristic paths and to avoid driving at night.

… And neither are thefts and smash-and-grabs.

Suffice it to say, it’s best to fly under the radar while driving during your 2 weeks in South Africa.

Never leave valuables (or, as numerous signs will warn you, anything ) visible inside your car when you park it, stick to well-lit, watched-over locations, and again–buy insurance.

Tip the car watchers.

Due to the issues with car crime outlined above, South Africa has developed a cultural practice of “car watchers”.

These are people–usually men, and usually fairly down on their luck–who hang around parking spaces to informally guard the cars that are parked there in exchange for tips.

As this is common and expected in South Africa, it’s best just to go along with it and tip a few rand each time you park.

Gas stations are not self-service.

When you pull up to the pump, an attendant will approach you and ask “how much”.

Usually, one person will then pump the gas while the other cleans the windshield and windows.

It’s best to tip a few rand here, as well.

It’s possible to drive rental cars outside of South Africa, but you need to disclose it.

Hoping to expand your 2 week South Africa itinerary and take a side trip into Namibia, Mozambique, Lesotho, Swaziland, or beyond?

It’s possible–but you’ll need to disclose it to the rental car company to acquire the proper paperwork to cross the border, and that usually comes with a fee.

Certain countries are easier to access than others, as well.

It’s fairly standard practice to drive a South African car into Namibia, but most rental car agencies will not allow you to drive into Mozambique (and those that do expect you to pay handsomely for the privilege).

Flying in South Africa

Domestic flights in South Africa are fairly cheap, and we recommend considering taking advantage of at least one or two of them during your 2 weeks in South Africa, especially when flying to and from Kruger National Park (Nelspruit is the airport right next to the park, Johannesburg is within a day’s drive from Kruger).

South African Airlines is South Africa’s best-known airline, but budget options like Mango, SA Airlink, and Kulula are also popular.

We flew with both South African Airlines and Mango during our time in the country and had no complaints about either.

When discussing traveling in South Africa, discussing safety is inevitable.

In certain areas, South Africa has developed a reputation as a dangerous country.

In some ways, this is outdated advice that applied more to the tumultuous 1990s than the current times, but in others, it’s still very apparent.

Like in some places in Latin America, security is a major, obvious concern in South Africa.

Barbed wire lining the top of concrete walls blocking out private homes, signs warning against leaving valuables in your car, and advice about avoiding driving at night are prevalent.

As discussed above, carjackings are petty theft are both concerns in South Africa, and they shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Now–all that said–the safety situation on the ground in South Africa for tourists is far less dire than one might think.

This 2 week South Africa itinerary follows popular tourist routes that thousands of people take every year, South Africans, in general, are open and friendly people, and we personally see absolutely no reason to stay away due to the current safety concerns.

Like in most places in the world, the areas of South Africa that are most stricken by crime are not the ones that tourists tend to flock to.

We never once felt threatened while in South Africa, and usually felt extremely comfortable.

We did take more safety precautions while traveling, especially when we had a rental car, than we would in Italy or France–we treated our safety with the same vigilance that we would in Colombia or Cambodia.

Our advice regarding staying safe in South Africa is to be vigilant, and to research up-to-date information on specific destinations before you arrive–but to try not to overthink it too much, either.

There’s a good chance that you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how safe you feel during your 2 weeks in South Africa!

There’s no such thing as a bad time to visit… but the best time to visit South Africa does depend on what you’re looking for.

Summer in Cape Town (November to February) is perfect for those looking for warm beach escapes, while hikers may want to consider spring or fall for cooler weather.

On the other hand, July to November (aka winter) are the best times to visit if you’re hoping to spot whales during your 2 weeks in South Africa.

In Kruger National Park, the summer (wet) season makes for prettier landscapes in photos, but the winter (dry) season brings easier animal sightings.

If you have a wide variety of choices regarding when you experience this itinerary for 2 weeks in South Africa, we recommend structuring it around the best time to do your most sought-after activity, whether that’s surfing, safari, hiking, or something else, and letting the rest of the pieces fall into place from there.

Of course, if you’re coming from the northern hemisphere like us, be sure to remember that the seasons are flipped in South Africa!

We definitely made some mistakes on our own South Africa packing list–here’s what we recommend you bring along for 2 weeks in South Africa.

Travel Insurance   — Definitely be sure not to visit South Africa without travel insurance!

We use and recommend  Safety Wing  for their ease of purchase and the clarity of their contract.

For visiting South Africa, we actually upgraded to the highest level of coverage with World Nomads because it covers more adventures (and includes CDW for rental cars).

Double-check the list before purchasing to make sure you get the right coverage for your trip!

This safe makes it incredibly easy to keep valuables safe abroad, and we used it throughout South Africa.

Be sure to add adapters to your packing list when planning your South Africa itinerary.

Don’t forget to put some on your packing list for South Africa!

Come prepared and put a pair of Sea Bands (I swear by these, they’re amazing) and some Non-Drowsy Dramamine!

Be sure to check out our full suggested packing list for South Africa before you go!

About Kate Storm

In May 2016, I left my suburban life in the USA and became a full-time traveler. Since then, I have visited 50+ countries on 5 continents and lived in Portugal, developing a special love of traveling in Europe (especially Italy) along the way. Today, along with my husband Jeremy and dog Ranger, I’m working toward my eventual goal of splitting my life between Europe and the USA.

19 thoughts on “The Ultimate 2 Weeks in South Africa Itinerary”

Gahhh this post has me wanting to go so badly! Maybe it’ll be my 30th birthday gift to myself ;D

Yes! I like that plan. South Africa is right up your alley. 😀

South Africa has been on the top of my list for way too long. Hoping to finally get there in 2019. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks, Eden! Fingers crossed that 2019 is the year it works out for you.

Hello. Thanks for the thoroughly explained itinerary. Question: is it possible to follow your schedule if flying in/out of Johannesburg or do you recommend flying into one and out off the other so that one can rent a car and drop it off at the end of the trip?

Either way is absolutely fine! There are plenty of inexpensive budget flights in between Cape Town and Johannesburg, so you can easily do it either way–just depends on your flight plan and how much you care to drive.

Hi Kate, first of all thank you for a wonderfully detailed but easy to follow itinerary for two weeks in South Africa, and for your advice on things to see and do. I’m thinking about visiting SA in December 2019 (14-28th) alone…do you think it is a place suited to solo travelers? My concern is more around the safety side of it as I hear not to go out at night, don’t go hiking alone etc. I have travelled to many places in the world alone, at been out at night without issue. I’m also quite flexible because i’m travelling alone, I was thinking one week CT followed by a drive along the Garden route and stopping at some of your suggested places. I would plan to fly in/out of Cape Town but could possibly do Jo Burg. Your advice would be appreciated. Thanks, Matt

Obviously we’re not solo travelers, so can’t offer much personal advice in that regard, but I will say I know several people who have taken solo trips to South Africa and loved it. I think it can be a wonderful solo travel destination. CT/the Garden Route are very well-traveled and you’ll almost certainly meet other solo travelers there.

I’d recommend being more cautious than in your average European city or backpacker haunt in SEA, and strongly consider going on a tour if you want to hike at sunset or later, but I definitely don’t think you should stay home! I’d treat it much like any other trip, but err on the side of caution and joining a group for anything particularly out of the way or at night.

Hope that helps and that you have a fabulous trip!

Love how detailed the post is.Please, let us know in which month you have visited? We are considering end of may 2020 and we would like to follow your itinerary. Adding in the bungee jumping and paragliding in garden route as well.

We were in South Africa from August-October, with a side trip into Mozambique at the beginning of September. We drove the Garden Route in mid-October!

Ahhh… my lovely, beautiful country! The most beautiful country in the world. All people should have it on the top of their bucket list!

You have an absolutely beautiful home! We’d love to return one of these days.

Fingers crossed for 2021, August through October. Planning to begin in Johannesburg for 2 weeks; Kruger NP and Panorama Route for 2 weeks; Durban/Drakensberg/Sani Pass for 2 weeks; Port Elizabeth for 1 week; Mossel Bay and Garden Route for 1 week; Cape Town and Winelands for 1 month.

Flying into JNB, Nelspruit, Durban, then considering Baz Bus for Durban to Cape Town. Rental car for Kruger and Panorama Route only.

I am so excited and ready for this experience!!!!!

My fingers are crossed for you too! August-October was the exact timeframe of our trip a couple of years ago, and we absolutely adored it. Hope you have an amazing trip! 🙂

Thank you so much for the advice. After being on my bucket list for over 30 year’s I am finally going to SA next year for my 50th SOOOO excited. I’m just trying to get my head around itinerary and transport as we are hoping to go to watch British lions match in Johannesburg and also do a few days voluntary work at the AMAZING Goedgedacht Trust Farm. I was a bit fearful of self drive but having read your post I think we could possibly brave hiring a car. Thanks again for the inspiration and top tips.

Congratulations on such a bucket-list trip!! I hope that it’s everything you’ve dreamed of. South Africa is absolutely stunning, and I don’t think you’ll regret hiring the car in the slightest! Some of my favorite travel memories of all time are from self-driving Kruger. 🙂 Good luck!

Just came across this post. Extremely well-written, helpful, and informative. Will definitely be checking out your other articles. Happy travels!

Thanks so much, Ryan! Hope you love your trip to South Africa as much as we loved ours. 🙂

I have lived in SA all my life and must say, your comments about things to see in South Africa are spot-on! Thanks for the wonderful photos. Pity you missed the amazing Drakensberg mountains. With the current exchange rate, you probably found South Africa one of the cheapest countries in the world as well. Next time you are here, let me know. I will offer you free accommodation and show you around.

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Johannesburg is one of the largest cities in the country and the center for finance in the country. However, you don't have to be involved in business to enjoy the city, as you'll also find fascinating museums detailing the local history. Remember that the history of apartheid makes these museums detail some pretty serious subjects. The local arts scene is thriving, so be sure to stop by local galleries.

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At the massive Kruger National Park, you'll find a wide variety of animals to see, including Africa's Big Five. These include the elephant, rhino, buffalo, leopard, and the mighty lion. Within this park, you can book a tour that will take you through the protected natural spaces, letting you see these animals up close, all while remaining safe inside a vehicle.

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Top 20 Best South Africa Safaris - Compare 757 Tours

4-Day Classic Kruger Park Safari

$958 pp (USD)

South Africa: Shared tour (max 6 people per vehicle) Mid-range Lodge

You Visit: Johannesburg (Start) , Kruger NP, Johannesburg (End)

Wildlife Safaris   Tour operator has an office in South Africa

4.9 /5  –  259 Reviews

5-Day Luxury Kruger Park and Sabi Sand Safari

$2,921 pp (USD)

South Africa: Private tour Luxury Lodge & Chalet

You Visit: Johannesburg (Start) , Kruger NP, Sabi Sands (Greater Kruger) , Johannesburg (End)

Safari.com   Tour operator has an office in South Africa

4.7 /5  –  186 Reviews

11-Day South Africa & Mauritius Family Safari & Beach

$7,006 to $7,707 pp (USD)

South Africa & Mauritius: Private tour Luxury Lodge & Resort

You Visit: Johannesburg (Start) , Madikwe GR, Bel Ombre (Town & Beach) , Mauritius (End)

4.9 /5  –  149 Reviews

4-Day Kapama River Lodge Game Safari

$2,053 pp (USD)

South Africa: Private tour Luxury+ Lodge

You Visit: Johannesburg (Start) , Kapama GR (Greater Kruger) , Johannesburg (End)

Ranger Buck Safaris   Tour operator has an office in South Africa

5.0 /5  –  28 Reviews

4-Day Unforgettable Kruger Park Safari & Panorama Tour

$855 pp (USD)

South Africa: Shared tour (max 6 people per vehicle) Luxury Hotel

You Visit: Johannesburg (Start) , Southern Kruger, Kruger NP, Panorama Route (Highlight) , Nelspruit (End)

Elephant Herd Tours & Safaris   Tour operator has an office in South Africa

4.8 /5  –  90 Reviews

3-Day Kruger Park and Manyeleti Reserve Bongan Lodge

$683 pp (USD)

South Africa: Shared tour (max 12 people per vehicle) Budget Lodge

You Visit: Johannesburg (Start) , Manyeleti GR (Greater Kruger) , Central Kruger, Johannesburg (End)

Bongan Safaris   Tour operator has an office in South Africa

5.0 /5  –  21 Reviews

4-Day Ultra Budget Glamping Kruger Safari

$522 pp (USD)

South Africa: Shared tour (max 10 people per vehicle) Budget Tented Bush Camp

You Visit: Johannesburg (Start) , Kruger NP, Panorama Route (Highlight) , Johannesburg Airport (End)

MoAfrika Tours   Tour operator has an office in South Africa

4.9 /5  –  1166 Reviews

4-Day Luxury Greater Kruger to Canyon Safari Adventure

$1,355 pp (USD)

South Africa: Shared tour (max 9 people per vehicle) Luxury Lodge

You Visit: Johannesburg (Start) , Balule NR (Greater Kruger) , Central Kruger, Blyde River Canyon (Panorama Route) , Johannesburg (End)

Shinzelle Safaris   Tour operator has an office in South Africa

4.9 /5  –  63 Reviews

5-Day Tremisana/Treehouse Kruger Park Safari

$917 pp (USD)

South Africa: Shared tour (max 9 people per vehicle) Mid-range Lodge

You Visit: Johannesburg (Start) , Balule NR (Greater Kruger) , Kruger NP, Blyde River Canyon (Panorama Route) , Johannesburg (End)

Viva Safaris   Tour operator has an office in South Africa

4.9 /5  –  262 Reviews

5-Day Safari with Night Drive and Panorama Route Tour

$1,349 pp (USD)

South Africa: Private tour Mid-range Lodge

You Visit: Johannesburg (Start) , Panorama Route (Highlight) , Kruger NP, O.R. Tambo Airport (Johannesburg) , Johannesburg (End)

Khalanga Safaris   Tour operator has an office in South Africa

5.0 /5  –  63 Reviews

10-Day Kruger Private Reserves & Cape Town

$4,142 to $4,252 pp (USD)

South Africa: Private tour Luxury Lodge & Hotel

You Visit: Johannesburg (Start) , Klaserie NR (Greater Kruger) , Sabi Sands (Greater Kruger) , Cape Town (End)

Safari Online   Tour operator has an office in South Africa

5.0 /5  –  115 Reviews

3-Day Big 5 Budget Safari, Kruger National Park

$372 pp (USD)

South Africa: Shared tour (max 10 people per vehicle) Budget Lodge

Safari With Us   Tour operator has an office in South Africa

5.0 /5  –  217 Reviews

5-Day Greenfire Game Lodge Safari

$1,488 pp (USD)

You Visit: Johannesburg (Start) , Balule NR (Greater Kruger) , Johannesburg (End)

The Kruger Safari Co.   Tour operator has an office in South Africa

5.0 /5  –  125 Reviews

4-Day Kruger Safari, Soweto & Apartheid Museum

$869 pp (USD)

South Africa: Private tour Mid-range Lodge & Tented Camp

You Visit: Johannesburg (Start) , Soweto (Johannesburg) , Kruger NP, Johannesburg Airport (End)

Nhlalala Travel   Tour operator has an office in South Africa

4.9 /5  –  34 Reviews

3-Day Johannesburg to Kruger National Park Safari

$598 pp (USD)

South Africa: Shared tour (max 9 people per vehicle) Budget Camping

Mbombela Experience Tours & Transfers   Tour operator has an office in South Africa

5.0 /5  –  32 Reviews

4-Day & 3-Night Kruger National Park Budget Safari

$583 to $649 pp (USD)

South Africa: Shared tour (max 8 people per vehicle) Mid-range Guest House

You Visit: Johannesburg (Start) , Southern Kruger, Kruger NP, Johannesburg Airport (End)

The Mzansi Experience   Tour operator has an office in South Africa

4.8 /5  –  63 Reviews

7-Day Classic Eco-Safari in Kruger (Transfers Incl)

$4,093 pp (USD)

South Africa: Private tour Mid-range Lodge & Guest House

You Visit: Johannesburg (Start) , Klaserie NR (Greater Kruger) , Kruger NP, Panorama Route (Highlight) , Blyde River Canyon (Panorama Route) , Johannesburg (End)

5.0 /5  –  42 Reviews

3-Day Zula Lush Private Reserve Pilanesberg

$1,583 to $1,876 pp (USD)

South Africa: Private tour Luxury Lodge

You Visit: Johannesburg (Start) , Soweto (Johannesburg) , Pilanesberg GR, Cradle of Humankind (Highlight) , Johannesburg (End)

Zula Zula Adventure Bus   Tour operator has an office in South Africa

5.0 /5  –  2 Reviews

3-Day Lux Bakubung Bush Lodge Pilanesberg National Park

$265 to $318 pp (USD)

South Africa: Shared tour (max 12 people per vehicle) Luxury Lodge

You Visit: Johannesburg (Start) , Pilanesberg GR, Johannesburg (End)

Gems of Africa Safari and Tours   Tour operator has an office in South Africa

4.9 /5  –  98 Reviews

3-Day Greatest Kruger Park -4 Star Lodge & Joburg Return

$747 pp (USD)

South Africa: Shared tour (max 8 people per vehicle) Mid-range Hotel

You Visit: Johannesburg (Start) , Kruger NP, Greater Kruger, Johannesburg (End)

Southern African Tours    Tour operator has an office in South Africa

4.7 /5  –  65 Reviews

Related Searches

• Johannesburg One Day Trips
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• 12-Day South Africa Safaris
• Garden Route Self-drive Tours
• 3-Day Kruger Safaris
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• 3-Day Kruger Safaris From Johannesburg
• Kruger Luxury Safaris
• Kruger Mid-range Tours
• 4-Day Kruger Safaris From Johannesburg
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Find cheap flights to South Africa from $480

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a kayak user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from the united states to south africa departing on 10/10. fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. click the price to replicate the search for this deal., search hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to south africa.

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Best South Africa Flight Deals

Cheapest round-trip prices found by our users on KAYAK in the last 72 hours

Good to know

Faqs - booking south africa flights, what transport options do i have from oliver tambo international airport.

JNB connects to a train link system that offers transit to and from the airport. You could take a train to the city center when visiting South Africa and land at Tambo Airport. The train link runs at 12-minute intervals and operates between 5:15 a.m. and 10 p.m. You can also hire a metered taxi at the ground transportation area. You can use hotel shuttles serving the airport if you check into one of the hotels.

Do South African airports offer accessible services to passengers with special needs?

Passengers with reduced mobility can request wheelchairs from the airlines. You can request pre-boarding, boarding, and aisle chair assistance at any of the airports. The airports have wheelchair-accessible facilities to allow for independent access by passengers with limited mobility. To acquire the accessibility services, ensure you make a reservation at least two days before your travel date. The airports also have facilities suited for hard-of-hearing passengers and the visually impaired.

Can I rent a car at South Africa's airports?

Yes, South Africa's airports offer car rental services for convenient movement around the country. The airports' car rental agencies include Avis, Capital, Europcar, Select, Thrifty, and Woodford car rental. To rent a vehicle, you must be at least 18 years old, a valid driver's license holder for at least a year, and an International Driver's Permit holder. The renting process is easy as you can drive out of the airport with your rental car upon landing.

What are the most common layover cities when flying to South Africa?

You can opt for direct flights from the U.S. to different parts of South Africa. However, if a flight with layovers fits you, there are several options. The layover destination you choose depends on the origin city and the destination city in SA. If you are flying into SA Johannesburg from Chicago's ORD, you can have your layover in Paris (CGD) or Istanbul (IST). From ATL, you can stop in Amsterdam (AMS). You can also have your layover at Amsterdam or Frankfurt (FRA) when flying to SA from New York JFK.

Are there nonstop flights to South Africa?

Although there are flights from the United States available to over a dozen different small and large cities throughout South Africa, the only nonstop flights from the US to South Africa arrive in Johannesburg. Some of the nonstop flights to Johannesburg are available from Atlanta and Washington, DC.

Do I need a visa to enter South Africa?

To visit South Africa for a duration of up to 90 days, United States nationals are not required to acquire a visa in advance. Instead, a visitor’s visa can be obtained at the port of entry on arrival. Official visa rules can be found on South Africa’s government immigration website and are subject to change without notice.

Where should I fly to if I want to visit Kruger National Park?

If you’re one of the many tourists heading to South Africa to visit the Kruger National Park, it can be handy to fly into Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP). Although there are no direct routes, this airport gives direct access to the southern section of Kruger National Park. One of the most common layovers is in Johannesburg and you can find that more than one airline operates the route. Some of the companies are South Africa and jetBlue.

I want to visit Table Mountain in South Africa, which city should I fly to?

Table Mountain is another extremely popular tourist destination in South Africa, and it lies just outside of the city of Cape Town. To get there, you can fly into Cape Town then take one of the many available buses or taxis to the base of Table Mountain, where you can either hike or take a cable car the rest of the way.

How long is the flight to South Africa?

An average nonstop flight from the United States to South Africa takes 24h 18m, covering a distance of 8679 miles. The most popular route is New York - Johannesburg with an average flight time of 23h 40m.

What is the cheapest flight to South Africa?

The cheapest ticket to South Africa from the United States found in the last 72 hours was $822 one-way, and $757 round-trip. The most popular route is New York John F Kennedy Intl to Johannesburg OR Tambo and the cheapest round-trip airline ticket found on this route in the last 72 hours was $816.

Which airlines fly to South Africa?

United Airlines & Delta fly the most frequently from the United States to South Africa.

What are the most popular destinations in South Africa?

Based on KAYAK flight searches, the most popular destination is Johannesburg (47% of total searches to South Africa). The next most popular destinations are Cape Town (31%) and Sun City Resort (17%). Searches for flights to Durban (3%), to Port Elizabeth (0.7%) and to Phalaborwa (0.3%) are also popular.

How does KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy?

KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a given destination and date is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

Top tips for finding cheap flights to South Africa

• Enter your preferred departure airport and travel dates into the search form above to unlock the latest South Africa flight deals.
• South Africa has three main international airports spread through its three major cities — Johannesburg's Oliver Tambo Airport (JNB), Cape Town's Airport (CPT), and Durban's King Shaka Airport (DUR). CPT is the metropolitan area's main gateway, JNB has good accessibility and connectivity, and DUR is the best regional airport in South Africa.
• Oliver Tambo Airport in Johannesburg is South Africa's primary hub, the busiest in the continent and the center for South African Airways. If you are flying into South Africa from the U.S., consider landing in JNB, as it serves six continents globally.
• Johannesburg is South Africa's gateway and an entry point for direct flights from the U.S. All direct flights from the U.S. land in Johannesburg from Atlanta (ATL), New York (JFK), and Washington, D.C. (IAD). The destination airport is JNB.
• If you are flying to Oliver Tambo Airport, the airport is easy to maneuver. JNB consists of two terminals, A and B, with a central terminal building handling luggage and check-in connecting the two terminals. You can walk to either of the terminals.
• If you are visiting the metropolitan area of South Africa, fly into Cape Town Airport, which offers a hassle-free travel experience. The airport is the only one in the metro area offering scheduled passenger services.
• Getting to South Africa will almost certainly involve a layover, which commonly also includes a change in airline. One of the most common (and most affordable) routes to South Africa from the United States is from New York City (JFK Airport) to Johannesburg. This route is nonstop and is operated by South Africa Airways.
• When booking your flight to South Africa, you’ll have no shortage of airports to choose from. There are more than 15 international airports in South Africa that you can fly to from the United States, with the airports in Johannesburg and Cape Town seeing the most international air traffic.
• Heading to the Valley of 1,000 hills? This popular attraction is located in the Durban area. To get there, you’ll have to fly into Durban King Shaka International Airport (DUR). Located in the city of La Mercy, the airport is reachable via a layover in Johannesburg.
• If you’re one of the many tourists heading to South Africa to hike up to Lion’s Head, you’ll have to fly into Cape Town for convenient access. Common layovers between the US and Cape Town include Madrid and Johannesburg.
• To reach Ballito (nicknamed the Dolphin Coast), your best option is to fly into Durban King Shaka International Airport. Direct flights to this airport aren’t available from the US, with most involving a layover in Johannesburg.

Top 5 airlines flying to South Africa

Made the Atlanta to Pittsburgh trip many times, with Delta no issues

I always fly with Delta. My friends tell me their horror stories of flying with other airlines. I just smile and say, “You should fly Delta”

I'm a larger, athletic guy (6'2", 260lbs powerlifter) and I found the seats incredibly uncomfortable with minimal leg room, especially in a window seat. Now, I full understand that being smaller may change my view but even if I was 80lbs less, my legs would be the same size and I was sandwiched between my seat and the seat in front of me.

Horrible. This was not first class. This was a connecting flight whi h was late. My original flight never came. I hated the fact that delta gave me a connecting flight from New York to Orlando Florida. No meals and the television screens were not working. There wasn't even any power to charge your phones. This is NOT FIRST CLASS DELTA!!! Do better next time!

This flight was ridiculous. I had to have a connecting flight from New York to orlando Florida??? The flight left late and because it was a short flight there was no first class amenities. I had one alcohol drink. The flight crew was fine, but it sure did not feel like first class. Delta to me dropped the ball by giving me a connecting flight. By the time we got to Raleigh we would have missed the next flight. Lucky for me the flight never came so now I was stuck waiting for a later flight that came in late also.

Our flight was delayed in Atlanta. The staff could have gave us an explanation for the delay and how long it would be.

I liked the ease of checking in, luggage check in, wheel chair assistance, boarding and flight.

On my way home I had a layover. The flight from ATL to CLT was amended 5x while I was waiting. I could have driven home sooner. Overall from Dallas, Tx to Charlotte, NC I started my trip at 4:30pm, I didn’t get home until past midnight. I know things happen, but 5x to make me run back and forth in an airport from different terminals is excessive. I also upgraded to comfort + , I didn’t feel it was worth it. There was no benefit

On my way home I had a layover. The flight from ATL to CLT was amended 5x while I was waiting. I could have driven home sooner. Overall from Dallas, Tx to Charlotte, NC I started my trip at 4:30pm, I didn’t get home until past midnight. I know things happen, but 5x to make me run back and forth in an airport from different terminals is excessive.

They did a fine job. Can't wait to use Delta in the future.

Nothing really was great as such. Seen other no name airlines perform better.

Quality of service on board was very inconsistent. FA service primarily seemed robotic and they barely engaged with passengers

I’m unclear why I had to pay extra for assigned seats as Turkish airlines did not honor the seating. We were placed across the aisle from each other on TK 34, and were seated behind one another on TK 694. Because my name was misspelled on e-ticket (Klawiter, instead of Klawitter) I could not log onto website to get the connection gate number in Istanbul. The monitors in the airport were a jumbled mess 1/2 Arabic and 1/2 English.

On line check in needs a lot of improvement. I tried and gave up.

Food not good, flight attendants not the best, not accommodating very ruff

the female flight attendant was racist towards me. I could tell she treated the two other passengers next to me with more softness.

Oh my god! For an13 hour flight they serve you food just one time. Also don’t be thirsty they give you a little small cup of soda to drink. They seem like their goal is to feed you one so they don’t have to be bothered with you. It quite surprise for such a long flight there are several times to eat at least three and the food was well lackluster. The food and lack of offering drinks which were always hot no ice provided.

We were traveling first class. Checkin counter lady and her manager, both were in bad mood and did not treat us well about checking in the handbag. The gate agent took care of it right away. I travel Turkish twice a year in first class. No one has ever refused to check in the hand bag. Not sure, why this agent and her manager refused. Everything else was excellent.

The 787 economy was a disaster for long haul. The space was too little compared to 777 or 747. Also the extremely low tray table behind the seat made any dining effort a nightmare. However, the movies were up to date, and the food taste was good, despite of terrible serving process caused by small space.

A little bit more comfort. It’s tight space around the seats. But all else is great and a smooth flight!

So so. Terrible aircraft choice for that leg of the flight.

Due to one crew member not showing up to work, our flight was significantly delayed causing us to miss our connecting flight in Houston to Mississippi causing us to be delayed by more than 6 hours and missing our event all together. Very disappointing. All because ONE crew member called in sick. United did grant us a $15 meal voucher, which was a small but appreciated concession that I wasn’t able to use because I ordered my lunch and paid for it before applying the concession, and the staff said it was too late to use it. Ugh! We also had a TWO delay coming back from Mississippi, but that was on American Airlines and it was due to weather, so not their fault. Anyway, not at all impressed with United’s handling of our flight and the HUGE disappointment of missing our important family event for our 90 year old mother. All that money and all that stress and emotions for nothing. Having to wait the hour to bring an employee from LAX seemed like something that should not have happened. Why don’t you have a local back-up? Santa Ana is not a little airport in a rural area.

Flight delayed from Cape Town to Washington then got diverted to miami and in miami we had to fend for ourselves , im still trying to get to Shreveport now

delay several times and wait extra long to board. no entertainment service because there are problem for some rows. always encounter some delays for the last flight of the day.

I just wrote a text which was supposed to be for the flight from Denver to spokane not Frankfurt to Denver.

On time every leg of the journey and exceptional staff at counter, gate, and on board. I haven’t travelled in US for a long time and was genuinely surprised how pleasant this was.

Hated every minute of it. This flight should have only taken 1.5hrs but was delayed over 10hours. Now I am being told I cannot be compensated or refunded my ticket price or extra leg room, which I purchased but did not receive, because the airline is throwing the blame on the 3rd party I purchased tickets through and 3rd party putting the blame on airline. No one wants to help. They received their money and that's all they care about. Im going on 3 days of still trying to get to my final destination, had to cancel car rental, car insurance and hotel. Currently staying in airport until hotels open up. Thank you Lufthansa, Kayak, Underpricer and United for making this trip the worst ever.

The delays (5 hrs) were a comedy of errors, and the multiple safety issues encountered were very concerning.

flight delays, staff only communicating when pushed, food service lasting a grand total of 7 minutes, stuck in seat from 45mins into flight until landing

Crew was great and did their best to make us comfortable and captain came out at the beginning to announce why the flight was delayed, weather situation up ahead, and kept us updated throughout the flight.

Just get Economy Plus for international flights, so worth it the extra room, bigger seats…

This flight is frequently delayed. The connections seemingly are more frequently delayed. I’ve missed connections as a result twice on the same route to charlotte then Charleston. Final destination arrival has been the next day, twice in a row. No pilots, no crew. Too many excuses. Unfortunately, my days with American are over.

Entertainment was okay not because anything was wrong but it is a short flight so having no wifi is annoying but understandable. Crew was outstanding as usual

It was spectacular. I had basic Economy and was given so much space and their seats lean back so far. Staff was superb, food was superb, everything was superb, Finnair is Fantastic.

Those seats were way too narrow. I had the middle seat, one person was a very skinny person and we still couldn’t avoid touching each other anytime one of us moved. The other person was larger and we were basically sitting in each others lap the entire flight. There was zero entertainment. The flight was long enough to justify tvs, but no. Gotta sit there in your infant seat and twiddle your thumbs.

The Flight attendant had an attitude and didn't allow anyone any time to prepare for landing despite being absent throughout the entire trip

Flight boarded without pilots. Sat on plane for 3 hrs. after over an hour late boarding. Plane never took off. Had to deplane near midnight. Line for rebooking was 3 hours + long. I had to leave.

The flight was great but board was a nightmare. The gate was changed 4 times during the layover period

The experience was great and much better than the flight going out. of course I was in first class but the service was excellent

Cold air blew constantly on my legs almost making me numb.

In economy and food was ok, but with limited leg space (and I was in a 2 seat configuration) it was difficult to eat with a tiny seat tray. I spilt wine on my trousers. First time on British Air (I usually fly Turkish Air) and in a 777. Heathrow was pleasant but changing terminals awkward.

Starting with the flight Cairo to London the plain was so poor no entertainment at all uncomfortable seats although it’s 5 hours long,then an American airline plain took me from London to Miami it was a bad experience the crew most of flight time not available and they asked us to help our selves for any snacks if we need. From Miami to London actually was perfect flight with a huge plain and perfect crew but from London to Cairo was horrible plain with stiff fixed seats not movable no entertainment or wi fi very poor Menu which is unacceptable for a business class

I've done hundreds of flights in my life, and this flight was one of the best I've ever taken, From beginning to end, everything went smoothly, professionally, and with a smile and friendly attitude from all employees I interacted with. The food was delicious (and free), as were the drinks. There was just a genial and effective way in the way that British Airways organized the flight -that reminded of days in the 70's, 80's, and 90's, when flying was a fun, and exciting adventure. I enjoyed and had confidence in the abilities of the flight crew, I'll be flying British Airways several more times this summer. Thank you so much for the great experience! Cheryl Olso

My baggage did not arrived with me. Took 3 days to get it after so may calls and follow up

Terrible! I missed my flight to my final destination and British airlines and American Airlines keep pointing fingers on each other’s. Nobody wants to take responsibility

Terrible. Flight was 3 hours delayed and I missed my other flight to my final destination

The crew on board were all very pleasant and happy to help. The flight had the old business class seats. The departure board in the business lounge did not update and kept on saying ' gate open' but never said boarding. When I got nervous about the departure time and walked to the gate I was told off rudely for being late.

Overall, terrific service, accommodations, and experience. Only reason comfort was rated lower was because it was difficult to keep a comfortable sleeping position for the overnight flight, but I also had an economy seat.

Not sure if the crew were experiencing something unknown to me,but the service of passing water was non-existent.In addition,please take consideration when providing yogurt as alternative for breakfast as some of us, could be lactose intolerant.. thanks

Very cramped seats in economy, difficult to get comfortable with your legs and feet and back. The seat width is ok but I’m average size. Food is HORRIBLE. Crew is friendly. Delays and very tight connections made it tough for navigating. We would have missed our connecting flight if it wasn’t delayed too. The terminal transit was slow and normally every 10 minutes before 8pm, after 8 pm is every 30 minutes!!!!! No free wine or drinks!! Below average attitude.

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Cape Town and what else? 5 more must-visit spots in South Africa

It's summer — where else in the world would you like to visit?

South Africa is growing quite popular among Filipino travelers, who joining the rest of the world in visiting the country located in the southern tip of the African continent. It has plenty to offer: preserved safaris, diverse landscapes, and vibrant culture.

You may have seen your favorite celebrities and travel creators visiting South Africa’s famous Cape Town where Table Mountain, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is located. But there is so much more to see and experience in South Africa than that.

In an exclusive interview with GMA News Online, South African Tourism’s Hub Head for the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia Neliswa Nkani shares her recommendations when visiting The Rainbow Nation.

Read on, day dream, and manifest that trip to South Africa with us!

Kruger National Park

South Africa is home to some of the most preserved safaris, such as the Kruger National Park. Here you may see “The Big Five” animals: Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Rhinoceros, and Elephant.

Established in 1898 and named after former South African president Paul Kruger, the Kruger National Park is one of the largest national parks in South Africa, spanning 19,000 square kilometers.

The park serves as a protected area for South Africa ’s wildlife, where visitors can enjoy activities such as game drives, guided walks, and animal watching.

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God’s Window

For nature lovers looking to go on a guided hike, the God’s Window located in Mpumalanga is the place to be. It has panoramic views of the Blyde River Canyon, as well as South Africa’s breathtaking natural scenery. 

God's Window also has picnic areas as well as several accommodations in case you want to revel in nature for more than a day.

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Oribi Gorge Swing

Adrenaline junkies will surely love South Africa’s Oribi Gorge Swing. Located along the Oribi River, the Oribi Gorge Swing offers visitors with exhilarating experience by jumping off a platform to experience the thrill of flying through the air through a securely fastened rope and harness.

For those who are afraid to try this activity, fret not, as there will be briefing and training before the activity, and trust that all the instructors are highly skilled for a smooth and unforgettable tourists' experience. 

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Augrabies Falls

The Augrabies Falls, located in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, is known for its breathtaking waterfalls and stunning natural beauty. It’s also home to the Orange River, where guests can try canoeing, rafting, and fishing.

Aside from river activities, tourists can also witness a diverse range of animals at Augrabies Falls, including a variety of birds, such as eagles, vultures, and kestrels.

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Northern Cape

Camping under the stars in South Africa’s Northern Cape is for those who enjoy basking in the beauty of the skies and nature. The Northern Cape region offers several camping destinations. Among the best ones include the KgalagadiTransfrontier Park, Kgalagadi National Park, Namaqua National Park, and the Ai-Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, among others.

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Pro tip: Prepare well in advance by checking the weather forecast for your selected dates as well as packing essential camping supplies and pre-packing meals to ensure a smooth and enjoyable camping experience.

— LA, GMA Integrated News

Which South African City Is Right For You?

W hen planning a trip to South Africa, selecting which cities will make it on the final itinerary can be overwhelming. Each city offers a different vibe, which can make a world of difference in terms of your preferred vacation style.

While Johannesburg is where you go when your lust for Amapiano keeps calling, Cape Town offers more diversity from its landscape to the people. Durban is another popular coastal city with its own unique points of interest.

One thing each city has in common is the thread of Nelson Mandela’s legacy to dismantle the Apartheid system, which institutionally segregated South Africa’s population by race from 1948 through the early 1990s. The country has preserved pivotal landmarks that mark significant moments in the life and mission of Mandela.

There is so much more to the culture and people of South Africa. A song found in spite of sorrow. A rhythmic, spiritual dance in the face of moments that might otherwise cause despair. A position of sovereignty, pride in one’s home country and the preservation of traditions passed down for generations. 

Consider these city highlights when planning your visit to South Africa.

Johannesburg

Johannesburg is where Blackness is most beautifully on display throughout the city. More than 75 percent of the city’s 6.1 million population identifies as Black African. From nightlife to South African traditional culture, this is where you’ll find your fill. 

Located in the Gauteng province, Johannesburg is a landlocked city in the eastern plateau area of South Africa. For a better understanding of the country’s history, start with visits to the Apartheid Museum and Constitution Hill. Soweto, a township in the city, is where you’ll discover the still-present effects of Apartheid. However, hope also is found in Madiba’s humble beginnings at Mandela’s House, where he lived from 1946 to 1962.

For creative inspiration, local food finds and art that overwhelms the senses in the best way, head to Maboneng. Large-scale works of art adorn the facades of mid-rise buildings, often portraying life and symbols of Africa through the artist’s lens. Cafes, local eateries, mini-art galleries and indie fashion designers line the main streets. More entertainment is found in hideaway social spaces on adjacent roadways.  

One can’t truly speak on Johannesburg and not mention the plethora of nightlife entertainment in the city. Solo travelers and friend groups will find everything from a casual restaurant turn-up to reserved section bottle service clubs. The most committed homebody will find it hard to resist the swell of energy that permeates the clubs in Johannesburg.

Cape Town is much more diverse when it comes to the demographic makeup of the city. There are plenty of African experiences to explore, you’ll have to be more intentional about finding them.

Cape Town is where luxury meets the sea. Located in the southwestern corner of the Western Cape province, art, food, wine and culture flourish here. Visitors come to Cape Town from around the world to enjoy South African staples from wildlife to the Winelands. 

A casual vacation day in Cape Town might find you exploring the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, where shopping, good eats and family-friendly activities are plentiful. Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa is a stunning building that should be on every art lover’s itinerary. Some visitors make it a point to visit Robben Island, where Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison. Others prefer time in nature, hiking Signal Hill for epic sunrises or taking in panoramic views from atop Table Mountain.

Not far from the city are several other activities that most travelers come to Cape Town for. Aquila Safari Private Game Reserve, where you can spot the ‘Big 5,’ is two hours away by car. Several wine regions including Stellenbosch, Constantia and Franschhoek are also nereby.

Vacationing in Cape Town is for adventurers as much as it is for foodies, oenophiles, families and solo travelers. It’s also worth mentioning that Cape Town holds its own in terms of nights on the town and dining experiences. Some of the best seafood dishes you’ll ever try will likely be while in Cape Town. For a nightcap after the sun goes down, head to Bree Street in the CBD area. On the weekends, head to The Neighbourgoods Market for great food, sounds by a local DJ and independent artist goods.

Although not as many travelers make their way to Durban, some may find that all the more reason to add it to the list. As the largest city of the KwaZulu-Natal province, Durban sits on the east coast of South Africa on the Indian Ocean coastline.

Of all the reasons to consider Durban, its warm weather and beautiful beaches are at the top of the list. Daytime temperatures range between the mid-70s and mid-80s year round, although the evenings can get chilly from March to October. Umhlanga Beach, uShaka Beach and Northern Umdloti Beach offer safe swimming waters or the perfect setting for a day in the sand. Durban is also where many go to check off bucket list whale-watching tours.

African, Colonial and Indian influences blend together in the city, forming a colorful Afro-Indian culture that characterizes this region of the country. One signature trademark of the city is its popularity as one of the world’s curry capitals. Bunny chow is a popular Indian dish made with a half-loaf of bread that has been hollowed out and filled with curry. This dish, along with other traditional Indian dishes, is on the menu of various restaurants around the city, so prepare to eat your way through Durban.

Durban delivers more than beaches with several museums and nearby attractions worth a visit. The Phansi Museum provides context to local traditions and way of life in the region. Through its collection of artifacts, learn firsthand how everyday South Africans navigate daily life, commemorate special occasions and celebrate their ancestry through handmade goods.

Less than two hours inland from Durban is the Nelson Mandela Capture Site, where a museum stands today. Similar to other museums surrounding Mandela’s legacy, visitors can dive into the state of South Africa leading up to his arrest, the decades that followed and intimate portraits of the former president in his latter years. Be sure to visit Howick Falls along the route, a beautiful natural landscape and the second-tallest waterfall in South Africa.

Real Housewives of Atlanta: South Africa Trip Bravo Replay

This episode marks our inaugural fan-suggested podcast topic! Take a stroll down memory lane with us as we reminisce about The Real Housewives of Atlanta's unforgettable trip to Africa. Join the conversation as we delve into the iconic moments, enduring feuds, and unbreakable friendships that have shaped the legacy of this beloved franchise. It's a journey you won't want to miss!

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