South Africa Itineraries

Highlights of South Africa in 1 Week

South Africa is a great destination for first time visitors to Africa. Not only will you see amazing wildlife on a classic safari, there are amazing coastal drives, and exciting Cape Town. South Africa is also rich with history - providing amazing context to the wider, disparate yet connected cultures of Africa. Kruger National Park, which was established in 1926.

Day 1-2, Cape Town: Seal Island, Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, coastal drive, Robben Island.

Day 3, Johannesburg: Apartheid museum, guided walking tour of Soweto. Optional Excursion to Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation center

Day 4-7, Greater Kruger National Park: Established in 1926, Kruger National Park is one of the top viewing areas for the “Big 5” (Lions, Elephants, Cape Buffalo, Leopard, and Rhino). Also visit God’s Window viewpoint, Blyde River Canyon, and Timbavati Reserve.

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One Week Garden Route Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Cape Town, and spend the day relaxing, Head over to the waterfront for dinner, and take an evening cable car ride up table mountain for the best views of the city!

Day 2: The second day is a free day in Cape Town. One option is a day trip to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was held captive for two decades. Another option is a day trip to the Cape of Good Hope, complete with a trip to Boulder’s beach to see the penguins!

Day 3: Head out to the winelands and spend the day exploring the different wineries of the area. Look out for wildlife, as baboons are known to be in the area! Spend the evening strolling through the town of Franschhoek for awesome restaurants and shopping.

Day 4: Make your way to the most southern tip of the African continent, Cape L’agulhas. Visit the lighthouse and see where the Indian and Atlantic Ocean meet. Enjoy the great coastal views, and consider a thrilling activity such as shark cage diving, or whale watching.

Day 5: Keep heading west on the garden route towards wilderness. Here, you’ll find beautiful mountain views, awesome beaches, and plenty of outdoor activities. Consider a kayak tour, hiking, or some relaxing beach time.

Day 6: Continuing on the Garden Route, head towards Port Elizabeth to the town of Addo. The day will be spent at the Addo Elephant National Park. Take a game drive and search for animals such as Lions, Leopards, Rhinos and Elephants, to name a few. Spend the evening in the park.

Day 7: Spend the morning doing one more game drive, before packing up and heading towards Port Elizabeth. If time allows, spend some final moments on the beach or cruising through the town. From here, you will depart on your flight back home.

South Africa in 2 Weeks

South Africa is an incredible destination that offers everything from big game safaris to traditional cultural excursions that explore the rainbow nation’s African roots. In the span of 2 weeks you can easily hit all the major sights, including the big city of Johannesburg, the famous Kruger National Park, the history and natural landscapes of Cape Town and a nature intensive drive up the coast to Port Elizabeth.

Day 1-2, Johannesburg: Visit the historic Apartheid Museum and take a guided walking tour through Soweto, the largest township in Johannesburg. Drive to the Cradle of Humankind and see the paleoanthropological site and million-year-old hominin fossils. Finish with an optional visit to the Elephant Sanctuary at Hartbeesport Dam.

Day 3-5, Greater Kruger National Park: The famous Kruger National Park is the largest of all game reserves in South Africa and was established in 1926. Here you can take a safari to spot the “Big 5”- Lions, Buffalo, Rhinos, Leopards, and Elephants. Try to take game drives at different points in the day (including night time) to catch a glimpse of all the different wildlife. Visit the cultural village and experience traditional foods, dances and local beadwork.

Day 6-9, Cape Town: Explore the neighborhood of Bo Kaap by foot and try Cape Malay cuisine. Go snorkeling or take a boat ride to see the Cape Fur seals at Hout Bay. Climb to the top of Table Mountain and watch the sun set over Cape Town at Lions Head. Take a coastal drive to Simon’s Town and sit with the African penguins at Boulders Beach. Visit the tip of the African continent at Cape Point.

Day 9-10, Stellenbosch: Drive from Cape Town to Stellenbosch and taste test your way around the many wineries.

Day 11-14, Garden Route Drive: Take a beautiful road trip up the coast from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth and see ancient mountain ranges, coastal plains and nature reserves. Stop in Knysna to see The Heads and take a walking tour of Featherbed Private Nature Reserve. Carry on to the Cango Caves in Outdshorn and explore the limestone chambers. Drive up the country road Route 62 and see the Karoo Plains, vineyards and orchards. Take optional excursions to Addo National Park for a game drive, Tsitsikamma marine reserve or Wildnerness National Park for bird watching and canoeing.

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South Africa & Beyond in 3 Weeks

A 3-week adventure across the Southern part of Africa will bring you to the beautiful beaches of Mozambique, the ancient deserts of Namibia, and the big game reserves of South Africa. This excursion will expose you to several vibrant cities and their respective histories of colonial influence and native African traditions. Along with this cultural immersion, you’ll also be able to go off the beaten path and explore the natural wonders of the region, including old mountain ranges, coral reefs and game parks full of wildlife.

Day 1-6, Mozambique

Day 1-2, Maputo: Immerse yourself in the colonial history of Mozambique with a visit to the Museu Historia, Fortaleza de Maputo and Vila Algarve. Check out the local handicrafts at FEIMA, an art and food market. Try some local Portuguese Peri-Peri Chicken.

Day 3-6, Bazaruto Archipelago: The Archipelago is made up of 5 islands: Bazaruto, Benguerra, Magarugue, Santa Carolina and Bangue. Here you can island hop via boat on a Dhow Safari and adventure through the marine conservation area that makes up the National Park. Go scuba diving or snorkeling and explore the coral reefs, try game fishing in the Indian Ocean, and catch a glimpse of some whales and dolphins. Spend some time relaxing at one of the many beautiful dune beaches.

Day 7-16, South Africa

Day 7-8, Johannesburg: Visit the historic Apartheid Museum and take a guided walking tour through Soweto, the largest township in Johannesburg. Drive to the Cradle of Humankind and see the paleoanthropological site and million-year-old hominin fossils. Finish with an optional visit to the Elephant Sanctuary at Hartbeesport Dam.

Day 9-12, Greater Kruger National Park: The famous Kruger National Park is the largest of all game reserves in South Africa and was established in 1926. Here you can take a safari to spot the “Big 5”- Lions, Buffalo, Rhinos, Leopards, and Elephants. Try to take game drives at different points in the day (including night time) to catch a glimpse of all the different wildlife. Visit the cultural village and experience traditional foods, dances and local beadwork.

Day 13-16, Cape Town: Explore the neighborhood of Bo Kaap by foot and try Cape Malay cuisine. Go snorkeling or take a boat ride to see the Cape Fur seals at Hout Bay. Climb to the top of Table Mountain and watch the sun set over Cape Town at Lions Head. Take a coastal drive to Simon’s Town and sit with the African penguins at Boulders Beach. Visit the tip of the African continent at Cape Point.

Day 17-21, Namibia

Day 17-21, Windhoek: Explore the city and visit the Christ Church, Alte Feste, Heroes’ Acre and Schwerinsburg. Go on a walking tour through Daan Viljoen Game Park and see the local wildlife. Spend the day in Sossusvlei, the home of the famous red dunes in the southern part of the world’s oldest desert at the Namib-Naukluft National Park. Make sure to visit Deadvlei and watch the sunset at Dune 45.

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