Itinerary #1: Classic South Africa: Cape Town, Johannesburg & Kruger Safari
This Classic South Africa itinerary is ideal for first-time visitors interested in a mix of history, culture, food, wine, and wildlife. While in Cape Town, you'll enjoy a day of wine tasting in the Cape Winelands, a road trip along the Cape Peninsula, a visit to Robben Island, and a food tour of Bo-Kaap and Woodstock. Then, in Johannesburg, you'll tour the Soweto Township and go gallery-hopping in the Maboneng Precinct. Finally, search for the Big Five on game drives and bush walks in Kruger National Park.
![Start your epic 16-day tour of South Africa in Cape Town](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/0832b4c8-da74-4a17-8b31-cd1e60679f80/original-8d29bde1da2495668dd268afb980d6d2.jpg)
Day | Highlights | Overnight |
---|---|---|
Day 1 | Arrive in Cape Town, Explore the Port City at Leisure | Cape Town |
Day 2 | Walking Tour of the City, Cable Car Up Table Mountain | Cape Town |
Day 3 | Full-Day Wine Tour in the Cape Winelands | Cape Town |
Day 4 | Road Trip Along the Atlantic Seaboard & Cape Peninsula | Cape Town |
Day 5 | Guided Tour of a Cape Town Township & Robben Island | Cape Town |
Day 6 | Visit the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens | Cape Town |
Day 7 | Guided Food & Culture Tour of Bo-Kaap & Woodstock | Cape Town |
Day 8 | Fly to Johannesburg, Walking Tour of the Maboneng Precinct | Johannesburg |
Day 9 | Guided Tour of the Soweto Township, Traditional Dinner | Johannesburg |
Day 10 | Fly to Kruger National Park, Night Game Drive | Kruger National Park |
Day 11 | Sunrise Bush Walk, Afternoon Game Drive | Kruger National Park |
Days 12-13 | Admire the Reserve's Wildlife & Archaeological Sites | Kruger National Park |
Day 14 | Visit the Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre, Afternoon Game Drive | Kruger National Park |
Day 15 | Transfer to Johannesburg via the Blyde River Canyon | Johannesburg |
Day 16 | Depart Johannesburg |
Kick off your journey in Cape Town with a boat cruise on Table Bay followed by a cable car ride up Table Mountain for views over the city and coastline. Then, you'll take a day trip to the Cape Winelands to sample South African wines paired with farm-fresh foods at Stellenbosch and other beloved wineries. Next up is a guided road trip along the Cape Peninsula that includes a stop to see the penguin colony at Boulder's Beach. Afterward, you'll return to Cape Town and dive into local history with a tour—guided by a former inmate—of Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years.
A food tour in Bo-Kaap and Woodstock offers a chance to taste rooibos tea, Cape Malay flavors, and artisanal chocolate before catching your flight to Johannesburg. Here, you'll take a walking tour through the Maboneng Precinct and visit its galleries and museums. Then, you'll fly to Kruger National Park, where you'll set off on an evening game drive to observe hyenas and other nocturnal animals. You'll also embark on a sunrise bush walk in search of the Big Five along the Olifants River and meet the residents of the Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre before returning to Johannesburg for departure. Learn more
Itinerary #2: South Africa Road Trip: Cape Town, Winelands, Garden Route & Eastern Cape Safari
Outdoorsy travelers who prefer a slower pace and the flexibility of a self-drive journey will appreciate this relaxed South Africa road trip. Highlights include kayaking in Cape Town, biking and wine tasting in the Franschhoek Valley, a scenic drive along the Garden Route, a tour of Cango Caves, a visit to an ostrich farm, hikes in Greyton Nature Reserve and Tsitsikamma National Park, and game drives and bird-watching in the Eastern Cape. You'll also have plenty of free time to explore each stop at your own pace.
![Look for graceful giraffes in a private Eastern Cape game reserve](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/c9703705f4e95527fdd7ced2cd2f927a6b023743/original-c43783257599253eb531fc088ab6093a.jpg)
Day | Highlights | Overnight |
---|---|---|
Day 1 | Arrive in Cape Town, Explore the Port City at Leisure | Cape Town |
Day 2 | Guided Bike Tour of the Cape Winelands | Franschhoek |
Day 3 | Guided Cape Peninsula Sidecar Tour | Cape Town |
Day 4 | Sunrise Kayak Ride, Cable Car Up Table Mountain | Cape Town |
Day 5 | Robben Island & Zeitz Museum of African Art | Cape Town |
Day 6 | Enjoy a Free Day in Cape Town | Cape Town |
Day 7 | Drive to Greyton, Explore at Leisure | Greyton |
Day 8 | Drive to Oudtshoorn Along Route 62 | Oudtshoorn |
Day 9 | Visit the Cango Ostrich Show Farm & Cango Caves | Oudtshoorn |
Day 10 | Drive to Knysna, Explore at Leisure | Knysna |
Days 11-12 | Free Days in Knysna | Knysna |
Day 13 | Knysna to Eastern Cape Game Reserve, Sunset Game Drive | Eastern Cape Game Reserve |
Days 14-15 | Explore Eastern Cape Game Reserve | Eastern Cape Game Reserve |
Day 16 | Fly to Cape Town, Depart |
Start with some free time to explore Cape Town at your own pace, perhaps walking along the V&A Waterfront promenade and shopping for handcrafted souvenirs at the Watershed market. The following day, your driver will take you to the Franschhoek Valley for a bike tour, where you'll cycle past vineyards, taste local wines, and picnic in the shade of centuries-old oak trees. Then, you'll embark on a sidecar tour along the Cape Peninsula that includes a stop at the Cape of Good Hope lighthouse. There's also time for a sunrise kayak excursion from Moullie Point and some bird-watching on Robben Island.
Next, pick up your rental car and travel past grazing sheep to Greyton Nature Reserve for a hike amid the wildflowers. Following that, you'll drive to Oudtshoorn, stopping at Ladismith Cheese Factory and quirky restaurants, such as Ronnie's Sex Shop, en route. In Oudtshoorn, you'll learn about ostrich farming and check out the limestone chambers of Cango Caves. From there, continue along the Garden Route to Knysna, where you can hike in Tsitsikamma National Park. Your trip concludes with game drives at a private game reserve on the Eastern Cape and bird-watching on Bushman's River. Learn more
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Itinerary #3: Journey Along South Africa's Coast
This coastal South Africa adventure is perfect for travelers keen on a combination of urban exploration, aquatic activities, and wildlife encounters. You'll indulge in a 14-course dinner and take a bike tour in Cape Town, sample South African wines in the Cape Winelands, go whale watching and shark cage diving in Hermanus, join a snorkeling tour in Ballito, spot hippos on a boat cruise through the St Lucia Estuary, picnic on a secluded beach along Kosi Bay, and search for the Big Five on safari in Phinda Private Game Reserve.
![Visit the colony of African penguins on Boulders Beach](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/e886f55e-de49-405c-b668-d4b9b1b5ca79/original-742b4196d6a008f67e2796de2e7d5ff4.jpg)
Day | Highlights | Overnight |
---|---|---|
Day 1 | Arrive in Cape Town, Dinner at GOLD Restaurant | Cape Town |
Day 2 | Township Bicycle Tour, See Penguins at Boulders Beach | Cape Town |
Day 3 | Take a Cable Car Up Table Mountain | Cape Town |
Day 4 | Tasting Tour of the Cape Winelands | Cape Town |
Day 5 | Transfer to Hermanus, Explore on Your Own | Hermanus |
Day 6 | Shark Cage Diving Adventure | Hermanus |
Day 7 | Fly to Durban, Transfer to Ballito, Explore on Your Own | Ballito |
Day 8 | Snorkel Tour in Ballito | Ballito |
Day 9 | Drive to St Lucia, Afternoon Bike Tour | St Lucia |
Day 10 | Hippopotamus & Crocodile Cruise on the St Lucia Estuary | St Lucia |
Day 11 | Boat Cruise Around Kosi Bay | St Lucia |
Day 12 | Enjoy a Free Day in St Lucia | St Lucia |
Day 13 | Drive to Phinda Private Game Reserve | Phinda Private Game Reserve |
Days 14-15 | Explore Phinda Private Game Reserve | Phinda Private Game Reserve |
Day 16 | Drive to Durban, Depart |
Get your first taste of South Africa with a 14-course dinner that includes curries and malva (a traditional sponge cake) at GOLD Restaurant on arrival in Cape Town. Over the next few days, you'll get acquainted with the city on a township tour by bike, a visit to the African penguin colony at Boulders Beach, and a cable car up Table Mountain for panoramic views. Then, you're off to the Cape Winelands for a full day of winery-hopping and boutique shopping before your driver whisks you to Hermanus. Here, you'll watch for whales (July to November), then witness the underwater world on a shark cage dive.
Next, you'll fly to Durban and transfer to Ballito, also known as the "Dolphin Coast," where you'll join a snorkeling tour and have free time to swim at Willard Beach or hike in Harold Johnson Nature Reserve. In the morning, you'll hit the road to St Lucia, where a cruise through the estuary (keep an eye out for hippos!) and a boat ride around Kosi Bay—complete with a picnic on a secluded beach—awaits. Finally, you'll wrap up your trip at the Phinda Private Game Reserve, the perfect place to spot Big Five game animals like lions, leopards, elephants, and more before returning to Durban. Learn more
Itinerary #4: South Africa Culture, Wildlife, Food & Wine Discovery Tour
Experience South African flavors and diverse landscapes on this Winelands and wildlife trip. Suited to culinary travelers and animal lovers, on this tour you'll observe penguins at Boulders Beach, prepare Cape Malay cuisine in Cape Town, sip South African wines in Franschhoek Valley, take a gastronomic journey through Elgin Valley, spot wildlife as you soar above the Khaya Ndlovu Game Reserve in a helicopter, and search for zebras and other animals at Timbavati Game Reserve. You'll also visit waterfalls and massive rock formations along the Panorama Route and take an e-bike ride in Jonkershoek Valley Nature Reserve.
![Admire the natural beauty of Lisbon Falls on your road trip along the Panorama Route](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/c2931037877ffd9174620e2c05b7080d7a8c8673/original-8f986c66dd8e917b96950f49d6f2e88c.jpg)
Day | Highlights | Overnight |
---|---|---|
Day 1 | Arrive in Cape Town, Explore at Your Own Pace | Cape Town |
Day 2 | Full-Day Tour of the Cape Peninsula | Cape Town |
Day 3 | Cable Car Up Table Mountain, Bo-Kaap Tour, Sunset Cruise | Cape Town |
Day 4 | Community Development Tour, Dinner at GOLD Restaurant | Cape Town |
Day 5 | Visit the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens | Cape Town |
Day 6 | Transfer to Franschhoek, E-Bike Tour & Picnic | Franschhoek |
Day 7 | Wine, Cheese & Chocolate Tour in the Cape Winelands | Franschhoek |
Day 8 | Elgin Valley Food & Wine Tour | Franschhoek |
Day 9 | Franschhoek Valley Hop-On, Hop-Off Wine Tour | Franschhoek |
Day 10 | Transfer to Cape Town, Fly to Khaya Ndlovu | Khaya Ndlovu Game Reserve |
Day 11 | Full-Day Road Trip Along the Panorama Route | Khaya Ndlovu Game Reserve |
Day 12 | Hot-Air Balloon Flight, Transfer to Timbavati Game Reserve | Timbavati Game Reserve |
Days 13-14 | Explore the Reserve on Game Drives & Bush Walks | Timbavati Game Reserve |
Day 15 | Fly to Johannesburg, Guided Tour of Soweto | Johannesburg |
Day 16 | Depart Johannesburg |
Spend your first day in Cape Town as you wish, perhaps visiting the historic prison on Robben Island or feasting on seafood at a waterfront restaurant. After a good night's rest, you'll tour Cape Peninsula, stopping in Simon's Town to see Victorian architecture, and then ride the Flying Dutchman Funicular up Table Mountain. The following day is full of culinary experiences, starting with a tour of the Atlas Trading Company (a spice emporium in the district of Bo-Kaap) and ending with a cooking lesson in which you'll prepare Cape Malay curries and koeksisters (deep-fried dough balls rolled in coconut).
Learn about Cape Town's history and community projects on a township tour before a 14-course dinner at GOLD restaurant. The next day, your driver will bring you to Jonkershoek Valley Nature Reserve for an e-bike ride. Then, you'll savor honey, cheeses, and chocolates (in addition to wines!) on an Elgin Valley culinary tour before flying to Khaya Ndlovu Game Reserve, where you'll get a bird's-eye view of the savannas during a helicopter ride. Lastly, marvel at massive rock formations along the Panorama Route before capping off your trip with wildlife viewing at Timbavati Game Reserve. Learn more
Itinerary #5: Southern Africa Safari: Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park & More
This multicountry southern Africa itinerary is best for history and wildlife enthusiasts eager to move at a quick pace in order to cover a lot of ground. Delve into South African history with a visit to Iziko Slave Lodge and a tour of Soweto, then track the Big Five on safari in Sabi Sands Game Reserve. In Zimbabwe, you'll experience the power of Victoria Falls and search for hippos while cruising the Zambezi River at sunset. Then, you'll wrap up your trip in Botswana with a houseboat safari on the Chobe River and game drives in Moremi Game Reserve.
![Spend three days exploring the Moremi Game Reserve](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/a0d5e285-1ac4-480f-8e92-fb40c09ba05d/original-38cd564c6e1d47692281af9757b21eb8.jpg)
Day | Highlights | Overnight |
---|---|---|
Day 1 | Arrive in Cape Town (South Africa), Half-Day City Tour | Cape Town |
Day 2 | Cape Peninsula Tour, Visit Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens | Cape Town |
Day 3 | Cheese, Wine & Chocolate Tour in the Cape Winelands | Cape Town |
Day 4 | Fly to Johannesburg, Guided Tour of the Soweto Township | Johannesburg |
Day 5 | Fly to Sabi Sands Game Reserve, Afternoon Game Drive | Sabi Sands |
Days 6-7 | On Safari in Sabi Sands Game Reserve | Sabi Sands |
Day 8 | Fly to Livingstone (Zambia), Transfer to Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) | Victoria Falls |
Day 9 | Guided Tour of Victoria Falls, Sunset Dinner Cruise | Victoria Falls |
Day 10 | Transfer to the Zambezi Queen Houseboat via Kasane (Botswana) | Chobe National Park |
Days 11-12 | Explore Chobe National Park | Chobe National Park |
Day 13 | Transfer to Kasane, Fly to Moremi Game Reserve | Okavango Delta |
Days 14-15 | Explore Moremi Game Reserve | Okavango Delta |
Day 16 | Fly to Johannesburg via Maun, Depart |
Dive into South African history on arrival in Cape Town with a visit to the District Six Museum, which commemorates forced relocation under Apartheid, and the Iziko Slave Lodge, a museum that shares the history of slavery in the region. You can also shop for African-made souvenirs at Green Market Square, the former slave market that has been transformed into a flea market. Then, enjoy a day of wine, cheese, and chocolates as you taste your way around the Cape Winelands before flying to Johannesburg and touring the Soweto Township to better understand the city's history of segregation and uprisings.
Catch a flight to the Sabi Sands Game Reserve, where you'll have the opportunity to track lions, elephants, and other animals on multiple game drives. Next, you'll fly to Livingstone, Zambia, and cross the border to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Experience the rushing waters on a guided tour of Victoria Falls that includes a walk through the rainforest to Danger Point. Afterward, board the Zambezi Queen Houseboat for a river cruise and wildlife viewing along the Chobe River in Botswana. Finally, you'll search for cheetahs, jackals, and more on game drives through Moremi Game Reserve. Learn more
More Great 16-Day South Africa Itineraries
Looking for more inspiration for your trip to South Africa? Check out these other 16-day South Africa itineraries, with outdoor adventures, cultural trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.