16 Days in South Africa - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

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.

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. 

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

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. 

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.

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.

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.