South Africa Luxury Travel

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South Africa luxury planning

There's no need to rough it on safari with a 10-day luxury South Africa trip (photo courtesy of Walkers Plains)

10 Days in South Africa - 4 Luxury Itinerary Ideas

Ten days in South Africa is a generous amount of time to experience the country's luxurious safari camps, fine cuisine, and welcoming cities. A highlights itinerary will introduce you to Cape Town, the Garden Route, and the Eastern Cape, while an off-the-beaten-path trip features Hluhluwe Game Reserve and the dreamy Thonga Beach Lodge. If you're a fan of top-notch cuisine and wine, include Cape Winelands. Or, pick up the pace and hop between South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe.

Watch the sunset at your luxury safari lodge (photo courtesy of Rhino Ridge)

1 Week in South Africa - 4 Luxury Itinerary Ideas

With one week for a luxury South Africa trip, it's best to focus on two regions. Foodies and wine aficionados will appreciate vineyard-hopping in Franschhoek and fine dining in Cape Town. Wildlife enthusiasts can spot the Big Five on safaris in the Eastern Cape or Timbavati, while those seeking a beach getaway can snorkel and indulge in spa treatments at Mabibi Beach. Travelers looking for unique cultural experiences can enjoy a private jazz concert in Johannesburg and the chance to meet a Zulu healer.

Get up close to impressive wildlife at luxury South African lodges (photo courtesy of Sindile at Shamwari))

2 Weeks in South Africa - 4 Luxury Itinerary Ideas

Two weeks in South Africa is an excellent amount of time to discover the country's luxurious side. If you're eager to experience a bit of everything, opt for a fast-paced tour that whisks you between Cape Town, Cape Winelands, and the Eastern Cape. Or, seek out impressive safari animals while hopping between Sabi Sands, the Okavango Delta, and Chobe National Park. Other excellent destinations are Thonga Beach Lodge for a relaxing getaway and Johannesburg for a deep dive into the country's history.

South Africa luxury itineraries

Mix adventure and luxury on a trip to South Africa (photo courtesy of Dulini)

South Africa Luxury Safari: Cape Town, Winelands, Sabi Sands & White River - 10 Days

Experience a more luxurious style of safari with this 10-day South African adventure. After an introduction to Cape Town, set off into the Cape Winelands for private vineyard tours and tastings. Then, it's on to the main event—an exclusive safari experience in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve. Seek out Big Five wildlife on game drives and bush walks, then retire to your 5-star lodge each evening. End with a scenic trip along the Panorama Route to glimpse the dramatic vistas of the Blyde River Canyon.

Stay two nights on the edge of South Africa's Kruger National Park (photo courtesy of Walkers Plains)

Luxury South Africa Safaris & Beyond: Kruger, Okavango Delta & Victoria Falls - 10 Days

Make South Africa your base for safari adventures that will take you from Kruger National Park up to the wetlands of Botswana and the cascades of Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls, the largest waterfall in the world. Along the way, you'll spot zebras, hyenas, impalas, giraffes, elephants, and lions—and visit a black rhino sanctuary. In between all these outdoor experiences, there will be plenty of relaxed free time at luxury bush lodges where nightly al fresco dinners are the highlight.

Combine a 5-star safari experience with a beach vacation on South Africa's eastern coast (photo courtesy of Thonga Lodge)

Luxury Escape to South Africa's East Coast: Safari & Beaches in KwaZulu-Natal - 7 Days

Discover off-the-beaten-path wonders in luxurious style on this weeklong getaway to eastern South Africa. Part safari adventure, part beach vacation, the action takes place in the KwaZulu-Natal region, a coastal area famous for its unspoiled beaches and protected wetland parks. Start with private game drives and wildlife spotting in the Hluhluwe Game Reserve, then continue to the coast to wind down at a secluded resort—enjoying decadent spa treatments and gourmet meals amid all the beach fun.

Finish the trip with four nights at a secluded beach resort on the Indian Ocean (photo courtesy of Thonga Beach Lodge)

Off-the-Beaten-Path Safari & Beach Luxury in South Africa - 10 Days

Experience some off-the-beaten-path highlights of eastern South Africa on a trip around Johannesburg and the coastal KwaZulu region. This is a luxury tour, meaning you'll enjoy first-class dining and accommodations, including at some of the finest hotels, safari lodges, and beach resorts in the country. Highlights include mingling with locals in the historic districts of "Joburg," spotting Big Five safari animals at the Hluhluwe Game Reserve, snorkeling in the Indian Ocean, and much more.

You won't have to go far to spot Big Five animals at your luxury safari lodge (photo courtesy of Walkers Plains)

Luxury South Africa City & Safari Adventure: Johannesburg & Timbavati Game Reserve - 7 Days

Discover the pulse and heart of South Africa with in-depth tours of dynamic Johannesburg and thrilling game drives in the Timbavati Game Reserve. Bookend your luxury wildlife camp experience with stays in "Joburg," where you'll tour the Apartheid Museum, cycle around Soweto, and sample some of the city's best fine dining. As a kicker, you'll enjoy multiple safaris that go beyond the nation's famous wildlife to include its music—that's right, jazz is a part of this adventure, too.

Experience luxury among the bushveld wilderness of Sabi Sands (photo courtesy of Sabi Sands)

South Africa Luxury Safari: City, Wine & Wilderness Adventures - 14 Days

There's no need to sacrifice comfort or style while on safari in the African bush. This two-week trip perfectly exemplifies that ideal, combining luxury accommodations with safari adventures and cultural tours. Start with scenic hikes in Cape Town, explore the wilderness of Cederberg, then venture into the Winelands for horseback rides and wine tasting. Game drives and bush walks await at your 5-star lodge in Sabi Sands, then it's back to the big city for a night on the town in Johannesburg.

Savor the Cape Winelands' best bottles before you set off on safari

Luxury South Africa Food, Wine & Safari Adventure - 14 Days

Spend two weeks discovering the fruits of South Africa, all while traveling in the lap of luxury. There's no better spot to begin a first-class holiday than coastal Cape Town, where you'll spend a few days touring the highlights, enjoying fine dining, and exploring landmarks like Table Mountain and the Cape Peninsula. Then, after sampling the best bottles in the Cape Winelands region, you'll embark on safaris at private nature reserves and finish up in Johannesburg for a deep dive into the real Africa.

You won't be roughing it on safari at your luxury camp (photo courtesy of Shamwari)

Luxury South Africa Highlights: Winelands, Garden Route & Eastern Cape Safari - 7 Days

Combine a relaxing luxury vacation with thrilling outdoor adventures on this weeklong South Africa tour. Taste the quality of the country's most famous vineyards on a visit to the Cape Winelands region before hitting the road on the Garden Route, one of the most spectacular coastal drives on the continent. And no trip to Africa is complete without safari fun, so finish the adventure in an open-topped safari vehicle seeking big cats, elephants, rhinos, and other majestic creatures on the savanna plains.

Enjoy gourmet meals and Big Five animal sightings during a luxury safari (photo courtesy of Walkers Plains)

Luxury South Africa Food, Wine & Safari Adventure - 10 Days

See and taste the best of South Africa over 10 packed days that will not only take you on an epic safari but also to the most captivating corners of its top cities (and therefore best restaurants). It's a luxury tour that kicks off with fine dining and champagne cruises in Cape Town, then continues to the lush vineyards of Cape Winelands to taste the fruits of its terroir. The last leg of the trip will see you on safari at a private nature reserve before walking in the footsteps of history in Johannesburg.

Stay three nights at a luxury lodge in Sabi Sands Game Reserve (photo courtesy of Lion Sands Narina)

Luxury Safari Adventure in South Africa & Botswana - 14 Days

Pack your bags for a memorable journey to hit the highlights of northeastern South Africa. Stay in luxurious lodges and tent camps on the African savanna as you enjoy game drives to spot exotic wildlife in famous parks and reserves like Sabi Sands, Kruger, and Chobe. But that's not all; you'll also hop the northern border into Botswana for safaris at the biodiverse Okavango Delta and hit the streets of dynamic Johannesburg for a bit of culture and dinner in Nelson Mandela's former home.

Experience the ultimate in bushveld luxury at Sindile Safari Lodge (photo courtesy of Shamwari)

Luxury South Africa Highlights: Cape Town, Winelands, Garden Route & Eastern Cape Safari - 10 Days

Experience the best of Africa as you explore the savannas, cities, and coast of the continent's southernmost nation. On this luxury escape, stay at the finest hotels and dine at the best restaurants, starting in Cape Town, a city famous for its beautiful coast and iconic landmarks. Then, after touring the vineyards of the Cape Winelands region, hit the road down the Garden Route (one of the most famous coastal drives in the world) and finish with safaris to spot big cats in the Eastern Cape.

After three days in Cape Town, it's off to a luxury farm estate in the Cape Winelands (photo courtesy of La Cotte)

Laid-Back Luxury in South Africa: Cape Town & Winelands - 7 Days

If relaxation and a bit of luxury are what you're after, then a food, wine, and golf tour of South Africa's Western Cape is just what the doctor ordered. Enjoy first-class accommodations over seven days of bespoke experiences, which include dining at Cape Town's best restaurants, a helicopter ride over the city, and a Champagne cruise along the coast. Then, visit nearby Cape Winelands to taste the country's best bottles, horseback ride through the vineyards, and play a couple of rounds at Pearl Valley.

Finish the adventure at a secluded resort on the Indian Ocean (photo courtesy of Thonga Beach Lodge)

Luxury Escape in South Africa: Cape Town to the East Coast - 14 Days

Spend two weeks traveling at a relaxed pace from one end of South Africa to the other while enjoying exotic adventures and luxury accommodations. You'll arrive in the Western Cape, one of Africa's most beautiful coastal corners, for nature and wine tours in and around Cape Town. Then, jet to the KwaZulu-Natal, on the east coast, where you'll embark on safari game drives in wildlife reserves before winding down at Mabibi Beach on the Indian Ocean for snorkeling on a protected stretch of coastline.

Go whale watching and visit reputable wineries while staying on the south coast (photo courtesy of The Marine Hermanus)

Luxury South Africa Highlights: Cape Town, Winelands, Garden Route & Eastern Cape Safari - 14 Days

Enjoy a bit of the good life on a luxury two-week getaway to one of the most beautiful corners of South Africa. It's first-class all the way, as you enjoy private tours of scenic Cape Town and dine at its best restaurants. Then head east as you take advantage of wine tours in the charming French village of Franschhoek, champagne catamaran cruises, and, if you're up for it, cage diving with great white sharks. Finish with two days of game drives at a private reserve to complete the adventure.

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