See the Best of South Africa in Just 2 weeks
This is not another “two weeks in South Africa” itinerary that leaves you staring out of bus windows and ticking boxes you’ll forget by the time you’re home. This is a hand-crafted, tested route that delivers the best of South Africa in 13 to 15 nights without the wasted hours, tourist traps, or travel fatigue.
You’ll land in Cape Town, one of the most beautiful cities on the planet, and spend four days exploring its mountains, oceans, history, and wine country. From there, you’ll glide into the Garden Route for rugged coastline, forest hikes, and adventure at your own pace. Then you’ll fly straight into the beating heart of safari country for a private game reserve experience where the Big 5 is not a billboard promise but a daily reality.
After the wild, you’ll slow the pace in the Lowveld with jaw-dropping canyon views and waterfalls. Finally, you can choose to wrap up with Johannesburg’s raw and moving history or add extra nights to linger in the winelands or along the coast.
This trip works because it blends the variety of South Africa, from penguins to predators, from fine dining to fire-lit bomas, into a flow that keeps you excited every single day. No dead time, no filler activities, no compromises. It’s designed to make you fall in love with South Africa and start planning your return before you’ve even boarded the flight home.
The Ultimate South Africa Itinerary
Days 1–4: Cape Town & Surrounds
Days 8–11: Greater Kruger Safari
Days 5–7: Garden Route
Base: Cape Town (Waterfront, Camps Bay, or Constantia for a quieter stay)
Highlights:
- Table Mountain (go early to beat wind closures)
- Cape Point & Boulders Beach penguins
- Robben Island (book in advance)
- City walking tour for history and architecture
- Camps Bay sunset dinners
Day trip: Winelands (Stellenbosch/Franschhoek) with tastings and a lazy lunch.
Why: This is the postcard stuff and the food scene is ridiculous.
Days 5–7: Garden Route
Days 8–11: Greater Kruger Safari
Days 5–7: Garden Route
Route: Fly Cape Town to George OR drive from Cape Town (scenic but longer).
Base options: Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, or Tsitsikamma area.
Highlights:
- Tsitsikamma National Park and Storms River suspension bridge
- Robberg Nature Reserve hike
- Wilderness beaches and lagoons
- Ostrich farms & Cango Caves if you route via Oudtshoorn
Why: Wild coastline, forests, adventure activities, and a softer introduction to South Africa’s “outdoor everything” lifestyle.
Days 8–11: Greater Kruger Safari
Days 8–11: Greater Kruger Safari
Days 8–11: Greater Kruger Safari
Route: Fly George or Cape Town to Nelspruit (MQP) or Skukuza (SZK).
Stay: Private reserve in Sabi Sand, Timbavati, or Klaserie for best game viewing.
Highlights:
- Big 5 sightings with off-road access
- Night drives & bush walks
- High-quality guiding and luxury lodges
Reason: You don’t come all the way to Africa to tick off half a lion behind ten cars. This is the real deal.
Days 12–13: Panorama Route & Lowveld
Days 14–15: Johannesburg & Soweto (optional)
Days 8–11: Greater Kruger Safari
Base: Hazyview or Graskop for a night or two after safari.
Highlights:
- Blyde River Canyon
- God’s Window, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, Three Rondavels
- Waterfalls loop
Reason: Break up the trip, see some epic landscapes, and enjoy the Lowveld pace before heading back.
Days 14–15: Johannesburg & Soweto (optional)
Days 14–15: Johannesburg & Soweto (optional)
Days 14–15: Johannesburg & Soweto (optional)
Route: Drive or fly to Johannesburg.
Highlights:
- Apartheid Museum
- Soweto cycle tour
- Constitution Hill
Reason: History hits harder when you stand in the places it happened.
(If history isn’t your thing, you can cut Joburg and add an extra Winelands or Garden Route night.)
Travel Tips
Days 14–15: Johannesburg & Soweto (optional)
Days 14–15: Johannesburg & Soweto (optional)
- Internal flights save time and aren’t too pricey.
- Avoid packing too much, SA has every climate, but layers and a good windbreaker will save you.
- Do safari in the middle or toward the end of the trip, when you’ve shaken off jet lag and adjusted to local pace.
- If you love wine, extend the Winelands by a night. If you love hiking, extend Garden Route or Panorama Route.