10 Days in South Africa - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Classic Cape Town, Johannesburg & Kruger Safari 

This 10-day tour of South Africa combines the two top cities and the country's most important national park for safaris. You'll experience the very best of Cape Town and Johannesburg and thrill to bush walks, game drives, and a visit to an animal rescue center in Kruger.

You'll arrive in Cape Town with time to explore such city landmarks as Parliament, the Castle of Good Hope, and the District Six Museum, which commemorates forced relocation under apartheid. You'll also take the cable car to the top of Table Mountain. Days 2 and 3 are dedicated to visiting wineries in the Winelands, including savoring regional wines and delicious foods, followed by a Cape Peninsula driving tour to the Cape of Good Hope, at Africa's southernmost tip. Of course, you'll stop en route to visit the penguin colony at Simon's Town and swim at Maidens Cove.

On Day 4, you'll fly to Johannesburg for two days to visit the Nelson Mandela Museum, plus enjoy a guided tour of Soweto township and a walking tour of the Maboneng Precinct, a former industrial zone that has been transformed with art galleries, restaurants, markets, and a buzzing nightlife. On Day 6, you'll travel to Kruger National Park, considered the crown jewel of South Africa's game parks. Here you'll spend three days on the lookout for the Big Five and other creatures during open-vehicle game drives and a sunrise bush walk along the Olifants River. 

On Day 9, return to Johannesburg via the magnificent Blyde River Canyon, whose precipitous cliffs include the iconic Three Rondavels. On Day 10, transfer to the airport for your flight home. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Cape Town & Garden Route Adventure

Melding the best of Cape Town, the Winelands, and the stunning Garden Route, this well-rounded trip delivers a smorgasbord of scenic treats, plus wine-tasting, a safari, and a cage-dive with great white sharks.

You'll arrive in Cape Town and spend the afternoon relaxing at Bloubergstrand Beach. The next morning is filled with exploring the city highlights, while in the afternoon, delight to a cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain. On Day 3, drive south along the dramatically scenic Cape Peninsula to the Cape of Good Hope. After viewing the penguin colony at Simon's Town, head inland to Stellenboch. The following day, visit the locals in Kayamandi Township for ginger beer and regional Xhosa snacks. Then on to Simonsig Winery to sample South Africa's sparkling wine and Franschhoek for a wine tasting paired with chocolates.

Finally, head to Cape Agulhas, Africa's southernmost point. On Day 5, you'll drive to Kleinbaai for a full-day diving adventure with great white sharks before following the Garden Route on Day 6, winding along mountain roads, and canoeing in Wilderness National Park. On Day 7, continue via Plettenberg Bay to Bloukran's Bridge, where travelers can leap into the gorge from the world's highest bridge, bungee jump, or hike in nearby Tsitsikamma National Park. End in Jeffreys Bay, nicknamed "Surf City." Up early on Day 8 for a game drive in Addo Elephant National Park, followed by a drive through the Langkloof Mountains and Klein Karoo, the home turf of the African ostrich.

You'll visit Cango Ostrich Show Farm, plus explore underground in Cango Caves to admire dripstone formations and prehistoric pictographs. The next day, follow scenic Route 62, stopping at Ronnie's Sex Shop, a legendary roadside bar festooned with quirky miscellany. Continue to Cape Town airport for your flight home. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Cape Town, Kruger Safari & South Africa's Beaches

There's so much to see and do in South Africa, and you'll discover it on this 10-day adventure. You'll explore Cape Town, the Cape Peninsula, and the Winelands, but you'll also thrill to three days on safari, plus sea-kayaking, turtle-viewing, and other fantastic activities by the Indian Ocean.

You'll arrive in Cape Town with time to explore landmarks such as Parliament, the Castle of Good Hope, and the District Six Museum, plus take the cable car to the top of Table Mountain. On Day 2, drive south along the dramatically scenic Cape Peninsula to the Cape of Good Hope. After viewing the penguin colony at Simons Town, head inland via Muizenberg—famous for its surfing—for wine tasting in the Constantia Winelands. Next day, foodies will particularly enjoy a full-day indulgence in the Cape Winelands, with visits to three notable wineries in and around Stellenbosch to savor fine wines, cheeses, and dark Belgian chocolates.

Transfer to Kruger National Park on Day 4. A night in a safari lodge and two nights at a bush camp guarantee sensational wildlife viewing on game drives and bush walks by day and night. You're virtually guaranteed fabulous close-up experiences with zebra, buffalo, giraffe, elephant, rhino, and lions, as well as such nocturnal creatures as aardvarks and hyenas. On Day 7, fly to iSimangaliso Wetland Park and transfer to Thonga Beach Lodge, beside the Indian Ocean. Days 8 and 9 are full of such fun activities as snorkeling, scuba diving, sea-kayaking, and even a nighttime turtle-viewing beach walk in November to January nesting season. On day 10, transfer to Johannesburg for your onward flight home. Learn more

Itinerary #4: South Africa Family Adventure

Whether you're traveling with wee ones or adolescents, a family adventure is sure to awe kids of all ages. Ascend Table Mountain in a cable car, view meerkats eye-to-eye, and more.

Start with a Cape Town harbor cruise, or visit the Two Oceans Aquarium or the Diamond Museum. The next morning ride the cable car up Table Mountain to hike at the summit, then view the mountain from the ocean with a trip aboard the Jolly Roger pirate ship, followed by a sunset ride on the Cape Wheel Ferris wheel. If it's raining, head to the Planetarium and Science Center. On Day 3, journey along the Cape Peninsula, then visit the penguin sanctuary at Boulders Beach. You'll also visit the Kommetjie Imhoff Village to interact with farm animals and perhaps enjoy a horseback ride along the beach or even a coastal train ride to Muizenberg. 

The next day starts with a sensory experience at Babylonstroen Winelands and Gardens, then head to Boschendal, South Africa's second-oldest wine farm, which offers farm learning experiences for kids. A ride on the Wine Tram adds to the fun, as does learning to make chocolate at the Huguenots Chocolate Shop or maybe a visit to the Franschhoek Motor Museum. Day 5 includes a zip line ride at the Cape Canopy Tour Adventure Park, exploring the vineyard maze at family-friendly Southhill Vineyards, and paddle-boarding the lake at the mountaintop Old Mac Daddy farm lodge.

The next day hit famous Route 62 for Oudtshoorn, stopping en route for a half-day adventure at the Panthera Big Cat Sanctuary, dedicated to rescuing big cats; kids will love the enrichment tour. On Day 7, visit a game reserve for a meerkat encounter as you eat breakfast in the bush. Continue to Mossel Bay to sandboard on South Africa's largest dune. Then it's on to a strawberry farm for lunch before arriving in the seaside town of Knysna with time for a sunset yacht cruise along the coast. The next day, transfer to Shamwari, a luxury private game reserve with a special Kids on Safari Adventure. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Southern Africa Safari, Victoria Falls & Chobe National Park

This multi-country itinerary combines sophisticated Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope, and the Winelands with a safari through Sabi Sands Game Reserve bordering Kruger National Park, plus the majesty of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Namibia's watery and wildlife-rich Chobe National Park by houseboat.

Explore such city Cape Town landmarks as Parliament, the Castle of Good Hope, and the District Six Museum, plus take the cable car to the top of Table Mountain. Day 2 is given to exploring the dramatic shoreline of Cape Peninsula, including Cape of Good Hope and Simon's Town penguin colony, plus Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, where a highlight will be a walk along the curved steel and timber Centenary Tree Canopy Walkway. Next day, foodies will particularly enjoy a full-day indulgence in the Cape Winelands, with visits to three notable wineries in and around Stellenbosch to savor fine wines, cheeses, and dark Belgian chocolates.

On Day 4, you'll fly to Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve, bordering Kruger National Park. Based at a deluxe game lodge, you'll spend three days heading out on morning and afternoon game drives and walking safaris in search of the Big Five plus more elusive nocturnal wildlife. Fly to Zambia on Day 7, then transfer to the Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls, where your hotel has a sensational locale overlooking "The Smoke that Thunders." You'll also delight in an afternoon dinner cruise along the Upper Zambezi.

The next day, transfer to Namibia and board the Zambezi Queen houseboat for two days of wildlife viewing as you cruise the waterways of Chobe National Park. Chobe boasts the world's largest concentration of African elephants, large pods of hippos, plus massive herds of Cape buffalo, and many lions and other predators. On Day 10, you'll fly to Maun airport for your onward flight home. Learn more

More Great 10-Day South Africa Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to South Africa? Check out these other 10-day South Africa itineraries, with outdoor adventures, cultural trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.