14 Days in South Africa - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

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

This 14-day highlights tour of South Africa combines the country's two top cities and the 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 even a visit to an animal rescue center in Kruger.

Spend your first day in Cape Town with time to explore top city landmarks and ride the cable car to the top of Table Mountain. Days 2 and 3 are dedicated to visiting wineries in the Winelands, followed by a Cape Peninsula driving tour to the Cape of Good Hope. You'll stop en route to visit the penguin colony at Simon's Town, plus swim at Maidens Cove. The next day, take the ferry to the former prison on Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned. Then head to Constantia to savor a fusion lunch at La Colombe. On Day 7, you'll fly to Johannesburg for two days in South Africa's largest and most vibrant city.

You'll visit the Nelson Mandela Museum, plus enjoy a guided tour of Soweto township and the Maboneng Precinct, a former industrial zone that has been transformed with art galleries, restaurants, markets, and buzzing nightlife. On Day 9, you'll travel to Kruger National Park to spend four days looking for the Big Five and other creatures during open-vehicle game drives and a sunrise bush walk along the Olifants River. You'll also view Stone Age archaeological sites and even visit the Moholoholo Rehabilitation Center, where injured and orphaned animals and birds are cared for. On Day 13, return to Johannesburg via Blyde River Canyon. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Cape Town & Garden Route Adventure 

This 14-day tour lets you fully immerse yourself in the wonderful Western Cape, with time to explore the region in-depth. From city tours and wine tastings to a shark dive and wildlife safari, this itinerary packs many exhilarating activities and top venues.

You'll arrive in Cape Town and spend the afternoon relaxing at Bloubergstrand Beach. The following day you'll explore the historic city highlights, while in the afternoon, ride to the top of Table Mountain. Foodies will love Day 3 as you sample South Africa's multicultural culinary influences, including a traditional Cape Malay lunch in the colorful Bo Kaap district, plus craft beer in the trendy suburb of Woodstock. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens awaits on Day 4. Day 5 sees you driving south along the Cape Peninsula to the Cape of Good Hope before continuing to the Winelands district to indulge in delicious cuisines and wines in historic Stellenbosch and Franschhoek.

Then head south to Cape Agulhas for sunset and overnight at the southernmost tip of Africa. On Day 7, drive east for Hermanus, South Africa's top whale watching destination, rounding out your day with a visit to the penguin colony at Betty's Bay. The next day, drive to Kleinbaai to dive with the great white sharks, then drive east along the Garden Route to end in Knysna. Continue 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. Up early on Day 11 for an exciting game drive in Addo Elephant National Park, followed by free time in Jeffrey's Bay for surfing.

The next day, wind through the Langkloof Mountains and Klein Karoo, the home turf of the African ostrich. You'll visit Cango Ostrich Show Farm, plus explore the Cango Caves. On your penultimate day, follow scenic Route 62 to Cape Town, stopping at Ronnie's Sex Shop, a legendary roadside bar with quirky miscellany. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Discover South Africa: Cape Town, Winelands, Johannesburg & Tswalu Kalahari

The magnificent and remote northern region of Tswalu Kalahari is a highlight of this 14-day adventure replete with activities to boost your endorphins: hot-air ballooning, sea-kayaking, scuba diving with sharks, and safari bush walks. Plus, you'll experience the best of both Cape Town and Johannesburg and their surroundings.

Enjoy a Cape Town harbor cruise on your first day, or visit the Two Oceans Aquarium or the Diamond Museum. On Day 2, hop aboard a motorcycle sidecar to drive south along the scenic Cape Peninsula to the Cape of Good Hope. After viewing the penguin colony at Simon's Town, head inland via Muizenberg—famous for its surfing—for wine tasting in the Constantia Winelands. On Day 3, you'll drive to Kleinbaai for a full-day diving adventure with great white sharks. A sunrise kayak along the Cape Town coast from Moullie Point on Day 4 offers a chance for close-up encounters with whales and dolphins.

Spend Day 6 in Franschhoek to partake in an array of optional activities, including a ride on the Franschhoek Wine Tram. The next day, indulge in a biking tour through the vineyards of the Franschhoek Valley, including a picnic lunch at a wine estate. On Day 8, you'll fly to Johannesburg to visit the Nelson Mandela Museum, plus enjoy a guided tour of Soweto. Up early the next day for a hot-air balloon flight over the Magalies River Valley, then explore the Johannesburg highlights, including the interactive Museum Africa. 

You'll then fly to the Tswalu Kalahari Private Game Reserve for three days of exploring the wilderness in search of black-maned lions and critically endangered desert black rhinos. Learn more

Itinerary #4: South Africa Family Adventure: Cape Town, Winelands, Garden Route, Safari & More

Whether traveling with wee ones or adolescents, this 14-day family adventure will awe all family members. From rotating your way up Table Mountain in a cable car and zip lining to viewing meerkats eye-to-eye and safari bush walks, your week is chock-full of great activities and venues.

Arriving in Cape Town, let the kids choose the itinerary from a harbor cruise, an aquarium, or a museum before riding the cable car up Table Mountain the next day. Kids will have fun aboard the Jolly Roger pirate ship and a sunset ride on the Cape Wheel Ferris wheel. On Day 3, journey along the Cape Peninsula and visit the Boulders Beach penguin sanctuary. You'll also see the Kommetjie Imhoff Village to interact with farm animals and perhaps enjoy a horseback ride along the beach. The next day, 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.

Day 5 includes a zip line ride at the Cape Canopy Tour Adventure Park, exploring the vineyard maze at family-friendly Southhill Vineyards, and paddleboarding the lake at the mountaintop Old Mac Daddy farm lodge. Then drive to Gansbaai for a thrilling diving adventure with great white sharks before continuing to the Klein River for an evening cruise aboard the Lady Stanford. Next, hit Route 62 for Oudtshoorn, stopping en route at the Panthera Big Cat Sanctuary, a rescue center where kids will love the enrichment tour. Linger the next day to visit an ostrich farm, rent bikes, or even thrill to a hot-air balloon ride.

On Day 9, 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 more fun activities. Day 10 is for hiking the Tsisitakama Forest and maybe kayaking the Stormsriver Gorge. Then visit the Fynboshoek Cheese Farm plus the Tenikwa Wildlife Rehabilitation Center for an afternoon of education. The next day, transfer to Shamwari, a luxury private game reserve with a special Kids on Safari Adventure. Enjoy game drives, birding, walking safaris, and the Born Free Foundation Big Cat Rescue Center. Learn more

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

This 14-day itinerary combines sophisticated Cape Town, the Cape of Good Hope, and the Winelands with a safari through Sabi Sands Game Reserve, plus the majesty of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. You'll also spend five exhilarating days exploring Namibia's watery and wildlife-rich Chobe National Park and Botswana's equally rich Okavango Delta.

You'll arrive in Cape Town and join a walking tour of the city core covering highlights such as Parliament and the District Six Museum. Day 2 sees you exploring the dramatic shoreline of Cape Peninsula, including Cape of Good Hope and Simon's Town penguin colony, plus Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, with its Centenary Tree Canopy Walkway. The next day, foodies will enjoy a full-day cheese, wine, and chocolate indulgence in the Winelands, with visits to three notable wineries in and around Stellenbosch. On Day 4, you'll fly to Johannesburg and visit the Nelson Mandela Museum, Soweto, and the Kliptown Youth Program.

Next day, fly to Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve. Here 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 8, then transfer to the Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls, where your hotel overlooks "The Smoke that Thunders." Enjoy an afternoon dinner cruise along the Upper Zambezi. Next day transfer to Namibia and board the "Zambezi Queen" houseboat for three days of wildlife viewing as you cruise the waterways of Chobe National Park; then fly to Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana's Okavango Delta. Learn more

More Great 2-Week South Africa Itineraries

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