Hit the road on this 10-day self-drive adventure to explore the highlights of South Africa's eastern region. First, travel along the Panorama Route, one of the most scenic drives in the country, then continue to the majestic plateaus of the Drakensberg escarpment. After enjoying nature hikes and mountain fun, travel to the coast for boat tours and safaris to spot exotic animals like leopards and rhinos.
Go whale watching, shark diving, wine tasting, meerkat spotting, ocean kayaking, and so much more on this fantastic two-week tour of South Africa. Kick things off in Cape Town with the best food, art, and history experiences, get up close with nature on a drive along the famously scenic Garden Route, and end your adventure with a ride through the vineyards on the famous wine tram of Franschhoek.
This epic 13-day itinerary delivers the best of South Africa's southern coast by combining city tours, wine tastings, road trips, and safari drives. First, enjoy history walks around Cape Town, tours in the Winelands, and trips to the Cape Peninsula to walk with penguins. Then hit the road for nature tours and beach time along the famous Garden Route before finishing strong with a true African safari in a private game reserve.
This unforgettable 18-day road trip combines the best of eastern South Africa's wildlife, natural wonders, and cultural highlights. The adventure begins in the metropolis of Johannesburg, and from there you'll visit massive river canyons plus take self-drive safaris in Kruger and Hlane National Parks. Then you're off to protected wetlands for snorkeling and wildlife tours before finishing the trip hiking and horseback riding around the incredible Drakensberg Mountains.
This 10-day tour of eastern South Africa kicks off in Durban, the country's third-largest city known for its surf culture, Indian heritage, and bunny chow. Spot hippos and crocs at a UNESCO World Heritage-listed reserve, learn about Swazi culture as you cross the kingdom of eSwatini (formerly Swaziland), and spend two days driving around Kruger National Park seeking out lions, elephants, and leopards.
Go off the beaten path in South Africa on this diverse trip which explores the southern tip of the country and its plentiful wildlife. Start in Cape Town and learn its living history, then visit West Coast National Park to discover aquatic life along with rock formations, wildflowers, and prehistoric cave art. Take a series of big game drives in search of the "Big Five" at Kruger National Park, and finish up your journey marveling at the sumptuous vistas of Blyde River Canyon.
From bustling Cape Town to secluded St Lucia, you'll see the best that South Africa's Atlantic and Indian coasts have to offer on this 10-day self-drive itinerary. Experience golden beaches in Durban, take in stunning views from atop Table Mountain, and come face to face with hippos and crocodiles in iSimangaliso Wetland Park as you create lasting memories on this South African adventure.
The area in and around Johannesburg is full of history, from the rise of Nelson Mandela to the evolution of the first human ancestors. Discover it all on this eight-day itinerary covering the largest city in South Africa and one of the largest game reserves on the continent. Visit Mandela's home in Houghton, learn traditional cooking methods in Soweto, and see the "Big Five" in Kruger National Park before the week is out on this fascinating trip.
Hit the highlights of South Africa on this nine-day itinerary that takes you from the coast to the savanna. The tour kicks off in Cape Town, where you'll learn about the city's diverse history. Take a cable car to Table Mountain and enjoy panoramic views as the sun sets. Spend the day wine tasting and find out what all the fuss is about over South African wines. Finally, spot "Big Five" game animals like lions and elephants on multiple safari game drives at Thornybush Game Reserve.
Discover some of the most beautiful coastal views of South Africa on this weeklong journey that hugs the shores. Start in Cape Town, where you'll explore the city's highlights before venturing on an epic ocean drive. Meander along the famous Route 62 for expansive mountain range vistas. Visit national parks and coastal villages along the Garden Route, which runs from the west to the Eastern Cape. Finish your trip in search of the "Big Five" with a safari game drive in Addo Elephant National Park.
Explore the magic of South Africa on this nine-day, self-drive adventure. Start in Cape Town, where you'll take a cable car up Table Mountain and visit penguins on Boulders Beach. Then, it's off to the seaside town of Mossel Bay for a guided safari and close encounters with wildlife like zebras, elephants, and rhinos. Hop a flight to the beaches of Durban for some swimming and surfing, then finish your trip in St Lucia, where you'll cruise the St Lucia Estuary and see the hippos and crocodiles that live there.
This two-week adventure delivers the grand highlights and lesser-visited gems of southern Africa. Arrive in Cape Town to witness living history on walking tours and go wine tasting in the famous Cape Winelands. Jet off to Zimbabwe for sunset river cruises and vintage train rides around Victoria Falls, then hop over to Botswana for game drives in Chobe National Park and the Okavango Delta. Your trip culminates back in South Africa with more safari adventures in Kruger National Park.
This two-week sojourn in South Africa delivers the highlights, from cultural outings to wine tastings to wildlife adventures. In Cape Town, you'll get to know the region on city tours, guided hikes, and day trips to the Cape Winelands region to enjoy great food and wine. After walking with penguins near the southern Cape, you're off to Kruger National Park for wildlife safaris before ending the trip in Johannesburg, where you'll witness living history from the Apartheid era before heading home.
Discover wildlife and natural beauty up close on this weeklong adventure that takes you to South Africa and Zimbabwe's most spectacular sites. Start in Kruger National Park to explore by safari as you observe "Big Five" wildlife by day and nocturnal beasts in the evening. Enjoy life at the lodge and experience a traditional meal grilled over open flames. Finish your expedition by marveling at the overwhelming beauty of Victoria Falls and trying out some extreme sports activities.
Spend 13 days in South Africa enjoying the highlights of Cape Town, plus a jaunt through wine country and down to the Cape of Good Hope. You'll then embark on an epic road trip along the Garden Route, one of the most scenic coastal drives in the world. Stop in national parks, visit charming towns, hit the waves in surf towns—you'll even have time to search for the "Big Five" on multiple safari game drives.
On this 13-day adventure in South Africa and beyond, you'll check some major activities off your bucket list. Start on the coast of Cape Town, where you'll experience highlights like visiting Cape Point, walking with penguins, going on wine tours, and enjoying the views from Table Mountain. Then, spend a few unforgettable days on safari in Kruger National Park, followed by a jaunt to Mauritius for beach time and aquatic excursions in the Indian Ocean.
You can experience southern Africa's greatest natural wonders alongside local culture and cuisine in just over two weeks. Start in South Africa's Western Cape to scale Table Mountain and taste world-class reds in the Winelands, then make your way to Kruger and Chobe National Parks for wildlife safaris by land and water—with visits to Johannesburg and Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls in between. Your adventure ends in Botswana, where you'll track antelope and canoe alongside elephants in the biodiverse Okavango Delta.
An excellent way to cover a lot of ground and see South Africa's top highlights is to hire a car and go on a road trip. The best time to hop in a vehicle is during the shoulder season (spring and fall) when the prices are low and fewer travelers are on the road. Yet each season offers fine weather and excellent opportunities for wildlife spotting and outdoor excursions—it all depends on where in the country you plan to be. Read on to find out what season suits you best.
When looking for a top safari lodge, the first step is to choose an excellent game reserve deep in the heart of the bush. Professional guides from the lodge will ensure excellent game-viewing with drives and bushwalks, birding, and tracking. Indulge in luxurious facilities with heated pools, spas, outdoor showers, king-sized beds, exquisite décor, excellent cuisine, and dining under the stars.
South Africa is home to some of the world's biggest and oldest game reserves, with national parks such as Hluhluwe-Imfolozi and Kruger and renowned private reserves like Shamwari and the Tswalu-Kalahari. Safaris usually mean game drives, but there are more unique options: a hot air balloon over the Pilanesberg National Park, a light aircraft above Kruger National Park, or a cruise with hippos in Isimangaliso Wetland Park. Whether you are a budget backpacker, a romantic couple, a family of exuberant kids, a crazy adventurer, or a stressed-out executive, there is a safari for you.
Safari lodges in Kruger National Park offer everything from extravagant luxury to wilderness adventures, family holidays, and romantic seclusion. You may want to get back to nature, but there is no need to "rough it." Enjoy world-class game viewing along with beautiful and relaxing accommodation, delicious cuisine, and much more.
With multiple weeks in South Africa, you can truly explore far and wide, returning home with memories of the game parks, Cape Winelands, and neighboring Botswana, Namibia, and even Mauritius. Wildlife lovers can follow the Garden Route to Addo Elephant National Park and Kruger National Park or paddle the Okavango Delta and take a sunset boat ride to Victoria Falls. Or, spend your time on a wellness retreat that includes spa treatments, gourmet dining, and water activities in the Indian Ocean.
South Africa is home to world-famous national game reserves such as the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi National Park, recognized for rhino conservation, and the Kruger National Park, the largest game reserve in the country. Shamwari in the Eastern Cape and the Tswalu-Kalahari in the Northern Cape are among the biggest and best private game reserves. The best time to visit is during the dry winter season (May to October), when it is cooler, and the animals are more visible in the dry vegetation.
Driving South Africa's famed Garden Route is suitable in any season; though there is always a chance of rain, it's never enough to discourage a road trip or adventure outdoors. Let your interests determine when you hit the road. If you want to see whales, come in the winter, spring for the wildflowers, summer for the beaches, and fall for hiking. Awaiting exploration at any time, the Garden Route offers something for everyone.
This romantic and luxurious seven-day honeymoon getaway covers the best of South Africa's sights. You'll enjoy refined metropolitan dining and wine tasting in the Cape Winelands, then transfer to a private safari lodge to see Africa's Big 5 and enjoy world-class relaxation with your special someone.
The approximately 250 mile (400 km) stretch of coastline from Heidelberg to the Tsitsikamma Forest and Jeffreys Bay boasts a remarkable kaleidoscope of topography, vegetation, and outdoor activities. This area provides as complete an experience as the country can offer, including Cape Town, wine tasting in Cape Winelands, Oudtshoorn (with its abundance of ostriches), nearby game parks, and even cage diving with great white sharks. The information below will help you plan an appropriate itinerary for your schedule and interests.
With its expansive size, varied topography, and coastlines bordering the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, South Africa conjures diverse weather patterns. While summer sun shines on the cloudless Cape Provinces, rain deluges the safari parks of KwaZulu Natal and Greater Kruger. Consequently, with game reserves scattered throughout the country, choosing where and when to visit can leave you scratching your head. The following information will help you weigh your priorities and determine which season and destination is right for you in this country of many climates.
Kruger National Park is a year-round destination, but understanding how the dry and wet seasons affect game-viewing is key. Depending on how you weigh your priorities, the following information will help you decide which season is right for you.
Planning your trip to Cape Town requires flipping your mental calendar, as the southern hemisphere’s seasons are a reverse of the northern hemisphere. South Africa’s hot, dry, and popular summer (December-February) corresponds to North America’s winter, and vice versa. However, you should also factor in when best to avoid the crowds and find the most reasonable rates. Depending on how you weigh these factors, the following information will help you decide which season is right for you.
Kruger is the park with the greatest diversity of wildlife in South Africa, and you could spend up to a week enjoying safari and nature walks here. A minimum of two days will give you a real taste for the park’s stupendous wildlife viewing, but you’ll want at least five days to truly appreciate its diversity. With a park this spectacular, even two weeks isn't too long, especially when combined with Victoria Falls.
You can have a great safari adventure in South Africa in as little as a long weekend. With game parks scattered throughout the nation, you can easily access one or more reserves close to Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, or Durban if you have only a few days to spare. Of course, a week or more is recommended for a more diverse experience across different parks and regions, including game drives, bush walks, and even a hot-air balloon “safari.” Two weeks would let you combine several distinct parks and reserves in South Africa as well as its neighbors, including Greater Kruger, Victoria Falls, and the Kalahari, plus other highlights of the region.
South Africa is a year-round destination thanks to its varied landscapes—it's always sunny somewhere. No matter what season you visit, you'll find something to do: Kruger safaris in winter, Hermanus whale watching in spring, Cape Town beaches in the summer, and Franschoek wine in the fall. Visit during spring or autumn when the weather is predictable and mild, wildlife is active, and there are fewer crowds. Read on for advice on South Africa's weather, unmissable events, and travel tips.
Experience the best of South Africa on this two-week itinerary, from the privately owned game reserves of the north to the internationally-acclaimed wines of Franschhoek. Fly into Johannesburg, then spend a week on safari at looking for Africa's Big 5 near Kruger. Continue to Cape Town where you'll rent a car, allowing you to drive along the Atlantic Seaboard and take an overnight trip to the Winelands. This itinerary combines a variety of activities with enough free time to explore at your own pace.
This two-week trip takes you through South Africa and into Botswana, starting in the vibrant city of Cape Town where you'll go whale watching, visit the penguin colony on Boulders Beach, and tour the scenic Cape Peninsula. The luxury train Rovos Rail will take you across the country, stopping in Matjiesfontein, Kimberely, and Pretoria, and ending with a flight from Johannesburg to Sabi Sand Game Reserve. Sleep in luxury tents and track Big Five wildlife before transferring to Botswana and exploring the Okavango Delta with traditional mokoro boats and a hot air balloon ride.
Explore South Africa's culture and wildlife on this 10-day trip, starting in the vibrant city of Cape Town with a tour of the Cape Peninsula, a visit to Boulders Beach to view the penguins, and a whale-watching cruise near Walker Bay. Then hop aboard the luxury train Rovos Rail to traverse the country, stopping in Matjiesfontein, Kimberely, and Pretoria along the way. End your trip with a flight to Thornybush Game Reserve for daily safaris and dinners in a luxury tented camp under the stars.
This 7-day wildlife tour starts in the bustling city of Cape Town, where you'll enjoy strolling its busy harbor and discovering its natural beauty along the Cape Peninsula and Kalk Bay. Visit the penguin colonies on Boulders Beach, go whale watching near Hermanus, and drive the scenic Chapman Peak at sunset. Then catch your flight to Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve where you sleep in luxury while enjoying daily safaris and bushwalks, tracking the continent's famous Big Five wildlife.
This itinerary will start in Cape Town, where you will have a few days to explore the culturally-rich and scenic city, including a visit to Robben Island as well as a cable car ride up to Table Mountain. You will then drive through the Cape to the quaint town, Caledon, before exploring the Klein Karoo and spending a night in Oudtshoorn. Over the next few days, you will discover the famous Garden Route while staying in Knysna before heading to Amakhala Game Reserve for two days of safari.
This 15-day itinerary combines the highlights of South African travel with the chance to relax on the white sand beaches of Mauritius. You'll arrive in Cape Town, where you'll discover the Cape wine region and explore the city's top scenic and tourist spots including Table Mountain and Robben Island, before traveling to Manyeleti Game Reserve, which shares an open border with Kruger National Park. Over four days, you'll spot the Big Five and other species during game drives or guided walks, and then depart for Johannesburg where you'll catch a flight to Mauritius.
Sun, surf, great wine, and incredible vistas: these some of the things that define Cape Town, South Africa. With 24 hours you can go beyond the city and travel around the gorgeous Cape Peninsula. Spend two or three days here and add a kayak excursion and cable car ride up to iconic Table Mountain. With closer to a week you can test your mettle on a shark diving-adventure plus enjoy a bit of culture with visits to an African art museum and Robben Island, the prison where Mandela spent 18 years of his life.
Over two weeks, you'll do everything from touring Cape Town's top tourist destinations to eating lunch in a local tavern in the township of Soweto. The trip will start with five days discovering the best spots in Cape Town and its vibrant city life before flying to the Eastern Cape where you'll spend four days in Knysna and Jeffreys Bay exploring the Garden Route. For two days, you'll get up close with the big five while staying in a tented camp in Manyeleti Game Reserve before heading to South Africa's commercial capital, Johannesburg, where you'll have a full city tour.
This Southern Africa tour encompasses four distinct countries' natural and cultural highlights. Beginning in Cape Town, you'll head north to Namibia to hike up Dune 45 for a sunrise and safari in the beautiful Etosha National Park. From there, journey to Botswana for a traditional Mokoro ride through the Okavango Delta and finish with a relaxing sunset boat cruise on the Chobe River before ending at iconic Victoria Falls.
This 15-day tour focuses on exploring exciting Cape Town by pushing the boundaries of your body and mind. Enjoy fitness classes, surf lessons, and cross-fit challenges as you make your way through South Africa's most popular destination. You'll also get your adrenaline rush through adventure experiences like abseiling, canoeing, obstacle courses, and seal snorkeling. Finally, cycle through some of the most beautiful natural landscapes that surround Cape Town, including the Cape of Good Hope and the Cape Winelands.
This 3-week wellness retreat starts in bustling Cape Town, where you'll enjoy several spa treatments at a posh accommodation while adventuring out of the city for scenic drives and wine tasting. Foodies will be pleased with exquisite meals made from traditional methods and served with seafront views, plus tours of colonial tea farms. Where pampering meets adventure, this trip also includes safaris, submarine rides, whale watching, sightseeing flights, and catamaran cruises.
South Africa offers a perfect mix of culture, nature, and adventure. Discover the "Rainbow Nation" through its famed wildlife on a world-class safari and in the neighborhoods of metropolitan Cape Town. Stay in remote lodges, taste local vintages in the rolling Winelands, and enjoy museums and fine dining in Johannesburg. Keep reading to learn more about planning your perfect trip to South Africa with kimkim's local specialists.
"Chase the light" as you explore mesmerizing mountains, rivers, coastlines, and plateaus across the Western and Eastern Capes in South Africa. Flexible for all budgets and skill levels, photographers will explore the shadows of Cape Town's colorful neighborhoods, capture stunning sunrises atop Table Mountain, and cruise the Stanford River in search of glistening sunbeams. End your trip by heading east along the coastal Garden Route for even more photographic scenes of nature and wildlife, including rare rhinos and meerkats in their natural habitats.
Perfect for those wishing to explore the best of South Africa, this 2-week tour includes some of the country's most popular regions, including a luxury stay with 5-star, private safaris. Start in Cape Town exploring its impeccable coastline, penguin colony, and Table Mountain, before renting a car and heading into the famous wine country. Sip world-renowned wines, go cave spelunking, visit an ostrich farm, and try the country's best oysters before heading north to Zimbabwe to hike Victoria Falls and view elephants.
This two-week adventure spans southern Africa to mix luxurious activities with rugged safaris. Explore Cape Town's award-winning wine region and walk with penguins on Boulders Beach before catching the 2-night luxury Blue Train to Pretoria. Enjoy glamping-style accommodation while hiking to Victoria Falls, searching for big game in Chobe National Park, and navigating the diverse waters of the Okavango River Delta on traditional wooden boats.
This wildlife adventure combines some of Southern Africa's most beautiful natural sights, including Victoria Falls and safaris in Kruger National Park. Perfect for those wishing to see wild game roaming the savanna while sipping their morning coffee in luxury accommodation, this trip offers endless opportunities to marvel at wildlife in their natural habitats. Traverse three countries while enjoying sunset river cruises and multiple safaris in a region with Africa's largest concentration of elephants.
After arriving in Johannesburg, you will have the chance to explore the vibrant "City of Gold" including the many art galleries, markets, and historical museums. You will also take a township tour through Soweto, South Africa's "living museum" filled with rich history, before departing for Kruger National Park. A few days in Kruger National Park will give you a full opportunity to discover the reserve's thousands of wildlife species and unique heritage spots before you depart back to Johannesburg and visit Blyde River Canyon along the way.
Travel across southern Africa for ten days on this safari-centric tour. Spend three nights exploring Cape Town and its surroundings, then head out into the bush and three different parks to try your hand (and eyes) at spotting the Big Five and all their friends.
