A two-week South Africa itinerary that takes in the best of this stunningly beautiful country. Click for Luxury, Mid-range or Budget.
Here’s your South Africa itinerary:
| Luxury |  |
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| 1 | ✈To Port Elizabeth (Book >) | Dep: Evening | 🏨In flight! | ||
| Fuel stations in South Africa are not self-service. Remember to tip the attendant. | |||||
| 2 | ✈To Port Elizabeth 🚗Port Elizabeth to Knysna drive (Hire car >) |
Dep: 15:30 | Arr: Afternoon Arr: 18:30 |
🏨Amanzi Island Lodge (Book >) | All hotels > |
| Collect your car and drive straight to Knysna. | Speed limits are strictly adhered to in South Africa. | ||||
| 3 | Kayak in the bay, go whale watching, relax on nearby Plettenberg’s beaches, drive back along the road to Tsitsikamma or simply use your first full day chill out in this beautiful town. | Although June to November is the best time to see whales, they can be spotted year-round. | |||
| 4 | 🚗Knysna to Hermanus drive | Dep: 09:00 | Arr: 15:30 | 🏨Auberge Provence (Book >) | All hotels > |
| You have all day to make this 4.5 hour drive, so use it to make a stop at the old-fashioned seaside resort of Mossel Bay before arriving into Hermanus to get down to some serious whale watching. | It’s possible to spot whales by standing on the shoreline in Hermanus. | ||||
| 5 | 🚗Hermanus to Stellenbosch drive | Dep: 11:00 | Arr: 12:30 | 🏨Boschendal Cottages (Book >) | All hotels > |
| Studded with pretty vineyard estates, Stellenbosch is the perfect place to sample the best that South Africa has to offer. Consider taking a tour so that you can try the wines without having to worry about driving. | You will need to buy a glass to taste the wines in most cellars. | ||||
| 6 | 🚗Stellenbosch to Cape Town drive | Dep: 14:00 | Arr: 15:00 | 🏨Cape Grace Hotel (Book >) | All hotels > |
| Enjoy a morning amongst the beautiful Stellenbosch scenery before returning the car in Cape Town. You will arrive in the city in time to get the aerial cableway up Table Mountain. | It is safe to see sunset from Table Mountain. | ||||
| 7 | Start your day with a journey to Robben Island to learn about the conditions suffered by its inmates. Back in town go on a free walking tour of the city and make sure you visit the V&A Waterfront and pretty Bo-Kaap | Cape Town boasts many excellent restaurants – be sure to book ahead. | |||
| 8-9 | 🚄Cape Town to Pretoria train (Book >) | Dep: 14:30 | 🏨Train (Book >) | ||
| You have the morning of day 8 to see any Cape Town sights you may have missed before boarding the train to Pretoria. | You will need to dress smartly on the train. | ||||
| 10 | 🚄Cape Town to Pretoria train 🚗Pretoria to Kruger drive (Hire car >) |
Dep: 11:00 | Arr: 10:00
Arr: 16:00 |
🏨Kapama River Lodge (Book >) | All hotels > |
| Long drive into the depths of Kruger National Park, spotting wildlife along the way. | Malaria is present in Kruger – make sure you have adequate protection. | ||||
| 11-12 | Over the next couple of days you’ll enjoy game drives to see the Big Five alongside the other fascinating creatures who call this place home. | Don’t forget to bring binoculars. | |||
| 13-14 | 🚗Kruger to Johannesburg drive ✈Johannesburg to home (Book >) |
Dep: 10:00Dep: Evening | Arr: 15:00Arr: Morning (next day) | Connect this South Africa itinerary with the Namibia, Ethiopia or Tanzania itinerary | |
| Leave plenty of time for your drive back to the airport. | |||||
| Mid-range |  |
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| 1 | ✈To Port Elizabeth (Book >) | Dep: Evening | 🏨In flight! | ||
| Fuel stations in South Africa are not self-service. Remember to tip the attendant. | |||||
| 2 | ✈To Port Elizabeth flight 🚗Port Elizabeth to Knysna drive (Hire car >) |
Dep: 15:30 | Arr: Afternoon Arr: 18:30 |
🏨Amanzi Island Lodge (Book >) | All hotels > |
| Collect your car and drive straight to Knysna. | Speed limits are strictly adhered to in South Africa. | ||||
| 3 | Kayak in the bay, go whale watching, relax on nearby Plettenberg’s beaches, drive back along the road to Tsitsikamma or simply use your first full day chill out in this beautiful town. | Although June to November is the best time to see whales, they can be spotted year-round. | |||
| 4 | 🚗Knysna to Hermanus drive | Dep: 09:00 | Arr: 15:30 | 🏨138 Marine Beachfront Guesthouse (Book >) | All hotels > |
| You have all day to make this 4.5 hour drive, so use it to make a stop at the old-fashioned seaside resort of Mossel Bay before arriving into Hermanus to get down to some serious whale watching. | It’s possible to spot whales by standing on the shoreline in Hermanus. | ||||
| 5 | 🚗Hermanus to Stellenbosch drive | Dep: 09:30 | Arr: 11:00 | 🏨Wild Mushroom Luxury Country House (Book >) | All hotels > |
| Studded with pretty vineyard estates, Stellenbosch is the perfect place to sample the best that South Africa has to offer. Consider taking a tour so that you can try the wines without having to worry about driving. | You will need to buy a glass to taste the wines in most cellars. | ||||
| 6 | 🚗Stellenbosch to Cape Town drive | Dep: 14:00 | Arr: 15:00 | 🏨Cape Heritage Hotel (Book >) | All hotels > |
| Enjoy a morning amongst the beautiful Stellenbosch scenery before returning the car in Cape Town. You will arrive in the city in time to get the aerial cableway up Table Mountain. | It is safe to see sunset from Table Mountain. | ||||
| 7 | Start your day with a journey to Robben Island to learn about the conditions suffered by its inmates. Back in town go on a free walking tour of the city and make sure you visit the V&A Waterfront and pretty Bo-Kaap | Cape Town boasts many excellent restaurants – be sure to book ahead. | |||
| 8 | ✈Cape Town to Nelspruit flight (Book >) 🚗Nelspruit to Grietjie drive (Hire car >) |
Dep: Morning
Dep: 13:30 |
Arr: Afternoon
Arr: 16:30 |
🏨Casart Game Lodge (Book >) | All hotels > |
| Drive the Panorama Route to Grietjie Nature Reserve on the edge of Kruger. | Look out for potholes when driving here. | ||||
| 9-11 | Over the next few days you’ll enjoy game drives to see the Big Five alongside the other fascinating creatures who call this place home. | Don’t forget to bring binoculars. | |||
| 12 | 🚗Grietjie to Johannesburg drive | Dep: 09:00 | Arr: 15:00 | 🏨Cotswold Gardens (Book >) | All hotels > |
| Enjoy as museum or two when you arrive into Jo’burg. | The fastest route is a toll road. | ||||
| 13 | ✈Johannesburg to home (Book >) | Dep: Evening | Arr: Morning (next day) | Connect this South Africa itinerary with the Namibia, Ethiopia or Tanzania itinerary | |
| More time to see Jo’burgs museums and galleries. | |||||
| Budget |  |
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| 1 | ✈To Port Elizabeth (Book >) | Dep: Evening | 🏨In flight! | ||
| Port Elizabeth airport is close to downtown and so taxis will be cheap. | |||||
| 2 | ✈To Port Elizabeth | Arr: Afternoon | 🏨Riverfront Backpackers (Book >) | All hostels > | |
| Walk the Donkin Heritage Trail and relax on the city’s stunning beaches. | Public buses are a good way to get about the city. Schedules can be found here. | ||||
| 3 | 🚌Port Elizabeth to Knysna bus (Book >) | Dep: 06:45 | Arr: 12:45 | 🏨Jembjo’s Knysna Lodge & Backpackers (Book >) | All hostels > |
| An early start but it’s worth it for having the afternoon in beautiful Knysna. This South Africa itinerary is 14 days long, but you may wish to extend it with more time here. | Knysna has a mild climate throughout the year. | ||||
| 4 | 🚌Knysna to Hermanus bus (Book >) | Dep: 12:45 | Arr: 19:30 | 🏨Zzzone (Book >) | All hostels > |
| After a relaxing morning in Knysna enjoy the stunning drive to Hermanus. | It’s possible to spot whales by standing on the shoreline in Hermanus. | ||||
| 5 | 🚌Hermanus to Stellenbosch bus (Book >) | Dep: 19:30 | Arr: 20:15 | 🏨Stumble Inn Backpackers Lodge (Book >) | All hostels > |
| Get up close to the whales with a walk along the cliffs or a cruise. | Although June to November is the best time to see whales, they can be spotted year-round. | ||||
| 6 | 🚌Stellenbosch to Cape Town bus (Book >) | Dep: 20:15 | Arr: 21:30 | 🏨CURIOCITY Cape Town (Book >) | All hostels > |
| Enjoy a day amongst the beautiful Stellenbosch scenery taking the bus to Cape Town. | You will need to buy a glass to taste the wines in most Stellenbosch cellars. | ||||
| 7 | Start your day with a journey to Robben Island to learn about the conditions suffered by its inmates. Back in town go on a free walking tour of the city and make sure you visit the V&A Waterfront and pretty Bo-Kaap | Cape Town boasts many excellent restaurants – be sure to book ahead. | |||
| 8 | ✈Cape Town to Johannesburg flight (Book >) | Dep: Evening | Arr: Evening | 🏨Backpackers Connection (Book >) | All hostels > |
| Enjoy more Cape Town sights including the aerial cableway up Table Mountain. | It’s safe to take the cableway up Table Mountain at any time of day. | ||||
| 9 | 🚌Johannesburg to Masodini bus (Book >) | Dep: 06:45 | Arr: 13:00 | 🏨Masodini Game Lodge (Book >) | All hotels > |
| Take the transfer bus from Jo’burg airport to Masodini where you can commence your safari. | The Kruger area is malarial so please take precautions. | ||||
| 10-11 | Over the next couple of days you’ll enjoy game drives to see the Big Five alongside the other fascinating creatures who call this place home. | Don’t forget to bring binoculars. | |||
| 12 | 🚌Masodini to Johannesburg bus (Book >) | Dep: 10:45 | Arr: 17:00 | 🏨CurioCity Backpackers (Book >) | All hostels > |
| Your hostel offers tours, as well as activities such as yoga on the roof. | You’re staying in a lively and safe part of the city. | ||||
| 13-14 | ✈Johannesburg to home (Book >) | Dep: Evening | Arr: Morning (next day) | Connect this South Africa itinerary with the Namibia, Ethiopia or Tanzania itinerary | |
| Time to see some of Jo’burgs museums and galleries. | |||||
A Plan To Go 