Overview
We absolutely love South Africa and whilst it’s impossible to pack in all the highlights of any country within a couple of weeks, we’ve done our best with this trip.
You’ll start in Cape Town and will be able to get settled in as you’re staying in this incredible city for five nights. It’s a place we know pretty well with both of our founders having travelled here extensively and liking it so much that one of them ended up staying for four years… We’ve included a bunch of activities that every single visitor to Cape Town should be doing. Hiking Table Mountain, learning to cook like the locals and cruising down the Peninsula for starters. However you’ll also have heaps of free time to enjoy finding your favourite spots and the places boasting the best views (and we’ve got plenty of recommendations).
It’s then off to the Winelands. You’ll be staying in the charming little town of Franschhoek but you’ll swing past Stellenbosch and a couple of cracking little wineries. At last count there were over 45 wineries in the Franschhoek region so you’ll have plenty to choose from…
And then no trip to South Africa is truly complete without the opportunity to catch some wildlife up close and personal. You’ll spend a couple of days on guided safari drives around Kruger National Park. We’ve even thrown in a couple of other unmissable experiences like the Panorama Route and a cycling tour around Soweto.
What's Included?
- Airport Transfers & Local Transport
- Expert Local Driver
- 12 Nights' Accommodation
- Flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg
- 12 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches & 5 Dinners
- Park Fees, Entrance Fees & Permits
- Cooking classes, food tours, cycle trips, day tours and more!
- International Flights
- Travel Insurance
- Soft Drinks, Alcohol or Drinking Water
- Tips for Guides
- Personal Equipment & Clothing
- Souvenirs
Trip Highlights
Hike Table Mountain: Cape Town is surely one of the most beautiful cities in the world and there’s nowhere better to get a birds-eye view of it than from the top of Table Mountain!
Explore the Winelands: No trip to the Western Cape is complete without a couple of days spent sipping wine in the beautiful Winelands.
Cycle Around Soweto: Home to the only street in the world that can boast multiple Nobel Peace Prize winners, Soweto is colourful and interesting community to visit on two wheels.
Kruger National Park: It’s one of the most iconic national parks anywhere in the world and home to the Big Five. You’ll have a few days here to spot as many as you can!
Daily Itinerary
Welcome to Cape Town! Our loverly team will meet you upon landing in the Mother City and whisk you back to your accommodation in the city centre where you can settle-in. And what better way to get your bearings than with a trip up to Signal Hill for a snack and a sundowner with views over the city. Meals Included: None
It's often said that there's no better way to get to know a place than through its food (or perhaps we just tell ourselves that) so today's all about eating. We'll start in the morning with a food tour around the city where you'll get to know some local spots and favourite dishes. Save some space though as we'll enjoy lunch in Bo Kaap - a colourful community boasting some serious culinary talent. Take the rest of the day to explore at your own pace. Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Today's a full day exploring Cape Town's peninsula, all the way down to the Cape of Good Hope. It's a classic day out when travelling to Cape Town and you'll get to visit some funky neighbourhoods like Kalk Bay, great surf spots like Muizenberg, see the famous Boulders Beach penguins, explore the Cape of Good Hope and cruise back via Chapman's Peak Drive (keep your eyes peeled for whales...). Meals Included: Breakfast
Today's been kept completely free for you to make the most of this city. We've got a long list of hikes, restaurants, beaches, wineries, museums and days out to recommend though (Lion's Head, Llandudno, Groot Constantia, District Six and Robben Island if you wanted one of each!) so there's plenty to get stuck into. Meals Included: Breakfast
We've got a pretty packed day for you today. We'll start early to get hiking before it gets too warm. You'll be heading up the iconic Table Mountain. Stunning views all the way up to the top and a relaxing trip down on the cable car to save any weary legs! After that, you'll have a tour of Cape Town's art scene with a local community project. And then the evening is yours - perhaps check out Kloof St for some nightlife or head over to Camps Bay for sundowners and a bite to eat. Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
You'll hit the road this morning and head out of Cape Town towards the Winelands. Our final destination is the quaint little town of Franschhoek, nestled at the foot of a valley and home to some of the best restaurant and wineries in the area. On the way we'll check out a couple of our favourite places for some wine-tasting and a bit of tapas. Spend the afternoon and evening exploring the town or the wineries within walking distance. Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
It's a free day today. If you know your vino then you might want to spend the day on the Franschhoek wine tram or if you wanted to get active then you can hit any of the several hiking trails in the area. Of course, if you wanted to combine the two then how about a half day winery cycling tour? We've got a bunch of recommendations - especially when it comes to which wineries to visit so don't be afraid to ask! Meals Included: Breakfast
We'll pick you up from your accommodation and take you to the airport for your flight to Johannesburg. It'll be a relatively early start as we've got some exciting plans for this afternoon - a cycling tour around Soweto. With a long and interesting history and some incredibly famous former residents in one of the largest townships in Africa, there's plenty do take in. Your accommodation will be a tranquil lodge away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
It's a long but scenic drive today as we head out towards Kruger National Park. The journey is very much as important as the destination here though as you'll be driving along the Panorama Route to check out Bourkes Potholes, Blyde River Canyon and God's Window. There's some sensational scenery and it's a great way to break up the drive out to your base for the next few nights. Included: Breakfast & Dinner
You'll stay just outside the gates of the National Park in a lodge nestled amongst beautiful grounds. You'll be picked up early in the morning to get into the National Park for a full day of game drives led by an expert ranger. Expect to see a huge variety of wildlife across diverse landscapes. There's good reason that this is one of the continent's most well-known national parks! Included: Breakfast & Dinner
It's another early start for a morning game drive. Tell your guide whether there's anything in particular you're hoping to spot or didn't see the previous day. They're not miracle workers but you'll be amazed by how they're able to catch sight of the smallest of creatures camouflaged in trees from dozens of metres away. You'll have the afternoon to kick-back and relax. Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Back to Jo'burg today. It's a long drive back and you'll have some flexibility on when you want to set off. Fancy a lie-in and a leisurely start? We don't blame you! Or, if you'd like to get back to Jo'burg in time for a spot of sightseeing then we'll happily set off a bit earlier. You might not be following the Panorama Route on the way back but it's still a scenic drive. Included: Breakfast & Dinner
And that's a wrap! Today we'll take you to the airport in time for your flight back home (or anywhere else you're planning on heading to!). Staying in the country a bit longer? Let us know if you'd like a few more recommendations as there's plenty more to do and see in this incredible country. Included: Breakfast
Where We'll Stay
We’ve carefully selected a range of accommodations for your trip to South Africa. In Cape Town you’ll stay in well-located, safe and characterful local guesthouses.
Heading through to the Winelands you’ll be based in Franschhoek. Think rustic, rural and well setup for a wine-themed stay!
You’ll be based on the outskirts of Kruger in and around the charming town of Hazyview. That’ll give you easy access each day to the national park. And for your time in Jo’burg you’l be based in quiet lodges away from the crowds.
Like the sound of this trip, have a question or want to check something before you book? Maybe even have a great idea to customise this itinerary? Get in touch and start your adventure!
Interactive Route Map
Check out the interactive map of this trip below. You can simply zoom in and have a look at the route.
Or, if you’re wanting to get a feel for the route or to dive into the daily details then click on any of the steps and you’ll be redirected to our Polarsteps page.
What is Polarsteps?
We’ve loaded all of our itineraries onto Polarsteps. It’s an app that can help you plan, track and relive your travels. We’ve used it to display our trips in all their glory but anyone can easily create on-the-go mementos of their adventures.
Carbon Emissions
This trip emits approximately 722 kg of carbon per person. This includes emissions from transport, accommodation, food, activities, and the operations behind the scenes to run the trip.
What does this mean?
This is roughly equivalent to driving a typical petrol car about 2,250 miles.
It’s similar to the carbon emissions from heating an average UK home with a gas boiler for about 30 days during winter.
Our Approach
We are committed to offering eco-conscious travel experiences. By participating in this itinerary, you support local communities, contribute to sustainable tourism initiatives, and help preserve Vietnam’s cultural and natural heritage. This carbon estimate helps you understand your travel footprint and consider ways to offset it responsibly.
More Information
Is travel insurance mandatory?
Yes, it is. We run adventurous trips and it’s mandatory that you have suitable travel insurance in place to cover overseas medical treatment as well as evacuation or repatriation.
We can’t recommend which provider you use but the main things we’d encourage you to look out for is that you’re fully covered for the activities you’re taking part in (i.e., covers you up to the altitude you’ll be trekking at) and that it covers cancellation in the event that illness or other circumstances prevent you from travelling.
How do I find out which hotels, meals and activities are included?
Unfortunately we can’t provide an exhaustive list of everything included in the ‘What’s Included’ section of this page as we include a whole bunch of stuff on our trips!
If it’s in the itinerary and we’ve not explicitly said that it’s an optional activity, then yes – it’s almost certainly included. If you’re not sure, please ask.
The meals that are included are all listed on the daily itinerary.
For the accommodation, we’ve got a shortlist of properties that we use. You can get a sense of the types of accommodation we use higher up the page in the ‘Where We’ll Stay’ section. We cannot guarantee any specific properties for your trip as it’s based on availability. If you are wanting to specifically request a property then please get in touch as we’re able to customise our trips.
What are your payment terms and is my booking financially protected?
Yes, absolutely. Here’s a link to where you can read more about how we are an ABTOT member and have an ATOL licence and what this means for your financial protection when booking a trip with us.
Deposits vary from destination to destination and from trip to trip. Generally speaking we require a deposit of 25%. This amount may be higher for certain trips where more services that usual need to be booked and paid for in advance (such as gorilla permits in Rwanda). Deposits are non-refundable.
Balance payments are required up to 70 days prior to travel.
If you need to cancel your booking, the following fees will apply based on the time before your scheduled departure:
- Immediate loss of deposit (25% of total cost) upon cancellation.
- 50% of the total cost if cancelled after the balance is paid and up to 45 days before departure.
- 75% of the total cost if cancelled 30 to 45 days before departure.
- 100% of the total cost if cancelled within 30 days of departure.
These fees compensate for expenses and bookings made on your behalf in anticipation of your trip.
Can I customise this trip in any way?
- adding in extra days or cutting out a day here or there;
- squeezing in other destinations or removing them;
- starting or finishing the trip in a different place;
- staying in a hotel or guesthouse that we don’t list as an option.
What if someone under the minimum age wants to travel?
It might not be an issue. Some destinations such as Rwanda have firm rules in place about how old people should be in order to visit the gorillas. In other destinations it’s more of a guideline.
Please do contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
What information will I receive after I book?
After you book, we’ll get to work confirming that the dates you’ve selected are completely available.
There are extremely rare circumstances that may mean we’re unable to confirm your booking. These circumstances are limited to events beyond our control or not being able to secure the services that you wanted to book.
In the extremely rare event that we’re unable to confirm your booking you will be offered an alternative itinerary or a full refund without any fees. Please do not book any non-changeable travel plans until you receive the confirmation from us. This will be within 72 hours.
A detailed Trip Dossier will then be sent to you after you make your booking. It’ll contain all the information you might need to help you pack and get prepared for your trip, including information on visas, vaccinations, packing and training.
We encourage you to refer to the UK Government’s official travel advisory service when planning your trips. You can find the FCDO advice here.
And when you travel, we work closely with local experts to put together the best itineraries. We’ve worked with them exhaustively to provide safe adventures at great value. They know their destination better than we ever could so you’ll be in good hands! You can read a bit more about why we will only ever have locally-led trips here.
How much should I tip in South Africa?
Tips are not included in any of our trips. They are entirely discretionary but in most cases are expected by the teams that will be looking after you. We know it can be daunting to work out exactly what to give so whilst this guideline hopefully helps, please remember that it’s a completely personal choice and you should feel free to tip more or less based on the quality of service that you receive.
Driver-Guide: $20-30 USD per day
Game Drive Guide: $10-15 USD per day
Again, tipping is not compulsory and please only do so if the service you’ve received warrants it. It’s hugely appreciated and a way for the teams looking after you to supplement their income.
And in general, tipping is common-practice in South Africa. Similar to the UK, it’s standard to leave 10-15% for good service when eating in a restaurant or cafe.
Which airport do I need to fly into and out of for my trip to South Africa?
Our trips to South Africa often start and finish in different locations. Please speak with us if you’re unsure or if you’d like help booking your flights (we are ATOL registered).
Cape Town International Airport (CPT) is the most common arrival point for our trips. Johannesburg OR Tambo (JNB) and Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport (PLZ) are the most common finishing points.
It’s possible to book open-jaw tickets (into one destination and out of another) with airlines. This is often cheaper than trying to book two one-way fares and more time-efficient than adding in domestic flights to return to your starting location.
Book Now
Whether you’d like more information about this itinerary or to customise it to exactly what you want to do, drop us a line and let us know your plans!
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