2 Weeks in South Africa - 4 Luxury Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Luxury South Africa Highlights: Cape Town, Winelands, Garden Route & Eastern Cape Safari

This scenic two-week highlights tour features the beautiful coast, wineries, and wildlife of southern South Africa. Perfect for first-time visitors who have a soft spot for luxurious accommodations and unique experiences, you can look forward to stays in top-notch hotels, gourmet dinners, and thrilling activities such as cage diving, ziplining, and 4WD game drives. Other notable highlights include a "winemaker for a day" workshop, a sunset catamaran cruise, and a lazy afternoon in dreamy Plettenberg Bay.

Welcome to South Africa! Your luxury-wrapped adventure begins with four days in Cape Town, the first three of which you'll spend getting to know the city's iconic sights, delightful restaurants, and coastal surroundings. In between, refresh at your accommodation, the lovely Camissa House, and wrap up your Cape Town stay with a sunset sailing experience. Next, transfer to Cape Winelands, where you'll hop between wineries, enjoy gourmet cuisine, and learn the craft of wine blending through an expert-led workshop. Afterward, venture south to Hermanus and check into the 5-star Marine Hotel.

In Hermanus, an afternoon of wine tasting ​​awaits, followed by a thrilling shark cage diving experience and a whale watching excursion. Then, transfer along the famed Garden Route to Knysna, where you'll have time to explore independently and conquer an activity of your choice in Tsitsikamma National Park. In addition, spend an afternoon lazing in Plettenberg Bay and cruise the Knysna River before continuing to your final destination—Shamwari Private Game Reserve. Here, numerous game drives keep you happily busy until the time arrives for a final transfer to Port Elizabeth. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Luxury South Africa Food, Wine & Safari Adventure

Discover why South Africa is a premier luxury destination for culinary and wildlife enthusiasts on this finely crafted adventure. Starting in Cape Town, you'll dine your way through the city's top restaurants and take in expansive views by helicopter, catamaran, and cable car. Then, pause in Cape Winelands for three rejuvenating days of wine tasting before flying to Timbavati Game Reserve for remarkable game drives. Lastly, exclusive dinners in Johannesburg and an insightful visit to Soweto wrap up your journey. 

Upon arriving in Cape Town, your adventure begins with five delightful days of fine dining, thrilling excursions, and cultural immersion. Conquer a 14-course tasting safari at GOLD, zip over the city in a helicopter, venture to Cape Peninsula for an afternoon of coastal sightseeing, and learn about impressive community projects organized by Uthando (Love). In addition, uncover the city's hidden gems through a guided food and wine tour and savor a private sunset catamaran cruise. Then, transfer to the idyllic Cape Winelands region and celebrate your arrival over a peaceful winery-hopping tour by horseback.

With two more days in Cape Winelands, you'll have time to zipline, explore by e-bike, and attend a private "winemaker for a day" workshop. Afterward, a transfer to Timbavati Game Reserve shifts your focus to wildlife, and through a three-day stay at the ​​Walkers Plains bush camp, you'll have the chance to spot the Big Five on multiple game drives and bush walks. Your final destination is Johannesburg, and a two-night stay at the 4-star Peech Boutique Hotel will ensure that it's filled with luxuries. In addition, attend a jazz and dinner show, tour Soweto by bike, and dine at the exclusive Marble Restaurant. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Luxury Escape in South Africa: Cape Town to the East Coast

Wrap yourself in laid-back luxury on this eastern South Africa getaway. Perfect for travelers seeking a well-rounded and slower-paced trip, you'll spend four or more nights each in Cape Town, Hluhluwe Game Reserve, and Thonga Beach Lodge. This allows you to relax at lavish accommodations between activities, which include game drives, a zipline experience, a day trip to Table Mountain, and kayaking along pristine coastlines.

Your South African luxury escape begins with an extended stay in Cape Town, which is perfect for slowing down and enjoying the finer things in life. While calling the extravagant Dorp Hotel home, treat yourself to dinner at the acclaimed Belly of the Beast restaurant and venture up Table Mountain by cable car. You'll also embark on numerous day trips, including to Cape Winelands for a wine-tasting tour and to Elgin Valley to zipline over the forest canopy. Then, on Day 6, trade the cityscape for the wildlife-filled Hluhluwe Game Reserve, which you'll call home for four days.

After a leisurely first evening at your luxury safari lodge, Rhino Ridge, you'll spend the following two days racing through savanna and rugged valleys in search of giraffes, wildebeests, elephants, and more. Then, venture to a Zulu village for an overnight cultural exchange experience before transferring to Thonga Beach Lodge. This luxe tropical beach resort is your home base for the final four nights of your trip, which gives you plenty of opportunity to tick off activities at your leisure. Kayak, snorkel, hike, dive, and unwind until the time arrives to transfer to Johannesburg and catch your departing flight. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Luxury Safari Adventure in South Africa & Botswana

Add neighboring Botswana into the mix with this southern Africa safari that whisks you between the grasslands of Sabi Sands Game Reserve, the flooded plains of the Okavango Delta, and the remote north of Chobe National Park. These three distinct destinations ensure you have the opportunity to admire all sorts of fascinating wildlife, including lions, leopards, hippos, giraffes, buffalo, and more. Plus, with luxury lodges and bush camps to call home, you'll be well looked after every step of the way.

Brimming with fascinating history, Johannesburg is the perfect place to begin your luxury adventure, and over a two-day stay, you'll dine at exclusive restaurants and tour the infamous Soweto. Then, fly to Sabi Sands Game Reserve, where the safari portion of your trip kicks off. Your accommodation here is Lion Sands Narina, and beyond featuring impressive amenities, its privileged location enables you to embark on numerous game drives and bush walks. Another epic safari destination awaits next on your itinerary, Botswana's Okavango Delta, and upon arrival, you'll head out for an afternoon 4WD safari. 

While based within the Okavango Delta, you'll also explore by traditional mokoro boat and on foot before continuing to Chobe National Park. The remote area of Savute and its lavish Savute Safari Lodge will serve as your first home base here, and throughout a two-day stay, you'll conquer game drives, bush walks, and other safari activities. Afterward, transfer north to Chobe Game Lodge and settle in for a further three days of game drives. Seek out elephants, herds of buffalo, impalas, giraffes, and more prior to wrapping up your trip with a flight back to Johannesburg. Learn more

More Great 2-Week South Africa Itineraries

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