South Africa 13-Day Tours & Itineraries

Explore 15 trips designed by local kimkim specialists to get ideas for your trip to South Africa.

There’s nothing unlucky about these 13-day itineraries to South Africa—it’s more than enough time for a personally-tailored trip through the country. Foodies can focus their time in Cape Town, the Winelands, and Johannesburg, with side trips to the Garden Route and Cape Peninsula. Or catch a flight to Chobe or Kruger National Parks from Johannesburg for unparalleled wildlife viewing. Either can easily be paired with classic stops like the penguin colony of Boulders Beach and historic Robben Island.  

See more options below, or check out a roundup of 13-day trip ideas in South Africa.

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Victoria Falls
Map of South Africa and Zimbabwe Safari: Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park, Mana Pools National Park, & More - 13 Days
South Africa and Zimbabwe Safari: Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park, Mana Pools National Park, & More - 13 Days

Rumor has it the "big 5"—elephant, leopard, lion, buffalo, and rhino—gained their name by being the hardest animals to hunt on foot. Luckily, you won't be walking through this 13-day itinerary and will only be hunting with your eyes. After strolling through the city streets of Cape Town, you'll set out on safari at three separate destinations to test out your animal-spotting skills.

Chapman's Peak outside of Cape Town
Map of Scenic South Africa Road Trip: Cape Town & Garden Route - 13 Days
Scenic South Africa Road Trip: Cape Town & Garden Route - 13 Days

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.

Penguins on Boulders Beach
Map of Classic South Africa: Cape Town, Johannesburg, & Kruger Safari - 13 Days
Classic South Africa: Cape Town, Johannesburg, & Kruger Safari - 13 Days

The "big five" are just a few of the animals you can see in South Africa, and you'll meet plenty of the country's residents both human and animal on this classic 13-day trip. You'll start off in Cape Town, where the city's human residents will guide through the city's cultural and culinary scene, and out to the Cape of Good Hope and penguin colonies of Boulders Beach. Then head to Johannesburg to hear stories of the city's complicated history before you set off on safari through Kruger National Park.

Kruger National Park
Map of Cape Town, Kruger National Park & Mauritius - 13 Days
Cape Town, Kruger National Park & Mauritius - 13 Days

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.

Vineyard in Franschhoek
Map of Discover South Africa: Cape Town, Winelands, Johannesburg, & Tswalu Kalahari - 13 Days
Discover South Africa: Cape Town, Winelands, Johannesburg, & Tswalu Kalahari - 13 Days

Sip, spin, safari and more on this 13-day itinerary. You'll take in the highlights of what Cape Town has to offer with outings including the Cape of Good Hope, Table Mountain, and a full day to explore on your own. Then travel to the Winelands, where you can sample the food and wine of Franschhoek and see the scenery from a bike tour; sail over the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site with a hot air balloon tour out of Johannesburg; and venture into the Kalahari desert in search of wildlife on safari.

Cape White-Eye Bird
Map of Cape Town & Garden Route Adventure - 13 Days
Cape Town & Garden Route Adventure - 13 Days

Thirteen days through the Western Cape will thrill you with all that this region has to offer. Your trip begins in Cape Town, where you can enjoy views from on the shore, atop Table Mountain, and amidst the city streets. Venture into the vineyards of the Winelands and rocky coasts of Hermanus before you embark on a Garden Route drive that will bring you from one of the world's highest bungee jumps down into glittering caves, and so much more.

Cape Town, South Africa
From South Africa to Zimbabwe - Cape Town, Knysna, Victoria Falls - 13 Days

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.

Zebras in the Okavango Delta
Map of Southern Africa Safari: Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park, & More - 13 Days
Southern Africa Safari: Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park, & More - 13 Days

Thirteen days gets you a look at some of southern Africa's most dynamic wildlife on this trip. Start off in Cape Town, enjoying the views from atop Table Mountain and out on the Cape of Good Hope, then travel to Sabi Sands Game reserve next to Kruger National Park for a safari. From there you'll continue to the famous Victoria Falls, then stay along the water with a houseboat safari before you end your trip in the lush Okavango Delta.

Hyena hello
Map of Explore South Africa: Cape Town, Winelands, Johannesburg, Safari, & Beach - 13 Days
Explore South Africa: Cape Town, Winelands, Johannesburg, Safari, & Beach - 13 Days

Hop through some high points of South Africa on this 13-day itinerary. Head to Cape Town to start, hiking through its happening streets and into its waters in a shark cage, then up to Franschhoek to have a glass of wine (or three) amid the vineyards. Johannesburg is up next for a lesson in history, then over to Kruger National Park to say hi to the hyenas and other animals on safari and down to Thonga Beach Lodge to end your holiday in the sun.

Lioness and her cub near Kruger
Map of South Africa Safari & Cities: Johannesburg, Kruger Private Reserves, Cape Town, & Winelands - 13 Days
South Africa Safari & Cities: Johannesburg, Kruger Private Reserves, Cape Town, & Winelands - 13 Days

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.

Cape Town
Map of Coastal South Africa: Cape Town, Garden Route & Eastern Cape Safari - 13 Days
Coastal South Africa: Cape Town, Garden Route & Eastern Cape Safari - 13 Days

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.

The basis of bobotie
Map of South Africa Food & Wine Tour: Cape Town, Garden Route, & Johannesburg - 13 Days
South Africa Food & Wine Tour: Cape Town, Garden Route, & Johannesburg - 13 Days

Follow your nose for 13 days of South African gastronomy with this itinerary. Start with three days amid the city streets and spices of Cape Town, then go along the Garden Route to encounter Elgin's farms and markets followed by the shores of the Knysna Lagoon and Tsitsikamma National Park.  End your trip around the campfire and dining on a platform above the skyline of Johannesburg.

South Africa
Map of Southern Africa Highlights: Wildlife Safaris & Natural Wonders - 13 Days
Southern Africa Highlights: Wildlife Safaris & Natural Wonders - 13 Days

Over nearly two weeks, you'll enjoy the best southern Africa has to offer on this adventurous itinerary. It begins with wine tours and sunset cruises around the magnificent coast of Cape Town, after which you'll jet off to Victoria Falls, the largest waterfall in the world. Embark on safaris in Botswana's Chobe National Park and the Okavango Delta wetlands, then wrap up the trip with more wildlife adventures in South Africa's Kruger National Park.

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