South Africa's scenery is as diverse as its culture, providing an ideal setting for an activity-packed trip. Below we've outlined the Rainbow Nation's nine provinces (and what they're best for)—plus two landlocked kingdoms—so you can choose your adventure, whether it's big game safaris, Apartheid history, hiking and biking trails, Indigenous villages, or world-class vineyards. Read on to learn more.
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.
Add this five-day adventure to your South African vacation for the opportunity to get up close and personal with wildlife in family-friendly, malaria-free locations. It starts on the Eastern Cape at Shamwari Private Game Reserve, where you'll head out in a 4WD to see Big Five animals such as elephants, lions, and rhinos. Then, you're off to Port Alfred and the luxurious Oceana Beach & Wildlife Reserve. Take guided bush walks or game drives, relax on the reserve's private beach, and enjoy gourmet dinners.
Find some of the most famous attractions in Cape Town and its surroundings on this seven-day saunter. Drive along the coastal cliffs to natural sights like the Cape of Good Hope, paddle through Table Bay at sunrise, and cycle through the vineyards of the Winelands before you make your way to a safari on the Eastern Cape.
This exciting tour of South Africa is perfect for families or those who are kids at heart, offering fun excursions in the country's malaria-free regions. It starts in Cape Town, where you'll stroll around the V&A Waterfront, ride cable cars to the top of Table Mountain, and spend a day in the picturesque villages around Cape Point. Then, it's safari time in Shamwari Reserve! Seek out Africa's Big Five game animals, take guided bush walks, and end with a visit to their wildlife rehabilitation and big cat sanctuaries.
Embark on a guided six-day road trip through the most scenic areas of South Africa. This holiday may be brisk but it doesn't skimp on the adventure, as you'll enjoy the cultural highlights of Cape Town before hitting the road on the world-famous Garden Route. Capping this unforgettable journey are cave tours and wildlife safaris to spend time with African elephants in Addo National Park.
With a beautiful coastline, fertile wine country, and seriously impressive wildlife, South Africa is an ideal destination for a chilled-out yet active family vacation. This week-long itinerary starts in vibrant Cape Town, a city with impressive views and beaches around every corner. Spot penguins on the Cape Peninsula, get hands-on at the farms of the Winelands region, then go on safari at the Shamwari Game Reserve for an unforgettable wildlife experience.
Eight days will help you encounter some of the most enticing spots in the Cape Town vicinity on this itinerary. After a drive down the coast to the Cape of Good Hope, you'll ascend the Table Mountain cable car, bike through vineyards, and more before making your way out to a safari.
This 10-day South Africa family adventure starts with coastal fun in Cape Town, where you'll ride cable cars up Table Mountain and meet the penguins of Boulder Beach. Continue to Stellenbosch for kid-friendly excursions in the Winelands, then end with a bucket-list family safari experience in the malaria-free Eastern Cape—where you'll embark on game drives through the Shamwari Private Game Reserve and learn more about the reserve's wildlife rehabilitation efforts.
Combine a relaxing luxury vacation with thrilling outdoor adventures on this weeklong South Africa tour. Taste the quality of the country's most famous vineyards on a visit to the Cape Winelands region before hitting the road on the Garden Route, one of the most spectacular coastal drives on the continent. And no trip to Africa is complete without safari fun, so finish the adventure in an open-topped safari vehicle seeking big cats, elephants, rhinos, and other majestic creatures on the savanna plains.
Follow the winding road to some of South Africa's most popular spots on this nine-day itinerary. You'll take a sidecar tour up the coast to the Cape of Good Hope, go on a cage dive next to great whites, and cross Table Bay before you keep going up to a bike tour of the Winelands and then out to a safari along the Eastern Cape.
Eight days of excellent await your family on this South Africa excursion. Whether you're strolling and sailing around Cape Town, adventuring in Elgin, or wildlife-spotting in Shamwari, you're sure to find something to enjoy.
With two weeks in South Africa, you can combine city fun, wine country adventures, and the ultimate family safari experience. Start in colorful Cape Town to tackle Table Mountain and spot penguins and whales off the coast, then venture into the Winelands for kid-friendly vineyard and farm excursions. Switch to safari mode as you explore a private Eastern Cape reserve with family game drives and bush walks, and end on the coast with more wildlife encounters and beach time at a spectacular oceanfront lodge.
Travel for 10 days through tantalizing South Africa on this trip plan. You'll bask in the sea air on your face as you take the scenic route up the coast, then feel the fins of great whites swimming past you on a cage dive. Relax in the Winelands as you enjoy their classic vintages, then go wildlife spotting on a safari on the Eastern Cape.
Female lions in a pride will often all give birth around the same time, providing a collective parenting arrangement and plenty of play companions. Take your whole pride to South Africa with this nine-day itinerary that will take you from a pirate ship off the coast to Cape Town, to a big cat sanctuary, strawberry farm, and safari amidst other outings.
Enjoy 11 days amid some of South Africa's eastern highlights on this itinerary. Tour both urban and natural Cape Town via scenic drives and oceanic experiences, sip and cycle through the vines of the Winelands, and safari with the wildlife of the Eastern Cape for a look at this captivating country.
Experience the best of South Africa's stunning scenery and wildlife with this 10-day family trip. Whiz up iconic Table Mountain by cable car, then explore the country's scenic Garden Route and vineyards before going on a safari at the luxury Shamwari Game Reserve. Along the way, you'll make pals with African penguins, see the Big Five, zipline across a ravine, and get in some beach time at beautiful Knysna.
Take 12 days to travel through Cape Town and some of its nearby standouts with this itinerary. Whether you're atop Table Mountain, underwater next to great white sharks, or paragliding through the sky, you'll get a good look at the city. Leave Cape Town for its neighboring scenic Winelands, followed by a safari in the Eastern Cape to wrap up your adventure.
Experience the best of Africa as you explore the savannas, cities, and coast of the continent's southernmost nation. On this luxury escape, stay at the finest hotels and dine at the best restaurants, starting in Cape Town, a city famous for its beautiful coast and iconic landmarks. Then, after touring the vineyards of the Cape Winelands region, hit the road down the Garden Route (one of the most famous coastal drives in the world) and finish with safaris to spot big cats in the Eastern Cape.
Eleven days will allow you to encounter many of the highlights of the Western Cape with this itinerary. You'll start off in Cape Town with scenic city tours, wine tastings, and a shark dive before you set out on the Garden Route. This classic road trip will wind you through wilderness, wildlife, and more wine before loop back to Cape Town to depart.
Drive for 13 days through some of the Cape Town area's top destinations. After a few days based in Cape Town, you'll hit the road to meet the wildlife and rugged landscapes of Oudtshoorn, lush parks surrounding Knysna, and even more animals on an Eastern Cape safari.
Take your small humans to meet some small (and large) animals on this 11-day outing. Whether you're visiting the penguin colonies of Boulders Beach, big cats at the Panthera Sanctuary, meerkats and ostriches in Oudtshoorn, or wide range of creatures on safari, there's a potential new friend around every corner.
Combine a city break and a classic road trip with this 12-day itinerary. Stroll through Cape Town's many attractions, whether on sandy Bloubergstrand Beach or the shops of the V&A Waterfront, before you duck under the vines of the Winelands' vineyards. Then get in your car for a drive filled with whale-watching, wildlife, and more.
Travel for two weeks through a tapestry of the Cape Town region's attractions with this trip plan. You'll start with Cape Town itself as your base for day trips into the Winelands and out to the Cape of Good Hope, then drive off through smaller cities and towns. Visit animal sanctuaries, ancient caves, national parks, and more before ending your trip with a classic safari.
Sample some of South Africa's favorite family spots over the course of 12 days. You'll start with three nights in Cape Town to settle in and explore the city before you hop on the road toward farms in Franschhoek, extreme sports in Elgin, animal encounters in Oudtshoorn, and more, all topped off with a safari.
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.
This two-week wildlife and adventure-packed family vacation takes you from the Western to the Eastern Cape via South Africa's stunning Garden Route. Start in lively Cape Town, where you and the kids will scale Table Mountain, make pals with the penguins at Boulders Beach, and relax in the surrounding wine country. If that sounds too sedate, you'll also plunge the depths of Shark Alley in a reinforced cage, meet the Big Five during a luxury safari, and tour the Stone Age Cango Caves.
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.
Take yourself through some of the Cape Town's top spots with this 15-day road trip. Your trip begins with five days in Cape Town itself and its neighboring attractions, including the Cape of Good Hope, Table Mountain, and historic Robben Island. Then you'll get in your car and head to the relaxed town of Greyton, caves and animal reserves of Oudtshoorn, and Tsitsikamma National Park and the famed lagoon of Knysna, before you conclude with a safari in the Eastern Cape.
Cape Town may be known as the "Mother City," but every member of the family can enjoy this 13-day trip. You'll scope out the scenery of Cape Point, enjoy extreme sports in Elgin, road trip through small towns and sparkling lagoons, and safari on both land and sea.
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.
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 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.
Take a two-week adventure from one of the world's highest bungee jumps down into a cage next to a great white shark with this trip plan. Start on Table Mountain in Cape Town, followed by a culinary tour, treetop walkway, and wine tastings. Once you get onto the Garden Route, you'll make your way around canoeing through lagoons, hiking in national parks, and spelunking through caves.
Explore the diverse landscapes and rich cultural heritage of South Africa on this 16-day tour across the country. Start in Cape Town, where you can go on a sunrise kayak ride, delve into African art, and visit Robben Island. Then, set off on a road trip to the charming towns of Greyton, Oudtshoorn, and Knysna. Highlights include exploring underground caves, bungee jumping, and interacting with ostriches. Look for the Big Five game animals at a private Eastern Cape reserve to end your trip.
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.
While parenting can feel like an extreme sport at times, you can really get your adrenaline up on this 15-day itinerary. Warm up with a hike or cable car ride up Table Mountain and some beach time in Cape Town before you get on the road and follow the Garden Route to adventures like ziplines, a shark encounter, sandboard rides down one of the world's largest dunes, and safari drives.
Enjoy a bit of the good life on a luxury two-week getaway to one of the most beautiful corners of South Africa. It's first-class all the way, as you enjoy private tours of scenic Cape Town and dine at its best restaurants. Then head east as you take advantage of wine tours in the charming French village of Franschhoek, champagne catamaran cruises, and, if you're up for it, cage diving with great white sharks. Finish with two days of game drives at a private reserve to complete the adventure.
Spend 10 days taking in the Western Cape with this trip plan. You'll explore Cape Town and see Table Mountain from both a distant beach and right under your feet, sample the wines of Stellenbosch, and dive into a great white cage encounter before you hit the road on the Garden Route for canoeing, hiking, animal encounters, and more.
Cape Town and the Garden Route is a classic pairing for travelers headed to South Africa. It's best to spend 12 to 15 days in-country—this allows for plenty of time to enjoy the top sights and activities at each stop. Travelers can also opt for a faster paced trip, covering the top highlights of each region in just 10 or 11 days. Check out our favorite itinerary ideas below, and start planning your perfect trip.
Despite their dramatic size difference, the elephant's closest living relative is the hyrax. See if you can spot both elephants and their cousins as you take your own family on this 16-day adventure that will take you from up in the trees of Kirstenbosch Garden, onto the cliffs of Cape Point, out to sea for marine wildlife sightings, down into caves, and into safari grasslands, just to name a few, to take in landscapes as varied as your family.
Follow a path from Cape Town to Johannesburg for 15 days through South Africa's many varied landscapes and cultures. Whether you're following the Garden Route, Wild Coast, or Panorama Route, you'll encounter historic sites, seaside towns, towering mountains, and teeming wildlife to introduce you to this distinctive destination.
Find a path through the vast spectrum of South Africa on this 16-day itinerary. After your arrival in Cape Town you'll hit the road to highlights like one of the highest bungee jump in the world, the surf spots of the Wild Coast, the Drakensberg Mountains, and more.
Cape Town's Table Mountain is home to more than 1,500 plant species, and that's barely scratching the surface of South Africa's span. Cover even more of this extensive country on this itinerary as you go from atop Table Mountain up the Atlantic seaboard, then inland along the Garden Route, up into the Drakensberg Mountains, and out on safari.
This 10-day itinerary is the ultimate introduction to South Africa for animal lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. Start your adventure with two nights in Kruger National Park followed by a self-drive tour from the Eastern Cape through the Garden Route and all the way to Cape Town while seeing members of the Big Five, as well as ostriches, penguins, meerkats, and a range of marine life off the South Atlantic Coast.
There are 11 official languages in South Africa; see how many you can learn to say "thank you" in on this 18-day trip. Start by spending four nights in Cape Town, then get on the road to the Garden Route and onward, stopping for the surf in Jeffreys Bay, unwinding on the Wild Coast, and more.
South Africa is the world's largest producer of macadamia nuts. See what else it makes on this 19-day itinerary, which takes you from Cape Town out into the Cango Caves, off to the Wild Coast, on multiple safaris, and more to show you what else this exciting country has to offer.
You can find the world's smallest and largest succulents in South Africa, but plants are just the beginning of the country's diversity. Follow this 20-day trip plan to make your way across the South African landscape from the coast to the mountains and across the cultures and safari spots in between.
South Africa contains multitudes—of people, landscapes, wildlife, cultures, and more. With three weeks to explore, you'll travel through the highlights of contemporary Cape Town, visit the beach towns of the Wild Coast, experience the animal attractions of Addo Elephant National Park and Kruger National Park, and traverse highs and lows from the Drakensberg Mountains to the Cango Caves. Along the way, you'll gain insight into the country's complex history and ecosystems with the help of local experts and experienced guides.
Take two weeks to delve into South Africa's diverse territory with this trip. Over the course of more than 2,000 miles, you'll encounter the heights of the Drakensberg Mountains, pounding surf beaches of the Wild Coast, and the many towns, landscapes, and nature reserves that make up this vibrant country, whether you're meeting residents over dinner or seeking wildlife on game drives.
"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.
