Highlights
Tsitsikamma National Park - Explore this sprawling marine and forest park in the heart of the famous Garden Route. Stellenbosch - Sample wine at world-renowned vineyards overlooked by stunning, rugged mountains. Hermanus - Spot migrating whales (within season) and soak up the charm of this small fishing village.
Itinerary
Discover the highlights of South Africa, travelling from the savannahs of Kruger to the shores of Cape Town. Search for wildlife in the world-famous Kruger National Park before heading on an iconic road trip through the Garden Route. Along the way, see penguins, spot whales (within season) and sample local tipples in the Cape Winelands. Our two-week itinerary ticks off the country's wild, cultural and scenic must-sees and more.
day 1Join trip in Johannesburg in the morning; afternoon Soweto Township tour
Our tour starts today in Johannesburg, South Africa's largest city, once home to Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. For those arriving on time today, our tour leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 12pm for a tour of Soweto (originally an acronym for Southwestern Townships). We'll start with a traditional lunch, typically Potjiekos - a stew that's slow-cooked in a cast iron pot over a fire and served with salad. After we've eaten, we'll head out on a Soweto tuk-tuk tour accompanied by a local resident and guide to discover the neighbourhoods of Soweto. We'll visit the Hector Pieterson Memorial, a museum that honours the vital role that the youth of South Africa played during the struggle. He was one of the first students to be killed during the uprising when he was just 13. We'll also travel down the vibrant Vilakazi Street, the former home to two Nobel Peace Prize Winners - Nelson Mandela and Bishop Desmond Tutu. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB). Please note, that if you wish to join the Soweto tour, you'll need to arrive at the hotel by 12pm. If you're booking your own flights, we recommend giving yourself at least 60 minutes to clear the airport. From the airport to the hotel is around a 45-minute drive, therefore the latest your flight can arrive is 10.15am. The majority of flights land into Johannesburg in the early morning and it's often too early to check in to. However, early arrivals will have access to tea and coffee, toilets and the hotel lounge.
day 2Drive to the Kruger, stopping at Blyde River Canyon viewpoints along the way
day 3Full day safari inside Kruger National Park in search of the Big Five
day 4Morning and afternoon game drives in Kruger National Park
day 5Travel back to Johannesburg before a late afternoon flight down to Port Elizabeth
day 6Spend the day exploring Storms River Mouth in Tsitsikamma National Park; a marine and forest wonderland
day 7An opportunity to explore the rainforest on an adventurous canopy tour. Continue to Knysna, sunset lagoon cruise
day 8Free day to explore Knysna's beaches and activities
day 9Full day drive along the Garden Route to Hermanus, stopping frequently to stretch legs
day 10Land-based whale watching in Hermanus (seasonal), or walk in Fernkloof Nature Reserve (out of season)
day 11Visit the African Penguin colony at Betty's Bay; arrive in Stellenbosch for optional wine tasting or walking food tour
day 12Travel on to Cape Town and visit Table Mountain by cable car
day 13Free day or optional trips to Robben Island or Cape Point
day 14Trip ends in Cape Town
What's Included
Customer Reviews
This truly was a South Africa highlights tour. We saw the big 5 in Kruger, whales at Hermanus, penguins, coastline, Table Mountain.....the list is endless. We had an amazing guide, Tshepo, who was a fount of knowledge, always helpful and in a good humour. I would definitely recommend this trip.
A great trip through South Africa. Highlights were the wildlife in Kruger NP, the crashing waves on the coast and the penguins and whales. Also a bit of history and culture in Cape Town.
A full on trip which maximised our time in South Africa. A really good balance of cultural insights, scenery and wildlife. This wouldn't have been possible without our super guide Christian. He knew how to keep us safe, was resolutely positive and energetic, and made the trip. There was a lot of driving which we knew about when we booked. If we had more annual leave available, we would have booked an extra night in Capetown at the end. This would have enabled us to book both a Robben Island excursion, and a Cape of Good Hope trip. We are very glad that we booked this trip.
This was an excellent tour that never disappointed. While the tour was rated full on and we were busy, it never felt rushed or pressured. It definitely lives up to it's name, a great representation of the variety that is South Africa.
Monthly Price Comparison
Good to Know
Do you need help from our trip consultants?
If you have any question about this tour or need help with planning a trip, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
Our travel experts are ready to help.
Why Book with Bookmundi
No credit card or booking fees.
Best price guaranteed.
Carbon neutral tours.
25,000+ trip reviews, with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5.
What are customers saying about Bookmundi
