2-Week South Africa Tour Packages

Insider tips: Recommended 2-week South Africa itineraries

Compiled by

NadineSouth Africa travel expert at TourRadar

• 14 Day South Africa Itinerary, incl. Cape Town and Kruger National Park

  The 14-day South African tour visits 12 cities, including Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Hermanus, and Johannesburg. Features wine tastings, safari drives in Kruger National Park, and natural wonders along the Panorama Route.

  

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  • Days 1-2

    Cape Town

    Begin exploring South Africa's "Mother City." Visit Signal Hill and walk through the vibrant Bo Kaap neighborhood. Your free day is perfect for a trip to Robben Island (book 2 weeks ahead) or join a Cape Peninsula tour to see Cape Point and the penguins at Boulders Beach. Take the Table Mountain cable car at 8:30 AM to avoid crowds and afternoon winds that often shut down the service.

    
  • Day 3

    Cape Winelands & Hermanus

    Head to Stellenbosch to sample South Africa's signature Pinotage wines. Drive to coastal Hermanus where you can spot whales from June through December. Plan to arrive by late afternoon to watch the sunset over Walker Bay.

    
  • Day 4

    Garden Route

    Leave at 5:30 AM for optional shark cage diving in Gansbaai (take motion sickness pills). Stop at historic Swellendam on your way to Mossel Bay. Make time for the interesting Pinnacle Point Caves archaeological site.

    
  • Days 5-6

    Garden Route & Tsitsikamma

    Start your morning watching rhinos and giraffes on a game drive at Botlierskop Reserve. Stop for lunch at Knysna's waterfront (get a window table at 34 South). Spend the next day in Tsitsikamma National Park. The suspension bridge trail needs good walking shoes since sea spray makes it slippery.

    
  • Day 7

    Oudtshoorn

    Take Route 62 inland to the semi-desert Karoo region. Visit an ostrich farm and explore the Cango Caves. One visitor noted: "The cave formations are mind-blowing but bring a light jacket - it's surprisingly cool underground."

    
  • Days 8-9

    Cape Town to Johannesburg

    Drive back to Cape Town through Robertson wine country before flying to Johannesburg. Book morning flights to have enough time for airport transfers. Then head to your Kruger lodge.

    
  • Days 10-12

    Kruger National Park

    Spend three full days on safari drives. A recent visitor suggested: "Get the window seats for best wildlife viewing and bring binoculars - lions can be quite far away. The 5 AM game drives are worth the early wake-up as animals are most active at dawn."

    
  • Day 13

    Panorama Route

    See the beautiful Blyde River Canyon and Three Rondavels viewpoint. Visit Bourke's Luck Potholes before 10 AM to beat the tour buses. Make your way to Johannesburg.

    
  • Day 14

    Johannesburg

    The tour ends after breakfast. If you have a late flight you might want to take a Soweto township tour.

    

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• 14 Days in South Africa, incl. Durban and Cape Town

  A 14-day adventure covering 10 South African destinations from Durban to Cape Town. Highlights include Drakensberg mountains, Lesotho Highlands, Addo Elephant Park, and Tsitsikamma National Park. Includes 13 breakfasts, 12 dinners, and camping accommodations.

  

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  • Days 1-2

    Durban to Drakensberg Mountains

    Start your journey in Durban with an evening on Florida Road where you can try the local favorite Bunny Chow. Next morning drive inland to the Drakensberg mountains with a stop at the Nelson Mandela Capture Site. A fellow traveler shares: "Malealea in Lesotho and the drive through Drakensberg were absolute highlights - just make sure to bring shoes with good grip for the mountain trails."

    
  • Days 3-5

    Drakensberg & Lesotho Highlands

    The Drakensberg range offers two incredible days of hiking at Southern Africa's highest point of 3,482 meters. Your journey continues into Lesotho, known as the "Kingdom in the Sky." Along the way you'll pass through Golden Gate Highlands National Park where zebras and mongooses roam freely. Pick a hiking trail that matches your fitness level and remember to plan for potential delays at border crossings.

    
  • Days 6-7

    Wild Coast/Cintsa

    The coastal town of Cintsa provides a perfect mid-trip break. You can spend time with local Xhosa communities or try activities like surfing, canoeing on Cintsa River or mountain biking inland from the beach.

    
  • Days 8-10

    Addo & Tsitsikamma

    Start your mornings with game drives at Addo Elephant National Park where over 450 elephants live. A visitor tip: "Book the night game drive well in advance - it often sells out especially in peak season." Next up is Tsitsikamma National Park where you can hike trails and spot wildlife along the coast where forest meets ocean.

    
  • Days 11-12

    Garden Route to Cape Town

    Visit the Cango Caves in Oudtshoorn before an early morning meerkat experience. Then make your way to Cape Town along the scenic Garden Route. Plan for a 5 AM start to catch the meerkats.

    
  • Days 13-14

    Cape Town

    Visit the African penguins at Boulders Beach and explore Cape Town. Take an early morning cable car ride up Table Mountain to beat the crowds and get clear views. One traveler notes: "Two weeks feels rushed for this route but it gives you a perfect sampler of South Africa's diversity."

    

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• 14 Day South Africa Itinerary, incl. Johannesburg and Cape Town

  

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  • Days 1-2

    Mpumalanga & Kruger

    Leave from Johannesburg's Radisson Hotel OR Tambo at 8 AM. Get there by 7:30 AM to check in since traffic can be heavy. The drive to Mpumalanga is about 4 hours. Visit the Panorama Route's lookout points before 11 AM to beat the crowds. When you visit Bourke's Luck Potholes, make sure to wear sturdy shoes on the slippery rocks. For Kruger safaris, stick to neutral-colored clothing and skip bright colors or white. Game drives begin around 5:30 AM when animals are most active. Pack warm clothes since mornings can be cold even in summer.

    
  • Days 3-4

    Eswatini & Zululand

    Budget 30-60 minutes for the Eswatini border crossing and bring cash for any visa fees. Visit Matsamo Cultural Village for traditional dancing. Sit up front for the best view. Stop by Ngwenya Glass in the morning to watch the glassblowers at work.

    
  • Days 5-6

    Wildlife & Coast

    Start early for the uMkhuze Game Reserve safari. Look for elephants near the Lebombo Mountains in the early morning. Take the St. Lucia boat trip in late afternoon to see active hippos. Don't forget sunscreen and binoculars for bird spotting.

    
  • Days 7-9

    Garden Route

    Take the 4:20 PM Airlink flight from Durban to Port Elizabeth (about 1.5 hours) to arrive in time for dinner. Visit the Tsitsikamma suspension bridge early before tour groups arrive. It's a 30-minute walk. Morning visits to Monkeyland are best when the primates are active.

    
  • Days 10-11

    Route 62

    At Cango Caves, choose between the easier Heritage Tour or more challenging Adventure Tour based on how you feel about tight spaces. The drive to Cape Town takes about 6 hours with stops. Stop for lunch in Barrydale halfway through.

    
  • Days 12-14

    Cape Town

    Check Table Mountain's cable car schedule since strong winds can close it. Book the first car up at 8:30 AM to avoid lines. Consider the Seal Island boat trip during the Peninsula tour if the sea is calm. It costs about $25. For the Winelands, start your day in Stellenbosch when it's quiet. One traveler shared: "We loved the intimate tasting at Muratie—it felt more personal than the bigger estates."

    

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