2-Week South Africa Tour Packages

Insider tips: Recommended 2-week South Africa tour 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 Day South Africa Itinerary, incl. Johannesburg and Cape Town

  This 14-day trip from Johannesburg to Cape Town hits major spots like Kruger National Park where you'll search for the Big Five, and iSimangaliso Wetland (a UNESCO site) for boat trips to see hippos and crocs. The route includes Blyde River Canyon on the Panorama Route and stops at Monkeyland and Birds of Eden.

  

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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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• Cycling South Africa's Garden Route

  This 14-day cycling trip from Cape Town to Knysna covers 10 stops across South Africa's Garden Route, hitting Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, and Oudtshoorn. You'll ride Chapmans Peak along the Cape Peninsula, tackle the challenging Rooiberg Pass near Calitzdorp, and see the African penguin colony at Boulders Beach.

  

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  • Cape Town South Africa

    25 mi

  • Stellenbosch South Africa

    16 mi

  • Franschhoek South Africa

    42 mi

  • Robertson South Africa

    13 mi

  • Montagu South Africa

    9 mi

  • Bonnievale South Africa

    95 mi

  • Calitzdorp South Africa

    30 mi

  • Oudtshoorn South Africa

    28 mi

  • George South Africa

    134 mi

  • Montagu South Africa

    168 mi

  • Knysna South Africa

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