3-Week South Africa Tour Packages
Three weeks in South Africa covers diversity, nature, and wildlife. If you’ve ever wanted to visit Cape Town's Table Mountain, witness the Garden Route's beauty, discover Kruger's Big Five, tour Johannesburg's history, or experience the winelands, now is the time! You're seeing landscapes from beaches to bushveld, tasting world-class wines, meeting diverse cultures, and understanding why South Africa is often called the entire world in one country.
Insider tips: Recommended 3-week South Africa tour itineraries
Compiled by
NadineSouth Africa travel expert at TourRadar
21 Days in South Africa, incl. Johannesburg and Cape Town
A 21-day South African adventure spans 25 destinations. Get up close to wildlife at Kruger National Park, ascend Cape Town's Table Mountain, sip wines in Stellenbosch, and cruise the Garden Route, with accommodations ranging from traditional beehive huts to comfortable lodges.
- Days 1-2
Drakensberg Mountains
Leave Johannesburg for a 4.5-hour drive to the Drakensberg, the world's oldest mountain range. "The local guides in the Drakensberg were top of the range - we saw so much wildlife and they couldn't do enough for us." Plan for a moderate 4-5 hour guided hike. Bring sturdy shoes since paths get slippery after rain. You can choose from several turnaround points based on your fitness level.
- Days 3-5
St. Lucia & Wildlife Viewing
Stop at the historic Rorke's Drift battlefield on your way to St. Lucia. Start your day with a game drive in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, known for having Africa's largest rhino population. Take a hippo cruise on the estuary at 4pm for the best wildlife spotting. If you're visiting between November and February you can join night walks to see nesting leatherback turtles.
- Days 6-7
Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, Eswatini
Cross into Eswatini and spend your nights in traditional beehive huts at Mlilwane. Since there are no predators here you can take morning walks among zebras and nyalas. "Visiting Mlilwane nature reserve where we could walk amongst the wildlife was a highlight."
- Days 8-9
Kruger National Park
Get ready for serious Big 5 viewing in Kruger. Early morning game drives give you the best chance to spot predators. Bring warm clothes for those chilly dawn rides in open vehicles. In the afternoon head to Sabie River to watch animals drink. "Seeing an elephant crossing the road in front of the jeep and on another day seeing a lion cross the road were unforgettable moments."
- Days 10-13
Cape Town & Winelands
Take a flight to Cape Town. Book the 9am Robben Island ferry for the most reliable trip. Start your Table Mountain hike by 7am to beat the heat. It takes 3-4 hours to reach the top. Take time to explore Cape Peninsula. Visit Stellenbosch for its Dutch architecture and wineries. Wine tasting rooms are less busy in the afternoon.
- Days 14-15
Whale Coast & Cape Agulhas
Visit the penguins at Stony Point in Betty's Bay instead of the crowded Boulder's Beach. If you're there from July to November watch whales from the Hermanus shore. Visit Cape Agulhas where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet. Take the scenic drive through Tradouw Pass to reach Barrydale.
- Days 16-18
Garden Route
Start at Cango Caves before the crowds arrive. Check out the Knysna Heads viewpoint on your way to Plettenberg Bay. The Robberg Nature Reserve trails need good walking shoes. Keep an eye out for dolphins and seals in the water.
- Days 19-21
Tsitsikamma & Addo
Walk across the suspended bridges in Tsitsikamma National Park. Finish your trip with game drives in Addo Elephant National Park. Book morning drives to see elephants. "The 5am game drive was worth the early start - we saw entire elephant families coming to the waterholes."
20 Days in South Africa, incl. Kruger and Cape Town
Over 20 days, traverse 18 South African cities from Pretoria to Cape Town. Two full days in Kruger, followed by visits to Drakensberg Mountains, Garden Route, and Cape Winelands. The package includes 19 breakfasts, 16 lunches, and stops at Cango Caves.
- Days 1-3
Kruger National Park Region
Start in Pretoria and head to Hazyview the gateway to Kruger. Game drives begin before dawn at 5:30 AM when animals are most active. "Papa G's wildlife knowledge was phenomenal!" one traveler noted. Bring layers since mornings are cold but afternoons get hot. The 4x4 safaris give you great opportunities to spot the Big 5 among the park's 148 mammal species.
- Days 4-5
Eswatini (Swaziland)
The border crossing into Eswatini takes 1-2 hours so bring water and stay patient. Visit Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary and stop at a traditional village where local guides share their customs and crafts. A recent visitor said "Meeting the village residents and learning about their daily lives was a highlight."
- Days 6-8
KwaZulu-Natal Coast
Take a 4-hour drive to St. Lucia for boat cruises to spot hippos. Next up is Durban with its beaches and famous curry houses. You can visit uShaka Marine World if you like. One reviewer suggested "The Durban curry was incredible—definitely try the local food scene."
- Days 9-12
Drakensberg Mountains
Visit the Southern Drakensberg for a challenging Sani Pass 4x4 tour into Lesotho. Bring motion sickness pills if you need them. You'll reach Africa's highest pub at 2,874m. The Northern Drakensberg is perfect for day hikes but bring good boots since trails get slippery. Royal Natal National Park offers trails ranging from 1-hour walks to full-day hikes.
- Days 13-14
Malealea, Lesotho
This mountain kingdom is ideal for pony trekking and village visits. It gets cold at night so pack a warm sleeping bag good for 0°C. "The pony trek through remote villages gave amazing insights into Basotho culture" one traveler shared.
- Days 15-17
Eastern Cape
Drive through Mountain Zebra National Park on your way to Addo Elephant Park which has over 600 elephants. The Garden Route leads to Tsitsikamma National Park where you can walk the suspension bridge and go hiking. Keep in mind that coastal camping can be chilly.
- Days 18-20
Cape Region
Start at Oudtshoorn's Cango Caves but skip the adventure tour if you're claustrophobic. Drive to Cape Agulhas to see where two oceans meet. Stop in Hermanus for whale watching if you're there between June and December before heading to Cape Town. The wine route has great tastings but make sure someone stays sober to drive.
20 Day South Africa Itinerary, incl. Kruger National Park and Cape Town
A 20-day South African expedition visits 18 cities from Pretoria to Cape Town. Four national parks await, including Kruger and Addo, plus Garden Route and wine country adventures. Package includes 19 nights accommodation and 51 meals, rated 4.8/5 by 20+ travelers.
- Days 1-3
Kruger National Park Region
Begin your journey in Pretoria and drive to Hazyview, the perfect base for exploring Kruger. Spend two full days discovering Africa's premier wildlife reserve in open 4x4 vehicles. "The early morning game drives are worth the 5AM wake-up - we saw all Big 5 animals before breakfast when they're most active. Pack warm layers as mornings can be surprisingly chilly."
- Days 4-5
Eswatini (Swaziland)
Cross into Eswatini through the Crocodile River border post. Stay at Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary where you can ride horses, bike mountain trails or take guided walks. The Royal Enclosure offers fascinating cultural insights. Try to cross the border early to avoid long lines.
- Days 6-8
KwaZulu-Natal Coast
Take a boat cruise on St. Lucia's estuary to spot hippos and crocodiles. Next, visit Durban's golden beaches and experience its rich Indian culture. "The uShaka Marine World is worth a visit, but go early as it gets crowded after 11AM. The beachfront restaurants near Umhlanga are perfect for sunset dining."
- Days 9-12
Drakensberg Mountains
Visit the stunning Sani Pass, your entry point to Lesotho. A 4x4 tour takes you up to 3,482m. You'll need warm clothes no matter when you visit. The hiking trails at Royal Natal National Park offer incredible views of the Amphitheatre cliff face. Plan for a 6-7 hour drive from Durban with photo stops.
- Days 13-14
Lesotho Highlands
Enter Lesotho at Maseru Bridge and travel to Malealea Lodge. Try a pony trek through mountain villages on gentle Basotho ponies. "The pony trek was a highlight - our local guide showed us waterfalls we'd never have found on our own. Bring small denominations for village crafts."
- Days 15-17
Eastern Cape
Explore Mountain Zebra National Park and Addo Elephant Park for unique wildlife encounters. Travel along the Garden Route to Tsitsikamma Forest and Plettenberg Bay. Each park-to-park drive takes 2-3 hours without stops.
- Days 18-20
Cape Region
Visit the ostrich farms and Cango Caves in Oudtshoorn. Stop in Hermanus for whale watching (July-November) before finishing in Cape Town. "Don't rush the Garden Route drive - the viewpoints between Plett and Cape Town are incredible, especially around Storms River."
South Africa 21 Day Tour Packages You'll Love
Kruger, Eswatini and South Africa's Garden Route
20-day South Africa, Lesotho & Eswatini Explorer (Camping)
20-day South Africa, Lesotho & Eswatini Explorer (Accommodated)
Ultimate South Africa
BIG FIVE SAFARI TOUR
7 -DAYS CAPE TOWN INVERDOORN BIG FIVE SAFARI- OUDTSHOORN -KNYSA- MOSSELL BAY- PLETTENBERG BAY
18 Day South Africa Explorer (Accommodated)
Discover South Africa - Comfort Small Group Tour
South Africa, Eswatini & Lesotho - 20 days
South Africa, Eswatini & Lesotho (Accommodated) - 20 days
What people love about 3-week South Africa tours
- Kruger, Eswatini and South Africa's Garden Route
Chantel was tour guide on second part of trip - she was outstanding
The experience in Kruger was fantastic, seeing many animals in their natural surroundings. Moyaney and elias were both fantastic. The area we covered was amazing with lots of differet experiences. Sani pass was terrifying but a must do on the trip. Not on the list again. Seeing how people lived in eswantini, lesotho was humbling. The school vist was beautiful. Education has to be paid for which makes a significant difference to childrens futures. The food was mostly good, but dud not like the maize mash, it an acquired taste. There was an alternative. What an amazing shepherds pie we had. 10 out of 10 Moyaney. St Lucia ia memorable fir accomodation, hippos and alternative activities. I would love to have stayed longer. Such a wonderful mix of destinations, camp sites etc, a once in a lifetime trip. Durban was a let dow. Organisation was great, drives at times long but with a good group, music and laughter it was ok. I would have loved more 2 night stays.
20-day South Africa, Lesotho & Eswatini Explorer (Camping)
- 20-day South Africa, Lesotho & Eswatini Explorer (Accommodated)
The tour was great and saw a lot of animals. We were able to see many animals at all the parks and various sights to see through all three countries. My biggest complaint is that there are many long drives which I understand but the bus was not very comfortable on the roads. Luckily, there were a few of us so we could spread out but if you had a full tour, it would not be comfortable. Also, lunch was to be included but on some days, we were given money to buy ourselves something. That would be fine if it was enough to buy something to eat where we stopped. Either provide more funds or plan on packing lunch that we could eat on the road (which we did a couple of days). Lastly, if you indicate that they are optional add-ons, you should have the information on how we can do them at the stops and make sure there is enough time to do them. We missed whale watching because we didn't know we had to book it ourselves a head of time. If traveling in the winter months, be prepared to be cold during the night and the mornings, but the termperatire did warm up through out the day.
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