For one reason or another, visiting South Africa might be on your bucket list. If it’s not, it should be. We’re here to help you plan your trip! I have done quite a bit of traveling, but no place on the planet is quite like South Africa. When you visit South Africa, you will be amazed by the vibrance and kindness of the people, humbled by the vast beauty of the scenery, swept away by the outstanding food and wine at every meal, and invigorated by witnessing some of the largest land mammals on earth in their untouched habitats.
Trust Us, Visit South Africa
We might be a little biased, but I think we are collectively more than qualified to make the assertion that everyone should visit South Africa at least once in their lifetime. I studied abroad in the KwaZulu-Natal province while in undergrad. I returned to work as a visiting scholar at the University of Cape Town during graduate school. Ray travelled to South Africa with his aunt shortly after graduating from high school. He loved it so much that he returned to do a four-month internship in Cape Town. Between the two of us, we have spent a total of a little over a year in South Africa.
Naturally, because South Africa is the thing that brought us together, we decided to return for our honeymoon. This post is going to provide you with an itinerary similar to the one we developed for our honeymoon, but it would be perfect for solo travelers, honeymooners, and groups of friends alike. 10 days is probably the bare minimum we would recommend for a trip to South Africa. We will give you some ideas on how to expand this trip if you have more time, but these are the must-do things if you only have 10 days!
Getting to South Africa
Travel days will not be included in this itinerary, but I do want to note that you should be prepared for a long trip. Depending on where you are coming from and the flights you select, it can take 1-2 full days. We highly recommend you consider your own comfort and convenience while booking this big of a trip. If you find cheaper airfare at an airport that is further away from your home, make sure to factor in travel and parking to the potential cost savings.
All of our trips to South Africa have been on wildly different budgets. It is entirely possible to do this trip for less than $2,000, but it is also possible to spend far more than that. Your airfare will likely be the most expensive part of your trip. Especially for travelers with a home currency equal to or better than the American dollar, the exchange rate to the South African Rand is consistently very favorable. This means you can do a lot without spending a lot.
Tip: Follow the exchange rate between USD and Rand for a while before your trip.
For this itinerary, you will need to fly in to Cape Town International Airport. Most international carriers either fly directly from Europe to Cape Town, or fly in to Johannesburg with another 2 hour flight to Cape Town. Once you arrive in South Africa, it is time for the experience of a lifetime!
Part 1: Stellenbosch Winelands
The first part of this trip will be spent in the winelands of Stellenbosch, not far from Cape Town. This is a great way to enjoy one of the best things South Africa has to offer, and to recover from your long journey.
Day 1 – Arrival
After collecting your luggage at the airport and clearing customs, you will need to travel to Stellenbosch. It is safe and reliable to take an Uber. Now, something to consider here is that Uber will really only work on your phone if you are connected to WiFi. We have a solution to this potential barrier (if your cell phone is unlocked, as many are nowadays).
Before leaving the airport, head to the nearest Vodacom kiosk and purchase a South African SIM card for your existing cell phone, with data and airtime. This really won’t cost you much money at all (maybe $40 all in), but it will make your entire experience so much more comfortable. You will be able to call Ubers, make restaurant reservations, use Google Maps, and even stay in touch with family back home.
Tip: Turn data for individual apps on your phone off so you don’t waste your prepaid airtime. That means waiting to upload Snapchats and the like until you are back on WiFi!
Once your phone is sorted out, you are ready to Uber to your accommodation in Stellenbosch where you will stay for the next two nights.
Budget Option: Stay at a local backpackers
Luxury Option: stay at a wine estate
The first night, make sure to freshen up, eat a good meal, and get some rest!
Day 2 – Wine Tour
Stellenbosch is known for its world class wines. The scenery is beautiful and nothing about this area will disappoint. You MUST elect to do a full day wine tour during your time in Stellenbosch. We highly recommend doing your tour with Tsiba Tsiba. They will pick you up from wherever you are staying, and plan out a day full of wine tastings that fits the vibe and preferences of your group!
Your wine tour will conclude in late afternoon, and you will probably be feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. If you are anything like us, you may just have to buy an extra suitcase to bring home all the bottles of wine you buy throughout the day! We recommend you make dinner reservations at The Fat Butcher to enjoy an exquisite steak dinner before calling it a night.
Day 3 (morning) – Brandy and Beyond
To conclude your time in Stellenbosch, make a stop at the historic Van Ryn’s Brandy Distillery. The tour here is fascinating and includes a tasting of South Africa’s best brandy. You even get a cocktail before the tour begins! We loved the 15 year brandy and bought a bottle to bring home. Now you are ready to move on to Cape Town.
Note: If you have more time and if you really enjoy wine, you can spend an extra day going on a wine tour of another nearby wine region like Franschhoek.
Part 2: Cape Town, South Africa
There are plenty of places to stay in Cape Town, and there is certainly something at every price point. To keep it simple, it is best to stay near the V&A Waterfront, or in an area such as Camps Bay. There are other good areas to stay, but look in these areas first. Cape Town is also home to some outstanding dining experiences. Ask locals and do your own research – you surely won’t have a hard time finding great food!
Day 3 (continued) – Arrive in Cape Town and Robben Island
Now that you have arrived in Cape Town, it is time to get right in to the activities! You will want to aim to be at the V&A Waterfront before 2:30PM so that you can make it on the last ferry to Robben Island. The tour of Robben Island is something every visitor to South Africa should do once in order to gain knowledge, understanding, and respect for the rather recent history of Apartheid. Robben Island is where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 of the 27 years he served behind bars. He went on to become the first democratically elected president of South Africa. Visiting Robben Island truly is a powerful experience!
Day 4 – Simons Town and Cape of Good Hope
Did you know there are penguins in South Africa? They are cute little guys. You can book a tour to go see these penguins and to go to the Cape of Good Hope.
It is really hard to describe the incredible beauty of the Cape of Good Hope, but it is a notoriously dangerous spot for ships to traverse because of the currents and landscape. It is NOT technically where the two oceans (Atlantic and Indian) meet, but you might hear this from some unknowing tourists. Don’t be fooled! It is the most Southwestern point on the continent of Africa. And yes, there is a cool spot for you to take a picture and prove you have been there.
Day 5 – Table Mountain and Tea at Mount Nelson
Depending on your fitness level, you can choose to get up very early and hike Table Mountain, or you can take the tram. We have done both, and I will say it is a tough hike, but definitely a cool one. If you plan to hike, be sure to go in a group and bring plenty of water to ensure safety. Either way, get yourself to the top of Table Mountain to enjoy the best view of Cape Town! No photos can do this experience justice.
After your trip up Table Mountain, you will sit down for afternoon tea at the Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel. You will need to make reservations for this, and we strongly encourage you not to skip this activity. The setting is beautiful, and you can have all the tea your heart desires. The reservation also includes cakes, pastries, sandwiches.
This would be a good night to have dinner at a restaurant like Kloof Street House, which has excellent food and is near Long Street. If you are interested in a lively bar scene, you definitely need to check out Long Street. There are tons of different bars to choose from and it’s a great time!
Day 6 – Cape Town Food Tour and the V&A Waterfront
Start your day with a food tour of the city. We recommend Cape Town Culinary Tours. The tour we went on included so many diverse tastings, and the guide was awesome. The tour will take up a good chunk of your day, and and you will end up at the V&A Waterfront. The V&A Waterfront is a great place to grab dinner! There are tons of restaurants to choose from. If the weather is nice, before dinner, check out a sunset champagne cruise! This is a great way to get a different view of the city, and to do it on a catamaran, with bubbles, and stunning sunsets.
Note: This is a great place to extend your trip. There is plenty more to do in Cape Town if you only have an extra day or two. If you have an extra 4-7 days, we highly recommend you consider going on the Garden Route or a bigger adventure to Namibia or Victoria Falls.
Part 3: Kruger National Park
Day 7 though 10 – Safari
The last part of your trip will be spent in Kruger National Park on an all-inclusive South African safari. There are so many options to make this experience exactly what you want it to be! To get to Kruger, you will need to fly from Cape Town to Johannesburg, and then you can either be picked up in Johannesburg, or fly to whichever airport (Nelspruit or Hoedspruit) is closest to your safari lodge. Nothing beats a South African safari, and we hope this is the perfect end to a trip of a lifetime.
