From the sun-kissed vines of the Stellenbosch region to the game-filled plains of Kruger National Park, South Africa is wild and broad, beautiful and entertaining – and a captivating country to explore.
(Photo: Expat Explore Travel / Courtesy Tourradar)
Cape Town and Johannesburg are the two big cities, and they are worlds apart in their style. Cape Town is more debonair, overlooked by the calm presence of Table Mountain, meanwhile, Jo’burg presents South Africa’s rawer, more honest face, with the country’s problems laid bare. But there is a whole lot more to discover across South Africa beyond these two urban centres, and one way to do so is on an organised tour. There are a wide number of tours available, including several luxury options we’ve highlighted below.
South African Escape
This excellent two-week journey takes a comprehensive look at South Africa’s absolute best highlights, and there are a lot of them. This tour has the conventional start and end points (Cape Town and Johannesburg respectively) that are common to many longer tours of South Africa, however the itinerary is broad and includes plenty of unique and unusual experiences alongside the classics. Think game drives through Botlierskop and Kruger, shark diving off the coastal section of the Garden Route, and visits to an ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn. There are plenty of other highlights included, along with all accommodation in hotels or lodges, all breakfasts and most dinners, as well as your guide and transportation. From $1,880 per person.
Cape Town and the Garden Route
(Photo: Expat Explore Travel / Courtesy Tourradar)
For anybody who’s put off by the idea of Johannesburg, or indeed would simply rather avoid seeing all those miles whizz by from a bus, this is a more in-depth exploration of the highlights near Cape Town. You’ll miss the big game of Kruger National Park, but that doesn’t mean missing out on the wildlife, because it exists in abundance across South Africa. This tour focuses heavily on culture and the outdoors, both in ready supply all along the Garden Route and in Cape Town. Over nine days, you will have a Cape Town city tour, as well as a free day to explore on your own. You’ll have a wine tasting near Stellenbosch and a chance to bungee jump (additional fee) in Tsitsikamma National Park. Hotels and most meals are included. From $805 per person.
Cape Town to Johannesburg
While many of the other tours on this list last well into their second and third weeks, this one is the longest at 20 days and 19 nights. What that ensures is a little added time to reach Lesotho and Swaziland, while still ticking off all of the major highlights between Jo’burg and Cape Town. That means time spent in the wine country around Stellenbosch, the Garden Route, Tsitsikamma National Park, where you can take a river cruise, snorkel in the sea or see whales in season, as well as Drakensberg, St. Lucia and so much more. This is an easier tour in terms of physical exertion, with hotel stays, and the group size is capped at 16 people. From $4,978 per person.
Kruger Wildlife Tracking & Vineyards
(Photo: GAdventures)
Over 11 immerse and action-packed days, this tour will see you experience some of the very best that South Africa has to offer You’ll track wildlife on foot during a captivating safari in Kruger National Park, learn the ropes of being a ranger, traverse the country’s finest wine regions by bike with the wind in your hair, and kayak against a backdrop of the majestic Table Mountain. Among your accommodation will be atmospheric safari lodges, where you’ll sleep under the stars surrounded by magnificent creatures. Among all of this rural, back-to-nature adventure, there’ll also be time to explore some of the country’s most interesting cities, including Cape Town and Johannesburg. The ensuing days will see you venture to the town of Franschhoek, one of the most beautiful wine valleys in the world. From $5,430 per person.
Essence of South Africa
A total of eight cities across three countries make up the enthralling itinerary on this tour that lasts just under a fortnight. The majority of the trip – 9 days in total – will be spent travelling around South Africa, while the remaining time will see you visit Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Chobe National Park in Botswana, to give you a different flavour of the continent. During the South Africa leg, you’ll start in the iconic city of Cape Town, including a trip to the top of Table Mountain, before heading to Africa’s most extreme south-western tip where you’ll get to see the penguins of Boulders Beach. The ensuing days will see you venture to the town of Franschhoek, one of the most beautiful wine valleys in the world, and enjoy safaris in to renowned game reserves. All of this while staying in charming accommodation and enjoying traditional South African food at each stop. From $7,720 per person.