Bernie Van Der Linde-
Bernie Van Der Linde
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Planning the perfect itinerary for South Africa can be daunting.
When it comes to exploring South Africa, the ideal itinerary or travel plan is in your hands. Opt for an action-packed, fast-paced itinerary to experience the best of South Africa in two weeks. Or create a travel plan that will allow you to meandering travel at a leisurely pace by extending your stay by a few days to delve deeper into South Africa’s culture, heritage, and wildlife. The choice is yours, as per our flexible recommendations.
Our 14-day itinerary allows you to experience South Africa’s hearty hospitality, vibrant culture, and lush biodiversity. We start our trip in Cape Town, the Mother City, and take you along the Garden Route in a circular direction past some of the best wine farms near Cape Town.
For those who are not restricted by time, we suggest extending your trip to include Johannesburg. From Johannesburg, you can either experience a guided safari at a private game reserve in the Welgevonden Game Reserve, make a self-drive to the Kruger National Park or join the world’s most luxurious train, Rovos Rail, for a once-in-a-lifetime train safari.
Let’s get straight into our fourteen-day itinerary for South Africa.
A good itinerary must include Cape Town and the Garden Route
Our action-packed 14-day itinerary lets you experience Cape Town, the picturesque Garden Route and South Africa’s world-renowned wine farms.
Please note that even though we might receive some compensation from a few travel partners, we will never recommend anything that we didn’t enjoy or that didn’t meet our quality standards. Moreover, our articles comply with ethical journalism travel standards.
We have an article about most of our recommendations below on our travel blog or significant highlights on our Instagram page about a particular experience. Click on the links (where indicated) to read our feature articles, which tell you when to go, what to experience, opening and closing times, and fees where appropriate.
Itinerary for Day 1 to 3: Explore Cape Town
- Go up Table Mountain with the cable car.
- Visit the colourful houses at Bo-Kaap.
- Visit a wine farm in Constantia or Durbanville. Constantia has about ten wine farms, of which Beau Constantia is our favourite. In Durbanville, we highly recommend visiting a few wine farms, such as Durbanville Hills, Diemersdal, and De Grendel. Visit our Instagram page highlights.
- Admire the sunset from Signal Hill.
- Visit Bloubergstrand for exceptional views of Table Mountain.
- Stroll along the promenade or go jogging in Sea Point along the coastline.
- Visit the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and walk the famous Boomslang Tree Canopy Walkway.
- Take a helicopter flight from the V&A Waterfront to get a bird’s eye view of Cape Town and its surroundings.
- Enjoy a legendary high tea at The Cellars Hohenort in Constantia.
- Admire South Africa’s Floral Kingdom. Did you know that 30% of South African Fynbos can not be seen anywhere in the world? The best places to admire Fynbos are the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Table Mountain National Park, Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, and the West Coast National Park.
Where to stay in Cape Town?
- Depending on your budget, we recommend staying at the fabulous 4-star Cloud9 hotel, “Where Luxury meets Heritage,” in vibey Tamboerskloof. The highlight of this exceptional boutique hotel is its award-winning rooftop bar, Mountain Club Bistro, which offers unprecedented 360-degree views of Cape Town and Table Mountain.
- For those wishing to splurge on a luxury stay, we recommend the Silo at the V&A Waterfront or Tintswalo Atlantic Beach Hotel.
- Also, read our article: Top 8 hotels with the best views in Cape Town and surroundings
Where to eat in Cape Town?
Breakfast
- Sonny and Irene in Sea Point offers stunning food in a prime spot in Cape Town.
- If you are looking for a dazzling café in the city centre, we recommend Hemelhuijs, a trendy restaurant serving original, local flavours in exceptional meals.
Lunch
- Café Caprice at 37 Victoria Road in Camps Bay is a cosmopolitan restaurant with a café-style menu and artisan cocktails. We love the sidewalk seating area for people-watching any time of the day. If you are a leaf-eater like Bernie, we highly recommend their Scheckter’s Raw burger. Apparently, this is the best burger in South Africa, even for non-vegetarians.
Dinner
- There are several outstanding restaurants in Cape Town and the surrounding area; again, we have our favourites. The award-winning Tangram restaurant at Durbanville Hills Wine Farm will have you talking about their food for years to come. Here, you can enjoy exceptional sunset views of Cape Town and Table Mountain while savouring the first-class meals. Bernie recons this restaurant served the best meal she had enjoyed in her entire life! Can that be possible? You have to try it so we can verify her recommendation.
- Kloof Street House is also a fabulous choice. This fairy-like dining oasis is set in a renovated Victorian House; this restaurant is a content creator’s dream location. It is more than just a restaurant; it is an interesting collection of timeless pieces that blend effortlessly into the charming spaces, creating a homely ambiance. The food is exceptional, and the service is impeccable.
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Itinerary for Day 4 to 6: Stellenbosch and surroundings
From Cape Town, take the scenic route or the faster N2 highway to your stay at Vergenoegd Löw Wine Estate.
For the scenic route, take the M6 Victoria Road, past Camps Bay and Clifton, and towards the Twelve Apostles Mountain Range in the direction of Hout Bay. From Hout Bay, take Chapman’s Peak drive towards the bohemian town of Kalk Bay.
If you picked the faster N2 route, take the offramp onto Baden Powell Drive, R310. The wine estate is about 32 km from Cape Town.
PRO Tip 1: If you want to make some detours along the way, remember to avoid places like Mitchel’s Plain and Khayelitsha.
Activities in Stellenbosch and surroundings
- Drive along the world-famous Chapman’s Peak.
- Explore Kalk Bay en route from Chapman’s Peak. You may wish to stop at the former fishing village, Hout Bay harbour, with its long sandy beach framed by mountains.
- Explore the Cape of Good Hope and go up with the funicular. There is an entrance fee of R 360 (Internationals) and R 90 for locals to the Cape Point Nature Reserve. The Cape Point Funicular is R 70 one-way or R 85 return per adult. The opening hours are from 9 am to 5:50 pm daily.
- Get up close with penguins at Boulders Beach near Simons Town. Don’t forget to follow our tips for finding the best places to see the penguins on our Instagram page.
- Stroll the streets of Kalk Bay and enjoy shopping at some of the most unique boutiques, such as Jane Valke, Saint Siena, and Mystic Rose. Our favourite shop for quilts and other linen is Oh So Boho. There are several great places to enjoy lunch with stunning sea views. However, our favourite places are Brass Bell (take the passage next to the station to get underneath the railway line) and Cape to Cuba (visit our Instagram page for more info).
- Visit the Franschhoek Motor Museum and Anthonij Rupert Wine Farm by taking the R310 in the direction of Stellenbosh. It is approximately 16 km from Vergenoegd Wine Farm. We recommend purchasing the Estate Package (available Tuesday to Sunday), which includes a scenic tram ride, wine tasting, lunch and a visit to the Motor Museum. Look out for our feature article about our fun day at this wine farm.
- We recently visited Vergelegen which is one of the most picturesque wine farms.
Where to stay near Stellenbosch
Vergenoegd Löw, a prestigious and historic wine farm (dating back to 1696) with two heritage buildings, offers exclusive cellar tours, vineyard walks, and unique wine-tasting experiences. These include the indigenous food and wine pairing experience, a culinary journey curated by South Africa’s renowned chef, Bertus Basson.
The picturesque white chapel makes for a perfect wedding venue, and their vintage Rolls Royce adds to the sense of exclusivity. Follow our Instagram for a glimpse of our ride in the ‘Old Lady’.
The farm is renowned for its beautifully restored buildings and an impressive flock of 1600 Indian Runner Ducks. Every morning at 9:00 and again mid-day at 12:00, visitors can witness the spontaneous spectacle as hundreds of ducks waddle to and from the wine yards. Even though the ducks are spectacular to watch, they do an important job on the farm by ensuring excellent wine quality and keeping the farm pest-free. Moreover, the Estate proudly promotes sustainable tourism by being almost 80% of the grid due to its functional power plant.
Besides our fascination with the ducks, we enjoyed staying in one of their recently built luxurious (did we mention spacious and tranquil?) guest cottages with a private heated pool. Yes, heated! What is more, all the suites and cottages on the estate either have private pools or Jacuzzis.
Day spa near Franschhoek
Their top-rated spa offers guests the ultimate pampering. The spa uses locally sourced ingredients. We highly recommend their Eikenbosch Aromatherapy massage.
Look out for our full feature article coming soon about this opulent yet personal boutique winery near Somerset West. Whether you are a historian or luxury traveller with a fascination for history, the repurposed historical dairy and slave quarters will captivate your imagination. Moreover, the beauty of the white-washed walls, thatched roofs, wooden floors, and gables will take you back to a bygone era, ensuring you feel relaxed and revived upon departure.
Where to eat near Stellenbosch
Breakfast and Lunch
Vergenoegd Löw serves a great breakfast at Geuwels, which is set against the backdrop of serene winery countryside. The on-site restaurant, Guewels (in English Gables) Restaurant, offers inside or Al Fresco dining on the summer terrace, from which you can marvel at their magnificent flock of Indian runner ducks. Enjoy a variety of exceptional dishes from renowned chef Bertus Basson.
Dinner
Clara’s Barn Restaurant is a fine dining restaurant in one of the oldest barns in the Western Cape. They serve a 5-course meal under the guidance of chef, Dirkus Brink. Food connoisseurs will marvel at the seasonal and creative meals. Visit our ‘food’ highlights on our Instagram page for a taste of our experience.
Itinerary for Day 7: Hermanus
From Vergenoegd Wine Estate, take the N2 to Somerset West. Again, you have two options for reaching Hermanus: the faster N2 route or the scenic route (highly recommended Clarence Drive) on the R44 past Strand, Gordon’s Bay, Rooi-Els, Pringle Bay, Betty’s Bay (where you can visit a less-crowded with tourists penguin colony), and Kleinmond. From Arabella Country Estate, you turn onto the R43 to Hermanus. Hermanus is the whale capital of South Africa. Depending on your time of travel, you may be lucky to spot some whales en route.
Activities near Hermanus
- Enjoy lunch at one of the many seaside restaurants.
- Visit nearby towns like Stanford (read our related article, Waterblom Cottage: A hidden gem of Stanford), Kleinmond, and Gansbaai (known for shark diving experiences).
- Spend a day at picturesque Vöelklip beach in Hermanus.
- During whale season, go for a whale-watching excursion.
Where to stay in Hermanus?
We recommend staying at The Marine, one of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Enjoy unprecedented views from your suite or walk the scenic cliff path. Click here to read our feature article about the Marine.
Where to eat in Hermanus?
Breakfast and dinner
- The Marine’s restaurant, The Pavilion, serves gastronomic meals at very affordable prices. Enjoy Breakfast on the patio with exquisite mountain and ocean views.
Lunch
- Our favourite place for lunch is Fick’s Pool in Hermanus. This ocean-side restaurant offers some of the best lunch views in Hermanus on a beautiful day.
- Bientang’s Cave is also located right at the water’s edge near the cliff side.
Itinerary for Day 8 to 11: Explore the picturesque Garden Route
We toured the Garden Route in November of 2023 and discovered a few gems along the way. Depending on your preference, you may choose to either stay in Knysna or Plettenberg Bay.
Knysna is a busy, traditional holiday destination mostly known for its catamaran cruises on the Knysna lagoon, visits to the Knysna Heads, and scenic hiking routes. On the other hand, Plettenberg Bay is a classy ocean-side town with superb beaches and several award-winning hotels, such as Emily Moon River Lodge, the Plettenberg, and Tsala Treetop Lodge.
Activities near Kynsna and Plettenberg Bay
We recommend the following activities and experiences in both Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, as the towns are only 34 km apart on the N2:
- Enjoy a catamaran cruise on the Knysna Lagoon with ocean sailing charters. View our Instagram Stories for more info.
- Enjoy a relaxed lunch or dinner at Knysna Harbour.
- Visit Brenton-on-sea and Buffels Bay. Watch our YouTube video about our trip to the Graden Route.
- Go to the Knysna Heads lookout point for exceptional views.
- Enjoy a relaxing beach day at Victoria Bay.
Where to stay in Knysna?
- We recommend staying at either on the lagoon-side at St. James of Knysna or the Turbine Hotel on Thesen Island. We stayed at both hotels and found it difficult to choose our favourite as each one offered something unique. We loved that we could enjoy a complementary lagoon cruise at St. James of Knysna, with its massive, Georgian-style rooms.
- The Turbine Hotel, on the other hand, has a fantastic spa, interesting history and architecture.
We suggest you read our full reviews about these two hotels to pick the one that best suits your needs.
Where to stay in Plettenberg Bay?
Spoil yourself and splurge on the 5-star Plettenberg Bay Hotel. Its stunning rim-flow pool offers exquisite mountain, ocean and beach vistas. The hotel’s on-site restaurant prepares out-of-this-world sustainable seafood dishes under the guidance of executive chef Kyle Macaskill. Here, Petra enjoyed the ‘best calamari’ she ever had in South Africa. In fact, she enjoyed it so much that she had it twice in a row for lunch and again for dinner. We enjoyed sipping on delicious cocktails while admiring the opulent interior throughout the hotel.
Where to eat in Knysna and Plettenberg Bay?
Plettenberg Bay
- Nguni Restaurant for its traditional South African dishes served with nostalgic charm.
Knsyna
- 34 Degrees South at the Knysna Waterfront serves great food against a beautiful harbour backdrop.
- Butterfly Blu at Brenton-on-Sea is perched atop a dune with phenomenal panoramic sea views.
PRO Tip 2: Arrive early at Butterfly Blue in Brenton-on-Sea to witness a spectacular sunset from the clifftop.
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Itinerary for Day 12 to 14: Get up close to nature (Oudtshoorn)
If you want to experience South Africa’s vibrant culture and diverse people, there is no better place than Oudsthoorn, known as the ostrich capital of the world. Here, young and mature (LOL! we prefer being labelled mature rather than old) can experience unique activities within a few kilometres of the city centre, such as camel or ostrich rides, a unique zipline, breathtakingly beautiful waterfalls, a wildlife safari and picturesque routes along stunning mountain passes.
Activities near Oudsthoorn
- Visit the Cango Caves.
- Visit an ostrich farm. We recommend Safari Ostrich Farm, which is only 6km from the city centre.
- Experience wildlife adventures with the Five Shy Meerkats at De Zeekoe Guest Lodge.
- Take the kids for a camel ride at Wilgewandel Holiday Farm.
- Visit the Rus en Vrede Waterfalls.
- Drive along the picturesque Meiringpoort and Swartberg Pass.
Where to stay near Oudtshoorn?
During our Garden Route Tour, we stayed at Wildehondekloof Lodge. Read our feature article about our unique stay and safari. If you wish to stay closer to town, we recommend staying at their sister lodge, De Zeekoe Guest Farm.
Where to eat near Oudtshoorn?
Wildehondekloof is, without a doubt, the best for Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You cannot beat their exceptional food served in the most peaceful environment.
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Itinerary for Day 14: Enjoy the picturesque Franschhoek
Franschhoek is a small town in the Western Cape Province known for its majestic mountain scenery, lush vineyards, and stylish French vibe.
Activities near Franschhoek:
- Visit the Franschhoek Motor Museum
- Enjoy a wine-tasting experience either using the famous wine tram or on horseback.
- Enjoy wine tasting at some of the country’s most famous wine estates, such as Boschendal, L’Ormarins (Anthonij Rupert wines), or Babylonstoren.
- Stroll the street of Franschhoek for unique boutiques, shops, and restaurants.
Head to the Cape Town International Airport and reminisce about your most memorable holiday ever. Depending on your time, you can fly home or take a quick two-hour flight to Johannesburg’s OR Tambo airport to continue your journey from here. We highly recommend adding the next leg to your South African trip.
On this leg of your journey, we suggest experiencing the ultimate safari in Welgevonden Game Reserve, the Kruger National Park or a train safari with Rovos Rail.
Itinerary for Day 14 to 16: Experience vibrant Johannesburg
Activities in Johannesburg
- Visit a farmers’ market such as Fourways Farmers Market, Prison Break Market or Rosebank Rooftop Market.
- Enjoy a truly South African spa treatment at the Four Seasons or Saxon Hotel.
- Take the City Sightseeing Red Bus in Johannesburg to visit Soweto, Vilakazi Street, the Apartheid Museum, and Gold Reef City Theme Park, among others.
- Visit the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens.
- Visit Montecasino’s magnificent Bird Park.
- Visit the Cradle of Human Kind.
Where to eat in Johannesburg?
Brunch
Few places in Johannesburg offer a more delicious breakfast than the Four Seasons Westcliff.
Dinner
- We have a few favourite restaurants in the vicinity region of the Four Seasons, Westcliff.
- Kolonaki Greek Kouzina and Modena Restaurant in Parkhurst offer exceptional food.
- Pablo House boutique hotel has an excellent restaurant called Dois Manos that offers exquisite views over Johannesburg and outstanding food.
Where to stay in Johannesburg?
- If you can splurge a bit more on the second leg of your trip, we suggest staying at the Four Seasons, Westcliff, in Johannesburg. The Westcliff Hotel not only has the best view over Johannesburg, but it also offers extraordinary dining options.
- If you need a more authentic experience, we recommend staying at Pablo House Boutique Hotel in Melville. The hosts are super friendly and helpful and enjoy assisting guests with planning their activities in the area.
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Itinerary for Day 17 to 19: Experience a safari (Welgevonden Game Reserve)
If you want to experience up-close encounters with wildlife, we highly recommend going to Welgevonden Game Reserve. Besides being conveniently located within three hours of Johannesburg, it is also home to the Big 5 and within in a malaria-free environment.
We have two feature articles for our favourite lodges, namely Sediba Luxury Safari Lodge and Elephant Crossing. Although these lodges offer the same activities, their ambiance is vastly different in terms of accommodation and food.
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Itinerary for Day 17 to 19: Kruger National Park self-drive
Although our itinerary suggests a three-night stay, we highly recommend extending your stay to four or five nights to experience the vast and diverse landscape of the Kruger National Park. There is a big difference in animal concentration and vegetation from the North to the South of the park.
On our teavel blog have written several very informative articles about where to stay, what to see, and when to go to Kruger National Park. We recommend reading our most popular article about Kruger, “How to do a self-drive to Kruger,” and downloading our Kruger guide, which provides a four-night itinerary.
We often get asked, “What is the best way to experience South Africa’s wildlife?”.
Depending on your preference, if you want to enjoy a safari without worrying about logistics and planning your activities, then a guided safari at Welgevonden Game Reserve is for you. We enjoy the fact that we don’t need to go and look for animals, which could take many hours if you don’t know expert knowledge of the terrain and animal behaviour. The lodges have highly skilled and experienced game rangers who remove the guesswork to ensure you get up close to the Big 5.
Self-drive trip in Kruger
On the other hand, if you enjoy planning your daily trips by following maps and preparing meals, then Kruger National Park is for you. The landscape is so beautiful, and even if you don’t see anything, you will be in awe of this magnificent terrain with abundant wildlife.
The other key factor to consider is that in private game reserves, you can enjoy exceptional sunsets and sunrises while sipping on the best South African wine or enjoying an early morning coffee surrounded by wildlife. In the Kruger National Park, you may only get out of your vehicle at designated picnic spots, and there are camp closing times to adhere to.
In contrast to private Game Reserves, night drives are not permitted in Kruger with private vehicles. Several camps offer sunrise, sunset and night drives at an additional cost. Read our related articles for more in-depth information on Kruger.
Visit our resources page to discover the ultimate tools and tips for planning your perfect trip.
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Alternatively
Join the Most Luxurious Train in the World, Rovos Rail, for a train Safari
Itinerary for Day 17 to 19: Join the world's most luxurious train
Does the word Rovos ring a lavish bell? You said it! Rovos Rail offers a proudly South African experience on more than 11 routes through Africa. Rovos Rail has earned an international reputation for bespoke train safaris with the biggest suites on any train in the world. This opulent train maintains the spirit of a bygone era with all-inclusive beverages and exceptional room service. To stay true to a bygone era of glamour, they encourage guests to wear their most lavish evening attire for dinner while enjoying meticulously crafted meals with exceptional South African flavours. Travelling at a speed of 60km per hour, you are spoiled with the most scenic landscapes Africa has to offer. Imagine staring out of your carriage’s window to admire the breathtaking landscape or taking in the views from your Victorian claw-foot bath (Royal suites only).
Interestingly, there are no TVs or Wi-Fi on board, and cellphones and laptops are restricted to cabins. Moreover, where will you find an owner, Rohan Vos, and his close-knit family members meeting-and-greeting guests upon departure or arrival from the Capital Park Station? Rovos Rail’s private station in Pretoria is on an impressive 60-hectare facility offering secure parking, a museum, and an interesting workshop where trains are built and maintained (tours of the workshop are facilitated by either Rohan or one of his expertly trained staff). And the cherry on top? Rovos Rail only supports local trade, suppliers and communities.
We are planning a full-feature article about Rovos Rail in the next coming months. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive a notification when the article is published.
In conclusion
Even though we highly recommend you tour South Africa on your own with our custom-designed itinerary, there are also some excellent guided tours available. For tours throughout Africa, we highly recommend John Finch Tours. For luxury destination tours, we recommend Nala Tours & Safaris. Read our interview with Evan from Nala Tours and find out why you should join them on an unforgettable South African Safari.
You are welcome to leave a question on any of our recommendations in the comments section below. Petra and I are excited to hear from you and enjoy reading how you found our articles helpful.
Cheers to an an unforgettable stay in South Africa. We know you are going to create memories to last a lifetime.
Until next time, your Travel Buddies, Bernie and Petra
