10 Days in South Africa: Itinerary for an Amazing Trip

South Africa has something to offer every type of traveler. World-renowned food, adventure, fantastic wine, wildlife beyond expectation, beautiful mountains, and large, eclectic cities await you in this amazing country! We decided to make our trip to South Africa our honeymoon after our beautiful wedding in Eureka Springs. Here’s your perfect 10 day South Africa itinerary.

If you’re reading this post, you likely know South Africa is one of those places you must visit and should be on everyone’s bucket list. This itinerary for 10 days in South Africa will help you see some of the best places in the country. I’ll also include some optional add-ons you will want to consider at the end!

This itinerary also assumes you have 10 full days. If you do not, I’d recommend eliminating days 2 and 6 and instead flying from Johannesburg to Cape Town to save those days for travel.

Cost: $2400 a person through Exoticca. We upgraded things in our itinerary below with credit points, which made luxury possible and was terrific! See my travel hacking guide and affordable travel course for more.

Plan to budget $10-30, depending on where you eat and drink in a day. Uber is typically around $2-$7 per trip.

Things to Know Before You 10 Days in South Africa

Overall, South Africa is safe to travel to as long as you remain vigilant. The crime rate is high, and incidents including petty theft, armed robberies, and carjacking are common. The good news is that the sunset is relatively late, making it easy to grab dinner before returning to your hotel. You can also Uber safely in South Africa.

You can DIY a trip to South Africa, but many people book through a tour company to simplify things. I think the safari would have been most difficult to do alone. You can spend your time in Cape Town independently easily.
Be realistic about how much you can do and see in 10 days. South Africa is huge and impossible to see in just 10 days. I’ll give some suggestions and considerations toward the end of this post to extend your trip.
Hot water, electricity, and wifi are available everywhere, but outages are possible, even in the nicest parts of town. Stay flexible and plan ahead to go with the flow!
You will probably need an adapter when visiting South Africa. Here’s a great universal adapter. If you are from the UK, Australia, or South Korea, there’s no need to bring one along on your trip.
The standard voltage in South Africa is 230C with a frequency of 50Hz. The plugs are type C, D, M, and N. Most sockets take a type M plug, but your hotel should also have other sockets. If you are bringing a hair dryer or straightener, invest in a converter too.
There is no subway or metro in South Africa, but Uber is readily available. There are also hop on, hop off tour bus companies in Cape Town and Johannesburg, which stop at nearly all the tourist spots.
Renting a car is easy in South Africa, but like many places in Europe, you will pay a lot more for an automatic. They also drive on the left side of the road, which is an adjustment for those of us used to driving on the right! Leave your car doors locked, and when leaving the vehicle, leave nothing of value visible in your car.
Rand (ZAR) is the currency (approximately 1 USD = 15.11 ZAR), and while it is easy to use your credit card, it is good to have cash on hand for tips and shops.
ATMs are easily accessible in most shopping malls, petrol stations, and supermarkets if you want to withdraw money. It’s best not to travel South Africa with large amounts of cash.

Photo by Clodagh Da Paixao on Unsplash

Day 1 Explore Johannesburg

Spend the day exploring South Africa’s largest city Johannesburg. It’s the best place to start the trip because of its location close to Kruger and as a major airport. airport.

Note: Some people choose to fly straight to Kruger from Johannesburg on the same day. This largely depends on the timing of your flight or if you decide to take a car. I’ll talk more about this later, but for now, more about Johanne take a car. I’ll talk more about this later, but for now, more about Johannesburg!

You can see the majority of Johannesburg’s main sites in a day. The hop-on-hop- off tour bus makes it easy to get around to significant sites, or you can book a tour that includes Soweto and see the city!

I always think taking a tour on the first day of your trip to a new country is a good idea. You can get suggestions from a local, orient yourself, and learn about where you are about to spend the next 9 days!

About Johannesburg

Located in the Gauteng province, it began as a 19th-century gold-mining settlement. It is still a central hub for business in South Africa. The city is a real cultural hub and a great place to catch live music performances and indulge in trendy bars and restaurants. I recommend the Sandton neighborhood for this!

What to See in Johannesburg

While spending your day in Johannesburg, here’s a few things you can’t miss.

Apartheid Museum will help you explore the history and the struggle for freedom in South Africa at this highly acclaimed museum. It provides a powerful and insightful look into the country’s past and its journey towards democracy.
Soweto Township was once home to Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. Mandela’s former residence is now the Mandela House Museum and well worth a visit. It’s recommended you take a tour to visit this area.
Constitution Hill is an important historic site that was once a prison complex and is now home to the Constitutional Court of South Africa. Through interactive exhibits and guided tours, visitors can learn about the country’s journey to democracy and human rights struggles.
Neighbourgoods Market will help you explore Johannesburg’s vibrant food and arts scene at the Neighbourgoods Market in the trendy neighborhood of Braamfontein. Sample delicious street food, shop for locally-made crafts, and enjoy live music and entertainment.

For your two nights in Johannesburg, I’d recommend staying somewhere in Sandton. Sandton is a commercial and residential district north of the city. It has several fabulous restaurants, cafes, and very walkable shops. One of the main attractions in Sandton is Sandton City, which ranks among the largest shopping centers in Africa.

EAT: Our dinner at The Bull Run in Sandton was one of our favorites of the whole trip! The steak was delicious, and the drinks were fantastic here.

STAY: Protea by Marriot Balalaika Sandton ($78 – $100 a night)

Hilton Sandton ($90-$110 a night)

Day 2 Drive (or fly) to Kruger

After you’ve spent your first day in Johannesburg, it’s time to head to Kruger. There are three main options to get to Kruger:

Fly to Johannesburg and then drive just over four hours to the park
Take an internal flight from Johannesburg to Kruger Mpumalanga airport and then drive an hour
Take an internal flight from Johannesburg straight into Skukuza.

Before booking anything, decide if you want to do it yourself, as outlined below, or have someone organize it for you. Choose a place to stay that will organize things for you! I will outline some of those options in the next section, self-guided or organized tours.

The closest city and international airport is Johannesburg. Your flight to South Africa will likely land there. There are a few different ways to get from Johannesburg to Kruger National Park.

Flights

There are two main airports. Some luxury safaris will fly you directly into their safari camp.

But let’s be real. That will cost you thousands, so it’s more likely that you’ll fly into one of the two below and get picked up.

Most lodges either include airport pick-up or charge a small fee. If you choose this option over driving, I recommend having them pick you up rather than trying to find transport once you’re there.

You can also rent a car once you land at one of the two airports below to do a self-guided safari.

Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport

Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport is located 27 kilometers northeast of Mbombela in Mpumalanga, South Africa.

Fly To Skukuza, Airport Inside Kruger National Park

This is by far the most convenient option. Skukuza Airport is the only commercial airport located inside Kruger National Park.

It is inside the Skukuza Rest Camp, one of the park’s most popular rest camps.

If you want to try staying in the park, you can fly right into this camp, check-in, and use their guided game drives without renting a car. There is also an Avis Car Rental option here.

I recommend choosing the easy option for a honeymoon in Kruger National Park. Either the drive through the Panorama Route is included in your trip, or you fly directly to your safari camp to make things easier.

The even easier option is booking a full tour for a multiday trip through somewhere like GetYourGuide or Viator. They will take care of everything for you!

Drive

The drive from Johannesburg to Kruger National Park is 4-5 hours long. The quickest route is 392 km via the N12 and N4. You can also drive along the Panorama Route, which is one of the most beautiful drives I’ve ever done. Stop at Blyde River Canyon, the third largest canyon in the world, and God’s Window for amazing views and vistas. More on this below.

As mentioned, you can easily rent a car in South Africa (we did this while in Cape Town), but beware that you will likely default to a manual transmission, and an automatic will be a lot more expensive.

Driving Panorama Route

Our package included a drive that was absolutely stunning through what is known as the Panorama Route along Blyde River Canyon. It’s the third-largest canyon in the world and has many beautiful places to stop along the drive. If you choose to drive this, it will take you longer than 4 hours, but it adds a lot of adventure and beauty to your trip!

Four stops along the Panorama Route you’ll want to make are:

Blyde River Canyon
The Three Rondavels
God’s Window
Bourke’s Luck Potholes

Days 3 – 5 Kruger National Park

Once you’ve arrived, your experience will vary depending on the lodge you choose to stay at. Most safari lodges include food or offer it as an add-on. While Kruger is a major destination, there aren’t places to eat close to most lodges, so you’ll need to plan to eat there for many of your meals unless you drive on your own.

I recommend spending at least two to three days here. I’ve been on a one-day safari before in Botswana while visiting Victoria Falls, and it was exhausting. We were up so early to get there and out late with insufficient sleep or time to truly enjoy it. Having a few days allows you to relax and experience Kruger truly.

The other reason is that you might miss seeing some animals on the first day, and the next few days will allow you time to see any animals you missed. Animals change their location daily, so you’ll want time to drive in different parts of the park. It’s enormous, and having the extra time is vital!

These are camps that were recommended to me or that I personally stayed at through our tour group—starting with the most expensive to least expensive. I also share details about each and what makes the experience unique there!

Luxury

Royal Malewane ~$3000 Located in Thornybush Private Game Reserve, Royal Malewane is a secluded luxury retreat adjacent to Kruger National Park. The lodge has a dining area overlooking a waterhole with game viewing opportunities.

Guided game drives with expert rangers and trackers are conducted in the morning and afternoon aboard specialized open-top Land Rovers.

Kruger Shalati ~$600-$800 Kruger Shalati offers two types of accommodation: 24 Carriage Suites located on the Train on the Bridge and 7 Bridge House Suites located adjacent to the bridge in a picturesque garden setting with the train’s gentle glow as your backdrop. This luxury hotel is in the most unique location in the Kruger National Park – the historic bridge, where the very first visitors had a pioneering stay within the carriages.

I want to go back just so I can stay here! It looks stunning and is located close to several shops and restaurants inside Kruger. The wildlife viewing from here is also excellent. We visited a restaurant right here and loved the views.

andBeyond Phinda ~$400-500 Phinda has six different luxury properties in their private game reserve outside Kruger National Park. A variety of incredible adventures are available, including twice-daily game drives, nature walks, conservation and community experiences, sleepouts, village tours, night drives, specialist safaris, as well as nearby ocean activities.

Superior

Nkambeni Safari Camp ~ $200 This camp is ideally located in Kruger National Park close to the Numbi Gate; it features a restaurant, an outdoor swimming pool, a bar, and a garden in Hazyview. They offer private transfers to their safari camp, and game drives twice a day are included in some packages.

I would recommend staying here for your honeymoon. This is where our tour company originally booked us, and I was so excited. It ended up that there was a problem with the booking, and we stayed elsewhere. We also loved that spot, but they do not arrange safaris on their own, so we left it off this list. if you’re interested in a self-guided safari, consider staying at Stille Woning, pictured above.

Budget

Lower Sabie Rest Camp ~$60-$100 This camp is located on the Sabie River in the southern region of Kruger. Lower Sabie has a Mug & Bean, which offers easy food options and WiFi making this a more lux option. They also have a pool and car rentals available onsite. They offer safari game drives, airport pick-up and drop-off, guided hikes, and more for an additional charge.

Crocodile Bridge Safari Camp ~$100 – 150 This is an “Adult Friendly” Safari Lodge that boasts spectacular views over Kruger Park and lies on the banks of the Crocodile River, which Crocodile River, which allows one to view game directly from the lodge.

Cool off in the viewing pool, sipping drinks as you wait to be treated to each evening’s unique African sunset, which displays stunning colors. For an additional charge, they offer safari game drives, airport pick-up and drop-off, guided hikes, and more.

Subscribe to get my editable PDF safari packing list.

Self-Guided or Organized Tour?

You will see many different people driving through Kruger National Park during the day in regular cars, you will also see many people driving in safari vehicles with a guide. There are pros and cons I will outline below for you. with a guide. There are pros and cons I will outline below for you.

Self Guided Pros

Flexibility: you can choose where you go, when, and how long you spend.
You have your own vehicle to get around.
You won’t have to deal with anyone else. No groups, no waiting for other people, no obscured views in the vehicle.

Self Guided Cons

You likely aren’t familiar with the park and roads. While things are clearly marked, our phones did not work while in Kruger. If you aren’t comfortable with maps or potentially being on your own in the wilderness, I would not recommend it.
You won’t know where animals like to hang out. Our guide was really familiar with Kruger and where to find particular animals. He knew the best areas to take us and what time of day. Similarly, he knew all the other guides, and they would call each other when they saw different animals. We would have missed a lot of animals without our guide.

Organized Tour Pros

Guides know all the fun facts, names of animals and plants, best places to go, and places to stop. They will be able to take you places you may have missed on your own.
Tours can plan special moments for you. We had welcome drinks, dinner included nightly with special desserts for our honeymoon, and more. They worked to make things really wonderful for us!
They handle the details, you won’t have to think about it. You just show up at the right times, get up early in the morning, and enjoy your day looking for animals, asking questions, and taking it all in.

Organized Tour Cons

You will end up waiting on others.
You may have too many people.
You may want to stay longer in a spot, but have to move on.

Overall, for a bucket list trip like this, especially if it’s your honeymoon, I would recommend booking through a tour company who can make it special for you. Make sure you choose a small group option or private game drives if you are worried about some of the cons.

We used Exoticca and upgraded to their superior category. GetYourGuide and Viator also have some great options. They will take care of everything for you! We were with a small group of 6 people instead of 30 and we had the BEST guide we could ask for during our safari.

He was so knowledgeable, and we saw all of the big 5 because of his hard work and knowledge of the park. It was well worth it to book through a tour group!

Our local tour guide in Kruger was through Africa Spears, and his name was Derrick. He was amazing and we couldn’t recommend him enough. The upgrade paid off, and we had a small group of 6 that were on our safari with us. It was amazing!

Day 6 Pretoria & Flight to Cape Town

After your three days at Kruger, it’s time to head to Cape Town! To get there faster, you can fly. Airlink is the only airline flying nonstop from Skukuza, Kruger National Park, to Cape Town. It is more likely you will drive back to Johannesburg or your flight will have a layover there.

If you decide to drive back, make a stop in Pretoria! Pretoria is South Africa’s administrative capital, serving as the seat of the executive branch of government and as the host to all foreign embassies to South Africa.

Pretoria straddles the Apies River and extends eastward into the foothills of the Magaliesberg mountains. It’s home to the Union Buildings, which house the offices of the President of South Africa.

Pretoria is popularly known as Jacaranda City because of the many trees, which turn the city blue and purple when they flower in spring. The jacaranda trees, far from their native Brazil, bloom every October, so this can be a lovely stop that time of year especially. We were there in November and saw a few trees still in bloom! It reminded me of Washington, DC, cherry blossoms.

If you choose to fly, you’ll get to arrive earlier in Cape Town to start enjoying your time there.

Where to Stay in Cape Town
Some areas to consider staying in Cape Town are Foreshore, V&A Waterfront, Camps Bay, The Gardens, or De Waterkant. Below are some hotel suggestions starting with luxury to basic.

Twelve Apostles Hotel is a luxury hotel near Hout Bay along the ocean. It has a beautiful ocean view and is well known for its many different pools, spa, and restaurants. We did a massage and lunch here, but I want to return and stay! $250-$300 a night

Park Inn by Radisson Foreshore is a 4-star hotel in Cape Town’s business district. Park Inn by Radisson Cape Town Foreshore is just minutes from the International Convention Centre (CTICC) and the iconic Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. Centrally located and affordable while still very nice! We enjoyed staying here and loved their rooftop for drinks. $80-90 a night

Urban Oasis Aparthotel Urban Oasis Aparthotel is a sustainable condo hotel in the center of Cape Town. The units at the condo hotel come with air conditioning, a seating area, a flat-screen TV with streaming services, a kitchen, a dining area, and a private bathroom with a hair dryer, a walk-in shower, and complimentary toiletries. $40-50 a night

Day 7 Explore Cape Town

I recommend spending a few days exploring the different neighborhoods, restaurants, and sites around Cape Town. As I mentioned previously, there’s not a strong public transit system here (there are buses), but Uber is accessible and available. I’d recommend using it to get around while in Cape Town. Below is how I’d recommend spending two days exploring Cape Town.

Camps Bay and Clifton Beach

Start your first morning with a coffee from Mynt Cafe and take a walk along one of the best beach neighborhoods in Cape Town. The white sand, beautiful blue water, and background of the mountains make for a beautiful walk!

We loved going earlier, around 9 am, before many people were out and about to have the area all to ourselves. It was a great way to get started with seeing the natural beauty and beaches there.

I recommend walking from Mynt Cafe to Maiden’s Cove for a great view of Camps Bay. If you want a longer walk, keep walking to The Rock.

The water here tends to be very cold, so you won’t see many people swimming, even if it seems warm enough to get in! It’s still worth strolling along the beach and enjoying the views!

Massage and Lunch at Twelve Apostles Hotel

This was by far the most romantic and relaxing thing we did in Cape Town. Twelve Apostles Hotel is a luxury hotel near Hout Bay along the ocean. It’s about a 10-15 minute drive from Camps Bay, where you’ll stroll in the morning! Consider staying here as well for a luxury stay.

The views from this hotel are incredible, and the service is impressive. We booked an experience through the spa called the Outdoor Bliss Package. It included a 90-minute massage in a gazebo overlooking the ocean and lunch with champagne at the cafe in the hotel.

When I tell you, this was the best massage of my life… It was amazing!

We also had the best french fries at the restaurant. We loved them so much that we asked for the spices on the fries so we could make them later on our own. This was the perfect thing to bring home from our trip, every time we use it, it reminds us of our time in Cape Town!

Afternoon at Table Mountain

This is a must for anyone visiting; the views are breathtaking, and to experience it with your special person is even better! There are so many different beautiful views at the top. There are also several different trails to walk along the top. The longest trail is about 45 minutes. There’s a gift shop and cafe at the top that offer food and alcohol as well.

There are several ways of getting to the Table Mountain Cableway. If you’re using public transport, you’ll get dropped off at the Lower Tafelberg Road stop. If you’re using Uber, Bolt, or City Sightseeing Hop on Hop Off Bus, you can hop off at the Upper Tafelberg Road stop.

There are morning and afternoon tickets available. Both are great options depending on when you’d like to visit.

I’d recommend planning in advance for this since it is a popular attraction in Cape Town, and changes can happen due to weather. Cape Town can get extremely windy, so you’ll want to check the chance for strong winds before going and know that even if you are up there, the cable car could close, and you may have to walk down or wait at the top.

Tickets are R60 – R1050 and can be combined with the Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour, so if you decide to do this as well, I recommend getting the combo ticket to save some money and enjoy both!

Dinner in The Gardens at Kloof Street House

If you want a cute and romantic spot for dinner, head to The Gardens at Kloof Street. Set in a magnificent Victorian house, Kloof Street House is a very special experience.
It is a collection of interesting rooms and spaces, each bursting with its own character. The venue offers something for every occasion—romantic candlelit dinners in the dining rooms or cocktails under the trees in our garden. Delicious meals, cozy ambiance, and friendly staff will make you feel at home.

Day 8 Explore Cape Town

Spend the Morning on Robben Island

Robben Island is a must visit while in Cape Town. Robben Island is a unique symbol of “the triumph of the human spirit over adversity, suffering, and injustice” with a rich 500-year-old multi-layered history. A visit to Robben Island will help you understand and honor the important aspects of South Africa’s history that the Island represents.

The ferries depart from the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the V&A Waterfront. The tour takes 3.5 hours, including the ferry trip to and from the Island (depends on the boat used as they have different travel times). You have to book a tour to go, and it’s highly recommended you book in advance due to how popular it is to visit. You can buy your tickets here.

One of the most powerful things about visiting is that former prisoners of the island conduct tours. Many ex-prisoners were actively engaged in the post-apartheid political scene, and three of them were elected South African presidents: Nelson Mandela, Kgalema Motlanthe, and Jacob Zuma. You’ll hear their first-hand stories of the impact of apartheid and how South Africans actively fought against it.

This was a powerful part of our trip and something everyone should do when visiting Cape Town.

Lunch and Shopping in V&A Waterfront

After spending the morning on Robben Island, you’ll be in V&A Waterfront! The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town located right on the Atlantic Shore, with views of Table Bay Harbour, the City of Cape Town, and Table Mountain. You’ll find great shopping here and many restaurants with great views.

We opted for V&A Waterfront Food Market for lunch. There are several different great food options here. There’s something for everyone inside this food hall, and I had a super delicious pasta here!

Note: I did get food poisoning somewhere along this trip; I likely got it in Cape Town, which is why I do not recommend a specific restaurant for your second night. night.

Day 9 Winery Day on the Franschhoek Wine Tram

Wine has a long tradition in Cape Town, with wine farms beginning production in the 1600s. The wine regions are stunning and offer many unique experiences near Cape Town.

There are six main areas near Cape Town. Constantia, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl, Robertson, and Wellington are the most popular. We chose Franschhoek for our visit as it was the closest to Cape Town, and we wanted to take the wine tram and stay at a wine farm.

To do this, we rented a car for two days for the wineries and the coastal drive the next day. We opted to do this because we wanted to explore at our leisure and not rush our visits to wineries. We also opted to stay here overnight to relax and make a giant loop through the region. Driving from Cape Town here and then on to False Bay makes an easy loop too. More on that in day 10!

You can also book a day trip with a tour guide who will take you for the day from Cape Town. Here are a few highly-rated tours:

Franschhoek Wine Tram

The Franschhoek Wine Tram is a hop-on-hop-off tour and is the best way to explore Franschhoek Valley’s vineyards. You can choose from eight different lines and spend as much time as you’d like at each stop. We loved using this to get around to the different wineries. Our overnight stay picked us up and dropped us off from Vrede en Lust, making it even easier!

You can also get a transfer from Cape Town to the wine tram for an additional fee. It was such an easy way to get around and enjoy the wineries at our own pace.

We opted for V&A Waterfront Food Market for lunch. There are several different great food options here. There’s something for everyone inside this food hall, and I had a super delicious pasta here!

Note: I did get food poisoning somewhere along this trip; I likely got it in Cape Town, which is why I do not recommend a specific restaurant for your second night.

Arrival to Angala

One of the nice things about the Franschhoek Wine Tram is it will allow you to start from any of the wineries! So we were able to check in early to our stay at Angala, and they drove us directly to the wine tasting room where their property was located.

When we checked in, we were greeted with champagne and had people bring our bags to our room.

This is a very gorgeous property, and we recommend staying here! Here’s a whole list of where to stay on the Franschhoek Wine Tram as well.

Wine Tasting on the Deck at Vrede en Lust

We arrived around 10:30 am and began our winery trip at Vrede en Lust. This winery had the best view of the Franschhoek Valley of all the wineries we visited! Sit outside on the terrace and enjoy the view with some delicious wine.

Picnic at Boschendal

Boschendal is one of the oldest and largest wine farms in Franschhoek. They offer several different tastings, but we loved having a picnic and restaurant lunch there. Make sure you stop by their wine-tasting room and shop for handmade goods at their store!

Day 10 Drive the Coast

Cape Town is a coastal city, and the Western Cape is breathtaking. We wanted to take some time to explore some nearby areas of Cape Town at our own pace and enjoy our last day. To do this, we started our drive in Franschhoek and headed along the Cape Peninsula.

While this is an easy drive to do on your own, several tour companies offer tours of the Cape Peninsula. Here’s a highly rated one that includes many of the stops below.

Don’t want to do the drive on your own? Here’s some tour options:

Stop 1: Muizenberg Beach

Muizenberg Beach is a famous surfer beach, and you can take in the beautiful view, watch the surfers, and even surf yourself! Bring a blanket to relax on the beach, or plan ahead and book a surfing lesson for some fun!

While the little houses on the beach are cute, most were falling apart when we visited, so I would not recommend trying to go inside one. They add a nice, colorful, and fun vibe to this beach!

There’s also a long beach walkway above the beach if you are in the mood for a nice walk without being in the sand.

Stop 2: Boulder Beach

You can’t go to Cape Town without seeing the famous penguins, and you’ll find them at Boulder Beach. These African penguins are only found on the coastlines of Southern Africa (South Africa & Namibia) and are on the verge of extinction, so it’s a unique experience to see them!

We chose to book a kayaking trip to see the penguins. This extraordinary adventure is responsible and the best way to meet the Penguins as well as learn more about sharks and the beautiful creatures that inhabit the unique kelp forests.

If you don’t want to do a whole excursion, you can visit Boulder Beach on your own. The penguins are protected by the Cape Nature Conservation and are part of Table Mountain National Park (TMNP). The Boulders section of TMNP consists of 3 pristine beaches, one penguin viewing of 3 pristine beaches, one penguin viewing area, and three boardwalks.

The boardwalks were built to allow for safe viewing of these wonderful birds boardwalks were built to allow for safe viewing of these wonderful birds while keeping them safe from poking fingers, so please stay on the boardwalks at all t times within the viewing area.

Nearby, Folly Beach offers a space to swim and get close to the penguins. These are endangered animals, and you always need to stay 6 meters away (about 20 feet).

Boulders Gates is a cash-free environment and only accepts payments via debit and credit cards. It costs R176 per adult per day to visit. More on the TMNP website here.

Stop 3: Kalk’s Bay

Of all the towns along False Bay, Kalk’s Bay was our favorite! It’s home to many cute boutiques, shops, and fishing boats. You can easily spend an afternoon shopping and strolling through the cute streets of this small fishing town. There are also many vintage shops and antique stores here that are so cute.

Kalk’s Bay is also known for its fish and chips. There are several options in the harbor, so stop in for a fancy or quick option at one of the spots along the water! After grabbing some food, stop at Cape to Cuba for great Mojitos and vibes along the water.

I recommend getting lunch here and then walking around because most things in town close by 5 pm. We struggled to find any shops and things open after 5!

Stop 4: Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point

If you’re running out of time, you can skip this stop. Many confuse the Cape of Good Hope with being either the most southern point of the African continent or where the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean meet (a bit of a tourist trap, if you ask me!). The southern point of Africa is Cape Agulhas, where the Indian Ocean meets the Atlantic.

The Cape was initially named the Cape of Storms in the 1480s by the Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias. It was later renamed the Good Hope to attract more people to the Cape Sea Route that passed people to the Cape Sea Route that passed Africa’s southern coast.

Briefly hike around the vegetation and keep your eyes open for wildlife—seafowl, ostrich, and chacma baboons are common here. You can also go to the Two Oceans Restaurant for a glass of wine or an early dinner.

More details on visiting can be found on South Africa’s National Park website.

Stop 5: Chapman’s Peak Drive

Chapman’s Peak is a famous drive road located between Noordhoek and Hout Bay on the Atlantic Coast on the southwestern tip of South Africa. It’s now a toll road, so bring road, so bring some cash with you. It’s a beautiful 30-minute drive without stops, but you will want to stop along the way!

This drive is best done at sunset when the views along the cliffs and ocean are just amazing. That’s why I recommend it as the last stop of your day along the peninsula. peninsula. Many people stopped along the road before sunset in anticipation of the sun slipping over the ocean.

I’d suggest getting some picnic foods and wine from a winery you visited the day before and stopping your car along the drive in a great spot to enjoy the sunset with a picnic! Perfect last evening of your trip! with a picnic! Perfect last evening of your trip.

Most vehicles are R 57R; buses and larger vehicles cost more.

If you’re worried about driving in the evening, you can opt to head back into Cape Town and get a drink at a rooftop hotel at the Radisson Foreshore. The rooftop bar has great views of Cape Town! It has couches, seating areas, and a small indoor area as well, but you want to sit outside for the view. They had a massive menu of mojitos and other drinks with a view which was fun to enjoy after a day in Cape Town.

Other things to consider in Cape Town:

Explore Bo Kaap: We did this after the Botanical Gardens and discovered that everything here closes very early. If you want to do this, you may want to go earlier in the day! to go earlier in the day!
Hike Lions Head or Signal Hill: These hikes looked stunning, and if we had more time, I would have loved to do one or more of these.
Boat Cruise from V&A Waterfront: Several different boat cruises leave from V&A Waterfront, and it can be very romantic to take a boat out of the harbor and enjoy the views. There are sunset cruises, dinner cruises, whale-watching tours, and more. whale-watching tours, and more.

Photo by Weyland Swart on Unsplash

Options to Swap Out or Extend Your Trip:

Durban: Durban, a coastal city in eastern South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province, is known for its African, Indian, and colonial influences. Refurbished for soccer’s 2010 World Cup, the seafront promenade runs from uShaka Marine World, a huge theme park with an aquarium, to the futuristic Moses Mabhida Stadium. The Durban Botanical Gardens showcases African plant species. My friend visited a few years ago and loved it. This could be a 2-3 day add on to your trip.
Victoria Falls: Victoria Falls is the largest waterfall in the world and is located on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. Due to its proximity to South Africa and being an easy flight, it’s a popular add on to a trip to South Africa. You can make this trip in 2-3 days.
Garden Route: The Garden Route is a scenic and ecologically diverse region in South Africa (and one of the most famous road trips in the country!). It stretches 190 miles from Mossel Bay (a 5+ hour drive from Cape Town), ending in Storms River. It’s recommended to have at least 4 days for this. It highlights some of the most stunning landscapes in the country, with epic coastlines, towering mountains, and lush forests.

With this 10-day South Africa itinerary, you’ll get to see some of the best places in the country! We loved South Africa for our honeymoon and know that you’ll have a blast no matter what kind of trip you take.