Beyond Cape Town – Experience a World of Adventures in South Africa
Cape Town with its famed Table Mountain and Boulders Beach penguins, is the starting point to most people’s journey across South Africa. But where to explore after you’ve experienced the city’s V&A Waterfront and botanical gardens? This is where we come in, to showcase the highlights including the Cape Winelands, Garden Route, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape.
Explore the Best of South Africa With These Recommended Tour Itineraries
Whether you fancy bonding with like-minded travellers on an escorted trip, or heading out on your own for a self-drive adventure of a lifetime, South Africa’s diverse scenes are perfect for an unforgettable tour. We’ve delved into the holiday offering from a number of our favourite travel experts to find what we think are the best trips you can book to immerse yourself in majestic South Africa.
15-Day Classic Garden Route & Safari
Self-Drive
From iconic Table Mountain to the coastal Garden Route and on to the plains of the Eastern Cape game reserves, discover South Africa’s most popular fly drive route.
Why we love this trip…
Check out Cape Town’s views from the top of Table Mountain
Take a tour of the Cape Peninsula
Drive into the heart of the beautiful Cape Winelands
Spot the Big 5 in the Eastern Cape Game Reserve
Marvel at the landscapes of Tsitsikamma National Park
** 4* to 4*+ Accommodation **
From £1,155pp
Price includes 14 nights accommodation on a bed & breakfast basis, daytime drinks, selected lunches and dinners, 12 days car hire, 4 game drives
13-Day Cape Town, Garden Route with Hermanus & Safari
Premium Self-Drive
This is a wonderful 11-night premium itinerary visiting the exciting city of Cape Town, then travelling through the Garden Route at your own pace in a hire car; stopping in Hermanus, one of the best destinations in the world for whale watching.
Why we love this trip…
Stay in Mosel Bay – the start of your Garden Route adventure
Visit Cango Caves in Oudtshoorn
Cruise across Knysna Lagoon
Stop by Tsitsikamma National Park
Flexible options for your Eastern Cape safari – each inclusive of all meals
** Great Choice of Unique Accommodations **
From £2,749pp
Price includes 9 nights accommodation on a bed & breakfast basis, 2 nights Eastern Cape safari full board – plus game drive, 9 days car hire, return flights
15-Day South Africa Culinary Delights & Safari
Self-Drive
South Africa is a food lover’s paradise, and plays host to some of the continent’s most amazing cuisine. From traditional Boma dinners in the bush, to contemporary cuisine in Cape Town, to fine dining and wine tasting in the Winelands, this holiday will guide you through them all.
Why we love this trip…
Stay on Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront – close to the city’s bustling foodie scene
Enjoy fine dining experiences in the Winelands
Stop at a number of wine estates en-route to Plettenberg Bay
Enjoy open-air meals in a private game reserve
Sleep at a luxury safari lodge such as in Pumba or Shamwari
** Flexible Options for Your Accommodations **
From £2,340pp
Price includes 14 nights accommodation, car hire and return flights
12-Day Classic KwaZulu-Natal
Self-Drive
Spend time in the green countryside of the Midlands, the mountains of the Drakensberg, the plains of the Battlefields and safari at Manyoni Private Game Reserve on this premium self-drive.
Why we love this trip…
Follow hiking trails independently or with a guide in the striking Drakensberg Mountains
Sleep at the cutely named Granny Mouse Country House
Discover the history of the Battlefields area on a guided tour of two battle sites
Spot the Big Five on morning and afternoon game drives in Zululand Rhino Reserve
Stay at the lovely Leopard Mountain Game Lodge
** 4.8/5 Trustpilot Brand Rating **
From £3,305pp
Price includes 11 nights accommodation, car hire and return flights
18-Day South Africa with Rovos Rail
Escorted Tour
This wonderful tour is designed to highlight South Africa’s truly amazing diversity of cultures, its curious blend of old and new, and its phenomenal scenery and wildlife.
Why we love this trip…
Full-day guided safari in Kruger National Park
Enjoy a cellar tour and tasting at a 300-year-old wine estate
Explore legendary Cape of Good Hope and Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
Gaze at the awe-inspiring Blyde River Canyon
Visit Hermanus for the world’s finest on-shore whale watching
** Stay on the Luxurious Rovos Rail Train **
From £4,999pp
Price includes 16 nights accommodation, 13 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners, full board while on Rovos Rail train, expert tour manager and return flights
12-Day Boutique Self-Drive With Kruger Safari
Self-Drive
Experience the highlights of South Africa on this 12 day self-drive adventure featuring a delightful selection of design hotels and upmarket, quirky havens.
Why we love this trip…
Take the cable car up Table Mountain to admire the sweeping city views
Set up a base in Outdshoorn to go and visit the Cango Caves and Klein Karoo
Explore the quirky town Stellenbosch in the heart of the Cape Winelands
Spend two nights relaxing by the beaches of Plettenburg Bay
Search for the ‘Big Five’ on safari in the iconic Kruger National Park
** 4.7/5 Trustpilot Brand Rating **
From £3,659pp
Price includes 11 nights accommodation, car hire and return flights
Find Your Adventure in South Africa
There’s a wealth of activities in store for you when you visit South Africa. We’ve selected what we think you’ll love most.
Fly Over Cape Town
Winelands Picturesque Guided Cycle Tours
Explore the Cape’s famous Winelands regions by bicycle and indulge in their famous food and wine pairings. Or, explore the magnificent coast routes surrounding the Cape by bicycle.
Guided Stellenbosch Foodie Tours
Join a unique walking experience that pairs local stories with divine handcrafted food, all found under the Stellenbosch oaks.
Active Adventures in Drakensberg
Highlights include South Africa’s fastest cable tour, adventure quad trails, 150kms of marked mountain bike trails, and a hair raising 17 meter free fall King Swing accessed by a wooden spiral stair case that snakes 21 metres to the tree tops.
Luxury Stays in South Africa
A stay in one of these unique accommodations will bring South Africa’s true self right to your door.
Great Karoo Luxury Safaris at Mount Camdeboo Private Game Reserve
The Oyster Box Hotel, KwaZulu-Natal
Occupying a majestic location on the Umhlanga beachfront in KwaZulu-Natal province, The Oyster Box is one of South Africa’s most celebrated hotels, as famous for its remarkable coastal views as the understated luxury and gracious hospitality that have become the hallmarks of this cherished seaside destination.
Lanzerac Wine Estate Hotel & Spa, Stellenbosch
As you enter Lanzerac through its majestic Oak-lined driveway, you can almost feel time slow down and history settle around you. With 330 years behind its name, this Stellenbosch landmark boasts an old-world charm that is an unrivalled drawcard.
Grootbos Private Nature Reserve
Boasting 3,500 hectares of pristine wilderness, 907 plant species and 23 mammal species, Grootbos is a luxury, eco-reserve close to the southern tip of Africa, tucked between mountains, forest and sea. Accommodations in the reserve comprise of a Garden Lodge, Forest Lodge and Luxury Private Villas.
Confessions of a Globetrotter blog:
Explore These Highlights For Your South African Odyssey
Cape Town is the perfect place to start your South African adventure, with an array of must-see attractions and experiences, as well as acting as the jumping-off point for an expansive selection of tours, from guided tours to self-drive adventures.
Visiting South Africa Throughout the Year…
- South Africa is a year-round destination, with varying regional climate and opportunities for wildlife spotting
- For the best big game viewing conditions, the best time to head to South Africa is during May to September
- If you’re looking to enjoy bird watching, while a little rainy, November to February is best. Note that around the Western Cape however, June to August is defined as the rainy season
- If you want to visit the Cape for whale watching, July to November are the best times
- The high season months of November to March are prime for festivals taking place
- If you’re looking to take a hike and explore the great outdoors, the best month to explore is March as the landscapes are lush and green
- Generally speaking, temperatures range from an average of around 15°C in places such as The Drakensberg during the winter months of June and July and peak around 28°C during January and February in coastal areas and around 33°C inland for places such as the Kalahari and Kruger National Park