South Africa 10-Day Travel Itinerary
Wine, Wildlife & the Garden Route — Cape Town to Kruger
June to September for safari + whale season combo
$72-800 per day — safari lodge choice drives the budget
Table Mountain, Cape Point, Stellenbosch, Kruger Big 5
Your 10-Day South Africa Adventure
Arrive at Cape Town International Airport, transfer to City Bowl or Waterfront hotel
Cape Town
V&A Waterfront — Zeitz MOCAA (Africa's largest contemporary art museum), harbor cruise
V&A Waterfront
Sunset cocktails at Cause Effect Cocktail Kitchen, dinner at The Test Kitchen
Cape Town
💡 Pro Tip:
Cape Town is in the GMT+2 time zone. Stay in the City Bowl, Camps Bay, or Waterfront area for easy access to main attractions.
Table Mountain cable car or hike (Platteklip Gorge, 2-3 hours up)
Table Mountain
Bo-Kaap — colorful Cape Malay neighborhood, cooking class, spice shops
Bo-Kaap
Long Street nightlife or Kloof Street restaurant row
Cape Town
💡 Pro Tip:
Check the Table Mountain cable car webcam before going — it closes in high wind (often!). The first cable car up is at 8 AM, and views are clearest in the morning.
Chapman's Peak Drive (one of the world's most scenic roads)
Cape Peninsula
Boulders Beach — colony of African penguins!, Cape of Good Hope & Cape Point lighthouse
Simon's Town
Fish & chips at Kalk Bay harbor, browse antique shops
Kalk Bay
💡 Pro Tip:
Rent a car for the Peninsula loop ($25-40/day). Boulders Beach penguins are most active early morning. Cape Point funicular saves a steep walk to the lighthouse ($5).
Drive to Stellenbosch (45 min), wine tasting at Waterford or Delaire Graff estates
Stellenbosch
Franschhoek — 'French corner', more wine tastings, gourmet lunch at La Petite Colombe
Franschhoek
Sunset over the vineyards, return to Cape Town
Stellenbosch
💡 Pro Tip:
South African wine is world-class and incredibly affordable — tastings cost $3-8 for 5-6 wines. Book a wine tour ($50-70 with transport) to avoid driving. Pinotage is SA's signature grape.
Flight to Port Elizabeth/Gqeberha (2 hours), pick up rental car
Port Elizabeth
Drive to Storms River — Tsitsikamma National Park, suspension bridge walk
Tsitsikamma
Check into Storms River or Nature's Valley accommodation
Tsitsikamma
💡 Pro Tip:
The Garden Route is one of the world's best road trips — you NEED a car. Book automatic transmission (manual is cheaper but exhausting on mountain roads).
Drive to Knysna — Knysna Heads (dramatic cliff lagoon), oyster tasting
Knysna
Wilderness — paragliding, kayaking on the Touw River, or beach walk
Wilderness
Dinner in Knysna Waterfront, oysters and local craft beer
Knysna
💡 Pro Tip:
Knysna oysters are famous worldwide and cost just $5-8 for a dozen (a fraction of international prices). The Knysna Heads viewpoint is free and spectacular.
Drive west along the coast, stop at Mossel Bay
Mossel Bay
Arrive in Hermanus — land-based whale watching from the cliff paths (Jun-Nov)
Hermanus
Hermanus Wine Route or evening shark cage diving booking for tomorrow
Hermanus
💡 Pro Tip:
Hermanus is the world's best land-based whale watching spot — southern right whales come within 50m of shore! Peak season is August-October. A 'whale crier' blows a horn when whales are spotted.
Drive back to Cape Town, fly to Hoedspruit/Nelspruit (2 hours)
Greater Kruger
Check into safari lodge or rest camp, first afternoon game drive
Kruger National Park
Sundowner drinks in the bush, braai (BBQ) dinner, nocturnal sounds
Kruger
💡 Pro Tip:
Private game reserves (Sabi Sands, Timbavati) bordering Kruger offer the best Big 5 sightings with fewer vehicles. Budget option: SANParks rest camps in Kruger ($30-60/night).
Sunrise game drive (5:30 AM) — best time for predator sightings (lions, leopards)
Kruger
Second game drive — elephants, rhinos, buffalos, giraffes, hippos at water holes
Kruger
Night drive (guided, in reserve vehicle) — spot hyenas, bush babies, porcupines
Kruger
💡 Pro Tip:
The Big 5: lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo. Early morning drives have the best sightings. Bring binoculars, sun protection, and warm layers (mornings are cold year-round).
Final sunrise game drive — last chance for that leopard sighting!
Kruger
Panorama Route if time: Blyde River Canyon, God's Window, Bourke's Luck Potholes
Mpumalanga
Transfer to Hoedspruit/Nelspruit airport, fly to Johannesburg for connecting flight
Departure
💡 Pro Tip:
The Panorama Route (2-3 hours from Kruger) has South Africa's most dramatic canyon scenery. God's Window on a clear day is breathtaking.
South Africa Weather Guide
✓ Pros:
Best safari season — thin bush = easy animal spotting, whale season in Hermanus, mild Cape Town weather
✗ Cons:
Cold mornings on safari (5°C), shorter days, occasional rain in Cape Town
✓ Pros:
Great weather everywhere, wildflower season (Aug-Sep), fewer tourists, good prices
✗ Cons:
Short rains possible in Kruger, transitional weather
✓ Pros:
Best beach weather, long days, Cape Town in full swing, baby animals on safari
✗ Cons:
Hot in Kruger (35°C+), thick bush = harder spotting, peak prices (Dec)
South Africa Budget Estimates
| Category | Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (9 nights) | $200-400 | $600-1500 | $3000+ |
| Internal Flights (2-3) | $120-200 | $150-300 | $400+ |
| Car Rental (Garden Route) | $100-200 | $150-300 | $400+ |
| Safari (2-3 nights) | $150-300 | $500-1500 | $3000+ |
| Meals, Wine & Activities | $150-300 | $350-700 | $1200+ |
| TOTAL (per person) | $720-1400 | $1750-4300 | $8000+ |
Getting Around South Africa
Internal flights (Kulula, FlySafair) are cheap — Cape Town to Kruger from $60-100 one-way
Rent a car for the Garden Route — left-hand driving (like UK), roads are well-maintained
Uber works in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban — cheaper and safer than metered taxis
The Gautrain connects Johannesburg airport to Sandton ($8) — useful for layovers
Self-drive safaris in Kruger ($25 entry fee) are an amazing budget option
Baz Bus is a hop-on-hop-off backpacker bus along the Garden Route
Avoid These South Africa Mistakes
Skipping the safari to save money (it's the highlight of SA — even budget options are incredible)
Only staying in Cape Town (the Garden Route and Kruger complete the South Africa experience)
Not renting a car for the Garden Route (public transport is limited — you need your own wheels)
Visiting Kruger in summer for a budget safari (thick bush = hard to see animals, extreme heat)
Walking alone at night in city centers (stick to well-lit tourist areas, use Uber at night)
Not trying biltong and boerewors (dried cured meat and traditional sausage — SA's best snacks)