South Africa is one of our favorite countries because it has so much to offer! You will find amazing landscapes, fun cities and of course an awful lot of wildlife. Here you can read about the ideal South Africa itinerary in 2 weeks starting and ending in Cape Town. During this tour you will taste wines in Stellenbosch, go on safari in Addo Elephant Park and hike in Tsitsikamma National Park. Finish with a few days in bustling Cape Town! We give you tips and tricks for this ultimate South Africa itinerary!
Everything you need to know for your tour of South Africa
South Africa is a huge country and the distances to cover are not to be underestimated. Naturally, during your trip, you want to see as much of South Africa but seeing the whole country in 2 or 3 weeks is difficult. Therefore we focus on the west of South Africa, where you will get a very diverse impression! You will go on safari in Addo Elephant Park (here you will find the Big 5) but you will also discover beautiful landscapes such as in the Karoo and Tsitsikamma. We alternate this with some nice towns like Stellenbosch where you can taste wine or Graaff Reinet which is a real outdoor museum.
Safety in South Africa
Most European nationalities do not need to apply for a visa in advance for South Africa. You get that upon arrival and it’s free. Furthermore, we were a bit worried about safety in South Africa, but we can guarantee you that this itinerary is perfectly safe to do. Only in Cape Town you have to be a little careful in the suburbs, the so-called “townships,” but you don’t normally go there as a traveler. Finally, in South Africa they pay with South African Rand (ZAR), but in most places you can pay by credit card just fine.
TRAVEL TIP: This itinerary is completely malaria free! If you plan to travel on to Kruger National Park afterwards, it is best to visit your doctor for advice.
How to get around in South Africa
You cannot do this itinerary South Africa without your own rental car. Having your own car is the best and easiest way to get around in South Africa. The roads are in fine condition and you can easily park your car anywhere. You also don’t need a special 4×4 vehicle for this itinerary. Keep in mind that they drive on the left in South Africa.
The ideal travel itinerary South Africa in 2 to 3 weeks
This tour of South Africa begins and ends in bustling Cape Town! During two weeks you will take in some of the most beautiful sights of South Africa. From wine tasting in Stellenbosch to a safari in Addo Elephant Park and so much more! Want to see more of South Africa? At the end of this itinerary, we give you options for further travel in South Africa.
Day 1 – 3: Stellenbosch
+/- 35 km ● 30h drive
The first day you arrive in Cape Town. Pick up your rental car and then immediately drive on towards Stellenbosch. This is only a half-hour drive from Cape Town but immediately takes you to those quintessential, South African landscapes. Stellenbosch and Franschoeck is South Africa’s wine region. Here you will find vast vineyards and beautiful wineries in Cape Dutch architecture. Some of our favorite wineries in Stellenbosch are Waterford Estate, Vrede & Rust and Jordan Wine Estate. Also fun to do is to visit take the wine streetcar in Franschoeck .. It passes famous wine estates such as Babylonstoren, Boschendal and Vrede & Lust and you don’t have to drive!
Where to stay in Stellenbosch
In addition to beautiful wineries, Stellenbosch has a cozy village center and delicious restaurants such as De Volkskombuis. You will also find several nice accommodations. We slept in Lovane Wine Estate, the smallest winery in the region that offers free wine tastings for their guests!
- Budget ($): The Farmhouse B&B
- Comfort ($$): Lovane Wine Estate
- Luxurious ($$$): Old Wharf Hotel
Day 3 – 5: Oudtshoorn
+/- 395 km ● 4h30 drive
On the third day of this South Africa round trip, you will leave Stellenbosch behind you and drive on towards Oudsthoorn. To do this, be sure to take the road via Montagu on the R62. The drive in itself is impressive, as you see the green vineyards turn into a rocky, arid landscape typical of the Little Karoo. Your terminus is Oudsthoorn, the ostrich capital of the country. Here you will find numerous ostrich farms to visit such as the Highgate Ostrich Farm.
Frankly, we had our questions about how ethical these ostrich farms are. Therefore, we decided that instead of an ostrich farm on day four, we would go along on our very first safari! You see, in Oudsthoorn you will find the Buffalo Drift Game Lodge. Even if you are not staying here you can join a game drive, where you can see animals such as elephants, giraffes, buffalo, lions and rhinos! Furthermore, you can also have a fantastic dinner there in the evening, overlooking the pond with hippos.
Where to stay in Oudsthoorn
There is not much to do in the town of Oudsthoorn itself, but all around you have nice accommodations with beautiful views of the Little Karoo!
- Budget ($): Karoozin Village
- Comfort ($$): Africamps Klein Karoo
- Luxurious ($$$): Buffalo Drift Game Lodge
Day 5 – 7: Graaff Reinet
+/- 320 km ● 3h drive
Would you still like to see ostriches? Not to worry, because today you will travel on towards Cambedoo National Park. You can do a fun self drive in this small park where you will find antelope, kudu, wildebeest and zebra in addition to ostriches! End your day at the viewpoint Valley of Desolation (this is the exact location). Here you have an insane view of the area with unique rock formations and especially during sunset this is worth it. The next day you can explore the town of Graaff Reinet on foot. You’ll find no fewer than 220 Cape Dutch-style monuments such as the Graaff Reinet Museum, which makes this town a veritable open-air museum and gives it the name “Jewel of the Karoo” for good reason.
Where to stay in Graaff Reinet
Graaff Reinet is a small village where you will find everything within walking distance of each other. You won’t find real hotels here, but you will find nice B&Bs and apartments:
- Budget ($): Profcon Resort
- Comfort ($$): Acacia Home
- Luxurious ($$$): Drostdy Hotel
Day 7 – 9: Addo Elephant Park
+/- 250 km ● 2h45 drive
We have arrived at what is perhaps the highlight of this itinerary South Africa in two weeks! You travel on towards Addo Elephant Park, the third largest national park in South Africa. This park is home to as many as 600 elephants, as well as the other members of the Big 5 such as the lion, leopard, buffalo and rhino. We recommend taking a full day to do a self drive in this beautiful park! At the entrance you will be given a map and tips on where you are most likely to see the animals that day.
Opening hours Addo Elephant Park: daily from 07:00 to 19:00 (may vary by season) | Entrance fee: 437 ZAR
Where to stay in Addo
Addo Elephant National Park is a 15-minute drive from the eponymous village of Addo. Here you will find plenty of nice accommodations. These hotels also often offer organized game drives within Addo Elephant National Park. Do you prefer to sleep in the park itself? You can do so at the luxurious Gorah Elephant Camp, where you can just watch the elephants from your own terrace!
- Budget ($): Homestead Bed & Breakfast
- Comfort ($$): Chrislin African Lodge
- Luxurious ($$$): Gorah Elephant Camp
Day 9 – 10: Tsitsikamma (Garden Route)
+/- 210 km ● 2h15 drive
Start your day early and drive on towards Storms River, the start of the Garden Route in South Africa! Today you will visit the beautiful Tsitsikamma National Park. Here you will find the popular Mouth Trail (also called Suspension Bridge Trail), an impressive walk that takes you in 1 hour to suspension bridges over the wild sea. Along the way you’ll pass green fynbos, dramatic cliffs and you might even come across cliff badgers! If you want to see more of the park, the Waterfall Trail is highly recommended. This hike takes 4 hours round trip, and along the way you’ll be treated to spectacular views along the coastline.
Where to stay near Tsitsikamma
Highly recommended is The Fernery Lodge, a beautiful lodge perched high on a cliff. From here you have dramatic views of the ocean. Furthermore, the nearby village of Stormsrivier is a good base for exploring Tsitsikamma National Park:
- Budget ($): Storms River Forest Lodge
- Comfort ($$): Tsitsikamma Village Inn
- Luxurious ($$$): The Fernery Lodge
Day 10 – 12: Plettenberg Bay (Garden Route)
+/- 65 km ● 1h drive
The town of Plettenberg Bay is in the middle of the Garden Route, making it an ideal base for exploring the area. One of the best things to do is spend a day in the nearby Robberg Nature Reserve. In this nature reserve you can take beautiful walks where you will pass by a colony of seals. Want to do a unique activity? Then you can go swimming with seals go swimming with seals! Finally, you have a lot of other, fun attractions nearby such as Keursboomstrand and Nature Valley.
Where to stay in Plettenberg Bay
In Plettenberg Bay you will find plenty of accommodations for every budget. We recommend spending two or three nights here and visiting the surrounding attractions of the Garden Route from here. Knysna, Robberg Nature Reserve, Natures Valley and Keurboomstrand are all nearby.
- Budget ($): Nothando Backpackers Lodge
- Comfort ($$): Panoramic Blue B&B
- Luxurious ($$$): Emily Moon River Lodge
Day 12 – 13: Hermanus
+/- 445 km ● 5h drive
On day 12 of this itinerary South Africa you continue along the Garden Route to Hermanus. Along the way you can make some fun stops such as in Knysna, the oyster capital of South Africa and Swellendam. In the late afternoon you will arrive in Hermanus, one of the best places in the world to see whales. Between June and December, you have a good chance of seeing these gentle giants swimming along the shoreline, as well as dolphins and seals! So an absolute must-do in Hermanus is to join a whale tour.
Where to stay in Hermanus
Stay in an apartment or hotel right on the coast. With any luck, you’ll see whales and dolphins swimming by from your room!
- Budget ($): Hermanus Backpackers Accommodation
- Comfort ($$): Hermanus Waterfront Apartments
- Luxurious ($$$): Auberge Boutique Hotel & Spa
Day 13 – 17: Cape Town
+/- 140 km ● 2h drive (via Betty’s Bay)
Today you will drive back to Cape Town where you will spend the last days of this itinerary South Africa. For this, do not drive the shortest route, but via Bettysbaai. Also known as the Whale Coast Route, this stretch is characterized by impressive landscapes and rugged coastlines. In Bettys Bay, be sure to make a stop at Stony Point Nature Reserve. Here you will find a large colony of South African penguins that you can admire up close. Unlike the penguins on Bolders Beach in Cape Town, it is much quieter here.
The last few days of your South Africa trip you will stay in fabulous Cape Town. This is one of the nicest cities in the world and there is a lot to see and do! These include wine tasting in Constantia, climbing the iconic Table Mountain and exploring the colorful Bo-Kaap neighborhood. In our Cape Town travel guide, you’ll discover the best things to do in 3 days!
Where to stay in Cape Town
Cape Town is a large city that consists of several neighborhoods. One of the best neighborhoods to stay in for a first-time Cape Town visitor is Seapoint. This safe neighborhood is located between Camps Bay and V&A Waterfront. The Gardens is also a popular neighborhood to stay in, near Table Mountain and Lions Head.
- Budget ($): Check Inn Hotel
- Comfort ($$): The Trade Boutique Hotel
- Luxurious ($$$): Home Suite Hotels Sea Point
Further travel South Africa
Do you have more time to explore South Africa? Then you have several options to continue your journey From Cape Town or Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) which is near Addo Elephant Park, you can fly on to the cities of Durban or Johannesburg. From here you can follow a fun itinerary that takes you past Kruger, St. Lucia and the Drakensberg Mountains.
Best time to visit South Africa (west)
The best travel time for this road trip South Africa is from October through March. This is during South Africa’s spring and summer, when the weather is good with pleasant temperatures. Unlike eastern South Africa which is warm and sunny all year round, this region can be very cool during the other months. Furthermore, it rains a lot during this period and the vineyards are not in bloom.
Do you have any questions about this itinerary South Africa? Let us know in a comment below! Looking for more information about your next trip? Please do not hesitate to contact us or send an email to info@snoezelsontheroad.com
Did you know...
When you make a purchase through our links, we receive a small fee. What you pay remains the same, and you support us with it too. A win-win for everyone!
Activities
Book here inexpensively via Getyourguide
Support us with coffee
Support us with a virtual cup of coffee
