South Africa

17 night sample itinerary:

  • 5 nights Cape Town 
  • 2 nights Franschhoek 
  • 2 nights De Kelders
  • 3 nights Knsyna
  • 2 nights Hazyview 
  • 3 nights Timbavati (Greater Kruger)

Camps Bay, Cape Town – 5 nights stay 

Accommodation:

Stay at Atholl House Camps Bay

Things to do:

  • Robben Island (try to pre-book in advance for your first day as sometimes the weather permits ferry so it’s a good idea to have a contingency day in case you need to reschedule your ticket). You can catch the ferry from V&A waterfront, remember to bring I.D.
  • Whilst at the V&A waterfront, it’s worth exploring:
    • Nobel Sq – Nelson Mandela statue
    • The Watershed (cool local indoor craft market)
    • Time Out food market is coming soon 
  • Table mountain (The cable car ride is ideal if you are short on time or/and not up for hiking as there’s multiple routes. It’s worth booking tickets online for the cable ride)
  • Lion’s Head (fun hike, probably takes around 45/60 mins)
  • City sightseeing bus Cape Town (great to do the free walking tour)
  • District 6 in the city centre is worth doing (no need to pre book tickets but find out the timings of the guided tour with a former resident as this is worth doing) 
  • Truth coffee for coffee and pastries in downtown Cape Town (either eat in or takeaway)
  • Camps Bay beach / explore (coffee/breakfast at Café Caprice)
  • There’s a cool tidal pool at Camps Bay if you fancy a swim 
  • Kirstenbosch National Botanical garden 

If you hire a car and want to explore further afield to Cape Town, these places are easily reachable:

  • Chapmans Peak Drive / Look Out (great coastal drive)
  • Kalk Bay, Muizenberg (nice seaside places)
  • Milk Beach, Muizenberg (great ice cream shop)
  • Boulders Beach, Simons Town (no need to pre-book tickets you can pay at the gate) 
  • Driving around Haut Bay cliffs
  • Drive to Cape of Good Hope (the most southernly tip of Africa)

Dining out:

Mojo Market at Sea Point (especially at a weekend) – street food, live music

Three Wise Monkeys – ramen and sushi bar, low-key but cool vibe and open kitchen (great food)

Food market at Bay Harbour food market on Friday’s at Houts Bay (uber ride from Camps Bay)

Bilboa (Camps Bay) – terrace dining with sea facing views

The Hussar Grill (Camps Bay) – great steak house

Silo rooftop, V&A waterfront (is worth pre-booking for drinks if you don’t have time to eat)

Harbour House – great fish restaurant at V&A waterfront, which has a lovely terrace

Franschhoek – 2 nights stay 

Accommodation:

Stay at Maison Chablis

Things to do:

  • Franschhoek cycle – hire bikes to go mountain biking at Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve
  • Boschendal Werf Farm picnic – worth booking in advance (needs to be at least 24 hours)
  • Wine tasting at one of the vineyards
  • Huguenot Fine Chocolates – Belgian choc shop

Dining out:

Chefs Warehouse at Maison – lovely tapas set menu with good wine (reasonable and lovely gardens)

French Connection bistro 

The Hussar Grill (Camps Bay) – in case you don’t get the chance to go in Cape Town

De Kelders – 2 nights stay 

Accommodation:

Stay at Whale Tale

Things to do:

  • Incredible land-based whale watching for Southern Right Whales (during season)
  • Ivanhoe Sea Safaris– sunset whale watching excursion (worth pre-booking)
  • Marine Dynamics – shark cage diving, operating from Kleinbaai Harbour (worth pre-booking – 10 min drive from De Kelders)
  • You can get to Hermanus easily from De Kelders (Cliff pass walking trail)
  • Staying in Gansbaai is better than Hermanus because less foot traffic. Most places to stay are self-catering which is nice to mix it up a bit too

Dining out:

Coffee on the rocks – nice coffee shop / place to do land-based whale watching

Knysna – 3 nights stay 

Accommodation:

Stay at Candlewood Lodge

Things to do:

  • Drive the Garden route
  • Featherbed eco experience (not worth booking the lunch)
  • Whale Watching
  • Explore Thesan Island and Leisure Isle (lots of water sports rentals)
  • Explore Plettenberg Bay (nice beach)
  • Harkerville Farmers Market (Saturday mornings – great local craft and food market)

Dining out:

Freshline Fisheries (fresh seafood, BYOB – worth pre-booking)

34 Degrees South – casual market hall / no need to book

Ile De Pain (famous bakery/patisserie/bruncg spot)

Chez Pierre (waffles)

The Fat Fish (Plettenberg Bay) 

Fly from George to Johannesburg to Kruger Mpumalanga airport (MQP) – 2 flights

Hazyview – 2 nights stay 

Accommodation:

Stay at Summerfields Rose Retreat & Spa

Fly from Cape Town or George (if travelling from the garden route) to Nelspruit Airport

Things to do:

  • Panorama route tour – explore God’s window, Blyde river canyon, Three rondavels, Bourkes luck potholes, Graskop (nice local place for lunch)
  • Boat trip – Blyde river canyon
  • Kruger national park 

Timbavati Game Reserve – 3 nights safari stay

Accommodation:

Stay at Simbavati River Lodge