How I planned our trip to South Africa

I’d dreamed of South Africa for years, but it always felt like the kind of destination you needed to plan carefully.  When we finally booked flights, it was both exciting and intimidating. There’s just so much to see.

I was blown away by how much we were able to fit into one trip. Every few days felt like stepping into a new place altogether. By the time we left, I knew there was no way to see everything in one visit, but that’s part of what made it so special.

In this guide I’ll share what worked, what surprised me, and what I’d do differently next time. If you’re thinking about going, here’s exactly how we made the most of our time without feeling rushed, plus a few lessons we only learned once we were on the ground.

When to go to South Africa

The best time to visit South Africa will vary from person to person, but we chose late September, the start of spring.  Cape Town was comfortable during the day, around 68°F (20°C), and cooler at night, about 55°F (13°C). Kruger was warmer, with daytime highs in the mid-80s°F (29°C) and mornings closer to 60°F (16°C).

The temperatures worked well for us since we wanted to hike and spend long hours on game drives without dealing with heavy heat. Spring also lined up with whale season in Hermanus and the wildflower bloom along the coast, which felt like a bonus.

Part of the reason we picked this time was to avoid the crowds and high summer prices in December and January.

In reality, there isn’t a bad time to go, it just depends on what you want. Our spring trip was the perfect time for road trips, hiking, and some wildlife viewing. If beaches and festivals are your priority, summer may be better. For safaris, the dry winter months are usually best.

Choosing how many days

We had three weeks in South Africa, which felt just right. That said, you could definitely plan a trip that is shorter.

If you only have a week for your South Africa itinerary, it’s best to focus on one region: maybe Cape Town and its surroundings or a safari. Trying to do both in such a short time is going to feel rushed. A ten days to two weeks South Africa itinerary is a better minimum if you want a see cities and wildlife.

One thing I didn’t fully appreciate before going is how much the time change affects you. Coming from North America, the jet lag can be real, and I’d plan for a buffer day or two at the start to recover.

Deciding what region of South Africa to visit

One of the toughest calls we had to make was how to split our time, there’s just so much see. If we could've stayed longer, we would have. With three weeks, this is how it ended up coming together:

Cape Town / Cape Peninsula: 5 days

Cape Town made the perfect starting point. We stayed near the V&A Waterfront so we could get around easily. One day we took the cable car up Table Mountain, another we ferried out to Robben Island, and we also spent an afternoon in Bo-Kaap (one of the best things to do in Cape Town).  

When we needed a break from the city, we drove down the peninsula. Cape Point, Chapman’s Peak, and the penguins at Boulders Beach were all doable in a single day. If we’d had extra time, we would’ve added Stellenbosch or Franschhoek for a wine day.

Garden Route / Eastern Cape: 4 days

We wanted a proper road trip, so we drove the Garden Route. It’s about 303 miles (488 km) from Cape Town to Knysna, a five hours drive if you push it, but it’s better broken up.  

This I think was my favorite part of our trip. We kayaked in Wilderness, tried oysters in Knysna, hiked around Plettenberg Bay, and crossed suspension bridges at Storms River in Tsitsikamma. We wrapped it up with a night near Addo Elephant National Park for a short safari before flying on from Gqeberha. You could easily plan an entire trip with just a Garden Route itinerary.

Flights to Johannesburg and on to Kruger: 1 day

From Gqeberha, we flew 1 hour 45 minutes to Johannesburg, then connected on another 1-hour flight to Nelspruit (Mbombela). From there, it’s only 35–60 minutes by road to the southern Kruger gates. Once there, we had five full days. 

Kruger National Park: 5 days

We split our time between a rest camp inside the park (Lower Sabie, with incredible sunrise views over the river) and a lodge in a private reserve near Sabi Sands. That way we could try both self-drives and guided game drives with rangers. Five days felt like the right amount to see different regions without rushing, especially for our first time in Kruger.

Johannesburg: 3 days

We also gave ourselves three days in Johannesburg. A guided tour through Soweto was a highlight, especially visiting Vilakazi Street. We spent a morning at the Apartheid Museum too. Between that and exploring Maboneng’s street art and cafés, it felt like we got a sense of the city beyond just passing through. We stayed near Rosebank. 

Drakensberg Mountains: 3 days

To finish, we rented a car and drove to the Drakensberg Mountains. It’s about four or five hours from Joburg. We based ourselves near Cathedral Peak, which put us close to hikes into the Amphitheatre and Tugela Falls. We also stopped at the Didima San Rock Art Centre to see the ancient paintings. After three days of hiking and mountain air, we circled back to Joburg for our flight home.

A shorter version of our trip

You could easily use our itinerary for a shorter trip by cutting out the Cape Peninsula and Drakensberg Mountains. That would make for a pretty great two week South Africa itinerary.
 

How do you get around

Transport was the part we thought about most before the trip. In the end, we got around South Africa with a mix flying and driving, which worked well.

Driving felt safe and pretty straightforward, though in rural areas you do need to keep an eye out for potholes. In the mountains, the roads were pretty narrow in some parts.

South Africans drive on the left. I couldn’t even attempt it, but my partner got the hang of it after a day. The major highways were in good condition. 

When it came time to cover more distance, we flew domestic. From Gqeberha we took a 1 hour 45 minute flight to Johannesburg, then connected for just under an hour to Nelspruit. That saved us what would’ve been a full day in the car.

Domestic flights usually have strict weight limits (about 44 lbs / 20 kg for checked bags), so keep that in mind if you’re stocking up on souvenirs or wine.

When it came to getting around in the cities, we stuck with Uber. It was reliable, safe, and was easier to know the price ahead of time. For Soweto and the Apartheid Museum, we booked tours that included transport, which took the stress out of navigating.
 

Planning your safari in South Africa

Our safari in Kruger was hands down one of the highlights of the trip. We stayed inside the park for four nights, which felt right. It was enough time to see a lot of wildlife without burning out. Morning and evening drives gave us the best chance to see animals, since midday heat sends many into the shade (and made us so tired we needed a break).

Kruger is massive, about the size of New Jersey, so how you explore makes a difference. We tried both self-drives and guided safaris, and the guided ones stood out. Rangers knew exactly where to find the animals and explained their behavior in a way that added so much context.

We split our time between different camps so we could see different areas of the park. We liked the bush camps a lot more than the main rest camps mostly because it felt more intimate. They’re more expensive, but vehicles can go off-road, and sightings are often closer.

The best South Africa road trips

South Africa really is made for road trips, and we ended up doing three during our trip.

The Garden Route

If you only do one, make it this. The drive from Cape Town to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) is about 300 miles (480 km), but we stretched it over four days. That gave us time for detours: whale watching in Hermanus (September is perfect), oysters in Knysna, and long walks on Robberg Beach.

A few things I wish I’d known: keep your speed under 120 km/h on the N2 (the cameras are everywhere), rent a car with unlimited mileage, and leave your plans loose. You’ll want the freedom to pull over.

Cape Peninsula Loop

We also did the Cape Peninsula loop, which is perfect if you’re short on time. It’s a full-day trip, but worth it. Start early, take Chapman’s Peak Drive, head down to Cape Point, then swing back through Simon’s Town to see the penguins. Mountains on one side, ocean on the other. 

You’ll want to go clockwise so you end with sunset over Hout Bay or Camps Bay. And don’t forget cash for Chapman’s Peak tolls.

Drakensberg Mountains loop

Our last road trip was into the Drakensberg Mountains, about a 4–5 hour drive from Johannesburg. Suddenly you’re in these cathedral-like peaks with short drives between waterfalls and hiking trails.

Try to arrive before dark, since once you’re off the highway, livestock and pedestrians share the road. And pack layers because the mountain weather changes fast.

There are so many other road trips we could have taken. Next time, I’d really like to drive the Stellenbosch to Franschhoek route through wine country.
 

How we budgeted

South Africa turned out to be easier on the wallet than I expected. In the cities, you can get by with a credit card almost everywhere, but it’s smart to keep some rand on hand for tips, small towns, and markets. Food, fuel, and accommodation were generally cheaper than back home. 

For us, daily costs came to about $300–350 for two people, covering places to stay, meals, tours and activities.

Meals were surprisingly affordable. A good restaurant dinner for two with wine rarely exceeded $40. And it’s well worth it for South African food.

Of course, costs vary. If you’re keeping things simple, you can get by on around $60 per person per day. If you’re staying in higher-end lodges and doing guided trips, it’s easy to spend closer to $450 per person per day. See our South Africa travel tips for way to spend money during your trip.
 

Safety and travel tips

Safety was one of the questions friends asked most, and while it’s something to be mindful of, it rarely felt intimidating.

A few practical habits made things easier: carry small coins for car guards (they’re common), download offline maps since coverage can drop, and plan fuel stops before long drives. Tap water is fine in cities, but less reliable in rural areas. Refilling a reusable bottle at hotels worked well for us.

In reality, the most unexpected challenge wasn’t safety, it was underestimating distances. 

Malaria

If you’re heading to Kruger or certain other regions, be aware there’s a malaria risk. We packed our own insect repellent from home because we already knew it worked for us, and it was one less thing to worry about.

City safety

We’re both from big cities in the US, so a lot of the standard advice came naturally to us (don’t leave valuables visible in cars, don’t carry large amounts of cash, etc). Because we didn’t know the area, we more or less stuck to the tourist path in cities, and we avoided walking alone at night.  Guides were worth hiring, both for peace of mind and because it supports the local economy.

ATMs inside banks felt safer, so we skipped the ones on the street. Uber is widely available in major cities and often simpler than trying to navigate unfamiliar areas yourself (just be sure to download the app before you go). It also helps to keep copies of important documents stored separately, and save your hotel or guesthouse’s phone number offline in case you need it quickly.
 

South Africa with kids

We didn’t travel with kids ourselves, but we met plenty of families along the way. It struck me as very doable, especially on the Garden Route, where towns are closer together and drives aren’t too long. A lot of guesthouses had family rooms, and many restaurants had play areas built in.

Safaris are the tricky part with younger kids. Some private reserves have minimum age limits for game drives (usually 6 or 12).

Kruger is the exception, since you can do self-drives at your own pace. Camps there often have pools and even kids’ programs, which makes it easier for parents to take a break. Between beaches, short hikes, and wildlife parks, there’s plenty of variety to keep kids interested.

The parents we spoke to said South Africa with kids was one of their favorite family trips because there’s something for every age with penguins, easy trails, cultural activities, and of course, the chance of seeing animals in the wild. 
 

Don’t miss the street food

Food ended up being one of the best parts of the trip. I’d looked up a few restaurants, but some of our favorite meals were casual stops we hadn’t planned. In Cape Town, we went from seafood at Hout Bay’s harbor market to Cape Malay curries in Bo-Kaap. On the Garden Route, we stuck to the “busy places” rule and pulled over wherever locals were lining up like at roadside grills, fish shacks, that kind of thing.

One night in Knysna, we had oysters straight from the lagoon with nothing but lemon and hot sauce. Another highlight was a braai at a guesthouse, grilling boerewors and lamb chops over open coals with our hosts.

In Johannesburg, we spent time in Maboneng Precinct and it quickly became a favorite. We snacked on koeksisters (a sticky-sweet pastry), biltong, and boerewors rolls while wandering the streets. 

If you’re around on a weekend, Neighbourgoods Market in Braamfontein on Saturdays and Market on Main in Maboneng on Sundays are both worth checking out. There are lots of food stalls and it’s an easy way to sample different local dishes in one place. This is where we had some of the best South African food we tried.

Pack for the weather

Packing was trickier than I expected. We needed layers for cool mornings in Cape Town, and lighter clothes for Kruger. A light jacket and good walking shoes were essential. One thing I wish I’d brought was a plug adapter with multiple USB ports. Our guesthouses often had limited outlets.

If you’re not used to Southern Hemisphere sun, you’re definitely going to want to bring strong SPF. I don’t go anywhere with out my K-beauty sunscreen, but my partner burned up quick on the first day without any sunscreen on. 

Closed-toe shoes are required for walking safaris, so leave the sandals behind. A headlamp or flashlight comes in handy for early starts and during the occasional power outage. And if you’re planning boat trips or traveling in rainy season, a dry bag for electronics is worth having.

Packing for safari

Something that did not occur to me until I was doing research before our trip was that wearing neutral colors helps you to get close to wildlife. Whenever I envision a “safari outfit” it was usually khaki with lots of pockets, and it turns out, that’s more or less exactly what you want to pack.

Avoid white (gets dirty quickly), black (attracts tsetse flies), and bright colors or patterns that might spook animals. Earth tones like khaki, brown, olive, and tan work best. You don't need special safari clothes, regular clothes in the right colors work fine.

Another thing to bring are good binoculars, good sunglasses (something that actually filters the sun), and warm layers for early morning drives (it gets surprisingly cold). 

Tours are worth every penny

I’ve probably said this already, but it deserves its own section: tours in South Africa are absolutely worth it. We signed up for quite a few, and, and it made our trip so much better.

We spent time in Kruger on a self drive and with guides, and it’s laughable how bad of a job we did on our own versus with someone who knew what they were doing. 

On our own, we mostly drove around aimlessly, missing things right in front of us. With a guide, suddenly the park came alive. They knew animal behavior, the times of day different species were active, and could spot wildlife we wouldn’t have noticed in a hundred years. Without them, we could have spent days in the park and barely seen a thing.

Cape Town was similar. Our guide got us up Table Mountain quickly, but that wasn’t even the best part. She knew the city inside out, and more importantly, she knew people. She took us to artists working in their studios and showed us her favorite street food stops. Those kinds of experiences just don’t happen if you’re on your own. Having a travel expert nearby can really make a difference.

In Johannesburg, we visited Soweto, the Apartheid Museum, and Constitution Hill with a guide. The context he gave us, and the personal stories he shared, made those places hit so much harder. Apartheid’s legacy is still very present, and hearing about it from someone who lives with that history gave the experience real weight.
 

Mistakes were made

Making mistakes while traveling is all part of the process, but to save you some grief, here’s a few things I wish I had considered before we left.

Assuming all areas have the same infrastructure

We thought everywhere would feel like Cape Town in terms of infrastructure. Not the case. Smaller towns and rural areas often deal with load shedding (planned power cuts), patchy internet, and occasional water restrictions. The fix is simple: download your maps, apps, and recommendations before leaving the city. Bring a power bank, and charge devices whenever you get the chance. Some guesthouses only have electricity for certain hours.

Not staying hydrated (especially at higher altitudes like Johannesburg)

Johannesburg sits at 5,751 feet, and we felt it as soon as we arrived. The altitude, dry air, and strong sun gave us headaches the first couple of days. The Drakensberg was even higher. We had to get into the habit of drinking more water than usual, especially on travel days. Keeping a bottle handy at all times made a big difference. The dry air also wrecked our skin and sinuses, so moisturizer and lip balm were lifesavers.
 

Underestimating distances

On the map, the drives looked easy. In reality, road conditions and speed limits vary a lot, and what looked like a three-hour drive often stretched into five with stops, trucks crawling up mountain passes, and road construction. 

At first, we tried to cover too much ground and just ended up tired. What worked better was planning for 30–50% more time than Google Maps shows and keeping daily drives under 4–5 hours. That way, we had room for random stops and didn’t feel drained when we got to the next place.

Expecting to do everything in one trip

We crammed too much in, thinking it might be our only visit. South Africa’s too big for that. We barely touched the Wild Coast, skipped the Kalahari, and missed the Cederberg Mountains and iSimangaliso Wetland Park completely. The lesson: slow down, go deep in fewer regions, and accept that you’ll want to come back. We’re already planning our return to cover what we missed and to see Cape Town again…
 

Final thoughts

South Africa blew us away. The people were welcoming, the landscapes more dramatic than any photo, and the wildlife experiences unlike anything we’ve done before. It does take some planning and awareness, but that shouldn’t stop you.

If you're on the fence about going, book the ticket. Just be warned: one trip won't be enough.

If you want to see South Africa but are overwhelmed by the planning and booking, we’re here to help. Our tailor made trips are designed by locals who know the area inside and out. Each trip is made customized for you by our experienced travel experts.