South Africa is one of my top 3 favorite countries in the world. I truly believe that this country can be anyone’s favorite despite different preferences, as it can attract adventure seekers, luxury lovers as well as backpackers.
I used to live in Cape Town and traveled around South Africa extensively. I also revisit the place regularly.
I suggest visiting South Africa for at least a month, because you don’t want to be rushed or forced to skip some amazing activities on the way. However, if you don’t have that much time off, I prepared different itineraries.
Here’s what I propose for a 1 to a 2-week itinerary for South Africa, starting in Johannesburg and ending in Cape Town.
Ultimate South Africa Road Trip Itinerary
This 2-week South Africa itinerary starts in Johannesburg and ends in Cape Town. It includes the most photogenic places in South Africa safari and wine route.
I recommend that you catch a domestic flight to Port Elizabeth pick up your rental car there. Alternatively, you can take an overnight bus from Johannesburg (I’ve done it and it’s perfectly safe).
The cheapest domestic airlines in South Africa are Mango and Kulula. You can also use the main airline South African Airways, but you’ll spend more, so remember to also check Airlink, which serves not only domestic routes but also neighboring countries.
IMPORTANT: Car rental reservation is a MUST in South Africa.
I’ve made a mistake of not pre-booking my car twooccasions and had to reschedule my plans as no cars were available, even during South African winter.
DiscoverCars.com is a good website to find the best deals on different types of cars and providers.
Safari in South Africa
Day 1-2: Johannesburg
Day 3-5: Kruger National Park (safari) or private reserve
Day 6: back to Johannesburg
Week 1 Itinerary: Garden Route
Day 1: Port Elizabeth
Day 2: Jeffreys Bay
Day 3-4: Nature’s Valley
Day 5-6: Knysna / Plettenberg Bay
Day 7-8: Oudtshoorn
Week 2 Itinerary: Western Cape
Day 9: Route 62
Day 10-11: Stellenbosch
Day 12: Gaansbai & Simon’s Town
Day 13: Hermanus
Day 14-15: Cape Town
Safari: Kruger National Park Safari
Johannesburg & Pretoria
Fly into Johannesburg, as flights will probably be the cheapest to Tambo International Airport. As you might have heard, ‘Joburg’ isn’t the safest place. I’d recommend renting a car at the airport if you’re planning on driving to Kruger.
Alternatively, you can take a domestic flight to Nelspruit and pick up your rental car there.
Best Things to Do in Johannesburg:
Visit Pretoria – Pretoria might not be the most glamorous capital city in the world. But you can learn a lot about the history of South Africa before heading east for a safari.
The Apartheid Museum – To learn about the history of the city and country.
Market on Main – If you want to stuff your face with delicious food.
A trip to South Africa wouldn’t have been completed without a proper safari, and what’s a better place to do it than Kruger National Park, one of Africa’s largest game reserves.
Kruger is larger than the whole country of the Netherlands, so you need to plan your trip over there in advance. Accommodation in Kruger can be as cheap as as expensive as you want it to be, because you can self-camp on a budget or opt for a luxury lodge (eg. Shalati Lodge)
As I mentioned in another article you should take a look at what animals interest you, calculate how much time do you want to spend in the park, and remember not to make my mistake: book your accommodation in advance. Camps do fill up in advance, whether you’re booking a room or camping.
I suggest entering the park through Nelspruit or Crocodile Bridge and continuing your way up north inside the park, but the route is totally up to you.
Distance from Johannesburg Airport to Kruger National Park (Croc Bridge Entrance): 438 km
Duration: 4.5 – 5 hours
Note: if you’re doing a safari with kids or prefer a bit more luxury, you might opt for a private game reserve. There are
2 Weeks South Africa Itinerary: Part 1
Day 1: Port Elizabeth
Back in Pretoria, I’d recommend dropping the car off and hopping on a bus. South African buses are safe and comfy, so you don’t have to worry about anything. I’d actually say that the bus was way more comfortable than an American Greyhound.
You can extend your trip by going to Durban first, or head straight to Port Elizabeth to start your Garden Route exploration straight away.
From Johannesburg, you can either take an overnight bus to Port Elizabeth, or a short domestic flight. You could drive all the way from Johannesburg, but it would take you about 11 hours.
I don’t recommend it unless you’re planning on taking a short detour to Lesotho and spending a night there.
Things to Do in Port Elizabeth:
Addo Elephant Park – As the name indicates, it’s a wildlife park with elephants, definitely worth a visit if you didn’t see enough of them at Kruger National Park.
Day 2: Jeffreys Bay
Jeffreys Bay is often a forgotten destination on the Garden Route. The small town of Jeffreys Bay is a nice base for 1 or 2 days to enjoy some sandboarding nearby or ride a horse on the beach.
Things to Do in Jeffreys Bay:
Sandboarding
Horseriding
Surfing
Distance from Port Elizabeth to Jeffreys Bay: 78 km
