A Classic South African Adventure
Duration: 9 days / 8 nights
Destinations: Cape Town, Stellenbosch, and the Kruger National Park
Focus: Romantic retreats, family trips, or special celebrations
Budget: From €3,500 per person (all inclusive, incl. international flights and transfers)
This short itinerary is perfect for couples or families with limited time but who want to experience the very best that South Africa has to offer. A classic route, it combines wildlife and nature, decadent food and wine, and the best city in the world (it’s true, promise). We recommend you begin in world-famous Cape Town, known for its sandy beaches and Afro-European cityscape, stop off in the lush wine regions of Stellenbosch and Franschoek, and end in the wilds of the Kruger National Park. Recommended accommodation includes elegant hotels, safari lodges, and country estates, as well as a smorgasbord of activities. Highlights include:
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Voted the best city in the world (with the best food in the world), Cape Town offers something superb for every taste. Accommodation options are nearly limitless, including grand hotels, seaside villas, or boutique residences. We’d suggest Labotessa, but a stay at Mount Nelson, the Cape Cadogan, or the storied Dorp Hotel.
(Day 1) As your plane descends into Cape Town International, take in the sight before you - a vibrant African city cradled by mountain ranges on one side and ringed by oceans on the other. Savour this moment, because it may change you forever. After a soothing check-in and hopefully a shower, the city’s temples of gastronomy beckon - try Boma, the Athletic Club and Social, Vadivelu, or the Pot Luck Club. But you honestly can’t go wrong in this city.
(Day 2) If it’s a weekend, skip the hotel breakfast and head straight to the Oranjezicht City Market, a favourite local spot for early morning munching and designer goods. Properly fueled, it’s time to grapple with South Africa’s turbulent history with a visit to the District Six Museum or a guided tour of Robbin Island, the prison which once held Nelson Mandela. Afterwards, find time to visit the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront for an afternoon of shopping, fine food, contemporary African art, and maybe sundowners aboard a catamaran coastal cruise.
(Day 3) Armed with sunscreen and water, start early as you ascend the heights of Table Mountain with a guided hike or via cablecar, taking in the sights of Africa’s most famed city from above. Quite the view, isn’t it? It’s time to change it up, heading out of the city and into the distant vineyards and mountains of Stellenbosch. Check in and hit the streets for a well deserved dinner - we suggest The Fat Butcher, De Eetkamer, or for a rough-around-the-edges but delicious local experience, Gino’s.
Alternative Cape Town activities:
Take in the city’s diverse food scene with a half-day or full-day food tour, or enjoy an authentic Cape Malay cooking class
Witness an African penguin colony at Boulder’s Beach, followed by a slow walk through the seaside hamlet of Simon’s Town
Sun yourself on pristine beaches in Clifton or Camps Bay, popular playgrounds for the city’s young up-and-comers, followed by a seaside promenade in Seapoint
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The heart of South Africa’s world-famous wine regions, this Cape Dutch town is bordered by vineyards, forests, and mountain ranges. The second oldest town in South Africa, Stellenbosch is home to vibrant restaurants, boutiques, and galleries, as well as dozens of wine estates leading the way in New World innovation. We hope you took our advice, checking in with the fine folks at either Coopmanhuijs, Lanzerac, the Oude Werf Hotel, or De Hoek Manor.
(Day 4) Begin your day with an early hotel breakfast or a quick stop at one of our favourite cafés - Hygge Hygge, the Meeting Place, Meraki, or Schoon. Following that, embark on a private tour of the finest wine estates in the region, sampling the vintages and varietals that have made South Africa famous. More than a tasting, you’ll also meet accomplished winemakers and tour their vineyards, cellars, and estates. After a day of discovery, head back to your hotel to rest and refresh before sitting down to dinner at Spek & Bone, De Warenmarkt, or Post & Pepper.
(Day 5) You deserve a slow start after yesterday’s adventures. Enjoy a leisurely open air brunch at Lanzerac (try the scones) or the Postcard Café. Spend your day exploring the leafy streets of Stellenbosch, visiting its boutiques, galleries, and jewellers. Though for a more structured experience, a walking food tour through the heart of Stellenbosch is a must-do. To end your last night in style, visit the Stellenbosch Wine Bar for celebratory drinks and tapas. We recommend the Stellenbosch Reserve Syrah, or a bottle of the Afrikaans.
(Day 6) It’s an early start kind of day. Grab a quick breakfast before heading to Cape Town International to begin your journey to the Kruger National Park. After two short flights and a 45 minute road transfer, you’ll arrive at the remote Rhino Post Safari Lodge. Shortly after arrival, you’ll be offered high tea and invited on an afternoon game drive safari (including sundowners drinks). Later, on the large open air terrace overlooking an oft-visited waterhole, share stories and photos of the day’s sightings over a slow dinner.
Alternative Stellenbosch activities:
Head out of Stellenbosch and into Franschoek, another world-famous wine town a short drive away, stepping aboard the Franschoek Wine Tram for a day of tastings
Stellenbosch and nearby Franschoek are known for their inspired cuisine - sit down for an exquisite multi-course tasting menu at Rust en Vrede, Mertia, Clara’s Barn, Eike, Dusk, La Petite Colombe, or Jordan Restaurant
Explore the local mountains with a visit to the nearby Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, which offers hiking trails stretching from a few hours to the entire day
Experience South African cuisine while elevating your own skills with a full-day cooking class at the Spilsbury Kitchen, run by local Franschoek chef
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The Kruger National Park is known around the world for its high density of wildlife and rugged natural beauty. A sprawling and remote paradise slightly smaller than the country of Belgium, Kruger offers travellers the chance to explore an untouched African wilderness in tasteful style. Encamped at the Rhino Post Safari Lodge, miles from civilisation, experience Mzansi at her best.
(Day 7) Wake up to the chatter of birds and little else - if we had to pick our favourite sound, this would be it. Start the day with an early morning game drive safari. Share stories of Big Five sightings over a decadent brunch and then transfer to Plains Camp, a small collection of explorer-style luxury tents located in a remote corner of the park. From here, you’ll embark on off-road walks into the wilds of South Africa, accompanied by armed guides, and encounter nature on her own terms. Settle into camp and enjoy high tea, introductions, and dinner.
(Day 8) You’ll set off on two safari walks today, one in the early morning and another in the late afternoon, when cooler temperatures tempt wildlife out into the open. Follow your guide as they track a herd of buffalo, hidden in the high reeds of a riverbed. Perhaps you’ll spot fresh lion tracks. Recover your strength during the day with a decadent brunch, a dip in the plunge pool, and high tea overlooking an untouched landscape. Get to know your fellow travellers during fire-lit drinks, and dinner under African stars.
(Day 9) All good things must come to an end, however much we might not want them to. After a final breakfast in the still air of the African bush, prepare yourself for the journey home. A quick road transfer - itself a mini-safari - and two short flights will see you back at Cape Town International. To rest and refresh before your long-haul flight home, we highly recommend checking into a premium lounge for a shower and a bite to eat. Bon Voyage and Gute Reise.
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For those with a little more time to spare, we highly recommend a mid-intinerary trip with Rovos Rail. Step backwards into the gilded age of slow travel as you journey aboard a luxury train for three days of black-tie meals, enchanting vistas, and old-world splendor. This Agatha Christie-esque experience traverses the vast South African landscape to deliver you from the charms of Stellenbosch and Cape Town to the unconquered wilds of the Kruger National Park.
