Bucket List South Africa 2 week Itinerary: Cape Town, Kwazulu-Natal & JoBurg
Always wanted to visit South Africa independently but not sure where to start. There are many sensational first-time South Africa Itinerary ideas in your inbox but are you wondering if it is worth the long flights? Or is South Africa safe, is a 2-week itinerary long enough and it is as cheap here as people say?
Despite turbulent times, the rugged, raw beauty of this southern hemisphere country is hard to beat. South Africa remains a unique place to spend time. From our many visits, we’ve created an outline for 2 weeks in South Africa that offers you great destinations, experiences, and safe transportation choices.
And what’s great is that our first time South Africa itinerary is flexible and affordable and if you’re thinking about a family trip, we bet is cheaper than heading to Disneyland!
Where Is South Africa?
Right at the bottom of the African continent, with around 50 million of a population, South Africa borders six other nations two of which are embedded within its landmass – Lesotho and Eswatini (previously called Swaziland).
With two major ocean coastlines – Indian and Southern Atlantic – it’s the 24th largest country in the world with just under 2,800km of gorgeous coastline!
🎒TPOP Tip: This is a huge country so don’t try to see everything on a first visit. Prioritise 2-3 regions for a 2 week South Africa Itinerary.
Where to Fly Into In South Africa?
In our experience, international flights into Johannesburg or Cape Town offer the best schedules and prices. We usually fly via London to Cape Town and then up to Durban.
You will also find flights to Cape Town from most European hubs including Paris, Amsterdam, and Istanbul, as well as southern hemisphere cities like Singapore.
If coming here from the USA (East Coast), Delta, or United you can fly directly into Johannesburg Airport, so you might adjust this itinerary to start here. While these are very long flights the good news is that there are no layovers or transfers to deal with!
Emirates offers flights via Dubai into Durban which might work better if you’re only planning to visit the KwaZulu-Natal region.
When Is the Best Time to Visit South Africa?
Most of our trips to South Africa have been in their summer – January to March. It can be wetter and cooler in the July/August winter months. So if you plan to travel between Cape Town and say Durban, check both locations for weather averages.
Having said that, we also travelled in July, and although it was cooler, there were plenty of sunny days. The kids spent a lot of time at the beach and enjoyed most days outdoors. It’s also a great time for a safari.
With 11 languages spoken and 3 capital cities, it is a country with a complex history but rich in natural beauty on the coast as well as inland.
No doubt visiting does present some challenges in terms of long flights, infrastructure, and in some areas, crime rates. But with careful planning and positive thinking, South Africa is a wonderful destination.
Check out How to Conquer JetLag Tips to help you mitigate against any big time zone changes.
How To Get Around South Africa
Rent a Car in South Africa
We always hire a car when visiting South Africa. Do read the small print in terms of insurance as they differ from company to company. Insurance is essential.
There may be a requirement to pay insurance when you pick the car up so double check if this is the case when you book. Typical rentals will be smaller cars, with a small engine. If you can, upgrade to a large vehicle for a family and longer drives.
It’s easy to drive in South Africa but the distances between places are further than you might imagine. You may not need a car if part of your trip is in Cape Town as there is the option to take organised tours from the city.
One point on driving is that there are a lot of toll roads, so make sure you have small change if you are collecting your car from an airport and heading straight onto a main ‘N’ road.
Can you Travel By Train in South Africa?
Yes! If you want to indulge, take the Blue Train from Cape Town up to Pretoria, or from there to Kruger! It’s on our remaining bucket list of things to do in South Africa.
What to Pack for a Trip to South Africa
Cape Town weather can be rather unpredictable so definitely bring a warm jumper and a light rain jacket just in case. The evenings in the mountains can get quite chilly so light long-sleeved tops are good in the evening.
In Johannesburg, the hottest month is January, with the warm months stretching from September to March. Sunscreen and a good hat are essential!
We would also recommend bringing comfortable walking shoes, binoculars if you have them, and of course a camera.
2 Week South Africa Itinerary
Based on our previous trips and lots of local input from Katie, here’s our suggested itinerary for a 2-week South Africa adventure. We have found that a mix of flying and driving is the best way to enjoy getting to know the country.
Our route starts in Cape Town, with day trips from here around the Cape which we detail out below. Next, on by plane to Durban to explore the KwaZulu-Natal province, home to the Zulu heritage. Highlights here include The Drakensberg mountains and the affordable malaria free safari park of Hluhluwe.
From here, head over Johannesburg to explore city life and visit Soweto. This itinerary can easily be adapted to suit your available time, budget and interests.
CapeTown
- Visit Table Mountain National Park by Cable Car.
- Hike to southerly Cape Point.
- Take a boat trip to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned.
- Explore historical areas of Cape Town Bo-Kapp and District Six Museum.
- Visit Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens (great Summer Concerts).
- Drive around Camps Bay and visit the African penguins at Simonstown.
- Drive out to Stellenbosch and enjoy a day wine tasting.
Durban
- Hire a car and head north to Hluhluwe Game Reserve/Safari.
- Head to the Durban coast St Lucia and check out the Hippos.
- Cross the border into Lesotho or Eswatini (you’ll need a 4×4 for Lesotho).
- Explore the Midlands and Drakensberg Mountains. (highest in S Africa)
Johannesburg
- Drive over the mountains from Durban to Johannesburg.
- Explore Johannesburg’s museums & central district including Nelson Mandela square.
- Go shopping and enjoy a meal in one of the many options across the city.
- Visit Soweto township.
Cool Things To Do In Cape Town
Capetown: a cosmopolitan coastal city that never disappoints. If your budget allows it, stay right on the waterfront at Cape Grace Hotel. It’s a fantastic location only 900 feet from the city’s clock tower landmark on the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront.
It’s perfect for any boat trips and exploring this harbour part of town. From here, it is also an easy walk to great restaurants and bars, although the bar at the hotel is pretty amazing too!
One of our favourite places to eat was Harbour House, with a local fresh menu and great wines at a reasonable price. Tasha’s is popular for brunch and if you’re after a decent coffee, you can’t go wrong with Mugg & Bean, which are everywhere across the country.
Learn About Bo-Kapp in Cape Town
In this part of town you’re going to experience both Cape Malay culture and the Islamic heart of Cape Town. Its origins sadly came out of slavery when people from East Africa to Malaysia, Madagascar, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, and The Philippines were shipped in.
Food from home far away was a way to keep their original culture alive. We strongly recommend you trying some of these ‘local’ foods when you visit – simple and delicious.
It’s a miracle in a way that this area of town is still with us as it was nearly torn down during the apartheid years by the City Council. The buildings here date back to pre-1850s and so this is the oldest residential area of the country.
UNESCO status will help to conserve this special location from developers. Markets here are interesting to meander around although quite touristy.
Visit District Six
We also visited District Six Museum which was a sobering reminder of the difficult past. It was really well designed for visitors, helping us understand why this became a symbol of apartheid.
People were forcibly removed from their homes in District Six during those times and many of these dwellings were bulldozed.
The museum tells the story of some of these former residents. The Zonnebloem area is what remains from the original District Six and it is slowly emerging with a new generation of residents. There is a small area of bare land, still empty, to ensure no-one forgets what happened.
Take A Boat to Robben Island
This boat trip includes a tour of the prison where Nelson Mandela spent 17 of his 25 imprisoned years. They leave from the Waterfront around 3 times a day. We only reserved this trip once we had arrived and there was no problem getting tickets.
However, it is popular and boats were pretty full, so don’t leave it until the last minute to book. The crossing over the water was quite calm and took around 30 minutes.
If you have been here, you will have your own memories of the impact. For us, it was humbling and hard to take in that he was held here for so long, along with others.
We don’t want to get political in any way in our blog but we have nothing but the utmost respect for this man and what he stood for.
Our guide was excellent explaining the realities of life here during this time and afterwards we had time to reflect on our own. It is now a UNESCO site. Then it was back on the boat to Cape Town to continue our brilliant South Africa journey.
Enjoy The Aerial Ride Up Table Mountain
Who doesn’t recognise Table Mountain? It’s featured on South Africa’s flag, supports an incredible biodiversity and is part of a massive Table Mountain National Park hiking system.
If you’re driving, you can park near the cable car or take a bus (or tour) from Cape Town. The aerial cableway is quick – about 5 minutes and you’re at the top of one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.
When we got to the top, the views took our breath away. It’s impossible to capture how this place feels in a photograph. There’s quite a bit to see and the footpaths on top are easy to explore, with lots of information en route.
This area is home to more than 1200 species of fynbos (small plants, often shrub-like with small, hard leaves), which is more than all types that can be found in the whole of the UK!
There is a restaurant and shop on top but honestly, spend your time walking around soaking in the views from all sides of the mountain top. I could have spent hours up here, and for me it’s a must do.
Relax in the Botanical Gardens
Part of the park system continues to the south and the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens where a series of Summer Concerts are held. These are beautiful gardens for a picnic. Sit on the grassy areas, relax listening to great music. It’s a lovely way to end a full day of sightseeing.
The Cape Point Vineyard is also a local perfect spot for indulging in fantastic South African wines and enjoying countryside vistas. You can pre order a picnic which we did and it was delicious.
Best Of South Africa’s Beaches
There are numerous beach areas dotted around Cape Town like this one. As you drive around you will find the one that is perfect for you for a few hours. Use this Best Beaches Guide to learn more about Camps Bay, Boulders and Clifton amongst the top rated.
Visit Cape Point
This is often a windy visit but definitely worthwhile. Cape Point is in the Cape of Good Hope nature reserve, part of Table Mountain National Park. This whole area is part of Cape Floral Region, and not surprisingly, a World Heritage Site.
It includes the majestic Table Mountain chain, which stretches from Signal Hill to Cape Point, and the coastlines of the Cape Peninsula. This narrow stretch of land, dotted with beautiful valleys, bays and beaches, contains a mix of extraordinarily diverse and unique fauna and flora.
The drive from CapeTown downs Camps Bay and through small coastal towns is stunning too. If you are driving you will want to stop as there are lots of brilliant photo opportunities!
See South African Penguins
On this same trip, take in Boulder Beach between Simons Town and Cape Point and meet it’s cute African Penguins, known as Jackasses.
You can wander amongst them as they go about their rituals and they are so entertaining to watch. Do not touch though – they can give you a good peck apparently!
If you love wildlife, Africa as a continent offers endless travel options. It’s possible to combine time in South Africa and then fly to Kigali, Rwanda or Uganda to go trekking with mountain gorillas. Read about how to plan an Uganda Gorilla Trekking Adventure here.
Go Wine Tasting
Our knowledge of South African wine has improved over our years of travel here. But, even now a lot of the best wines are simply not on the shelves of shops in the UK or USA. However, at the source, there are many amazing vineyards to visit and fantastic wines to sample.
We organised a trip via a friend who was South African and she did an outstanding job. Sadly, she’s no longer a tour guide otherwise we’d share her details but there are plenty of tours on offer.
We visited a range of vineyards on a day trip from Cape Town. There were six wine routes. Such routes enable you to visit the historic and interesting towns of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl. Check out a range of tours around the region.
It is possible to stay overnight and enjoy the region. In fact, if you love wine, we would definitely recommend doing this over say Johannesburg. The countryside here is stunning and well, with all these wines, you need more time to sample and make your own mind up which is your favourite!
Have Lunch at a Winery
Some of the vineyards we enjoyed were Fairview, Goats Do Roam and a wonderful lunch at La Grapperia (below) with view over the mountains. It was very relaxing to sit in the gardens and sample the wine whilst watching some of the process in front of us. Quite informal as you can see from the photos.
Cool Things To Do In KwaZulu-Natal
We flew from Cape Town to Durban, then picked up a car there to explore KwaZulu-Natal area. This region is growing in popularity as a destination for overseas visitors as it offers a lot of variety, from golf, to surf-friendly beaches, amazing wildlife and inland peaks.
Much of the area around Durban is fast growing both the city and further south its east coast region. If you come here with kids, you will likely spend a lot of time at the beaches here, just hanging out and enjoying the waves.
Stop Off In Southbroom – A Casual Beach Town
If you are driving, stop by this area for lunch and take a couple of hours to check out the beaches of Shelley Beach and Port Edwards dotted along the wild coast.
This area is also well known for traditional crafts with a number of authentic craft sites around the Southbroom area.
Zip-lining and bungee jumping is available for those seeking thrills. Our Dad did a bungee jump here in his mid 70’s. We haven’t been talked into it yet!
There is a natural beauty in this area with an incredible range of wild flowers growing almost within deserts in places.
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi National Safari Park
Immersing yourselves in nature is a ‘must do’ in South Africa and there are South African safari options for every budget.
Things to consider when looking into safaris are what you want to see and how much travelling to/from your accommodation each day you are willing to do.
Also check whether there is malaria in that location and how to protect yourselves from any risks. It might sound obvious but do be sure you understand what is included in your safari price (or not).
For example, most camps included morning and evening game drives but do check.
Early mornings are a necessity on safari as this is when many animals are active. Set that alarm as it really is an incredible experience to see animals in the wild at dawn.
Then relax, have nap and be ready for a dusk safari which is also going to be full of activity.
If you are looking for other idea for an African Safari, read our 3 Day Masai Mara Safari from Nairobi article to see the best of Kenya’s nature.
Overnight stay at Anew Hotel
Around 3 hours drive north of Durban, is the oldest reserve in South Africa. At over 950 square km, Hluhluwe opened as a park in 1895.
It is the only state-operated park in KwaZulu Natal that protects and supports Africa’s Big 5. Elephants, Giraffes, Rhinos, Lions are in residence here and Hippos can be viewed in the St Lucia Estuary which is a drive to the east of here.
There are two options for staying here – in the park at Hilltop Camp or outside at one of the resorts. We stayed at ANew Hotel. It was very comfortable. They organized the safari pick-ups from reception. Nice pool and restaurant – fun Zulu music /dance show.
The park states that it has the largest population of White Rhino in the world. We aren’t posting photos at the time of our visit because of the ongoing poaching risks.
It is an easy detour to head over the border to Lesotho or Eswatiti from this area. You should plan to stay overnight for at least 2 nights.
The Drakensberg – Sensational South Africa Itinerary
The Drakensberg range lies within KwaZulu Natal, home of Zulu kingdom. We drove west from Durban through beautiful rolling countryside stopping at Pietermaritzburg and Nottingham Road on route.
There are some unique spots to check out along the route especially with kids. Piggly Wiggly and Chocolate Heaven at Nottingham Road being two of the favourites.
On our first night, we stayed at Fourdoun Hotel and Spa. The facilities were excellent and it was quiet so we pretty much had the pool to ourselves. We ate at the restaurant and everything was delicious, fresh and local. The spa was also great value with high standards which us girls enjoyed for an hour or two.
Drakensberg Mountains
The next day, we drove on into the mountains into more remote areas, with rougher roads (SUV needed here) until we reached our next lodge.
The Drakensberg Mountain Retreat is 25 miles from Harrisburg and an old-fashioned, family style lodge, set in glorious countryside. It was not full of mod cons, but for a night or two, it was adequate and the views alone were worth the trek.
You can hike, horse ride or just lounge by the pool. The sunsets were beautiful over the mountain.
Nelson Mandela Capture Site
On our return we stopped at the impressive Nelson Mandela capture site nearby. It was humbling and despite thinking we knew quite a bit about apartheid, we really didn’t appreciate enough about who this man was. Reading his quotes and reflecting on his wisdom was special in this place.
A couple of hours here to fully appreciate the journey is a must in my book. The metal monument was so clever with the reveal of his face visible when you stand back at a specific angle, as you can see below.
Cool Things To Do In Johannesburg
After enjoying the mountains travel back to Durban or continue on to Johannesburg before flying home. It’s a few hours drive and from personal experience it’s relatively easy, although not that much to see as you’re on a highway most of the way.
Explore JoBurg’s Museums & Go Shopping
The square named after Mandela is worth visiting downtown. It was an easy walk from our hotel here although be careful at night.
Artists lined the streets with a range of work and goods for sale. The Nelson Mandela monument is huge, measuring 6m and weights 2.5 tonnes.
If you choose to spend a night or two in Johannesburg, visit Soweto township, explore a wide range of museums, street art. Shopping is good here too.
Around 1.5 hrs from Johannesburg you can visit the Maropeng Cradle of Humankind & Sterkfont Cave. Best to take a tour with a guide to help you explore this site where fossils over 3 millions year old have been found.
If you’re after more safari experiences (& who isn’t) then you can enjoy another park near Sun City. Pilanesberg National Park is a another Day Safari option with the possibility of seeing the big 5.
🎒TPOP Tip: Ask your hotel in advance for local tour operators to get best deals. Pre-book for any visits in the high season.
Is South Africa A Good Place to Take Kids To?
We think that South Africa is an especially great option for family holidays having brought kids on a trip here at 15, 12 and 9.
The country has well run main tourist destinations, English as a main language and, at time of writing, a good exchange rate for most foreign visitors. You will find family experiences like safaris that are simply not available elsewhere on our planet.
Beyond South Africa
The continent of Africa is so amazing and if you have time do consider extending your trip to experience other regions. Johannesburg has flights to most other African cities.
For example, it’s pretty easy to combine time in Maasai Mara on a Safari or tick off another bucket list dream trip by Trekking with Mountain Gorillas in Uganda.
