South Africa Highlights

Upon arrival at OR Tambo Airport, you pick up your rental car and make your way to Brooks Cottage in Pretoria — the first stop on the best South Africa self-drive itinerary.

The rest of the day is yours to spend at leisure. You may choose to explore Pretoria or simply relax at the guesthouse and take a refreshing dip in the pool. Shops and restaurants are within walking distance.

After breakfast you head in an easterly direction through the provinces of Gauteng and Mpumalanga. Along the way you pass the towns of eMalaheni and Mashishing (formerly Lydenburg) before heading to Pilgrims Rest. Take a moment to browse through this small historical town and travel back to the days of the gold rush. In the afternoon, you continue to the Graskop Hotel, your accommodation for the following two nights.

Depending on your time of arrival you can visit the nearby Graskop Gorge Lift. Enjoy the beautiful views and take the lift down into the gorge where walkways and suspension bridges meander through indigenous forest.

You have the whole next day to explore the breathtaking Panorama Route. Visit the Blyde River Canyon, God’s Window and Bourke’s Luck Potholes. If you haven’t had a chance to visit the Graskop Lift the previous day, don’t miss it today.

Look forward to three amazing days of wildlife viewing in !

Today, you leave the Panorama Route behind and travel to the 60,000-hectare Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, which forms part of the Greater Kruger area and shares an unfenced boundary with Kruger National Park. Wildlife moves freely between the different reserves, creating excellent opportunities for memorable sightings in a quieter and more exclusive setting.

During your two-night stay, you head out on morning and afternoon game drives in an open safari vehicle, accompanied by an experienced ranger. The reserve is home to an impressive variety of wildlife, including the Big Five – lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant – as well as many other species.

Between game drives, enjoy the meals served at the lodge, cool off in the swimming pool, work out at the gym or watch for wildlife from the lookout tower overlooking the waterhole in front of the camp.

The intimate Xanatseni Private Camp is your home for the next two nights in the bush.

Start the day with a final morning game drive in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve. No two game drives are ever quite the same, so keep your eyes open for wildlife you may not have encountered during the previous days.

In the late morning, you leave the bush behind and make your way to the beautiful Nut Grove Boutique Hotel, situated just outside White River. Spend a leisurely afternoon in the hotel’s gardens, relax by the swimming pool or indulge in a treatment at the in-house spa.

You spend the night in one of the Luxury Suites at Nut Grove Boutique Hotel.

Today, you cross the border into Eswatini and continue towards the Ezulwini Valley. Along the way, stop at the colourful market in Mbabane, where you can browse a variety of local produce and handicrafts.

The Ezulwini Valley, also known as the “Valley of Heaven”, and its surrounding mountains offer plenty of activities. You can go hiking, cycling or horse riding at Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, visit Mantenga Cultural Village or stop at the nearby Swazi Candles factory to see the decorative candles being made by hand.

The night is spent at Mogi Boutique Hotel in the Ezulwini Valley.

Re-entering South Africa at the Lavumisa border post, you reach the province of KwaZulu-Natal and continue to the town of St Lucia, situated on the edge of iSimangaliso Wetland Park.

St Lucia offers a variety of activities. Join a boat cruise on the St Lucia Estuary to see hippos and crocodiles, explore the surrounding forests on foot or spend some time relaxing on the beach. You can also drive through iSimangaliso Wetland Park to Cape Vidal, where you can swim and snorkel in the rock pools, or book a guided game drive in the park. The area is also a birdwatcher’s paradise, with hundreds of species to look out for.

Your accommodation for tonight is St Lucia Wetlands Guesthouse.

An early start awaits you today as you head to Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park for a full day of wildlife viewing. A short drive past sugar cane plantations and forests takes you to this renowned Big Five reserve.

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi is particularly well known for its rhino conservation efforts and is home to both black and white rhinos. Also keep your eyes open for the other members of the Big Five as well as the many other animals found in the park.

In the late afternoon, you return to St Lucia Wetlands Guesthouse for a second night.

Today, your journey takes you to Durban, one of the busiest trading centres on the Indian Ocean. The city is home to South Africa’s largest Indian community, which contributes to its vibrant and multicultural character. Visit the colourful Victoria Street Market and browse its stalls filled with spices, crafts and souvenirs, or enjoy a stroll along the famous Golden Mile beachfront. Another popular attraction is uShaka Marine World with its impressive aquarium.

In the afternoon, continue to Umdloti, around 19 km north of Durban. Fairlight Beach House is situated right on the beachfront, making it the perfect place to relax by the ocean before enjoying dinner at one of the nearby restaurants.

After breakfast, you make your way to Durban’s King Shaka International Airport, return your rental car and board your flight to Port Elizabeth. Upon arrival, you pick up another rental car and continue via Humansdorp to the seaside village of St Francis Bay.

The rest of the afternoon and the following day are yours to spend at leisure. Go surfing, snorkelling or sea kayaking, join a boat cruise, play a round of golf, stretch your legs on a walk in one of the nearby nature reserves or simply relax on the beach.

You spend two nights at the cosy BonBini Guest House.

Leaving St Francis Bay behind, your journey continues along the famous Garden Route. On the way, stop at Tsitsikamma National Park, known for its indigenous forests and dramatic coastline.

Put on your walking shoes and explore one of the park’s scenic hiking trails before continuing via the seaside town of Plettenberg Bay to Knysna, well known for its lagoon, oyster farming and timber industry. Spend the next day exploring Knysna and its surroundings. Drive up to one of the viewpoints at the Knysna Heads, take a boat trip on the lagoon, go swimming or discover the surrounding forests on foot or by bicycle.

Stannards Guest Lodge is your home for the next two nights.

Your journey takes you through George and over the scenic Outeniqua Pass to Oudtshoorn in the Little Karoo. The town is well known for its ostrich farms and the impressive Cango Caves, where you can explore a fascinating network of underground chambers and passages.

If you are looking for a little more adventure, take a drive up the spectacular Swartberg Pass and enjoy the views across the surrounding mountains and valleys.

For tonight, you stay at Thabile Lodge in the countryside outside Oudtshoorn.

Following the scenic R62, you pass through the towns of Calitzdorp, Ladismith and Montagu before continuing via Swellendam to Hermanus on the shores of Walker Bay. Between June and November, southern right whales visit the bay to breed, offering excellent opportunities to spot them from the shore. Keep an eye on the ocean as you explore the town and its coastline.

Outside of whale season, the area is equally worth exploring, with beautiful walks along the rugged coast or through the nearby forests.

Your accommodation for tonight is the Bamboo Guest House in Hermanus.

After breakfast, you travel to the Mother City, Cape Town. Set between Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean, Cape Town enjoys one of the most spectacular settings in the world and offers plenty to see and do.

Explore the city centre and colourful Bo-Kaap, browse the shops, restaurants and markets at the V&A Waterfront or visit Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden on the slopes of Table Mountain. Weather permitting, take the cableway to the top of Table Mountain for magnificent views across the city and surrounding coastline.

If you prefer something more active, hike up Table Mountain or Lion’s Head, or enjoy a walk along the Sea Point promenade. You can also relax on the beaches of Camps Bay or Clifton or take the ferry to historic Robben Island.

Rosedene Guest House will be your base for the next two nights.

Start the day early and set off to explore the Cape Peninsula. Follow the spectacular Chapman’s Peak Drive to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope, with beautiful views of the coastline and Atlantic Ocean along the way. From here, continue to Boulders Beach near Simon’s Town, home to a colony of African penguins, before travelling via Fish Hoek and Muizenberg to Stellenbosch in the heart of the Cape Winelands.

Surrounded by mountains and vineyards, Stellenbosch is well worth exploring on foot, with its historic streets and beautiful Cape Dutch architecture. Visit some of the surrounding wine estates for a tasting or enjoy a hike in the nearby Jonkershoek Nature Reserve.

For the final two nights of your journey, you stay at Bonne Esperance Guest House, centrally located in Stellenbosch.

You continue your trip via Simon’s Town, Fish Hoek and Muizenberg to Stellenbosch in the heart of the . The surrounding mountains create a dramatic

Enjoy a final leisurely breakfast at your guesthouse and perhaps do some last-minute souvenir shopping before making your way to Cape Town International Airport. Here, you return your rental car and check in for your flight home, bringing the best South Africa self-drive itinerary to an end.

Should you wish to extend your stay in the Cape or combine this journey with another trip through Southern Africa, we will gladly assist you with the arrangements.