South Africa Highlights

Upon your arrival at OR Tambo Airport, you pick up your rental car and make your way to Brooks Cottage in Pretoria. Your journey following the best South Africa self-drive itinerary has begun.

The rest of the day is for you to enjoy at leisure. You can opt to explore the city of Pretoria or take a dip in the pool and relax at your guesthouse.

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 Little Pilgrims Boutique Hotel in Hazyview, your accommodation for the following two nights.

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.

A stop at the Graskop Gorge Lift is also highly recommended. Enjoy the beautiful views and take the lift down into the gorge, where walkways and suspension bridges meander through the indigenous forest.

Look forward to three amazing days of wildlife viewing in Kruger National Park!

The Phabeni Gate or Paul Kruger Gate is your entry point into the park. If you are lucky, you might be able to see the Big Five – rhino, lion, elephant, leopard and buffalo.

Also watch out for Kruger’s Big Six birds, made up of the lappet-faced vulture, martial eagle, saddle-billed stork, kori bustard and ground hornbill, as well as the nocturnal Pel’s fishing owl.

You spend two nights at the Skukuza Rest Camp.

Further exciting animal encounters await you today! Keep your eyes peeled for animals you might not have seen before.

You spend the night at Lower Sabie Rest Camp.

Both Skukuza Rest Camp and Sabie Rest Camp are located on the Sabie River, and in both camps, you have the possibility of booking guided bush walks and night game drives.

The bungalows are equipped with cooking facilities. Supplies can be bought from the rest camp shops, but there are also restaurants available for those wanting to sit back and relax.

Please note that in high season and school holidays, some camps may be fully booked, and alternatives will be used.

In the morning, you leave Kruger National Park through the Crocodile Bridge Gate and cross the border to Eswatini (Swaziland). Make a stop at the colourful market of Manzini, where you can find beautiful arts and crafts.

The Ezulwini Valley is today’s destination. This ‘valley of heaven’ and its surrounding mountains are great for hiking, biking or even horse riding.

Explore the Milwane Wildlife Sanctuary or visit a nearby candle factory to see the handmade, highly decorative Swazi Candles take shape.

Your home for tonight is the Mogi Boutique Hotel.

Re-entering South Africa at the Lavumisa border post, you have now reached the KwaZulu-Natal province. You will continue to the town of St Lucia, close to the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.

St Lucia offers many activities such as boat trips to see hippos and crocodiles, forest walks and sunbathing on the beach.

You can drive through the wetland park to Cape Vidal, where you can go swimming and snorkelling in the rock pools or book a guided game drive in the park. This area is a birdwatcher’s paradise, with hundreds of species to spot.

You stay at the St Lucia Wetlands Guesthouse.

An early start is on the menu as you spend a whole day in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park.

A short drive past sugar cane plantations and forests takes you to Kwa-Zulu Natal’s only Big Five game reserve.

This park is home to the endangered black and white rhinos, thanks to the park’s breeding program. Be on the lookout for the other members of the Big Five – the elephants, buffalo, lions and leopards.

In the evening, you return to the St Lucia Wetlands Guesthouse.

Today, your journey takes you to Durban, one of the busiest trading centres on the Indian Ocean.

The city of Durban is home to South Africa’s largest Indian population, which adds to the city’s cosmopolitan feel.

Take a trip to the local spice market and let the diverse sounds and smells enthral you! Other “must-see” sights are the uShaka Marine World aquarium, the botanical gardens and the Muthi market.

You will stay the night at the Fairlight Beach House in Umdloti, around 19 km north of Durban. For dinner, why not visit one of the nearby restaurants (optional).

You head to Durban’s King Shaka International Airport, return your rental car and board your flight to Port Elizabeth.

Arriving in Port Elizabeth, you pick up another rental car and travel on the highway to Humansdorp. Continue towards the coast and be careful while driving; the last few kilometres on dirt roads might be rough.

You finally reach the Oyster Bay Lodge, situated on a private coastal reserve, boasting magnificent dunes, unspoilt beaches, woodlands, river deltas, wetlands and lagoons.

Look forward to exploring this hidden gem. Take a break from the rest of the world and enjoy each moment to the fullest.

You spend two nights at the Oyster Bay Lodge.

After breakfast, your journey continues to the famous Garden Route.

During the morning, visit Tsitsikamma National Park, a great destination for birdwatchers and lovers of dramatic coastlines. Put on your walking shoes and go for a little hike!

Back at your car, you continue through the pretty town of Plettenberg Bay to Knysna, famous for its wood industry and oyster farming.

The following day is for you to enjoy at leisure. You can drive up to the viewpoint on Knysna Heads, go for a boat trip on the lagoon, go swimming or go for a hike or cycle tour through the forest.

You stay two nights at the Stannards Guest Lodge.

Today, you make your way through George and over the Outeniqua pass to Oudtshoorn in the Little Karoo.

Oudtshoorn is well known for ostrich farming as well as for the Cango Caves, where you can explore the underground caverns and halls.

If you are a little bit more adventurous, you can also take a drive up the Swartberg Pass.

You will stay at the lovely Thabile Lodge outside Oudtshoorn.

On today’s drive along the R62, you pass the towns of Calitzdorp, Ladismith and Montagu. Via Swellendam, you reach the former fishing village of Hermanus, on the Walker Bay coast.

Between June and November, southern right whales come here to breed. Look out for whales as they surface for air.

Outside of whale season, the area offers wonderful walks along the rugged coastline or into the nearby forests.

You will spend the night at the Bamboo Guest House.

After breakfast, you travel to the mother city, Cape Town.

Situated between Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean, Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Venture out and explore the town, hike up Table Mountain and Lion’s Head, visit the Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, relax on Blouberg or Camps Bay beach, explore Simon’s Town, take the ferry to Robben Island, or go shopping at the V&A Waterfront.

You stay two nights at the Rosedene Guest House.

Start the day off early and explore the beautiful Cape Peninsula.

Take the scenic Chapman’s Peak Drive to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. Expect to be amazed by the panoramic views over the Atlantic Ocean!

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

The town and its historic streets and buildings can be explored on foot. Join a wine tasting tour to sample the fruit of the winemakers’ labours or go for a hike in the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve.

You spend two nights at the stunning Wedgeview Country House just outside Stellenbosch.

Today, your journey following the best South Africa self-drive itinerary ends at Cape Town Airport, where you return your rental car and head home.

Should you wish to spend more time in the Cape or book a connecting overland trip, we will gladly assist you.