Itinerary
- Day 1
Departure
You'll head to the airport today and board your flight to South Africa. Get settled in for the journey ahead, and you've got plenty of time to relax during the flight.
- Day 2
Cape Town
After landing in Cape Town, you'll pick up your rental car and drive straight to the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. The harbor district gives you plenty to see with street performers, shops, and cafes scattered around, and Table Mountain rises right behind it as your backdrop. Plan to spend a few hours wandering through here.
Optional Activities
- Cape Wheel ride - 360° view over Cape Town (payable locally)
- Castle of Good Hope visit - explore the fortress and historical exhibits
Landmarks/POIs Victoria and Alfred Waterfront Table Mountain Castle of Good Hope Cape Wheel - Day 3
Cape Town to Cape Point
Drive your rental car out to Boulders Beach in the morning to see the penguins among the granite rocks. From there, continue on to Cape Point and choose between walking or taking the optional cog railroad up to the cliff viewing platform. The views across False Bay and toward the Cape of Good Hope are worth the effort.
Optional Activities
- Cog railroad ride at Cape Point to the cliff top (payable on site)
Landmarks/POIs Boulders Beach Cape Point Cape of Good Hope False Bay Diaz Beach - Day 4
Cape Town to Swellendam
Head out to Hermanus for some whale watching, especially if you're visiting between June and December when they're in the bay. After that, continue driving to Swellendam and spend your afternoon in Marloth Nature Reserve, where you can hike through forests, find waterfalls, and swim in natural pools.
Optional Activities
- Whale watching from the cliffs in Hermanus (seasonal June-December)
- Hiking in Marloth Nature Reserve
Landmarks/POIs Hermanus Marloth Nature Reserve - Day 5
Swellendam to Oudtshoorn
Today's a scenic drive along Route 62 through vineyards and nice countryside. Stop at Diesel and Creme Diner in Barrydale for lunch, then take a gravel road to your glamping tent on an ostrich farm near Oudtshoorn. By evening you'll be settled in your unique accommodation.
Optional Activities
- Lunch at Diesel & Crème Diner in Barrydale
- Braai basket from reception in the evening (payable locally)
Landmarks/POIs Route 62 Barrydale Diesel & Crème Diner - Day 6
Oudtshoorn
Spend the day at AfriCamp exploring the ostrich farm based on what interests you. Consider booking one of the optional guided tours available on site to learn how they raise ostriches and other farm details you might want to know about.
Optional Activities
- Guided ostrich farm tour at AfriCamp (payable on site) - includes ostrich rearing insights and possible chick hatching assistance
- Afternoon safari in Little Karoo (payable on site, book day before) - guided tour through 5000+ hectare AfriCamp game reserve
Landmarks/POIs AfriCamp Ostrich Farm Little Karoo - Day 7
Oudtshoorn to Plettenberg Bay
Drive along the Garden Route toward Wilderness National Park, where you'll find rock formations, lakes, and waterfalls to check out. Continue on to Plettenberg Bay and relax on Lookout Beach for the rest of your afternoon. Spend some time exploring where the river meets the sea in the lagoon.
Optional Activities
- Giant Kingfisher Trail hike in Wilderness National Park
- Canoe or kayak in Wilderness National Park (payable locally)
Landmarks/POIs Wilderness National Park Giant Kingfisher Trail Plettenberg Bay Lookout Beach - Day 8
Plettenberg Bay
You've got the full day in Plettenberg Bay. Either relax on the beach or head to Robberg Nature Reserve and pick one of three hiking trails that offer cliff views and chances to see seal colonies, dolphins, and whales if you're here at the right time.
Optional Activities
- Robberg Nature Reserve hiking - The Gap trail
- Robberg Nature Reserve hiking - Witsand trail
- Robberg Nature Reserve hiking - The Point trail (longest trail, check tides before attempting)
Landmarks/POIs Robberg Nature Reserve The Gap Trail Witsand Trail The Point Trail - Day 9
Plettenberg Bay to Graaff-Reinet
Visit Tsitsikamma National Park with its dense forests, wild coastline, and legendary suspension bridges. If you're interested, there are optional zipline activities to try out. By evening you'll drive to Graaff-Reinet and settle in for a relaxing night.
Optional Activities
- Suspension bridge walks in Tsitsikamma National Park
- Zipline tour - swing up to 30 meters above ground from tree to tree (payable on site)
Landmarks/POIs Tsitsikamma National Park - Day 10
Graaff-Reinet
Take a hike through Camdeboo National Park surrounding Graaff-Reinet and visit the Valley of Desolation with its 120-meter high cliffs overlooking vast Karoo expanses. Time your visit for sunset if possible, when the rock formations light up with color.
Optional Activities
- Camdeboo National Park entrance and hiking (entrance fee payable locally)
- Valley of Desolation visit
Landmarks/POIs Camdeboo National Park Valley of Desolation - Day 11
Graaff-Reinet to Bloemfontein
Drive to Bloemfontein and check out Naval Hill for city views and wildlife. Visit the Nelson Mandela statue and explore the botanical gardens. If you're interested in art, there's an optional museum visit available as well.
Optional Activities
- Botanical garden visit in Bloemfontein
- Naval Hill exploration - city views and possible wildlife spotting (zebras, wildebeests, antelopes)
- Nelson Mandela statue viewing on Naval Hill
- Oliewenhuis Art Museum admission (payable on site)
Landmarks/POIs Bloemfontein Botanical Garden Naval Hill Nelson Mandela Statue Oliewenhuis Art Museum - Day 12
Bloemfontein to Champagne Valley
Drive to AfriCamps in Champagne Valley at the foot of the Drakensberg Mountains. You'll settle into your glamping tent with a private terrace, wood-fired hot tub, and barbecue. Try an African BBQ dinner or relax in your hot tub as the sun sets over the mountains.
Optional Activities
- African BBQ at your accommodation in the evening
- Wood-fired hot tub experience
Landmarks/POIs Drakensberg Mountains Champagne Valley - Day 13
Champagne Valley
Get out and explore Drakensberg Valley on multiple hiking trails through the area. You'll walk along narrow paths with impressive rock formations and fragrant wildflowers all around, and the mountain views shift as you move through different sections. Watch for roe deer grazing along the trails.
Optional Activities
- Self-guided hiking trails from AfriCamps
- Guided hiking tour in Drakensberg Valley (payable on site)
Landmarks/POIs Drakensberg Valley - Day 14
Champagne Valley to Pongola
Drive to your glamping accommodation at Lake Jozini in Pongola Game Reserve, one of South Africa's largest dams. The lake sits right at the foot of the Lebombo Mountains. After you arrive, cool off by jumping in the water.
Landmarks/POIs Lake Jozini Pongola Game Reserve Lebombo Mountains 
- Day 15
Pongola Game Reserve
Wake to views of the Lebombo Mountains and watch for wildlife in your garden at dawn. Have breakfast on your veranda, then consider booking either a boat trip across Lake Jozini to spot hippos, crocodiles, and birds, or join a game drive through the reserve.
Optional Activities
- Boat trip across Lake Jozini to view hippos, crocodiles, antelopes and bird species (bookable on site)
- Game drive through Pongola Game Reserve (bookable on site)
Landmarks/POIs Lake Jozini Pongola Game Reserve - Day 16
Pongola to Eswatini
Leave Pongola behind and cross the border into Eswatini. Settle into your accommodation in Sidvokodvo near Mbabane. If you're interested, there's an optional evening visit to Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary where you can see zebras, antelopes, and wildebeests in the grasslands.
Optional Activities
- Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary visit - oldest protected area in Eswatini (payable locally)
Landmarks/POIs Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary - Day 17
Eswatini to Kruger National Park
Drive the Panorama Route, one of South Africa's most scenic drives. You'll see Lisbon Falls cascading down the mountainside, experience the mist at God's Window, explore Bourke's Luck Potholes, and take in Three Rondavels from the World's End Lookout above Blyde River Canyon.
Optional Activities
- Lisbon Falls viewing
- God's Window viewing
- Bourke's Luck Potholes exploration
- World's End Lookout visit
- Three Rondavels viewing
Landmarks/POIs Lisbon Falls God's Window Bourke's Luck Potholes World's End Lookout Blyde River Canyon Three Rondavels 
- Day 18
Kruger National Park
Self-drive through Kruger National Park in your rental car for a safari experience. Watch for elephants crossing the road, giraffes standing tall in treetops, zebras at waterholes, antelopes, and other wildlife in their natural habitat throughout the day.
Included Activities
- Self-drive safari through Kruger National Park
Landmarks/POIs Kruger National Park - Day 19
Kruger National Park to Pretoria
Transition from the wilderness to city life as you head to Pretoria. Visit the Union Buildings where Nelson Mandela was sworn in as South Africa's first black president. You'll get skyline views and can explore the city's historic sites and South African culture.
Optional Activities
- Union Buildings visit - Nelson Mandela historic site
Landmarks/POIs Union Buildings 
- Day 20
Return Rental Car
Return your rental car today and wrap up the driving portion of your trip. Take time to reflect on all the memories you've created during your South African road adventure.
- Day 21
Arrival Home
Board your return flight home. Reflect on your African adventure as you travel, and start thinking about how you'll share your experiences with friends and family back home.
