South Africa

South Africa

South Africa

When to travel here depends – warm summer like weather is found in December and January, Spring weather on March through November etc. In the summer the game reserves will be greener and the beaches more inviting but wildflowers are best in the spring. But whenever you go you will be astounded by the diversity and beauty of this county. We did this trip in September to take advantage of somewhat cooler temperatures and lower crowds.

Mostly car based trip.

Day 1 – Arrival

  • Fly into Johannesburg
  • Fly to Cape Town
  • Pick up rental car – we used Avis and worked out great
  • Drive to and stay at Vineyard Hotel (about 20 min drive)
  • Dinner at hotel

Day 2 – Drive to Cederberg area

  • Drive to Clanwilliam (about 2h 40m)
  • Check in Cederberg Ridge Wilderness Lodge
  • The lodge offers activities so depending on what time you arraive they can arrange a guided hike or other activities
  • Stay at and dinner at lodge (1/2)

Day 3 – Cederberg area

  • Activities from lodge (Cederberg Wilderness) – we recommend Biedouw valley and San rock paintings. Other options include the Niedwoudtville area – but check with the lodge as to offerings for the day you are there. We found they were quite flexible in arraging what you’d like to do / see.
  • Stay at and dinner at lodge (2/2)

Day 4 – West Coast NP to Stellenbosch

Day 5 – Cape Town

Day 6 – Cape Town – Table Mountain and Robben Island

  • Robben Island
  • Table Mountain
  • Dinner: Grub and Vine
  • Lodging: same place (3/3)

Day 7 – Cape Town loop drive to Cape Vinelands

  • Drive to Boulders Beach (57m)
  • Cape Point (32m)
  • Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens (1 h 8m)
  • Drive to Franschhoek (1h 4m – depending on traffic)
  • Dinner Epice
  • Stay Avondrood Guest House (1/3)

Day 8 – Franschhoek area

  • Wine tasting / exploring
  • Wine tram
  • Dinner: Allora
  • Lodging – same place (2/3)

Day 9 – Franschhoek area

  • Wine tasting / exploring
  • Wine tram
  • Dinner: French Connection
  • Lodging – same place (3/3)

Day 10 – To Swellendam via Stellenbosch

  • Hugenot Museum Franschhoek
  • Drive to Stellenbosch (27m)
  • Walking tour Stellenbosch (9:00 or 11:00)
  • Kannonkopf winery
  • Drive to Swellendam (2h 15m) Dinner and Stay Schoone Oort Country House (1/1)

Day 11 – Little Karoo to Garden Route / Kynsna

  • Drive to and visit Cango Ostrich farm (2 h 39m)
  • Drive to and visit Cango caves (14 m)
  • Continue to Kynsa (2h 5m)
  • Dinner: Sirocco
  • Lodging : St. James of Knysna (1/2)

Day 12 – Knysna and Buffalo Bay beach

  • AM boat tour of Knysna lagoon
  • Garden of Eden walk
  • Drive to Knynsa heads
  • Drive to Buffalo beach
  • Drinks and dinner at Drydock
  • Lodging: same place (2/2)

Day 13 – Garden route – Tsitkamma National Park

  • Big Tree walk
  • Storm River suspension ridge walk
  • Drive to Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha)
  • Stay and dinner at Hacklewood Hill (1/1)

Day 14 – Drive to Kwandwe

Day 15 – Kwandwe

  • AM and PM game drive
  • Lodging and food same place (2/2)

Day 16- Fly to JBerg

  • AM game drive
  • Drive from Kwandwe to Port Elizabeth airport and return rental car (2h)
  • Flight to JBerg
  • Pick up rental car and drive to Pretoria (41m)
  • Stay at Castello di Monte (1/1)

Day 17 – Pretoria to Madikwe

Day 18- Safari

  • AM and PM game drive
  • Stay and eat same place (2/3)

Day 19 – Safari

  • AM and PM game drives
  • Stay and eat same place (2/3)

Day 20 – Madwike to JNB

  • Drive to JNB and drop car (4 h 10m)
  • Fly home

Detailed Itinerary

Note: It is a long flight to South Africa (11 hours from Europe) and even longer from the US (30 hours from the US west coast – so plan your dates accordingly.

Day 1 – Arrival

Arrive at OR Tambo International airport and if you were unable to check through to Cape Town pick up your bags, pass security and head to the attached and nearby domestic terminal to check in for your flight to Cape Town. Its a couple hour flight to Cape Town. From Cape Town, pick up your rental car and head about 20 minutes to lodging. We ended up getting in in the late afternoon and after 30 + hours of travel did not plan much. The Vineyard hotel is really nice with lovely grounds, a great view of Table Mountain, and great food and service.

View from Vineyard Hotel

Day 2 – Drive to Cederberg area

It’s a pretty easy 2 hour 40 minute hour drive to Clanwilliam where the Cederberg Ridge Wilderness Lodge is located. The Cederberg region is very pretty with interesting rock formations and remarkable wildflowers in the spring. The lodge is really lovely and we highly recommend it. On arrival you can just settle in or speak yp them about an afternoon activity after lunch. You will eat all three meals at the lodge for the next couple of days. We took a very nice hike after lunch to hidden valley on the property that had been settled back in the 1700’s and had a lovely stream and ruins of previous settlers houses. Settlers arrived in this remote area back in the late 1660’s / early 1700’s. After dinner, be sure and go outside to check out the amazing night skies and enjoy your fireplace in the room.

View from Cederberg Lodge

Day 3 – Cederberg area

  • Activities from lodge (Cederberg Wilderness) – we recommend Biedouw valley and San rock paintings. Other options include the Niedwoudtville area – but check with the lodge as to offerings for the day you are there. We found they were quite flexible in arraging what you’d like to do / see.
  • Stay at and dinner at lodge (2/2)

Day 4 – West Coast NP to Stellenbosch

Day 5 – Cape Town

Day 6 – Cape Town – Table Mountain and Robben Island

  • Robben Island
  • Table Mountain
  • Dinner: Grub and Vine
  • Lodging: same place (3/3)

Day 7 – Cape Town loop drive to Cape Vinelands

  • Drive to Boulders Beach (57m)
  • Cape Point (32m)
  • Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens (1 h 8m)
  • Drive to Franschhoek (1h 4m – depending on traffic)
  • Dinner Epice
  • Stay Avondrood Guest House (1/3)

Day 8 – Franschhoek area

  • Wine tasting / exploring
  • Wine tram
  • Dinner: Allora
  • Lodging – same place (2/3)

Day 9 – Franschhoek area

  • Wine tasting / exploring
  • Wine tram
  • Dinner: French Connection
  • Lodging – same place (3/3)

Day 10 – To Swellendam via Stellenbosch

  • Hugenot Museum Franschhoek
  • Drive to Stellenbosch (27m)
  • Walking tour Stellenbosch (9:00 or 11:00)
  • Kannonkopf winery
  • Drive to Swellendam (2h 15m) Dinner and Stay Schoone Oort Country House (1/1)

Day 11 – Little Karoo to Garden Route / Kynsna

  • Drive to and visit Cango Ostrich farm (2 h 39m)
  • Drive to and visit Cango caves (14 m)
  • Continue to Kynsa (2h 5m)
  • Dinner: Sirocco
  • Lodging : St. James of Knysna (1/2)

Day 12 – Knysna and Buffalo Bay beach

  • AM boat tour of Knysna lagoon
  • Garden of Eden walk
  • Drive to Knynsa heads
  • Drive to Buffalo beach
  • Drinks and dinner at Drydock
  • Lodging: same place (2/2)

Day 13 – Garden route – Tsitkamma National Park

  • Big Tree walk
  • Storm River suspension ridge walk
  • Drive to Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha)
  • Stay and dinner at Hacklewood Hill (1/1)

Day 14 – Drive to Kwandwe

Day 15 – Kwandwe

  • AM and PM game drive
  • Lodging and food same place (2/2)

Day 16- Fly to JBerg

  • AM game drive
  • Drive from Kwandwe to Port Elizabeth airport and return rental car (2h)
  • Flight to JBerg
  • Pick up rental car and drive to Pretoria (41m)
  • Stay at Castello di Monte (1/1)

Day 17 – Pretoria to Madikwe

Day 18- Safari

  • AM and PM game drive
  • Stay and eat same place (2/3)

Day 19 – Safari

  • AM and PM game drives
  • Stay and eat same place (2/3)

Day 20 – Madwike to JNB

  • Drive to JNB and drop car (4 h 10m)
  • Fly home

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