Best of South Africa

Itinerary Highlights

Few countries possess the variety and natural beauty of South Africa. In fact, we'd be hard pressed to find one that even comes close! Yet its resounding diversity can often leave travelers confused about how to plan the ultimate South African experience. That's where Craft Travel's Best of South Africa comes in. This 12 day, 11 night itinerary takes you from north to south, including all of the country's must-see destinations. From luxury safari in the Greater Kruger area to winelands that put Napa to shame to a coastal retreat filled with flora and fauna, this itinerary keeps you active in nature, all while enjoying the utmost comfort in hand-selected boutique properties. Your stays in both Johannesburg and Cape Town will expose you to the vibrant culture and complex, fascinating history of a nation that is so often misunderstood. We spent months curating an itinerary that truly embodies the South African experience and have no doubt that this journey is one Craft Travelers will never forget.

Hotels and lodges described in the itinerary are recommended by Craft Travel but there are numerous options in each destination and we will customize your itinerary based upon your preferences. With your feedback, we will similarly customize suggested activities, time spent in each location and trip extensions to additional destinations of interest nearby.

Itinerary Details

Upon arrival at O. R. Tambo Johannesburg Airport you will be met by our representative who will greet you and transfer you to your hotel in Johannesburg’s most beautiful residential neighborhood. Enjoy some well deserved leisure time after your long flight! Your hotel is also home to one of the best restaurants in town, so consider staying close to home for tonight’s dinner.

Overnight at Residence Hotel (no meals included)

This morning after breakfast and check out, transfer back to Johannesburg Airport for your scheduled flight to Skukuza Airport, nestled in between Sabi Sands and Kruger National Park. Upon arrival, you’ll meet your ranger who will transfer to the lodge for your first African bush experience. This afternoon embark onto your safari in a search of the Big 5, consisting of elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo and rhino. You may get lucky and find cheetah, a rare big cat species for which Sabi Sands is well known.

Overnight at Dulini River Lodge (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

Enjoy morning and afternoon game drives through South Africa’s most exclusive private game concession. Take in the epic savanna sunset with a sundowner out in the middle of the bush.

Overnight at Dulini River Lodge (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

Following breakfast and (schedule-permitting) a final game drive, you’ll be taken to the Skukuza Airport for your flight to Cape Town. Upon arrival you’ll be met by your driver who will drive you across the Mother City to the scenic neighborhood of Bantry Bay, overlooking Cape Town’s stunning coastline and boasting breathtaking sunsets.

Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure. The hotel’s Concierge will be happy to assist you with dinner reservations and vehicle arrangements; all of Cape Town’s best restaurants are no more than ten minutes away!

Overnight at Ellerman House (Breakfast)

This morning you’ll head out early with your guide to hike the legendary Table Mountain. With your guide you can customize the difficulty and duration of your Table Mountain experience from a round trip cable car journey to a full-day hike. Enjoy water and snacks along the way, plus a beautiful picnic lunch at the summit. Your tour will also include a panoramic tour of Cape Town where you’ll get to know more about the city’s rich history and various neighborhoods. Please note that Table Mountain Cable Car departures are dependent upon weather conditions.

Overnight at Ellerman House (Breakfast)

Today you’ll depart on a full day tour of Cape Point. Cape Point is a spectacular sight, covered in endemic fynbos and home to breathtaking bays, beaches and rolling green hills and valleys, just 60km outside of Cape Town. Cape Point falls within the Cape Floral Region, a World Heritage Site. The Cape Floral Region is one of the richest areas for plants in the world – it is home to nearly 20% of Africa’s flora. Cape Point is open daily and is a must-see. We first flank the brisk Atlantic Ocean via boat en route to Hout Bay and Duiker Island, home to a vibrant seal population. Once a fishing community now one of the most popular residential areas, the harbor still has a charm of days gone by. Hout Bay’s active harbor serves a variety of fishing boats, charter boats and yachts. It is also the departure point for boat trips to the nearby Seal Island, home to a colony of around 6,000 Cape Fur Seals. The bustling port area also has a well-known seafood restaurant and a shop selling fresh fish.

Continue alongside the Indian Ocean, stopping to see the well-established Jackass penguin colony, which has become well established, at Boulders beach near Simonstown. Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town is ideal for kids as immense boulders shelter the cove from currents and large waves - but please always take care. It is a rare pleasure to swim with the penguins! Travel onwards until reaching Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. Said to be the romantic meeting place of the two mighty oceans, the Atlantic and the Indian, Sir Francis Drake the Explorer once called it "the fairest Cape that we saw in the whole circumference of the Globe”. And rightly so, it must be the highlight of any visit to the Mother City, if not South Africa. The Flying Dutchman funicular takes visitors at Cape Point up to the lighthouse, where there is an outstanding view of the point and ocean. The funicular is named after a ghost ship whose destiny it is to sail the oceans forever.

You will stop for a picnic lunch and wine tasting en route before returning to your hotel in the late afternoon. Your day will also include scenic stops in various areas in the greater Cape Town area, including Clifton & Camps Bay, Twelve Apostles, Llandudno, Hout Bay Harbour, Chapmans Peak Drive, Noordhoek, Cape Point, Boulders Penguin Colony, Simons Town, Muizenberg and Constantia.

Note: boat cruise to Seal Island & picnic lunch are weather dependent. In the case of poor weather, lunch will be provided at a local restaurant. Access via Chapmans Peak Drive subject to road being open.

Overnight at Ellerman House (Breakfast)

Upon arrival at Grootbos, a National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World member, you’ll be met by your host who will assist you with check-in and provide a brief orientation for the lodge. Savor a deliciouss lunch at the property. Choose from any of the lodge’s activities or enjoy a quiet afternoon at leisure.

Overnight at Grootbos Private Nature Reserve (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

Indulge in an amazing range of activities offered by the lodge or simply relax by the pool. You can also consider arranging activities through the lodge (at an additional cost) such as shark cage diving, whale watching, sea kayaking, wine tastings and helicopter tours.

Overnight at Grootbos Private Nature Reserve (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

Following breakfast, a driver will meet you at Grootbos to escort you to the heart of South Africa’s wine country. The scenic drive through the thrilling Franschhoek Pass is just around two hours.

Arrive to your charming boutique hotel in the center of Franschhoek village in time for lunch at any of the town’s renowned restaurants. Schedule permitting we can also arrange an afternoon on the Franschhoek Wine Tram, one of the easiest and most fun ways to explore the region’s vineyards.

Overnight at La Residence (Breakfast)

After breakfast, embark on a breathtaking journey through the winelands of the Cape. Witness the winemaking process from the vineyard to the bottle and visit the historic towns of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl. Stop over at Hugenot Museum.

Enjoy a scenic drive through the Franschhoek Valley. For lunch enjoy a Traditional Home-cooked Winelands Lunch experience in the magnificent Dwars River Valley, which lies between the towns of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek.

Take a break from the gourmet fare, and get in touch with indigenous narratives, history and heritage, over a delicious meal prepared from scratch in an intimate home restaurant. Meet and dine with Sienna Charles, your host. Sienna runs Beker en Bord (Cup and Plate in English), a quirky tea garden and home restaurant in Kylemore, one of the four towns in the Dwars River Valley. This community activist, grandmother, wife and entrepreneur is a terrific cook and storyteller.

Enjoy home-baked breads such as roosterbrood (bread baked over coals) or lepelbrood (spoon bread), locally produced jams, traditional meals such as tomato bredie (stew) and bobotie, and desserts such as koesusters (an aniseed doughnut ball), milktart, or malva pudding.

Return to your hotel for some time at leisure before making your way to dinner at one of our favorite Franschhoek restaurants like La Petite Colombe or Foliage.

Overnight at La Residence (Breakfast, Lunch)

Enjoy a final morning at leisure, with complimentary late check-out available subject to availability. Depending on your flight time, additional vineyard visits or other activities such as bike tours can be arranged. At the scheduled time your driver will meet you at your hotel to escort you to Cape Town International Airport for your departing flight home.

(Breakfast)

• 11 nights accommodation (based on double/twin occupancy)

• Daily breakfast

• All meals and local spirits at Dulini River Lodge and Grootbos Private Nature Reserve

• Additional meals as specified

• Twice daily game drives with English speaking naturalist ranger at Dulini River Lodge

• All lodge-based activities at Grootbos Private Nature Reserve (shark cage-diving and whale watching available at an additional cost)

• Scheduled guided touring as specified

• All ground transfers between airports and accommodations (internal flights not included)

• All entrance fees as mentioned on tour

• *Not included: gratuities, visas (if applicable), international or internal flights, meals and drinks not described above, items of a personal nature