The Ultimate South Africa Itinerary for Wine Lovers

You know when you have those trips that you can’t stop thinking about even months later? That is South Africa for me. It blew any expectations that I had out of the water and I fell in love with this incredible country. Yes, I know I say that often but I really truly mean it this time. It is now in my top three favorite countries! I am so unbelievably excited that you’re thinking about going to South Africa and checking it off your bucket list. In this post I am going to go through everything you need for a perfect trip (seriously, everything) including a day by day ideal South Africa itinerary that’s perfect if you’re a wine lover, like me! And yes, it also includes a safari. Just because I like wine doesn’t mean I also don’t love animals. 

Feel free to skip around to the sections you are most interested in by using the table of contents below. That being said, I do recommend reading this post in its entirety!

Ready? Let’s dive in. 

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How many days do you need for a South Africa itinerary?

Um, months? Just kidding, I wish.

I’d recommend anywhere between 10-14 days for your trip to South Africa. The itinerary I have included in this post is 12 days including travel time.

Where to fly in / out of

For my itinerary, I recommend flying into Johannesburg (JNB) and out of Cape Town (CPT).

I flew from Newark to Johannesburg. There are direct flights from EWR to JNB on United Airlines. It was a long flight but worth it to not have any layovers.

Though I recommend flying into JNB and out of CPT, you can also buy a round trip ticket out of either airport and then buy a domestic flight at either the start or end of the itinerary. I’d look into both options and see what makes the most sense time and cost wise. 

Always remember that there’s a chance one of your flights could get delayed so be sure to plan accordingly if you’re buying a domestic flight to then catch your international flight back home.

My go to websites to search for flights are Skyscanner and Google Flights. I always recommend booking your flight directly with the airline.

Best time to go to South Africa

If you’ve been reading my blog for awhile, then you know I am constantly shouting from the rooftops (the virtual ones that is) about how much I LOVE to travel during shoulder season.

What is this season you ask? The months right before / after peak season. You’re likely to find less crowds and you can generally find better hotel rates during these times.

For South Africa that would be March – May and September – November. 

I went in September and loved it! 

What to book first

Everyone wants to go on a safari and you’ll find that safari lodges range from affordable to astronomically expensive. Like I seriously couldn’t believe some of the prices I saw.

Given this, the lodge at your preferred price point may fill up quickly so I recommend booking your safari lodge as soon as you know the dates for your trip.

Important tips to know before your trip

Currency

• South African rand is the official currency. View current exchange rates. 
• ATMs can be found throughout the country and credit cards are widely accepted. 
• While you shouldn’t have an issue paying with a credit card in most places, I’d also be sure to have some cash on you just in case. It also comes in handy for tipping.

Is English commonly spoken?

There are 11 official languages in South Africa, including English. You will find that English is widely spoken

Visa Information

US Citizens + 51 other nationalities do not need a visa when traveling to South Africa. For the full list of countries who do need a visa click here.

Medication Needed

If you are doing a safari, odds are that you will need malaria pills. Please consult with your doctor. Most malaria pills need to be started two days prior to the trip so please keep that in mind so you can make sure you get them in time.

There are no required vaccinations but here is a list of recommended ones.

Can you drink the water?

Yes, you can drink the tap water in South Africa when you visit large cities such as Johannesburg and Cape Town. Stick to bottled water in rural areas (such as on your safari).

Tipping

Tipping is commonplace. Expect to tip about 10 percent of the total bill to waiters in restaurants and taxi drivers. You should also expect to tip tour guides.

How to be responsible traveler

• Township tourism is controversial so if you decide to do a tour to a township you would need to make sure it is a tour that is operated by someone from the township and that your money is going directly to the people who live there
• Brush up on Apartheid history and its long term impact in South Africa so that you can have some understanding of the complexities of the history of the country and how it affects the present
• Visiting Kruger National Park is a great way to support the park’s anti-poaching rangers
• Shark cage diving is big in South Africa but many claim that it is responsible for the increase in shark attacks as the great white sharks are artificially attracted to the cage with use of chum. If you do decide to go shark cage diving, be sure to do so with a responsible company

Don’t expect things to open right on time

South Africans have a more relaxed view of time. It’s not uncommon for a restaurant to open 10 mins later than the posted time. Be patient if a spot isn’t open.

Is it safe to travel to South Africa?

I did the majority of this South Africa itinerary with one another woman traveler and then spent the last couple of days solo in Cape Town and we felt safe throughout our trip. I also felt very safe during the time I spent solo.

Nevertheless, safety can be a tricky topic to give advice on. Experiences can differ from traveler to traveler. Remember, you can find horror stories about any place you travel to so please don’t go down a rabbit hole of reading every story you come across. Instead, follow the below tips and enjoy South Africa!

Stay alert 

It is important to stay alert and be mindful of your surroundings especially in the larger cities. 

Once you land at the airport, wait inside until you’ve called your Uber. Make sure you do not get into any car until you check the license plate (this is my advice for anytime you take an Uber regardless of the country)

Avoid visiting townships without a proper guide

You should generally avoid going to townships (especially alone) as they experience a higher crime rate than other areas. 

If you are keen to visit a township, please be sure it is through a responsible tour guide and that you are giving back to the people who live in the township. 

Take caution in Johannesburg

Be sure to take an Uber between destinations, even if the walk time may be minimal. 

Remember, you are not familiar with the area and you do not know if you are about to walk through a high crime area.

If you’re not sure, ask your hotel for guidance on safety!

Be careful after dark

You should exercise caution anywhere after dark and utilize Ubers to travel from place to place rather than walking around. 

Trust your gut

Nothing is more powerful than your own instinct. No matter where you’re traveling, it is always a good idea to trust your gut!

How to get around South Africa

Within Johannesburg and Cape Town

Uber is the best way to get around. Uber is very common in South Africa and is a reliable and safe way to get around. It is also really affordable! 

I highly recommend using Uber exclusively to get around cities and/to from the airports

Stellenbosch + surrounding areas

There are a few options for getting around this wine region. While you can call an Uber, we did experience some trouble getting Ubers to pick us up and drop us off if it was only a short distance between two wineries. We also struggled to get an Uber after dinner. 

I would highly recommend talking to your hotel to either have a number to call for them to come and pick you up when you need them (at an extra cost of course) or to hire a private driver for the day so that you don’t have to worry about relying on Ubers. We had no problem calling an Uber from Cape Town to Stellenbosch and vice versa but you can also have a driver pre arranged for that portion of the trip as well. 

Don’t waste your time googling for a private driver, simply send an email to your hotel and ask them for their recommendations. Remember, this South Africa itinerary is all about making your life simpler so that you can focus on what actually matters: enjoying your trip to South Africa!

Flights within South Africa 

South Africa is a large country and a lot of its cities are well connected by flights. Just be sure you check the airline for restrictions on baggage as some of them are smaller aircrafts and there may be strictly enforced size / weight limits.

Other options to get around

Hire a driver 

Uber can take you most places however, if you need to cover more distance you can hire a driver. Feel free to ask your hotel for recommendations 

Join a tour 

There are a lot of tour options such as a full day tour to the Cape of Good Hope. This is a great option to not have to worry about the logistics of getting around.

Rent a car 

This really depends on your comfort level and experience in driving abroad. For the most flexibility, you can rent a car and self-drive. However, I only recommend doing this if you do your research on tips for renting a car + how to stay safe driving around. A rental car can be an unnecessary hassle given all the options for getting around South Africa!

Places to visit in South Africa

Johannesburg

I was personally not that interested in exploring Johannesburg given I didn’t have much time in South Africa and my interests in other parts such as safari, wine region, etc. It is up to you if you want to include it in your itinerary or not!

As I only spent one night here, outside of the hotel recommendation, the other recommendations are based on my research and are things that caught my interest and what I would do if I spent time in Johannesburg.

General advice

Safety is a big piece to consider here. Please do not walk from place to place and instead utilize Uber to get around. 

Where to stay in Johannesburg

I spent one night at the Hoeveld House and I can’t say enough good things about this hotel! It is incredibly stunning in a safe and fully gated compound. I was honestly sad to leave the next morning. 

Breakfast was also included and was delicious! 

If I had spent more time in Johannesburg, I 100% would have stayed here for longer. 

Things to do in Johannesburg 

Again, I did not spend any time in Johannesburg but based on my research + recommendations from other travelers, here is what I would do in the city:

1. Visit the Apartheid Museum
2. Join SecretEATS and see if a foodie event coincides with your trip
3. Visit Soweto. While I am generally against slum tourism as a lot of tour companies do it unethically, it is possible to find tours that benefit the locals and give them a chance to share their stories and deepen your understanding of culture and history. This tour looks to be a really solid option.

Restaurants to try in Johannesburg 

Here are a list of restaurants/bars that caught my eye:

1. Alto 234 for drinks (great views of the city)
2. Bespokery (international food with options for varying diets)
3. Level Four (fine dining with classic cuisine and contemporary influences)

Greater Kruger National Park 

No South Africa itinerary is complete without doing one of the wildlife safaris. I think the best place to stay is at a safari lodge. Lodges are a wonderful option as all the logistics are taken care of for you. Most lodges offer meals and two game drives a day.

General advice

I would book a safari game lodge that has all of your meals + game drives included so that all the logistics are taken care of for you. Be sure to reach out to your lodge ahead of time to arrange airport pick up.

Where to stay for your safari

Located in an exclusive private game reserve within the Greater Kruger National Park, Naledi Game Lodge is hands down one of the best hotels I have ever stayed at. Every bit of my experience was incredible and felt so luxurious at a relatively affordable price point. 

Meals are done with other guests at the lodge so even if you are traveling solo, you’ll meet the other guests. The food here is also scrumptious and the service is unparalleled. 

The safari guides are incredibly knowledgeable and personable and you will not only see a lot of wildlife on your game drives but also learn a ton. I cannot wait to go back!

Things to do (besides going on game drives)

• Do a bush walk to learn more about the animals and the bush in general. I got to see a few giraffes up close and it was a pretty surreal experience!
• Relax between drives. Your first drive of the day is normally around 5 am and your second drive is sometime after lunch, usually around 4 pm. In between drives I highly recommend just relaxing and soaking it all in

Cape Town

Easily one of the most beautiful cities you’ll ever visit. You’ll get dramatic sweeping views of the water juxtaposed with mountains. There is an eclectic mix of cultures which is evident in the cuisine here. A lot of travelers base themselves in Cape Town and then do day trips to surrounding areas.

General Advice

• Ubers are your best option for getting around here. The waterfront and Camps Bay are a bit more tourist friendly and are safe to walk around
• Look for a hotel in Camps Bay, Constantia (if you want to be closer to wineries), or the V&A waterfront

Where to stay in Cape Town

I stayed at two different hotels in Cape Town and highly recommend both!

Atlanticview Cape Town Boutique Hotel:

This 5 star boutique hotel is located in a quiet section of Camps Bay. It is very close to all main tourist attractions: Table Mountain (5 min) Downtown or V+A Waterfront shopping Center (10 min) and Cape Town International Airport (20 min). The Cape of Good Hope, Penguin Colony and Cape Winelands are less than an hour away. There’s also stunning views of the water and Lion’s Head.

You leave your key with the front desk when you leave for the day which means there is always someone there at the front desk. 

Villa Lion View

If you’re looking for a good home base while you explore the wine area of Constantia, this is the hotel for you. It’s a stunning, intimate boutique hotel with beautiful views and such a great vibe. It’s got wonderful artwork donning the walls as well. 

Things to do in Cape Town

• Take the table mountain cable car up (especially at sunset!)
• Hike Lion’s Head (only if you’re comfortable with heights! I personally did not do this hike as I’m terrified of heights but my friend did!)
• Spend a couple of hours walking around the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
• Do a Cape of Good Hope day tour and make sure it includes a visit to see to Boulders Beach to see the penguins + Bo Kap
• Wine tasting in Constantia

Things I didn’t get a chance to do but were on my list:

• An educational tour of Robben Island (UNESCO world heritage site where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned)
• A visit to the District 6 museum (it was closed when I was there)

Where to eat in Cape Town

• Karibu for dinner. If you’re looking to try South African food, Karibu is the spot for you! It’s located at the V&A waterfront and is the perfect spot to spend an evening
• La Colombe for a fancy dinner. If you love tasting menus as much as I do you HAVE to go here. I had the most incredible experience here. I opted for their full tasting menu + wine pairing and it was sensational. The flavors, the presentation, the creativity, just all of it! They’re also able to accommodate most dietary restrictions
• We had dinner at Den Anker one night, located on the V&A waterfront, but I wasn’t crazy about the meal as a vegetarian. My friend who isn’t a vegetarian enjoyed it very much!

Restaurants/bars I didn’t get a chance to check out but were on my list:

• The test kitchen (has both tasting menu and a la carte)
• The Pot Luck Club (small plate menu with global dishes)
• Black Sheep Restaurant (food inspired by all of the Cape’s culinary influences)
• The Gin bar (great cocktails)
• Asoka (Low key bar/lounge)
• Royale Eatery (casual lunch / gourmet burgers)
• Mojo market (market featuring international food stalls) 
• the Old Biscuit Mill (culinary delights and fine local designs)
• The Codfathrr (popular seafood restaurant)

Stellenbosch + Franschhoek

It’s impossible to pick a favorite part of my trip to South Africa as I seriously loved every single bit of it. That being said, this is quite possibly one of the best wine regions I”ve ever been to. It has stunning scenery, a top notch culinary scene, and some of the best wine I’ve ever had!

General Advice

Most people only take a day trip to the wineries here which I think is a big mistake. The vibe here is completely different from Cape Town and it’s worth at least a couple of nights (definitely even longer than that), especially if you are into wine. 

I personally would love to come back and spend an entire week here. BRB while I go check flight prices.

As I said earlier, you can use Uber around the wine region but it can be spotty at times so make sure you either have a driver or are able to have someone from the hotel pick you up and drop you off (at an extra cost of course). 

Where to stay in Stellenbosch

When I got to De Zeven I think I ran around the entire hotel going “is this real life?”. It is simply stunning with the most incredible views! 

It is also the perfect base from which to explore both Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. The staff is extremely helpful.

There is always a manager on duty so if you have trouble getting an Uber back from the wineries, call the hotel and they will come get you! 

The hotel is also really great at providing suggestions on wineries + restaurants.

What to do in Stellenbosch + surrounding areas:

• Wine tastings, obviously! (I’ll cover those below)
• Explore Franschhoek wineries on the wine tram. I didn’t get a chance to do this but this would be a fun way to check out various wineries without worrying about transportation. There are different routes you can take depending on your winery interests

Where to eat:

• Breakfast at Boschendal (didn’t get to check this out but it was highly recommended to me)
• Lunch at Tokara Deli (favorite lunch!)
• Lunch at Postcard Cafe
• Dinner at Babel (favorite dinner with incredible wine!)
• Dinner at Indochine

Best wineries in Stellenbosch + surrounding area

• Thelema (one of my favorite experiences with very knowledgeable staff who take the time to talk to you about what you’re tasting. Plus the wines were extraordinary!)
• Tokara (a little less personal attention than Thelema but stunning tasting room with sweeping views)
• Rainbow’s End (another one of my favorites with great views. Perfect for a relaxed wine tasting. Grab a cheese plate and spend some time here!)
• Stark Condé (very unique tasting room and another spot where you could sit and sip for awhile)

Wineries I didn’t make it to but were high on my list:

• Bartinney 
• Kanonkop
• Boschendal 
• Jordan
• Oldenberg

The Ultimate 12 day South Africa Itinerary 

Don’t feel like putting together your own itinerary? Copy mine! If you’re looking for a trip you’ll always remember, full of safari action, stunning scenery, history, and great wine and food, I highly recommend following my itinerary.

Day 1: Arrive in South Africa

• Land in JNB. I recommend getting in before dark, if possible. I landed at 6 PM, for reference. 
• Call an Uber to your hotel, the Hoeveld House
• Check in and unwind after a long flight
• For dinner, we used UberEats to get food delivered straight to our hotel. You can also call another uber once you’re settled in and grab dinner at one of the restaurants listed in the Johannesburg section of the post.

Day 2: Head to the Greater Kruger Area

• Enjoy a fantastic breakfast at the Hoeveld House and be sure to take some time to explore the grounds and the main house
• Grab an Uber to head back to the airport
• Morning flight to HDS. My flight was from 11:40-12:35
• Have your safari lodge, Naledi Game Lodge, pick you up (important: arrange this in advance by sending them an email prior to your arrival)
• Enjoy lunch at the lodge and take some time to relax before your first game drive!
• Dinner at the lodge and early night as your game drive will start somewhere between 5:00-6:00 am the next day

Day 3 – Day 5: Safari time!

• Enjoy twice daily game drives and all meals included
• The general schedule is that you go on a morning 3 hour game drive, come back and have breakfast, have some time to relax, have lunch, head out on your afternoon 3 hour game drive, and come back and have dinner
• Naledi Game Lodge also offers other activities such as a bush walk and the hide (a treehouse-like structure to watch the animals coming to the watering hole). The property also has plenty of places to hang out and a gorgeous pool. If you need some more relaxation, they also have a masseuse so don’t forget to get a massage!

Day 6: Head to Cape Town

• Check out and head to the airport (Naledi Game Lodge will arrange your transportation for you)
• Take an afternoon flight from HDS to CPT. Ours was at 12:30 PM. I think a flight sometime between 12 and 4 pm is perfect!
• Once you land, call an Uber to Atlanticview Cape Town Boutique Hotel
• Call an Uber to head to dinner  (recommendations in the Cape Town section of this guide)

Day 7: Explore Cape Town

• Enjoy a lovely breakfast at the hotel
• Head to Lions Head to hike to the top (only for people who aren’t afraid of heights aka not for me! My friend, who I was traveling with, went and loved it.)
• Uber to the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens
• Take your time and explore these magical gardens
• Lunch at the Kirstenbosch Tea Room located inside of the gardens
• Late afternoon wine tasting at Eagles Nest Wine (short Uber away)
• Uber to Table mountain 
• Take the cable car up to enjoy the sunset! This is a great time to go as it is generally less crowded at the top of Table mountain 
• Uber to dinner (recommendations in the Cape Town section of this guide)

Day 8: Full day Cape of good hope tour

• Breakfast at the hotel 
• Time for the full day Cape of Good Hope Tour. Your tour guide will pick you up at the hotel
• There are a lot of options for this tour. You can either google and book a tour in advance or talk to your hotel about tour options once you arrive. I booked our tour through TripAdvisor
• Drop off back at your hotel or you can ask if they can drop you off closer to the restaurant you select for dinner
• Karibu for dinner

Day 9: Time for wine!

• Last breakfast at the hotel
• Call an Uber to head to your next hotel near Stellenbosch, De Zeven
• Check in and relax
• Uber to Thelema for your first wine tasting
• Lunch at Tokara deli (can walk to it from Thelema)
• Wine tasting at Tokara
• Glass of wine at Delaire Graff before dinner
• Dinner at Indochine (one of the restaurants located at Delaire Graff)
• Head back to De Zeven for some much deserved shuteye

Day 10: Wine Not?

• Eat a fantastic breakfast at the hotel with stunning views 
• Marvel at the beautiful views at a wine tasting at Stark Condé
• Lunch at Postcard cafe (part of Stark-Condé)
• Enjoy a laid back tasting at Rainbow’s end 
• Head back to the hotel to unwind before dinner
• Get ready for a highlight of your trip to wine country, dinner at Babel

Day 11: Head back to Cape Town

• One last breakfast at De Zeven
• Option to do one more wine tasting before heading back to Cape Town (I say go for it!)
• Uber back to Cape Town and check into Villa Lion View
• Dinner at La Colombe. I highly recommend doing their full tasting menu + wine pairing! 

Day 12: Head home

• If your flight is in the evening a good option is to explore wineries in Constantia and then grab an Uber to the airport. Be sure to account for traffic in Cape Town to budget enough time to get to the airport well in advance of your flight

Have a few extra days? Adjust your itinerary according to the below:

• Want to explore more of a city? Spend more time in Cape Town. 
• Want to see more animals? You can go on another safari in a different area of South Africa or add more days at Naledi Game Lodge. 
• Have a rental car? Consider adding in a few days doing a road trip on the Garden Route
• I would personally spend more time in Stellenbosch because I am in love with everything about the region: the wine, the culinary scene, the landscape, etc.

Bottom Line

South Africa is such an incredible country to visit with so much to offer from wine to food to wildlife. I am seriously always looking for reasonable flights to head back. If you follow my South Africa itinerary and find it helpful, I’d love to know! Leave me a comment or come say hi on Instagram.

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