2 Week Itinerary in South Africa: From Cape Town to Johannesburg

Avoid the jet lag from your early morning flight, and start your day with a city tour. Context Travel offers a great "Introduction to Cape Town" itinerary that gives the lay of the city, as well as offers plenty of interesting history. Spend a morning hiking up Table Mountain (or take the cable car). The hike is grueling, but after a long plane ride, it could be just what the body needs. The views atop the mountain are stunning. Spend an afternoon on Camp's Bay Beach dining in one of the many restaurants along the promenade and, if you are there in the summer season, hang out at one of the many beach clubs. Pay a visit to Robben Island to see where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, take a day trip to Simon’s Town and Boulders Beach to see the Penguin colony, and enjoy some R&R at high tea at 12 Apostles, taking in the restaurant's stunning views.

After a few days running around Cape Town, take 48 hours to sit by the pool, book a spa treatment and enjoy what the wine country does best - wine tasting! Babylonstoren is one of the oldest wine farms in South Africa with eight-acres of gorgeous gardens that you can explore before or after a wine tasting. Haute Cabriere, a wine farm with a deep history, offers some of the best views in Franschhoek, with a patio overlooking the valley. Delaire Graff Estate is luxury all the way. Book a meal at one of their fabulous restaurants, Delaire Graff Restaurant or Indochine.

From Durban traveling south along the border of the Eastern Cape, there are miles of beaches dotted with residences and small coastal towns. In addition to the beaches, one incredible wildlife experience is the sardine migration that takes place annually around June and July. The sardines are so plentiful that locals can walk into the water and scoop out as many as they need. The sardines also attract sharks and dolphins, making it a very exciting time to visit. In addition to bracing coastal walks and exploring a few of these cute towns, there are plenty of opportunities for wildlife and adventure experiences, including whale watching, horseback riding, fishing, hiking and zip-lining.

Kruger National Park in northeastern South Africa is one of Africa’s largest game reserves at nearly 5-million acres. It has an incredibly high density of wild animals including the Big 5: Leopards, Lions, Rhinos, Elephants and Buffalo. There are also hundreds of other mammals who make their home in Kruger, along with hundreds of types of birds. Days begin early for guests, with coffee or hot chocolate before dawn and breakfast enjoyed in the bush. During the heat of the day, you'll enjoy a nap or a good book, before heading back out for more wildlife spotting, usually enjoying a sundowner or two at sunset. In the evening, come back to camp for a multi-course meal and early bedtime. Each day is different, but no less exhilarating!

Spend your last full day in South Africa with a visit to the Nelson Mandela Museum, a guided tour of the Soweto township, a stop at the Apartheid Museum and an early dinner in the Maboneng Precinct, a former industrial area that has been transformed with art galleries, restaurants, markets, and nightlife.