Wildlife, Vineyards and The Mother City: An Unforgettable 2-Week South Africa Itinerary

Days 1-2:

Land in Cape Town, known as The Mother City, and take your private transfer to your accommodation, The Table Bay Hotel. Located conveniently on the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, it’s a perfect place to base yourself during your stay in Cape Town. Centrally located and one of the more popular walking areas in the city, the waterfront is a place you’ll be happy to spend some time.

If you’re feeling hungry, walk over to Mozambik located just a few minutes’ walk from the hotel on the waterfront. The restaurant is casual and offers incredible, authentic food from Mozambique. Their beef ribs, Peri Peri sauced prawns with coconut rice and their mashed potatoes are a must-have. I honestly think I’m still dreaming about those from when I was there!

Alternatively, if you are looking for more of a bed-and-breakfast feel during your stay in Cape Town, I can strongly recommend The Rouge on Rose Boutique Hotel in BoKaap. A small, nine-room boutique hotel on the edge of the BoKaap neighborhood known for its colorful houses, you feel like you’re family from day one! And if you want something more secluded, look no further than The 12 Apostles Hotel and & Spa just outside of Camps Bay.

Explore the Western Cape

What better way to start your trip than to explore the Western Cape’s most beautiful scenery. Your private guide and driver will meet you at your hotel and take you on an all-day exploration of the area, including the Cape of Good Hope (aka Cape of Storms).

Go via Chapman’s Peak Drive and learn about the different neighborhoods and communities that live along the coast. Stop for lunch in the historic Simon’s Town before continuing to see the African Penguin Colony at Boulders Beach.

Once you’ve had enough time with the penguins, you’ll continue to Cape Point National Park where you can either take the gondola to the top or walk to the top of the mountain where the lighthouse overlooks the Cape of Good Hope. Don’t forget to go down to the beach below to take the obligatory photo with the famous Cape of Good Hope sign! Keep your eyes open on your way out of the park, you may get a glimpse of some Ostriches, Baboons or Zebras running around.

Your guide will then take you back up the scenic coastal road back to your hotel.

For dinner, I’d recommend Awara in the Central Business District (CBD) for incredible Indian food! Just a note, their tapas are quite large in portion size so don’t over order and miss out on the rest of their amazing menu. Try one of their skewers and definitely one of the curries paired with one of their fresh-baked, in-house roti or naan breads, you’ll thank me later.

Day 3:

After breakfast, head out to the ferry terminal at the waterfront to catch your morning ferry to the infamous former prison island, Robben Island. Originally named by the Dutch for the large seal colony that used to live on the Island, Robben Island is infamous for its prison that was active during the apartheid regime. The ferry takes about 45 minutes (one-way) and once you disembark, you’ll join your guided tour of the island and the prison itself. One of the unique aspects of the prison tours is that they are still led by former inmates of the prison who were imprisoned by the apartheid government as political prisoners. One of the most well-known former prisoners of Robben Island is the late Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa.

You’ll start with a tour around the island itself and then move to the high-security prison where inmates like Mandela were held. It is a harrowing experience that is truly vital in understanding the history and culture of South Africa today.

After the conclusion of your tour, there is a small gift shop that you can peruse before boarding your ferry back to the mainland. Once back, it’s best to grab lunch at one of the many restaurants on the waterfront before continuing for the second part of the day.

After lunch, you’ll be able to sit back and relax on your private transfer to the Langa Township for your private township tour. Langa is the oldest township in South Africa and thus has a lot of proud history. This tour is predominantly a walking tour and lasts about three hours in total.

You’ll be able to walk with a local from Langa who will teach you a few phrases in the local language, Xhosa, so you can greet the locals as you walk by. Your guide will walk you through the narrow streets and even take you to a few private homes so you can really see what life is like in the township. You’ll stop at one of the local food stalls for a snack and have a great shopping opportunity at the community center where local artisans are creating one-of-a-kind sand art, pottery and mosaics.

After the tour of Langa, you’ll be transported back to your hotel and have the rest of the day at leisure.

For dinner, head to the rooftop bar at Tjing Tjing for amazing Japanese-inspired cocktails and Japanese-inspired menu. My personal favorite menu items were the Sansho Pork Belly Buns and The Last Old Fashioned Cocktail with smoked sweet potato!

Day 4:

Today you’ll be up early! Make sure to grab some snacks the night before along with some things for a light breakfast because today you’re hiking up the famous Table Mountain! Depending on how adventurous you are, there are several different routes up the mountain ranging in difficulty.

I personally have done the India Venster Trail and cannot recommend it enough! However, if you are afraid of heights or perhaps not in the best physical shape, then one of the other trails may be more enjoyable instead. If you do choose India Venster, I’d recommend going with a guide as some portions of the trail are not very intuitive and some of the scrambling portions are beyond just basic hiking.

Once you get to the top though, it’s all worth it! Enjoy the panoramic views of Cape Town and the surrounding region and just take in your accomplishment! Take the cable car back down the mountain and grab a well-deserved breakfast at Mulberry and Prince. I’d highly recommend making reservations, even during the week as it is a very popular place for brunch.

Take a walk down to the Company’s Garden and enjoy the park on your way to the District 6 Museum. The District 6 Museum is a monument to the neighborhood known as “District 6” in the days of apartheid. The museum takes you back to what the neighborhood used to look like and the history of the forced relocation of its residents that has still yet to be fully rectified to this day.

After the museum, pop over to Truth Coffee Roasting just up the street for a coffee and pastry before heading back to your hotel to enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

For dinner, consider going to Sevruga down on the waterfront for some of the freshest seafood in the city and mind-blowing sushi.

Day 5:

After breakfast, spend the morning at leisure in The Mother City. Whether you’d like to go shopping down at the V&A Waterfront or hit another one of the city’s fantastic museums, just make sure you build up an appetite for your private afternoon walking food tour!

In the afternoon, you’ll meet up with your local guide near Cape Town’s City Hall and you’ll embark on a culinary journey through the city’s hidden gems. Whether it’s Cape Malay Food in the old Post Office, the famous Capetonian special — The Gatsby Sandwich or the red cappuccino at Honest Chocolate Bar — you are sure to leave your tour with a richer understanding of Cape Town’s culture and food scene. Don’t worry about what to order; your expert guide will know the best dishes at each establishment and who knows, you might even meet a few of the owners along the way!

Once you’ve finished your tour, circle back to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure.

Since you might not be immediately ready for dinner after the tour, head back to the Honest Chocolate Bar on Wale Street after hours and check out The Gin Bar in the back! This gin-focused hidden gem is set in an old mortuary for some added mystery and allure.

Day 6:

Today we are checking out and leaving Cape Town. Time to venture into wine country! Your private transfer will collect you from your hotel and drive you to the stunning Lanzerac Wine Estate, located in Stellenbosch. This pristine property, with an incredibly warm staff and perfectly manicured landscapes is your home away from home for the next few days.

Make sure to have your swimsuit at the top of your suitcase because you may as well go straight to the outdoor pool on the edge of the property to enjoy a class of wine and relax with a view of the mountains.

Once you’ve checked in, consider joining a cellar tour and a tasting on-site where you can try some of the award-winning wines that Lanzerac produces. Then walk over to dinner at Taphuis for global cuisine with a South African flair.

Day 7:

Today is a day of leisure. After breakfast, sit back, relax and enjoy the Lanzerac property. Go relax by the pool, sit in one of the recliners on the deck overlooking the vineyard or book one (or two) of their incredible spa treatments. If you feel like it, pop into the town of Stellenbosch with the hotel shuttle and walk around the shops and cafés.

If you’re looking for a great dinner spot in the town of Stellenbosch, look no further than Wjinhuis for an Italian-inspired menu with a distinct South African twist!

Day 8:

After breakfast, your guide will pick you up from Lanzerac and take you on a private half-day journey through the Stellenbosch Region, all while visiting some of the best wineries the region has to offer. Of course, there will be wine tastings along the way and some stops will even pair the award-winning wines of Stellenbosch with some local dishes, cheeses and cured meats.

Upon your return to Lanzerac, rest and recover a bit before walking over to Manor Kitchen for dinner. Manor Kitchen is where breakfast is served in the morning, but in the evening, it serves a South-African fine-dining-inspired menu. The food and service are second to none — trust me on this one.

Day 9:

Today you’ll check out from Lanzerac and jump in your private transfer to Cape Town Airport for your flight to your safari adventure! You’ll be traveling to the Londolozi Game Reserve, a family-owned private reserve in the heart of the Sabi Sand Game Reserve (part of the famous Kruger National Park). There are a few ways to get there, a couple examples are either by flying to Johannesburg and taking a private transfer for about six hours to Londolozi, or by a combination of flights which would get you all the way to the remote Londolozi Airstrip, just five-minutes’ drive from the camp.

Don’t let the word “camp” fool you though, Londolozi is the epitome of five-star luxury and an experience you are sure never to forget! After a long day of travel, settle in and enjoy being one with the untouched African wilderness that surrounds you. There’s a good chance you may even see some animals from your room!

Days 10–12:

Having been in the game for more than 100 years, Londolozi’s offering is truly unique. Whether it be for a honeymoon, family trip or wellness retreat — Londolozi is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Londolozi prides itself on building generational local knowledge, which translates to you having the best possible safari experience with the best guides and trackers who help you see as many animals as possible while keeping you safe and comfortable. Adjacent to the six-million-acre Kruger National Park, the Sabi Sands Game Reserve is renowned for being one of the best game reserves in all of South Africa and subsequently one of the best in Southern Africa on the whole.

During your stay at Londolozi, things are all-inclusive, to include things like your game drives, nature walks and all meals, among other things. If you’re traveling with kids, Londolozi is world-class at tailoring the experience for children, so they can get the most out of seeing their favorite animals in the wild!

I’m happy to provide more tailored information on Londolozi during our one-on-one consultation.

Day 13:

After an unforgettable experience at Londolozi, it has come time to head back to Johannesburg in preparation for your flight home. The amount of time the journey will take back to Johannesburg depends on whether you prefer to drive or fly.

Once you arrive in Johannesburg, check into the Intercontinental Hotel, your accommodation for the night. Conveniently located at the O.R. Tambo International Airport, you’ll have the rest of the evening on your own.

Day 14:

End of your trip and flight home!