South Africa in 10 Days
South Africa gives you a world-class city, a coastal road trip and a Big Five safari in ten days for less than a week in western Europe. The trick is not trying to add Kruger to the same trip.
10
Days
£80–£150 / $100–$190 per person per day
Per day
October–April for Cape Town; May–September for the best game viewing
Best time
11
Nights
Your day-by-day plan
Arrive Cape Town
Morning · Land, collect the car, check in near the city bowl
Afternoon · V&A Waterfront and Bo-Kaap
Evening · Early dinner on Bree Street
Table Mountain
Morning · Cable car on the first clear slot
Afternoon · Kirstenbosch gardens
Evening · Signal Hill sunset
Cape Peninsula
Morning · Chapman's Peak Drive and Hout Bay
Afternoon · Cape Point, then the Boulders Beach penguins
Evening · Kalk Bay seafood
Winelands
Morning · Stellenbosch estates
Afternoon · Franschhoek wine tram
Evening · Back to Cape Town
Onto the Garden Route
Morning · Drive east via Hermanus (whales June–November)
Afternoon · Cape Agulhas, the true southern tip
Evening · Overnight Mossel Bay or Wilderness
Knysna and Plett
Morning · Knysna Heads and the lagoon
Afternoon · Plettenberg Bay beach or Robberg trail
Evening · Sunset drinks over the bay
Tsitsikamma
Morning · Storms River suspension bridge
Afternoon · Bloukrans bungee or the forest boardwalks
Evening · Drive to Port Elizabeth
Safari begins
Morning · Transfer to a malaria-free reserve (Addo or Shamwari)
Afternoon · Afternoon game drive
Evening · Boma dinner
Big Five
Morning · Sunrise game drive
Afternoon · Siesta, then a second drive
Evening · Stars with no light pollution
Home
Morning · Last drive or a slow breakfast
Afternoon · Fly from Port Elizabeth via Johannesburg
Evening · —
Local tips that save you money
- Load shedding (scheduled power cuts) is real — check the EskomSePush app and pick guesthouses with backup power.
- Malaria-free Eastern Cape reserves mean no prophylactics and no mosquito nets, which is worth a lot with kids.
- Petrol stations are attended; keep small notes for the attendant and the car guards.
South Africa: common questions
How many days do you need in South Africa?+
This plan covers 10 days, which is the sweet spot for South Africa without doubling back. You can trim the last two days or add a beach stop if you have longer.
What is the best time to visit South Africa?+
October–April for Cape Town; May–September for the best game viewing. Shoulder months give you the same sights with lower prices and shorter queues.
How much does a trip to South Africa cost?+
Budget roughly £80–£150 / $100–$190 per person per day, excluding international flights. That covers accommodation, food, local transport and entry tickets at a mid-range pace.
How do you get around in South Africa?+
Hire car for Cape Town and the Garden Route, one short flight or a transfer to the reserve. Drive in daylight, keep doors locked in cities.
