18 Day Ultimate South Africa Tour

Upon arrival at Cape Town International Airport, you are met and privately transferred to Ellerman House, perched above Bantry Bay on the Atlantic Seaboard. After check-in, take time to unwind and settle into your suite, with sweeping ocean views and a peaceful setting that’s ideal after a long journey. Depending on arrival time, your guide can suggest a short scenic drive along the coastline or a relaxed stroll nearby to get your first feel for Cape Town’s light, sea air, and dramatic mountain backdrop.

Late afternoon is perfect for soaking up the hotel’s signature experiences, from its art collection to a quiet sundowner on the terrace as the sun drops toward the Atlantic. If you’d like to stretch your legs, a gentle walk along the Sea Point Promenade offers an easy introduction to the city’s lifestyle and coastal scenery. Your evening is at leisure, with dinner options available at the hotel or at excellent nearby restaurants, before the touring begins in earnest tomorrow.

Upon arrival at Cape Town International Airport, you are met and privately transferred to Ellerman House, perched above Bantry Bay on the Atlantic Seaboard. After check-in, take time to unwind and settle into your suite, with sweeping ocean views and a peaceful setting that’s ideal after a long journey. Depending on arrival time, your guide can suggest a short scenic drive along the coastline or a relaxed stroll nearby to get your first feel for Cape Town’s light, sea air, and dramatic mountain backdrop.

Late afternoon is perfect for soaking up the hotel’s signature experiences, from its art collection to a quiet sundowner on the terrace as the sun drops toward the Atlantic. If you’d like to stretch your legs, a gentle walk along the Sea Point Promenade offers an easy introduction to the city’s lifestyle and coastal scenery. Your evening is at leisure, with dinner options available at the hotel or at excellent nearby restaurants, before the touring begins in earnest tomorrow.

Today explores the dramatic landscapes of the Cape Peninsula via Chapman’s Peak Drive, a world-famous coastal road carved into steep cliffs above the Atlantic. Stop at viewpoints for photographs before entering the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, where rugged headlands, windswept vegetation, and roaming wildlife create a wild, end-of-the-continent feel. Continue to Cape Point for a visit to the historic lighthouse area, enjoying commanding views over the ocean and jagged shoreline.

After lunch, follow the False Bay coast to Simon’s Town and Boulders Beach, home to a charming colony of African penguins. Boardwalks allow excellent viewing while protecting the dunes and nesting sites. Your return route includes scenic perspectives over False Bay from elevated coastal roads, with time to pause for photos as conditions allow. Arrive back at Ellerman House late afternoon, with the evening free for dining and relaxation.

This morning focuses on Cape Town’s layered history, beginning at the District Six Museum, where personal stories and exhibits explain the forced removals that reshaped the city during apartheid. Continue to the Castle of Good Hope, the oldest surviving colonial building in South Africa, and explore its ramparts, courtyards, and interpretive displays. A brief drive or walk through the colorful Bo-Kaap adds another cultural dimension, with its distinctive architecture and enduring community identity.

In the afternoon, depart from the V&A Waterfront for the ferry to Robben Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the country’s most important heritage landmarks. The tour typically includes the prison complex and key sites linked to South Africa’s freedom struggle, offering moving insight into the experiences of political prisoners. Return to the Waterfront by late afternoon and transfer back to Ellerman House for an evening at leisure.

After breakfast, depart Cape Town for the Cape Winelands, starting in Stellenbosch, South Africa’s second-oldest town and a showcase of Cape Dutch, Georgian, and Victorian architecture. Enjoy a guided walk along historic streets such as Dorp Street, shaded by ancient oaks and lined with beautifully preserved façades. Your guide introduces the region’s heritage and how viticulture shaped its economy and culture over centuries, setting the scene for today’s wine experiences.

Continue to a historic wine estate for a cellar visit and tasting, learning about grape varieties, terroir, and the winemaking process from vineyard to barrel and bottle. After time for lunch in the area, travel into the Franschhoek Valley for an additional experience—such as a boutique estate visit or the Franschhoek Motor Museum at L’Ormarins—depending on your interests. Arrive at Leeu House in Franschhoek for check-in and a relaxed evening in the heart of the Winelands.

This morning is devoted to Franschhoek’s heritage and village charm. After breakfast, your guide introduces the story of the French Huguenots who settled in the valley in the late 1600s, shaping its winemaking traditions and architecture. Visit the Huguenot Memorial and Museum, then enjoy a gentle walk through the town’s leafy streets, where galleries, boutiques, and cafés create a refined yet relaxed atmosphere. The surrounding mountains form a dramatic amphitheater and provide a scenic backdrop to daily life in the valley.

The afternoon is intentionally unhurried, allowing you to enjoy Franschhoek at your own pace. You may choose to browse art galleries, indulge in a spa treatment, or reserve a long lunch at one of the region’s celebrated restaurants. If you prefer more wine time, your guide can recommend a nearby estate for a tasting aligned to your preferences, from Cap Classique sparkling wines to elegant reds. Return to Leeu House for a restful evening in the Winelands.

Today is designed around the Franschhoek Wine Tram, a relaxed way to enjoy the valley’s scenery while sampling a handpicked selection of wine estates. After breakfast, your guide confirms your preferred style—classic estates, boutique cellars, Cap Classique specialists, or a mix—and helps choose a route that suits your pace. The hop-on, hop-off format provides flexibility, allowing you to linger longer at favorites and keep the day comfortable and unhurried.

Between tastings, enjoy postcard views of vineyards and mountains, and learn more about Franschhoek’s terroir and winemaking traditions. Many estates offer optional cellar tours, food pairings, or small plates that complement tastings, making it easy to pace the day. As afternoon light softens over the valley, return to Leeu House to freshen up before dinner. The evening is at leisure, with excellent restaurants and wine bars close by.

After breakfast, depart the Winelands and travel over the Franschhoek Pass, stopping at viewpoints to admire the rugged mountain scenery. Continue through agricultural landscapes toward Swellendam, South Africa’s fourth-oldest town, set beneath the Langeberg Mountains. Visit the Drostdy Museum Complex to gain insight into early colonial life and local history, then enjoy time for lunch and a short stroll through the historic center before continuing toward the De Hoop area.

Arrive in the Overberg and check in at Lekkerwater Beach Lodge, celebrated for its remote coastline and conservation focus. Settle into your lodge and take time to breathe in the sea air and fynbos-rich surroundings. Depending on arrival time and conditions, a gentle introductory walk or viewpoint stop can be arranged to appreciate the cliffs and beaches that define this remarkable landscape. The evening includes lodge hospitality and a restful night in a pristine natural setting.

These two days are spent enjoying Lekkerwater Beach Lodge’s exceptional coastal setting within the De Hoop area, where fynbos-covered hills meet pristine beaches and dramatic sea cliffs. Guided experiences focus on nature, conservation, and the shoreline’s ever-changing moods. From June to November, southern right whales are often visible offshore, and your guides will help you interpret whale behavior as well as the rich marine life found along the intertidal zone. Walks are paced to your comfort, with frequent pauses for viewpoints and photography.

Beyond the coastline, explore dune systems and coastal fynbos that form part of the Cape Floristic Region, with excellent opportunities for birdwatching and learning about local ecology. You may also encounter species such as Cape mountain zebra, eland, grey rhebok, baboon, and ostrich. Time is built in for quiet moments at the lodge—reading, relaxing, and enjoying the rhythm of the ocean—before evenings of excellent hospitality and stargazing in this wonderfully remote landscape.

After breakfast, depart the Overberg and travel toward the Garden Route via Riversdale and Albertinia, watching the landscape shift from coastal fynbos to rolling farmlands and forested foothills. The drive is scenic and relaxed, with comfort stops arranged as needed. Approaching George, the Outeniqua Mountains provide a dramatic landscape, signalling your arrival in one of South Africa’s most iconic leisure regions.

Arrive at the prestigious Fancourt Estate around lunchtime, with time to enjoy a meal before check-in at Fancourt Manor House. The afternoon is intentionally easy, allowing you to unwind after the journey—perhaps with a stroll through the landscaped grounds, a spa treatment, or time at leisure in the hotel’s refined setting. In the evening, choose from the estate’s dining options for a comfortable night in the heart of the Garden Route.

Today showcases classic Garden Route scenery as you travel through Wilderness and Sedgefield toward the charming lagoon town of Knysna. Pause at the waterfront for coffee and a relaxed introduction to the area before crossing the Knysna Lagoon by ferry to Featherbed Nature Reserve. On arrival, a 4x4 transfer leads up to viewpoint areas, and a guided walk provides insight into the reserve’s ecology and geology. The reward is grand panoramas over the lagoon mouth and the Indian Ocean beyond.

After the reserve visit, enjoy lunch before visiting the Eastern Head, one of the two sandstone cliffs forming the famed Knysna Heads. Short walks and lookout stops provide excellent photo opportunities and a deeper appreciation of the coastline’s shape and scale. Return to George in the late afternoon, arriving back at Fancourt for a restful evening. Dinner is at leisure, with options available on the estate or nearby.

After breakfast, travel over the Outeniqua Pass into the Little Karoo for a full-day scenic circuit. Start in Oudtshoorn with a guided heritage-style visit to the famous Cango Caves, admired for their vast limestone chambers and dramatic dripstone formations shaped over immense time. From there, continue toward the Swartberg Mountains, where rugged scenery, winding roads, and panoramic viewpoints create one of South Africa’s most memorable mountain drives. Stops along the route allow time to appreciate the scale and geology of the Cape Fold landscape.

Crossing into the Karoo, arrive in the characterful town of Prince Albert for lunch and a short exploration of its historic streets and local museum exhibits. The pace is relaxed, with time for photographs and small discoveries, before you return via Meiringspoort—a striking gorge road that adds yet another scenic highlight to the day. Late afternoon arrival back at Fancourt offers time to unwind before dinner, completing a day that contrasts coastal mountains, caves, and classic Karoo heritage.

After breakfast, travel northeast along the Garden Route toward Shamwari, with a memorable stop at Storms River Mouth in the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park. Enjoy time to walk the short trails through coastal forest and across the suspension bridge spanning the Storms River gorge, where waves and rocky cliffs create dramatic seascapes. This is an excellent final coastal highlight before your journey transitions from ocean scenery to safari landscapes.

Continue to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) for lunch, then drive onward to Shamwari Private Game Reserve, one of the Eastern Cape’s premier Big Five safari destinations. On arrival, check in at Shamwari Eagles Crag Lodge and enjoy time to settle into your suite before your first open 4x4 game drive. As afternoon turns to evening, your ranger and tracker begin searching for wildlife in varied habitats, setting the tone for the safari days ahead.

These days are devoted to immersive safari experiences at Shamwari, where diverse habitats—savanna, bushveld, riverine areas, and open grassland—support a wide range of wildlife. You enjoy twice-daily game drives, typically at sunrise and late afternoon, timed for peak animal activity and the best light for photography. Your ranger shares insight into tracking, behavior, and conservation, while adapting each drive to recent sightings and seasonal conditions. Between activities, the lodge offers time to rest, enjoy fine hospitality, and absorb the stillness of the bush.

Shamwari is known for excellent Big Five viewing, with frequent encounters with elephant, buffalo, and various antelope species, and rewarding chances to find predators depending on movement patterns. In addition to game drives, a guided bush walk may be offered (conditions permitting), giving a closer look at tracks, plants, and smaller species often missed from a vehicle. Evenings bring a relaxed rhythm—sunset drinks, excellent dinners, and the sounds of the wilderness—rounding out a safari stay designed for comfort and depth.

Your final day begins with an early-morning game drive in Shamwari, a last opportunity to search for memorable sightings and to appreciate the reserve’s diverse habitats as the bush wakes up. Return to the lodge for breakfast and time to freshen up before departure. Your guide coordinates a smooth check-out and transfer schedule, allowing the morning to feel calm and unrushed while still maximizing your final safari moments.

After breakfast, you are transferred to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) Airport for your flight to Cape Town, where touring services conclude. If your onward arrangements require, assistance can be provided with check-in timing and connection guidance. You depart with a rich set of experiences spanning Cape Town’s icons, the Winelands, De Hoop’s wild coastline, the Garden Route’s landscapes, and Shamwari’s Big Five safari finale.