Personalized trips to South Africa
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Travelers love kimkim

"Kimkim is the perfect solution for independent travelers who are too busy to plan it all themselves" - Gayle R., traveled with kimkim in October 2019

Introducing South Africa

South Africa has a diversity in landscape and beauty that is as varied as the rainbow of cultures that inhabit the land. From the precipitous mountains of the Cape with its picturesque vineyards to the iconic savannahs of the Kruger National Park where lions & elephants roam, South Africa has something for everyone.
 
A thorough and extensive road and air network allow travelers to easily get around during their holiday. You can combine world-class wildlife safaris, many different African cultural experiences, beautiful and vibrant cities such as Cape Town, Johannesburg or Durban, the vast open spaces of the Great Karoo, the warm & blue waters of the Indian Ocean with its golden beaches, and the green mountains known as the Drakensberg, famous for its vast collection of Bushman paintings.
 
South Africa serves as an important hub for the Southern African region, which means you can combine your trip with the highlights of other neighboring countries, such as the Okavango Delta, Victoria Falls or the Namibian desert.

Getting Around South Africa
Getting around South Africa's major cities/regions (such as Johannesburg, Cape Town and Kruger Park) is typically done by flight, although self-drives around certain regions is also a popular option. Read more

Explore trips by duration: 5 days · 6 days · 7 days · 8 days · 9 days · 10 days · 11 days · 12 days · 13 days · 14 days · 15 days · 16 days · 21 days

South Africa Tours & Itineraries

Get inspired by trips other travelers have loved
Spot elephants on your South African safari
Map of 10 Days in South Africa: Cape Town, Garden Route & Safari
10 Days in South Africa: Cape Town, Garden Route & Safari

This tour takes you from the sights of Cape Town to the lush Overberg, followed by an exceptional safari experience. Enjoy some of South Africa’s most sought after destinations across the diverse Western and Eastern Cape Provinces.

Bloukran's Bridge
Map of Cape Town & Garden Route Adventure - 10 Days
Cape Town & Garden Route Adventure - 10 Days

Spend 10 days taking in the Western Cape with this trip plan. You'll explore Cape Town and see Table Mountain from both a distant beach and right under your feet, sample the wines of Stellenbosch, and dive in to a great white cage encounter before you hit the road on the Garden Route for canoeing, hiking, animal encounters, and more.

Cape Winelands
Map of Cape Town & Kruger Park Safari - 8 Days
Cape Town & Kruger Park Safari - 8 Days

Enjoy a majestic 8-day tour of Cape Town and Kruger Park Safari, two of South Africa’s top highlights. You will take in the beauty of the Cape Peninsula, Winelands, and the city of Cape Town, followed by a great safari experience in the Kruger National Park, where the iconic African wildlife roam free.

Royal Natal National Park in the Drakensberg Mountains
Map of Country of Contrasts Road Trip: Cape Town, Garden Route, Wild Coast, Kruger National Park & More - 21 Days
Country of Contrasts Road Trip: Cape Town, Garden Route, Wild Coast, Kruger National Park & More - 21 Days

South Africa contains multitudes—of people, landscapes, wildlife, cultures, and more. With three weeks to explore, you'll travel through the highlights of contemporary Cape Town, beach towns of the Wild Coast, animal attractions in Addo Elephant National Park and Kruger National Park, and highs and lows from the Drakensberg Mountains to the Cango Caves. Learn about the country's complex history and ecosystems from the experts—the people who have lived with them.

Blyde River Canyon near Graskop, South Africa
Map of South Africa, Zimbabwe, & Botswana - 14 Days
South Africa, Zimbabwe, & Botswana - 14 Days

This exciting Southern Africa itinerary offers a perfect mix of self-drive and guided tours. Start in Cape Town, where you can explore the Cape Peninsula, head to the top of Table Mountain, or sample native wines in the area's sprawling vineyards. Fly to Johannesburg for the second leg of your trip—you'll enjoy multiple safari excursions and visit magnificent Victoria Falls, one of the seven wonders of the modern world.

Food & Culture in Cape Town - 6 Days
Food & Culture in Cape Town - 6 Days

Delve into South Africa's rich cultural heritage through its diverse cuisine on this five-day food tour of the Cape Town area. This vibrant city is bursting at the seams with exciting culinary experiences. You'll swirl your wine glasses at a vineyard, attend an African musical dinner theatre performance, and learn to cook traditional Cape Malay dishes with a local.

Make the Most of Your Time in South Africa

Have a fixed number of days? Maximize the things to see and do during your visit
South Africa - a vibrant melting pot of cultures
How Many Days to Spend in South Africa

With one week in South Africa, you can explore Cape Town and take a quick roadtrip to one of the surrounding towns, or spend a day or two exploring the city of Johannesburg. Two...

South Africa Travel Essentials

All you need to know to get started planning the perfect trip
Cape Wine Lands in Autumn
Best Time of Year to Visit South Africa

South Africa is a year-round destination thanks to its varied landscapes—it's always sunny somewhere. No matter what season you visit in, you'll find something to do: Kruger...

Cape Town and Table Mountain from the air
Best Time of Year to Visit Cape Town

Planning your trip to Cape Town requires flipping your mental calendar, as the southern hemisphere’s seasons are a reverse of the northern hemisphere. South Africa’s hot, dry,...

South Africa Travel Advice

Read our detailed insights to make sure you have the best trip

Our Latest South Africa Content

Elephants in Chobe National Park, Botswana
Map of 3 Weeks in South Africa - 3 Unique Itinerary Ideas
3 Weeks in South Africa - 3 Unique Itinerary Ideas

With multiple weeks in South Africa, you can truly explore far and wide, returning home with memories of the game parks, Cape Winelands, and neighboring Botswana, Namibia, and even Mauritius. Wildlife lovers can follow the Garden Route to Addo Elephant National Park and Kruger National Park or paddle the Okavango Delta and take a sunset boat ride to Victoria Falls. Or, spend your time on a wellness retreat that includes spa treatments, gourmet dining, and water activities in the Indian Ocean.

Elephants in the Addo National Park
The 5 Best Safari Lodges in South Africa

South Africa is home to world-famous national game reserves such as the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi National Park, recognized for rhino conservation, and the Kruger National Park, the largest game reserve in the country. Shamwari in the Eastern Cape and the Tswalu-Kalahari in the Northern Cape are among the biggest and best private game reserves. The best time to visit is during the dry winter season (May to October) when it is cooler, and the animals are more visible in the dry vegetation. 

Dare to cross the Storms River Suspension Bridge in Tsitsikamma National Park, Garden Route, South Africa
Best Time of Year to Drive the Garden Route

Driving South Africa's famed Garden Route is suitable in any season; though there is always a chance of rain, it's never enough to discourage a road trip or adventure outdoors. Let your interests determine when you hit the road. If you want to see whales, come in the winter, spring for the wildflowers, summer for the beaches, and fall for hiking. Awaiting exploration at any time, the Garden Route offers something for everyone.

South Africa Travel Maps

Get the lay of land, and understand distances between the places you want to visit
South Africa map: Guide to South Africa's Top Regions: Where to Go for Safari, Culture, Hiking, & More
Guide to South Africa's Top Regions: Where to Go for Safari, Culture, Hiking, & More
View article
South Africa map: 10 Days in South Africa - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas
10 Days in South Africa - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas
View article
South Africa map: 7 Days in South Africa - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas
7 Days in South Africa - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas
View article

Meet our Local Travel Specialists

Experienced travel agents with a passion for South Africa
Travel specialist Deborah Smook
active 23 hours ago

Deborah Smook

I get super excited every time I get to share my country with anyone and I want to make sure that when someone does come, they are blown away by the people, the beauty, and the incredible value for...

read more...
Travel specialist Carla Ferreira
active 6 days ago

Carla Ferreira

I have traveled to over 50 countries and know the importance of having someone with local knowledge and advice to give you tips on where to go for those unforgettable experiences. A born and bred...

read more...
Travel specialist Howard Spencer-Wilson
active 21 hours ago

Howard Spencer-Wilson

I co-own and manage the African Travel Gateway, where we plan, book and implement tailor-made holidays of all sorts, for all sorts, with all sorts of budgets... Our recipe for client satisfaction?...

read more...
Travel specialist Lize Enderstein
active 3 hours ago

Lize Enderstein

I work as a senior consultant for African Travel Gateway and have 15 years of experience in the travel industry. We plan, book and implement tailor-made holidays for our clients that fit within...

read more...

Related Destinations

Travelers who visit South Africa also visit these destinations

Why travelers love kimkim

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Authentic travel experiences

Kimkim’s local specialists ensure that you will have the best experience based on up-to-date local insights. On top of that, the vast majority of your money will go straight to support and grow local economies.

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A portion of every kimkim trip goes toward the removal of carbon from the atmosphere. Learn more
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Seller of Travel Registration number: CST #2136279-40.
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Trip Reviews for South Africa

The latest reviews by travelers who booked their trip on kimkim

Lize is amazing, helpful, knowledgable, quick turnaround and fun to interact · South Africa - May 31 - Jun 8, 2022

Traveler: ashish s. - Local specialist: Lize Enderstein

The trip was fantastic. The suggestions were very good. We started communicating last minute with very little time left before our departure to cape town.
We didn't figure out the Kruger Safari and we are glad that we connected with Lize and booked our Kruger Safari experience and the Shark cage diving day trip through her.

She is super helpful, knowledgable and our go to person for another trip to SA in future.
Thank you Lize once again, you are awesome!
read more

The trip was fantastic. The suggestions were very good. We started communicating last minute with very little time left before our departure to cape town.
We didn't figure out the Kruger Safari and we are glad that we connected with Lize and booked our Kruger Safari experience and the Shark cage diving day trip through her.

She is super helpful, knowledgable and our go to person for another trip to SA in future.
Thank you Lize once again, you are awesome!

Hotel Review

Elephant Plains Game Lodge

Bushbuckridge

Overall Rating
Hotel Review

Great hospitality, food and service. The staff is super nice, pleasing and fun! Everyone was so good. Highly recommended.

Tips for future travelers

None

Cleanliness & Comfort

Staff

Authenticity & Character

Location

Activity Reviews

Shark Cage Diving

South Africa

Overall Rating
Food

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

Days on Safari

South Africa

Overall Rating
Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

Quality of Experience

Lize Enderstein profile photo
Lize Enderstein, local specialist, responded to this review:

Hi Ashish,
Thank you so much for your detailed feedback, we appreciate it. The feedback you send always provide us with clear insight and give a true reflection of your overall experience.
Wonderful to hear that you enjoyed your safari and the Shark Gage Diving experience.
Hope to be of assistance again in the near future.
All the best, Lize

Deborah (AKA the Debz), was such a joy to wor... · South Africa - May 2 - May 19, 2022

Traveler: Therese M. - Local specialist: Deborah Smook

Deborah (AKA the Debz), was such a joy to work with. She coordinated travel for my honeymoon which included stops in Johannesburg, Cape Town, the Winelands, Chobe, Victoria Falls, Kruger and Zanzibar. A trip we coined "Beach Wine Safari." She answered all my questions, big and small, leading up to our trip. Deborah really listened to what we wanted to get out of the trip and made all our dreams come true. She is extremely knowledgeable. Additionally, throughout our trip she was... read more

Deborah (AKA the Debz), was such a joy to work with. She coordinated travel for my honeymoon which included stops in Johannesburg, Cape Town, the Winelands, Chobe, Victoria Falls, Kruger and Zanzibar. A trip we coined "Beach Wine Safari." She answered all my questions, big and small, leading up to our trip. Deborah really listened to what we wanted to get out of the trip and made all our dreams come true. She is extremely knowledgeable. Additionally, throughout our trip she was immediately responsive. Setting expectations was very important to us and even though things do not always go as planned, we really had a seamless travel experience. We had the pleasure of meeting Deborah in person as well. She went above and beyond by using her personal contacts to ensure we had the best possible experience. I enthusiastically recommend her for all your Africa travel needs.

Deborah Smook profile photo
Deborah Smook, local specialist, responded to this review:

Aaaah Therese & Chancey

It was so awesome meeting you and I really enjoyed our interactions during our planning stages right from the start. Thank you so much for the really thoughtful review and the time you spent writing it.

I can't wait to come and visit you in the US!

Deb

Deb, the world class travel agent! · South Africa - Apr 7 - Apr 14, 2022

Traveler: Marc F. - Local specialist: Deborah Smook

Deb was phenomenal! From the start, she was super communicative and eased us into the process of working with a travel agent, as we had never done so before. Every morning we would wake up to amazing updates that got us incredibly excited for our trip.

As she learned more about ourselves and what we wanted from our trip, she never batted an eye about making changes to our itinerary and even made suggestions about things that we never thought possible. When we were on the trip, we had a few... read more

Deb was phenomenal! From the start, she was super communicative and eased us into the process of working with a travel agent, as we had never done so before. Every morning we would wake up to amazing updates that got us incredibly excited for our trip.

As she learned more about ourselves and what we wanted from our trip, she never batted an eye about making changes to our itinerary and even made suggestions about things that we never thought possible. When we were on the trip, we had a few hiccups (of our own doing) and Deb was right there with us making updates and helping us come up with a new plan of attack.

Deb, you have given us an experience that we will never forget. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being such an amazing person, a stellar travel agent, and for having a gigantic heart. I can't wait to work with you again.

- Marc

Hotel Review

Ivory Wilderness

Hoedspruit

Overall Rating
Hotel Review

Ivory Wilderness was the highlight of my trip. The night tours, early morning treks, and being able to walk around the bush on foot was incredible. The food was delicious, the accommodations were perfect, the setting is unbeatable, and the crew that put the experience together treated me as though I was one of their life long friends. I could not have wished for a better time. Thank you so much!

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Staff

Authenticity & Character

Activity Review

A Day in the Kruger Bush with 2 game drives

South Africa

Overall Rating
Deborah Smook profile photo
Deborah Smook, local specialist, responded to this review:

Hello Marc

You are awesome - even though you have been one of the very few clients I have NOT met in person. Thank you for the best review ever and the heartfelt message. It means the world to me - even more so after a few years of not having any. It's so nice to be back in the game.

Deb