Best of South Africa
Johannesburg & Cape Town, 3 game drives in Kruger and a private conservancy, plus a bush walk; stay in upscale hotels throughout.
| Style | Small Group Tour Dedicated tour escorts & guides throughout | ||
| Departures | September 2025 – December 2026 | Group Size | 16 travelers max |
| Themes | Active, History & Culture, Grand Tours, Nature & Wildlife | ||
| Activity Level | |||
| What to Expect | This moderately-paced, escorted South Africa tour includes a reasonable amount of walking or hiking and requires an average level of physical fitness. This tour also includes long scenic drives between destinations and may have limited rest stops.Travel safely and confidently with our new health & safety protocols. | ||
| Already booked? | Find everything you need to know before you go, including information about passport & visa requirements, flights, luggage, and more. | ||
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Explore deeper into South Africa on our comprehensive Best of South Africa small group escorted tour. Begin your tour in cosmopolitan Johannesburg, South Africa's largest metropolis, also know as "Egoli" or City of Gold. Then head north to begin your safari in Karongwe Private Game Reserve, where you'll embark on a late morning bush walk with an experienced ranger. Continue your game viewing in Kruger National Park, one of the world's oldest and most famous game reserves. Rest assured, you'll have ample opportunities to spot the Big 5! Finally, end your tour in scenic Cape Town, exploring the city's vibrant neighborhoods, storied past and incredible cuisine; then look down on it all from the top of Table Mountain. Your ticket is pre-purchased, so you won't spend hours waiting in line to buy one.
Package includes
- Flights
- Coach
- Transfers
- Hotel
- Meals
- Guides
- Round-trip flights from New York via wide-bodied jet service, including taxes & fees
- Flights, ground transportation and transfers within South Africa
- 10 nights in superior first class and deluxe hotels
- 20 meals: 10 breakfasts, 4 lunches, & 6 dinners, including welcome and farewell dinners with wine
- Professional English-speaking tour directors
- Comprehensive touring program and safaris, including entrance fees
Optional add-ons
- Flights from other cities are available. Request pricing when making your reservation.
- Optional Half-day Stellenbosch Winelands
Why you'll love it
- Visit South Africa's largest and most populous city, Johannesburg, and learn about the country’s poignant past at the Apartheid Museum.
- Experience a close-up look at daily life in the bustling neighborhood of Soweto.
- Come face-to-face with lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, buffalo and more during 2 game drives and a bush walk in Karongwe Private Game Reserve and a full-day game drive in Kruger National Park.
- Enjoy the jaw-dropping view of the Blyde River Canyon, one of the world's largest canyons, during your drive along the astonishing Panorama Route.
- Bask in the scenic and historic highlights of beautiful Cape Town, including a trip to Table Mountain by cable car.
- Explore Cape Point including Hout Bay, Boulders Beach and Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.
Itinerary at a Glance
- 1 Depart USA
- 2 Arrive Johannesburg
- 3 Johannesburg
- 4 Johannesburg & Karongwe Private Game Reserve
- 5 Karongwe Private Game Reserve
- 6 Karongwe Private Game Reserve & Kruger National Park
- 7 Kruger National Park
- 8 Kruger National Park & Cape Town
- 9 Cape Town
- 10 Cape Point & Cape Town
- 11 Cape Town
- Optional Excursion: Half-day Stellenbosch Winelands
- 12 South Africa/USA
Videos
Dates & Prices
Detailed Itinerary
To see full details, click the button to the right.
Day 1 Depart USA
- Depart New York on your overnight flight to Johannesburg, South Africa
Day 2 Arrive Johannesburg
- Arrive in Johannesburg, South Africa, meet your guide, and transfer to your hotel
- This evening, meet your fellow travelers at a welcome dinner
Sandton Sun or similarDinner
Day 3 Johannesburg
- Experience daily life in the Soweto neighborhood
- Learn about the rise and fall of apartheid at the Apartheid Museum
- Visit the urban Maboneng Precinct
Sandton Sun or similarBreakfast
Day 4 Johannesburg & Karongwe Private Game Reserve
- Depart for Karongwe Private Game Reserve
- Enjoy an afternoon game drive in the Karongwe Private Game Reserve
Shiduli Private Game Lodge or similarBreakfast & dinner
Day 5 Karongwe Private Game Reserve
- Enjoy an early morning game drive in open safari vehicles
- Join a bush walk with an experienced local ranger
Shiduli Private Game Lodge or similarBreakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 6 Karongwe Private Game Reserve & Kruger National Park
- Drive along the awe-inspiring Panorama Route
- Stop at Graskop Gorge and take the lift to the forest below
- View the spectacular Blyde River Canyon
Angels View Hotel or similarBreakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 7 Kruger National Park
- Enjoy a full-day game drive in open 4x4 safari vehicles in Kruger National Park
Angels View Hotel or similarBreakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 8 Kruger National Park & Cape Town
- Transfer to the airport in Johannesburg for your afternoon flight to Cape Town
- Spend the balance of the evening at leisure
The Capital 15 on Orange or similarBreakfast
Day 9 Cape Town
- Witness the scenic and historical highlights of Cape Town on a half-day panoramic city tour
- Weather permitting, ascend by cable car to the top of Table Mountain
- Spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure
The Capital 15 on Orange or similarBreakfast
Day 10 Cape Point & Cape Town
- Enjoy a full-day excursion to Cape Point National Park, including a cruise along Hout Bay
- Visit Boulders Beach and see the African jackass penguins
- Tour the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
- Enjoy dinner paired with a drum performance
The Capital 15 on Orange or similarBreakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 11 Cape Town
- Explore Cape Town at leisure, or join an optional excursion to Stellenbosch Winelands
The Capital 15 on Orange or similarBreakfast
Day 12 South Africa/USA
- This morning, enjoy free time for some last minute shopping
Breakfast
Hotels
In the unlikely event that a particular hotel is not available, a similar or better hotel may be substituted.
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Trip Details
- What should I know before I go?We've compiled a comprehensive checklist, including information on how to pay your balance due, flights & transfers, packing & luggage, and more.
- Do I need a visa or other documents? Are there any entry requirements?Please review the visa & entry requirements.
- Can I make changes to my trip?Want to upgrade your seats? Depart from another city? Stay a few extra days? Something else? Just ask!
- Can I bring my kids? Are there any age restrictions?To book this package, you must be 18 or older. Your traveling companions must be 8 or older at the time of travel.
- Should I purchase travel insurance?Yes! We recommend you purchase travel insurance to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. For your convenience, we offer a plan provided by Travelex Insurance Services.
- What's the fine print?Review the terms & conditions for this package.
What should I know about South Africa?Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.
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