South Africa is one of those bucket list destinations that you’ve got to visit at least once in your life. Our trip was life-changing and soul-filling, and we’ve created the perfect 10 day South Africa itinerary for you to experience the amazing country the way that we did!
This itinerary includes a luxury African safari experience with a touch of time in one of the world’s most famous cities, Cape Town. If you love nature and animals, then South Africa needs to be on your bucket list.
While we were hosted at the hotels in this post, all opinions shared here are our own.
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Day 1: Johannesburg to Royal Malewane
Fly into Johannesburg
The closest international airport to get to Royal Malewane is O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. From there, you’ll catch a local flight to Kruger National Park. Depending on where you stay, your lodge may provide transfers to and from the local airport as well.
Check in to Royal Malewane
After you arrive in Kruger, you’ll want to check into your safari lodge. We had an outstanding experience with Royal Malewane and the Royal Portfolio and their three properties in the Greater Kruger area. We highly recommend staying with them. The luxury safari lodge shares an unfenced border with Kruger National Park, so the safari experience is amazing.
We started at Malewane Lodge, and would recommend staying here for the first few days of your trip. Once you check in, your luxury safari holiday begins. Game drives typically go out in the morning and evenings, so try to hop on, even though it’s only your first day. A sunset game drive is perfect for day one and hopefully gives you a glimpse of how many amazing animals there are to be seen at Royal Malewane.
The Malewane Lodge offers luxury villas and suites, but we were hosted in their incredible Africa House villa. This villa comes with a private chef, a private butler, and a private safari vehicle. If possible, we highly recommend a private safari vehicle so you can spend time with the animals you want to see and have a more personalized experience.
Day 2: Game Drives in Kruger National Park
Sunrise in the Bush
The next day, you’ll want to wake up early to see the amazing African sunrise colors over the bush. Once you’re up and ready for the day, make your way to the game drive vehicle for coffee with an epic view (and hopefully some animals!
Since Kruger is one of the best national parks in South Africa for spotting wildlife, you’ve got a good chance to see the Big 5 here. The guides at Royal Malewane are out of this world, and we had amazing experiences with the animals every day.
Mid-Day African Siesta
After your morning game drive, head back to the lodge for lunch overlooking the watering hole, and a dip in the pool to cool off from the African heat. The middle of the day is perfect for some relaxation, as the action on safari drives happens in the morning and evenings.
Safari Under the Stars
After your mid-day relaxation, it’s time for an evening game drive under the stars. Night drives are super unique and allow you to see animals that may be more active at night. The Royal Malewane team can set you up with an amazing candlelit safari experience to make it more romantic as well!
Day 3: Transfer to Farmstead Lodge at Royal Malewane
Early Morning Drive & Transfer to Farmstead Lodge
Wake up for another morning safari experience and even consider a walking safari if you are up for it! If not, let the expert guides at Malewane bring you to the animals on another morning game drive.
No two game drives are ever the same experience, so we wanted to spend as much time driving through the bush with our incredible conservationist guide and expert tracker to see what we could spot. After your morning drive, pack up your things and transfer to the Farmstead Lodge, just a 10 – 15 minute drive away.
Customized Dinner & Wine Pairing
Farmstead Lodge offers a contemporary safari lodge experience, and the unique amenities here make this a perfect addition to your stay at Kruger National Park. Farmstead offers amazing dining experiences that are not to be missed, so end your first night at Farmstead with a customized and tailored dinner and wine pairing overlooking the bush before retreating into your comfortable and lavish stay.
We stayed in the Farmhouse at Farmstead which also comes with a private chef who can treat you to local fare with a luxury twist. We loved all of our dining experiences in Royal Malewane, from eating in their main restaurant to customized meals, and even tea out in the bush on our game drives.
Day 4: Private South African Safari Experiences with Royal Malwane
Breakfast in the Bush
A morning not to be missed includes having breakfast in the bush organized and hosted by Farmstead. This breakfast experience was such a vibe, and we even had a herd of elephants walk past while we enjoyed our meal!
After breakfast, enjoy your game drive and keep your eyes peeled for leopards. This is one of the best places for leopard sightings, even though they are fairly rare. My day was made when we were able to spend time with one of these incredible animals in such close proximity. Thanks to the expertise of our guiding team, I felt completely safe and knew they were keeping the animals’ best interest in mind as well.
Relaxing in the Private Pool
Between our safari drives, the Farmhouse at Farmstead Lodge has its own private pool that extends into the surrounding bush. It was the perfect spot to relax between drives, and we could keep an eye out for wildlife while we swam and laid out in the loungers. This experience with Royal Malewane will make it hard to imagine another safari experience that can top this one.
Lantern-Lit Sunset Dinner
After a relaxing swim and cooling down at the Farmhouse, we knew we had to experience a sunset dinner in the bush. This dinner was so amazing that I think I’m ruined for any other experiences.
This lantern-lit setting was the perfect complement to watching the African sunset melt away and hearing the animals start stirring for the evening. The service Royal Malewane provides is a true luxury experience with their staff giving so much attention to detail and having the ability to make sure your needs are met before you can even ask.
Day 5: Transfer to Waterside with Royal Malewane
Sunrise Game Drive
This game drive was another unique experience thanks to getting up close to a whole pride of lions. They were just minutes from the lodge and all had full bellies from the night’s hunts.
The guides with the Royal Malewane team are some of the best in the country, if not the world, and have a huge focus on conservation. If you have time, Royal Malewane offers volunteer experiences to get hands-on with the many conservation or humanitarian projects they run.
Head to Waterside
From Farmstead, we headed to Waterside. This is Royal Malewane’s third property in the Kruger National Park area, and, as the name suggests, it is surrounded by a watering hole. This is perfect for your last couple days on safari.
Especially during the dry season, the animals are often in search of water, which makes this lodge amazing for seeing animals, even from the comfort of your room. We stayed in the Waterside House at Waterside Lodge, their private bush villa. With a heated pool, private safari vehicle, and four bedrooms, it is the perfect retreat near the watering hole.
Have a relaxing night with a dining experience at Waterside’s restaurant which features local dishes. The chef works hard to pair amazing flavors, culture, and local fresh ingredients together, and with a view right over the watering hole, you may even get lucky to see some animals come by!
Day 6: Royal Malewane Spa and Safari Drive
Indulge in a Spa Day
We’re always a fan of waking up for sunrise, so watch the sun come up over the watering hole and start your morning off with some relaxation and rejuvenation. After all of the game drives and experiences, Waterside has your back when it comes to luxury spa experiences. Book a morning treatment to relax and feel rejuvenated or book a yoga class to feel more aligned for the morning.
Enjoy a Sunset Safari Drive
As one of the last safari drives we did, Waterside lodge pulled out all the most amazing touches for our last drive, and they will for you too! We went on our drive, then ended the evening with a bonfire and braai (South African barbecue) in the bush. They had traditional dances, lantern-lit dining, and a candle lit bar of your dreams!
Day 7: Transfer to Cape Town
Early Mornings in the Bush
Depending on your transfer, hop on your last safari or grab breakfast before packing up to catch a flight to Cape Town for the rest of your 10-day itinerary. We had the best time staying at the Royal Malewane properties, and it was difficult to leave even knowing we weren’t done with the Royal Portfolio quite yet.
Arrive in Cape Town
Once in Cape Town, we checked into the Silo Hotel, which was the perfect place for all of our Cape Town adventures. The Silo Hotel is also part of the Royal Portfolio just like the Royal Malewane properties we stayed at for our safari, and it has the same high level of service and attention to detail.
This hotel was absolutely insane and was exactly the perfect combination of art and culture with amazing views of Table Mountain, one of the views Cape Town is known for. Start your Cape Town adventures with an evening of dining and drinks at the Willaston Bar at the Silo, perfect for a date night!
Day 8: Cape Town Beaches
Visit the Famous Penguins & Explore Cape Town’s Beaches
One thing Cape Town is famous for is its adorable penguins that live on the beach! Head to Boulders Beach in the morning to see the endangered African Penguins. They only exist in a small corner of the world, so seeing them is truly special!
Once we left Boulders Beach, we hung out at Camp’s Bay Beach, a cute little beachside town that is a part of Cape Town proper. This town is perfect to spend the day exploring enjoying the white sand, eating, and seeing a different side of Africa.
Explore Colorful Bo-Kaap
If you have time in the day, consider visiting Bo-Kaap, a cultural and colorful space within Cape Town that is famous for its colorful homes lining the streets. Taking a walking tour is the best way to learn about the history and the people of this area, and it is definitely photo-worthy, so bring your camera!
Day 9: Cape Town Vineyards
Explore the Cape Winelands
The Cape Winelands are the Napa Valley or Tuscany of South Africa. Known for their vineyards and regional wines, exploring the Cape Winelands is a must if you enjoy a glass of wine or even just gorgeous views. South African wine is unique in flavor and perfect for wine connoisseurs, girl’s trips, or couples looking for a romantic day trip.
Take a day trip to the various vineyards for some wine tasting to try many of the culinary specialties and pairings. This region is known as the culinary capital of the country and is a definite South Africa bucket list trip to take.
Day 10: Last Day in Cape Town
Brunch at the Granary Cafe
If your trip ends on a Sunday, then royal tea or Sunday brunch is a must at the Granary Cafe in the Silo Hotel. These experiences are relaxed for your earlier mornings but still provide that magical experience you’d hope for. Try booking a later flight so you can experience this amazing brunch!
Fly Out of Cape Town International
After your amazing 10-day South Africa itinerary comes to a close, Cape Town International Airport is the closest airport to return home. Flying out of Cape Town allows you to explore more of the country, and see a different side of South Africa than being in the bush.
South Africa is truly one of the most life-changing trips I’ve taken and one that everyone should get the chance to experience. A Garden Route road trip and seeing Victoria Falls will have to wait for next time, but this trip will be hard to top.
If you want to experience the luxury that South Africa has to offer while experiencing both the city and a safari, this is the perfect South Africa itinerary to make your dreams come true!
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