Two weeks in South Africa
14-Day South Africa Itinerary: Kruger, Cape Town + Garden Route
Fourteen days is enough for Kruger, Cape Town, the Winelands and the Garden Route without rushing, if you start with the safari and finish on the coast. Spend three nights in Kruger, fly direct from Skukuza to Cape Town for four nights, move to the Winelands for two, then drive the Garden Route with two nights in Wilderness and two in Plettenberg Bay. Fly home through George or drive back to Cape Town. The route uses one domestic flight and has no single-night stops.
In this guide
- The route at a glance
- Days 1–4: Kruger
- Day 4: Fly from Skukuza to Cape Town
- Days 4–8: Cape Town
- Days 8–10: Cape Winelands
- Days 10–12: Wilderness
- Days 12–14: Plettenberg Bay
- Day 14: Going home
- When does this itinerary work best?
- Ways to change the route
- How Herons House can help
- Related guides
- Last checked
- Questions
The route at a glance
This 14-day South Africa itinerary moves from safari to city to coast. Each stop has at least two nights, and there is one domestic flight.
| Days | Base | Nights | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 | Kruger National Park or Greater Kruger | 3 | Fly into Johannesburg, connect to the Kruger area |
| 4–8 | Cape Town | 4 | Airlink flight from Skukuza to Cape Town |
| 8–10 | Cape Winelands (Franschhoek or Stellenbosch) | 2 | About one hour by road from Cape Town |
| 10–12 | Wilderness | 2 | About five hours by road from Franschhoek |
| 12–14 | Plettenberg Bay | 2 | About one hour by road from Wilderness |
| 14 | Depart | — | Fly from George, or drive back to Cape Town |
Thirteen nights in five bases is the right density for two weeks. Adding a sixth base, such as Hermanus or Oudtshoorn, usually means cutting a stay to one night.
Days 1–4: Kruger
Arrive in Johannesburg on an overnight flight and connect to the Kruger area. Skukuza Airport serves the south of Kruger and nearby private reserves such as Sabi Sand. Some lodges are better served from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport or Hoedspruit, so confirm the right airport before booking the flight.
Three nights gives you five or six game drives. That is usually enough for a good chance of seeing the Big Five, though no lodge can promise particular animals.
Your main choice is between a national park rest camp and a private reserve:
| SANParks rest camp | Private reserve lodge | |
|---|---|---|
| Game drives | Self-drive or park-run guided drives | Two guided drives a day, included |
| Off-road driving | Not allowed | Usually allowed for sightings |
| Meals | Self-catering or camp restaurant | Usually included |
| Cost | Lower | Much higher |
| Fees | R692 per international adult per day from 1 November 2026 | Lodge levies, usually included in the rate |
For more detail, read where to stay in Kruger: national park or Greater Kruger.
Malaria. Kruger is a malaria area. SANParks says the risk is highest from November to April. Speak to a travel health clinic before you go. If you would rather avoid malaria areas, consider the reserves in the malaria-free safaris guide.
Day 4: Fly from Skukuza to Cape Town
Airlink flies direct between Skukuza and Cape Town. When this guide was checked, flight 4Z652 left Skukuza at 11:45 and arrived in Cape Town at 14:35. That lets you take a final morning game drive before leaving.
Airlink also flies Cape Town–Lanseria from 4 December 2026, which can help if your lodge is reached through Johannesburg’s northern side.
Smaller regional aircraft have tighter baggage limits. Check the allowance and use soft bags for safari stays.
Days 4–8: Cape Town
Four nights in Cape Town gives you three full days. A balanced plan:
- Day 5: Table Mountain and the city. Go up early on a clear, calm morning. The Cableway costs R475 return for adults booked online in 2026–27, and online tickets are valid for seven days in case wind closes it. Spend the afternoon at the V&A Waterfront or Bo-Kaap.
- Day 6: Cape Peninsula. Drive Chapman’s Peak, visit Cape Point and stop at Boulders Beach for the penguins.
- Day 7: Flexible day. Use it for Robben Island, Kirstenbosch, a beach afternoon or a second attempt at the mountain if wind closed it.
Keep one day flexible. Cape Town’s weather, especially the summer south-easterly wind, can change plans at short notice. For hotel areas, read where to stay in Cape Town.
Days 8–10: Cape Winelands
Franschhoek and Stellenbosch are both about an hour from Cape Town. Two nights gives you one full day for tastings, lunch and a slower pace after the city.
Book a driver or wine tram for tasting days rather than driving yourself. See the Cape Winelands destination guide.
Days 10–12: Wilderness
The drive from Franschhoek to Wilderness takes about five hours, longer with stops. Most travellers take the N2 through the Overberg. Leave after breakfast and break the journey for lunch.
Wilderness is quieter than Knysna or Plettenberg Bay, with lagoons, forest trails and a long beach. Two nights gives you a day for the Kaaimans River, the Map of Africa viewpoint or a forest walk.
Days 12–14: Plettenberg Bay
Plettenberg Bay is about an hour east of Wilderness, through Knysna. Use your full day for Robberg Nature Reserve, a marine trip on the bay or the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park, which is about an hour further east.
For more ideas, read the 7-day Garden Route itinerary or the Garden Route destination guide.
Day 14: Going home
You have two options:
- Fly from George. George Airport is roughly an hour and a quarter from Plettenberg Bay. Connect through Cape Town or Johannesburg for your international flight.
- Drive back to Cape Town. The drive takes about six hours. This suits a late evening departure, though it makes for a long final day.
Allow a generous connection if your domestic and international flights are on separate tickets.
When does this itinerary work best?
| Months | What to expect |
|---|---|
| May to September | Dry season in Kruger, with thinner bush and easier wildlife viewing. Cooler, wetter weather in Cape Town. Lower malaria risk. |
| October to November | Warm, green Kruger. Cape Town summer begins. |
| December to January | Peak season. Book flights and lodges well ahead. School holidays in South Africa and the UK. |
| February to April | Hot, green Kruger with higher malaria risk. Settled, dry weather in Cape Town. |
For a fuller month-by-month view, read the best time to visit Cape Town and Kruger.
Ways to change the route
- Swap Kruger for a malaria-free reserve in the Eastern Cape, which also shortens the journey to the Garden Route.
- Drop the Garden Route and add two nights in Cape Town and two in Hermanus, which is good for whale watching from about June to November.
- Go in reverse if flight availability is better, though you then end the trip with early game drives.
If you have fewer days, read how many days you need in South Africa or the 10-day Cape Town and Garden Route itinerary.
How Herons House can help
Herons House arranges the full route: the safari lodge, domestic flight, Cape Town and Winelands stays, Garden Route hotels, transfers and car hire. Tailor-made journeys start from USD 1,998 per person for six nights in Cape Town. International flights are quoted separately.
Related guides
- Direct flights from London to Cape Town
- How much does a South Africa trip from the UK cost?
- Safari near Cape Town vs Kruger
- Where to stay in Kruger
Last checked
The Airlink Skukuza–Cape Town schedule, SANParks conservation fees and malaria guidance, and Table Mountain Cableway 2026–27 fares were reviewed on 30 October 2026. Flight times and fees can change, so recheck them before booking.
Questions travellers ask
Is 14 days enough for South Africa?
Yes. Two weeks covers a safari, Cape Town, the Winelands and the Garden Route with at least two nights in each place. Adding more regions usually means one-night stops and long transfer days.
Should I do the safari at the start or the end?
Start with the safari when you can. Early game drives suit the first days after a long flight, and finishing on the Garden Route or in Cape Town gives you a slower end to the trip.
How do I get from Kruger to Cape Town?
Airlink flies direct from Skukuza to Cape Town. Flight 4Z652 was scheduled to leave Skukuza at 11:45 and arrive at 14:35 when this guide was checked. Private lodges in the Greater Kruger reserves can also connect through other airports, so confirm the right one for your lodge.
Do I need malaria tablets for this itinerary?
Kruger is a malaria area, and SANParks says the risk is highest from November to April. Cape Town, the Winelands and the Garden Route are not. Ask a travel health clinic for advice before you go, or swap Kruger for a malaria-free reserve.
Can I self-drive this itinerary?
Yes, from Cape Town onwards. The Winelands and Garden Route roads are good, though a driver makes wine-tasting days easier. In Kruger, guided game drives in a private reserve usually find more wildlife than driving yourself.
Shape your two weeks