Your thoughts on my 14-day South Africa itinerary for a senior traveler (page 1 of 3)

Hello, I’m taking advantage of the forum reopening to ask this question:

For her 70th birthday, my mom will receive—as a gift—a trip to South Africa at the end of May 2025. We’ll arrive and depart (13 nights later) from JNB on Air France AF990/AF995. We’ll obviously rent a car for certain parts of the trip. I’ve been to the Cape Town area and as far as Agulhas twice, but she’s never been to South Africa before. She might enjoy a day or two of safari, but it’s not a priority for her. I’m well aware that trying to pack in too much is risky, which is why I’m looking for your advice on itineraries, safety, and health (status of the Marburg virus). So far, which combinations of these visits (in no particular order) would be doable and most enjoyable for her at a reasonable pace:

1-day excursion to Pilanesberg Park (+ Hartbeespoort on the way back if possible), self-drive or with a tour guide? 2 nights around the Panorama Route self-driving Garden Route from/to George/PLZ for 5 nights (what are the must-sees for a first-timer with so little time?) Wine region for 2 nights (is it worth doing both the Stellenbosch bus tour and the Franschhoek Wine Tram the next day, or vice versa)—she loves good wine! Cape Town for 2 nights (is it worth stopping at the Cape of Good Hope if—only if—you’ve maybe already been to Agulhas?).

This would give a final itinerary like this:

Day 1: Morning arrival in JNB—rest day/to be defined Day 2: Guided game drive excursion to Pilanesberg Park Day 3: Flight JNB–Port Elizabeth, pick up rental car, drive to Tsitsikamma Day 4–6: Garden Route: activities to be defined Day 7: Transfer to Franschhoek: Wine Tram in the afternoon Day 8: Taxi to Stellenbosch for the Vine Hopper bus tour Day 9–11: Transfer to Cape Town: activities to be defined Day 12: Flight from Cape Town to Hoedspruit or Nelspruit Day 13: Visit the Panorama Route Day 14: Flight from Hoedspruit or Nelspruit to JNB, then evening flight back to France

Given the time spent on the Garden Route, what are the must-sees? Same question for the Panorama Route? In general, she prefers beautiful walks with incredible landscapes/views and cultural visits over big cats, but it would be a shame not to see some local wildlife like meerkats, whales (I doubt it in May), or penguins during her stay! There you go—feel free to critique (not too harshly, though😛)/advise/improve. Thanks in advance! 🙂

Hello,

Of course, your plan is totally doable as is. A few questions and suggestions, though.

Why not keep the car from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town for more flexibility?

Babylonstoren, north of Stellenbosch, is worth the detour for its gardens, wines, and way of life.

In Cape Town, don’t miss the Zeitz MOCAA (contemporary art)—it’s unique on the continent.

At Cape of Good Hope, now very developed, there are often more penguins on the boardwalks than on the beaches.

To cut down on travel time, consider swapping Pilanesberg for Addo Elephant Park near Port Elizabeth. If you keep Pilanesberg, you could head there on the day of arrival (about 3h from JNB) and spend the first night there.

With the same goal, especially if you keep the car from Day 3 to Day 12, swap the Panorama Route for a detour into the Karoo, focusing on its mountain ranges (for the views), like the Swartberg Mountains—plus the bonus of semi-desert landscapes.

(Nope, not a total overhaul 😉)

Hello,

I find it odd to have so many domestic flights for a trip that’s meant to be relaxing?

It’s exhausting to have so many flights, and it’s a big time-waster over such a short period.

If the tickets haven’t been bought yet, it’d be better to do a round trip to Cape Town and plan a loop from there (like Cape Town, the wine regions, Karoo NP—wildlife + landscapes—and return along the ocean).

If the tickets are already booked, then it might be best to focus on the Johannesburg-Durban area. For example: Pretoria (history and culture), Marakele NP (wildlife and landscapes), Pilanesberg (wildlife and landscapes), fly to Durban, and head back via the Drakensberg (landscapes and culture) before finishing the trip in Joburg (history and culture).

Or a middle-ground option if flights are already booked:

Arrive in Joburg – Joburg Domestic flight to Cape Town Cape Town, wine regions, Karoo NP (landscapes and wildlife), Graaff-Reinet (history), Mountain Zebra NP (landscapes and wildlife), return the car in Port Elizabeth, fly back to Joburg, and last night in Pretoria.

Happy planning!

(Agulhas and Cape of Good Hope aren’t redundant.) (The Drakensberg, like all high-altitude areas, can be quite chilly in May.)

As voyajou mentioned, I’d swap Pilanesberg for Addo Elephant Park. Beyond that, I don’t know this part of South Africa well enough to say.

Happy travels!

Hello! Lots to see in a short time! Why not try this: Arrive in Cape Town (CT) Then from CT to Port Elizabeth (PE) Flight to Johannesburg (Joburg), then flight to Hoedspruit or Skukuza Or drive to Kruger National Park (KNP) via Panorama Route Return flight from Hoedspruit or Skukuza To Joburg for departure

Alternatively: Arrive in CT Do this part, then fly to Hoedspruit or Skukuza Return either via Panorama Route to Joburg or fly from Hoedspruit/Skukuza This is my first draft

Attila Rjulie Voyajou It’s party time!!!!! Hello !

Hello! This makes me so happy! For the penguins: If you enter early in the morning through the small gate on the west side, you’ll reach a little beach that’s often not too crowded.

Hello! Such a pleasure to see our Attila again !

Same as the other two— A real pleasure!

Thanks, Michel! Great to catch up with the regulars 😛

Hi Michel 🙂

So great to see you here again, along with Jean Luc, Régis, and so many others!

🙂

Hello So much in so little time... Why not do Arrival in CPT Then from CPT to PE Flight to Joburg then flight to Hoedspruit or Skukuza Or drive to KNP via Panorama Route Return flight from Hoedspruit or Skukuza To Joburg and departure

Or arrival in CPT Do this part then fly to Hoed or Skukuza Then return either via Panorama Route to Joburg or flight from Hoed or Skukuza This is my first approach

This is a general response to everyone (whom I thank by the way, since apparently you're all experts). No, it's not too much in too little time—just to clarify, I’d like your help with the essential attractions/ideal itinerary (without paying an agency) so my mom can enjoy it to the fullest (and definitely not at a rushed pace) and at her own rhythm—even if it means cutting some stops.

1) I have Accor points (non-refundable) that need to be used (i.e., booked) before December 5, 2024. They cover 2 rooms for 2 nights in Jo’burg—which is why I thought of Pilanesberg in between. The other Accor hotels are in Cape Town (1 room/1 night) or Nelspruit (1 room/2 nights)—not many options in South Africa!

2) Regarding points, if possible, as many accommodations as possible will be booked using Air France air miles (https://hotelsformiles.flyingblue.com/)

3) The long-haul flights with Air France are already booked—so arrival at JNB (unless there’s a last-minute airline change) is theoretically at 8:10 AM, and departure 14 days later at 6:50 PM. That leaves some wiggle room on the first and last days.

4) Overall—and as of now—the 3 domestic flights (multi-destination with Air Link) cost 200 € per person. Not driving to JNB will help avoid traffic and the stress of returning on the last day!

5) The car will be used on the Garden Route and the Winelands, then the Panorama Route (essential for that stretch).

6) Addo Elephant Park? Why not! But it adds time from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town (currently limited to 3 days). At worst, other reserves or the Karoo (what are the highlights?) if it fits naturally into this itinerary.

7) Sure, it’s a gift for my mom, but I’ve never seen the Blyde River Canyon—it’s a unique opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. (But shhh, don’t tell her!)😉

The feedback is great because there are lots of ideas that will shape the final route, so don’t hesitate!🙂

See you later,

I have non-refundable Accor points that need to be used (=booked) before December 5, 2024

Cape Town seems like the best option. Nelspruit isn’t very interesting. Johannesburg, well, I wouldn’t stay there for 2 nights (am I wrong?)

as many accommodations as possible will be booked using Air France air miles

Doesn’t seem like there’s much choice in South Africa, right?

not driving to JNB will help avoid traffic and the stress of returning on the last day!

Coming back from the east (Blyde Canyon), we avoid the city. 😉

At worst, other reserves or the Karoo if it fits naturally into this itinerary

I’m not a huge fan of Addo, but it’s the only Big Five reserve in the area.

Karoo NP has varied wildlife and much prettier landscapes, but no Big Five. This park fits well into a route around the Cape, arriving from the west (the vineyards) and, in a shorter version, returning via the south through Swartberg Pass and the coast.

I don’t know the Blyde River Canyon

It’s nice, but I don’t see the point of making a round trip just for that area... The Drakensberg has more to offer.

Might as well go as far as the nearby Kruger, which would make a small loop around Cape Town without an animal park, then another loop from Nelspruit Airport including Kruger and Blyde.

Skip Pilanesberg then—it’s not the best anyway.

Arrival JNB - Visit JNB - night in JNB

Flight to Cape Town Loop

Flight to Nelspruit Loop

Return by car to JNB or by plane - last night in Pretoria

Not too tiring, aside from the domestic flights, very few nights in animal parks, but still the best: Blyde, Cape Town, the vineyards.

Good evening, I’m replying to Attila’s post because I largely agree with his opinion.

Okay, so we arrive in Joburg and depart from Joburg. From Cape Town (CT), you can reach Hoedspruit or Skukuza. Or Nelspruit (now called Mbombela), but there’s only one flight per day and it’s quite late. Connections from Port Elizabeth (PE) or George all go back through Joburg. So logically, it makes sense to keep Joburg as the entry/exit point and use Hoedspruit or Skukuza as bases. I’d skip Joburg and head straight to CT.

I’d spend time exploring around CT: - The Peninsula - Penguins - Table Mountain - Whether or not to visit the vineyards - Maybe head to West Coast National Park - Even a quick trip to Cederberg - Return via Mossel Bay Basically, I’d spend a good chunk of time in a relatively small area (more relaxing). Then I’d leave CT for Hoedspruit or Skukuza.

From Hoedspruit, I’d visit Blyde River Canyon. And then... Either I’d limit myself to the Kruger National Park (KNP) around Orpen, Satara, or Mopani. Or... I’d consider a private reserve (oh, Mrs. Attila might not agree here). Like Honeyguide in Manyeleti (more relaxing) Or Shindzela in Timbavati (a bit trickier with timing, so Honeyguide is probably better—it’s one I know well). I think both can pick you up. And I’d depart from Hoedspruit.

Alternatively, I’d arrive at Skukuza (fewer flights, but car rental is possible, and it’s the heart of Kruger). It’s not the wildest camp, sure, but in this case, it’d be practical. I’d stick to Skukuza, Berg-en-Dal, and Lower Sabie. Then I’d drive back to Joburg via Blyde River Canyon, with Graskop or Sabie as a base. It’s not too difficult—you arrive from the east, so there aren’t many towns. It’s doable from Graskop, but if you want to take it easy, you could stop overnight in Dullstroom.

There you go! These past three years have been all about South Africa for me. (No teasing from the old-timers, please!) In the eastern part, from north to south, And in the west, around CT. The eager ones can wait for my upcoming travel journal summary...

Rjulie Voyajou It’s a party!!!!! Hello !

It’s so great to see the South Africa experts back on the forum.😊 I’m thrilled to be back on VF.

A trip to South Africa isn’t in the plans right now, but I’m happily reading your comments to take notes for a future trip.

Your profile photo is so lovely! 😊

Thanks Carmen

Hello, I agree with Michel 85200—one night in a private reserve is exceptional. Shindzela is still affordable, and you can see lots of animals off-road. We’re heading back to northern South Africa in June 2025. We’ll spend 20 days in Kruger, including 2 nights again at Shindzela. Best regards

I’m considering a private game reserve (oh, Mrs. Attila won’t agree at all)

If it were me traveling, yeah.

But in this case, I think a guided safari will actually be more suitable.