10-Day Itinerary in South Africa

Hi everyone, My partner, our 6-year-old daughter, and I are heading to South Africa in early July. I’d love your thoughts and insights on our planned itinerary: Day 1: Arrival in Joburg in the early afternoon / Overnight near the airport Day 2: Morning flight to Cape Town / Pick up rental car / Explore the city Day 3: Cape Peninsula (Boulders Beach to see the penguins) Day 4: If the weather allows: whale-watching excursion from Hermanus Day 5: Early morning flight to Kruger (Mpumalanga Airport) - Pick up rental car and head to the Blyde River Canyon Panoramic Route (stops at Mac Mac Falls, Lisbon or Berlin Falls, and Three Rondavels) / Overnight on Orpen Road as close as possible to Orpen Gate Day 6: Enter Kruger National Park via Orpen Gate for a self-drive safari / Overnight to be decided? Day 7: Kruger National Park / Overnight at Letaba Rest Camp (the only night we’ve managed to book in the park so far) Day 8: Self-drive safari from Letaba Rest Camp to Manyeleti Game Reserve (overnight booked at Honeyguide Khoka Moya lodge) Day 9: Morning guided safari in the private reserve, then return to Joburg Day 10: Return flight in the late afternoon from Joburg Airport What do you think? Do you think Day 5 is doable? Does the Panoramic Route in half a day from the airport seem realistic to you? It’s tough to find availability in the rest camps. Any suggestions for a place to stay between Orpen Gate and Letaba (Day 6)? On the way back (Day 9), we’re considering stopping overnight between Kruger Park and Joburg. What do you think? Any towns or stops you’d recommend? Thanks so much for your help!

Sorry, but this feels too scattered for me. Either Kruger or Cape Town—too much time lost in transfers and other stuff.

Sorry, but that’s too scattered for me Either Kruger or Cape Town Too much time wasted on transfers and other stuff

Thanks for your feedback, Michel. I didn’t realize my itinerary was that crazy I put it together after scouring the internet (travel journals, forums, and agency-proposed routes), and it seemed like a good way to make the most of the 10 days by doing these two stops. I’ll keep researching!

I was a bit blunt, but there’s really too much wasted time. July isn’t the best time for Cape Town, and whales will still be rare. In 10 days, you could optimize things. If you don’t mind me asking, you’re arriving in Joburg quite late… It’s probably necessary, but an earlier arrival lets you leave Joburg sooner. Ideas: Marakele Waterberg Dullstroom Waterval Boven

The classic route is: Joburg - KNP - Panorama Road before or after + a small detour. Another version with a lot more kilometers: Joburg - Marakele or Waterberg - northern KNP - Panorama Road. Another version with kilometers: Joburg - Dullstroom - Panorama Road - southern KNP - crossing through Eswatini - St Lucia, then flying back from Durban to Joburg (or even Richards Bay to Joburg). The ocean and whales already! Okay, here’s a third, very original one: Instead of going down to St Lucia, you do Hlane or Milwane or Mkhaya (or a mix) and return via Manzini International Airport to Joburg.

Hello, It’s flying, it’s rolling, click-clack, we’re laughing, it’s delicious, it’s a trip for young folks. 😎 If you haven’t already bought your international flights, you could consider Paris-Cape Town on the way out and Johannesburg-Paris on the way back, plus the domestic flight from Cape Town to Nelspruit. At J5, on Panorama Road, to do more than just soak in the scenery, you’d need to spend the night without trying to get closer to Orpen Gate. Entering Kruger the next day at 9 AM or 11 AM won’t make much of a difference. Keep in mind it’s winter and it’ll get dark around 5/6 PM.

Either CT Hoedspruit Or even CT Skukuza

Good evening Voyajou,

Thanks for your feedback. We’ve already booked our Paris/Joburg round-trip flights, but we haven’t booked any domestic flights yet. Got it for the Panorama Road. I’ll look into where to stay in the area to avoid having to rush to get closer to a gate at the end of the day. Especially since we still don’t know which route we’ll take in the park the following day...

Michel, Thanks for your tips too! I’ll check out your itinerary ideas. I’ll admit, I was thinking that since we’re traveling so many kilometers (we live in Martinique !), we might as well take the chance to see Cape Town, which I’ve been dreaming about (despite the winter temperatures... but we’ll survive since it’s always hot where we live😛). But I haven’t looked into the other cities yet! I’ll get on that.

To everyone, After leaving the Manyeleti reserve at 11 AM on our second-to-last day, we’ll head toward Joburg (our flight the next day is at 4:30 PM). Any stops you’d recommend? A point of interest on the road between Kruger and Joburg?

Will the Panorama Road be done? Madness Iketla Lodge Dullstroom

Yes, we’ll do it between Step 1 (Cape Town or elsewhere) and the Kruger step. Thanks so much for the address! I’ll check it out