Table of Contents
South Africa Itinerary
A round trip from Cape Town through the Winelands to the Eastern Cape via Route 62 and back to Cape Town via the Garden Route.
We took three weeks to make our trip which was enough time to see everything at a fairly leisurely pace. You could probably shorten it to 15 days if you were short of time.
An Eastern Cape Safari proved to be a good choice. You can make your way up to Kruger, but that involves longer journey time, a stay in Johannesburg and the need to protect yourself against malaria – so the Eastern Cape was our choice for the safari portion of the trip and we were very happy with it.
Best time to visit South Africa
We visited in late October/November and had lovely warm weather most of the time. Early mornings and evenings can be cold though – particularly when you are on an open topped safari jeep – so be sure to pack your fleece, hat and gloves.
One of the great things about South Africa is that it is pretty much a year round destination. Wildlife viewing opportunities vary according to the time of year. Winter (May to October) is a good time to visit because it is easier to spot the big game then.
If you want to see whales, then you need to visit between July and November.
Top Ten "Must-Dos" for a trip to South Africa
- Have breakfast on the V&A Waterfront
- Marvel at the unique SA flora at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
- Visit the African Penguin colony a Boulders Beach
- Experience the Tasting Menu at le Quartier Francaise, Franschhoek
- Be hugged by an ostrich at Oudtshoorn
- Hike the Dolphin Trail along Tsitsikamma
- I-Spy the Big Five on an Eastern Cape Safari at Shamwari
- Explore the flora in style at Grootboos Private Nature Reserve
- Take a photographic journey of a lifetime at Shamwari
- Enjoy a sundowner deep in the bush and keep score of just how many stunning sunsets you gaze on
Where I Stayed
Links to Accommodation Reviews for all the hotels where we stayed on our trip are listed below:
Best Hotel Award
We managed to find some superb hotels on our trip through South Africa and picking the best isn’t easy.
Shamwari wins because it is a great place to experience a safari and that is the reason why most people choose to visit South Africa.
Experiencing the luxury of a safari lodge and the thrill of seeing big game close up knowing that you are in the safe hands of an expert team is without doubt a bucket list experience. Our stay was greatly enhanced by booking a photographic package with the specialist team at Shamwari.
My Packing List
Basic Essentials for a trip to South Africa:
- Fleece, hat and gloves for cold nights/early mornings
- Waterproof jacket
- Sun hat/sunscreen
- Mosquito/insect repellent
- Tick tweezers
- A no peg clothes line
- Loose fitting cool trousers – khaki is best
- Sleeveless safari jacket – the sort with pockets for all your bits and pieces – khaki is best
- Covered shoes – for bush walking
- Kindle
- The best camera you can afford!
- Lonely Planet Guidebook
Flora and Fauna
South Africa is home to an such a wide variety of flora and fauna it is not possible to list it all here. No visit could fail to disappoint anyone in search of exciting wildlife viewing opportunities.
The indigenous plant life includes some 23,000 species of flowering plants (including 728 species of trees) – around 10% of the world’s flowering species.
On top of all that, there are also some 900 species of bird. Just make sure you take a good camera to capture it all!
Some of the highlights to look out for are listed below, to get you in the mood for making your own trip.
Wildlife - Highlights
- Dolphins
- Whales (July to November)
- African Penguins
- The Big Five: Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Rhino, Elephant
- Giraffe
- Zebra
- Warthog
- Cheetah
- Sharks
- Baboons
Flora
See fine examples of all the fabulous fynbos at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in Cape Town..
- King Protea
- Snowy White Everlasting Flowers
- Pincushion Fynbos
- Ocean Funbos
- Cotyledon Orbiculata
- Blue Plumbago
Foodie Firsts
Search for “Foodie Firsts” to discover more about South Africa’s Foodie scene.
We enjoyed a very high standard of cuisine in South Africa and it was open of the many highlights of this trip. As you can see from the photos, gastronomy is taken very seriously here – some of the dishes were almost too beautiful to eat?!
Learning the Lingo
“Just Now” – at some point in the future (unspecified!)
Braai – BBQ
Robot – traffic light
Bleed me dries – mobile phones
Tips for Future Travellers
Delaying hiring a car until you have finished visiting Cape Town might be a good move. You can easily get around with a Hop on Hop bus ticket and it is really easy to book tours like the Peninsular Tour to the Penguin Colony at Boulders Beach too. Delaying hiring your car saves you a bit of cash and allows you to relax and settle into your trip while someone else drives you.
If you want to sample the Tasting Menu at Le Quartier Francais, you need to book well ahead and be sure to plan your trip around when the fine dining restaurant is open, which isn’t very night.
On reflection, 3 nights at Shamwari Game Reserve would have been sufficient for us – even with good weather every day.
Most of the proteas had finished flowering by the time we arrived unfortunately – they are at their best in October.
Read my full trip to South Africa:
South Africa Safari – Another adventure begins …
A 3 week South Africa Safari round trip from Cape Town through the Winelands to the Eastern Cape via Route 62 and back to Cape Town via the Garden Route. We have chosen Shamwari for our first safari experience because it gets great reviews and avoids the need to make the long journey to Kruger/Johannesburg with the added risk of malaria that you have to put up with there. The Eastern Cape is malaria free, which sounds good to me.
Accommodation Review: Victoria & Alfred Hotel
Where to Stay in Cape Town Victoria & Alfred Hotel – Accommodation Review The Victoria & Alfred Hotel is a fantastic hotel and our favourite…
Arrival in Cape Town – V & A Waterfront – A Sparkly Welcome
We are staying at the Victoria & Alfred Hotel which is perfectly situated in the heart of the V&A Waterfront and offers spectacular views of the harbour and Table Mountain. By the time we had unpacked, it was dark and the waterfront looked really lovely all lit up.
Cape Town – “Rise Above” – Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
A city bus hop on hop off 2 day pass is very good value and a great way to see all the sites. A sunset cruise and a trip round the harbour on a boat are both included. We’ll save the sunset cruise until tomorrow. The blue route goes to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, which are a must see World Heritage site. The area is famous for its fynbos (fine bush) and there were some stunning examples in these very well kept gardens. Thought for the day – Nelson Mandel’s mantra – “Rise Above” – above apartheid, struggle, bad news, loss – whatever has gone wrong, you can overcome it so long as you have the right mindset.
Peninsular Tour to the Penguins
We took a Peninsular Tour to the Penguins today, finishing at the African penguin colony at Boulders Beach. The coastline was pristine – miles and miles of clear blue waters, huge waves and very few people around – perfect. The penguins were a fascinating sight – quite immune to all the attention they get from the tourists.
No-one was swimming in the sea. Maybe because the water is very cold here in Summer (it is warmer in Winter, oddly?) – or maybe because sharks are common in these waters. Sharks are so common they employ shark watchers to sound the alarm if they spot one.
Bon appetit Franschhoek
We picked up our hire car and navigated the short hour and a half drive to our next stop in Franschhoek. It was very hot today – up to 35 and Summer has only just started here. They say it has started hot though – February (their hottest month) isn’t usually much hotter than this. August – mid Winter here – is about 15 degrees on average but can drop just below freezing at night on occasion. I don’t think many people who live here all the time understand what cold can really feel like?!
Le Quartier Francais is a really beautiful hotel. Luxurious, yet informal and relaxed. This afternoon, they organised a trip for us to a winery that is part of their group.
Accommodation Review: Le Quartier Francaise
Le Quartier Francais is a really beautiful hotel. Luxurious, yet informal and relaxed. The staff are happy to organise trips for you locally. The swimming pool area is very restful . The hotel is located conveniently close to the Main Street which means you can choose to dine at a variety of different restaurants if you wish. The restaurants at the hotel are excellent too though, so aim to sample those during your stay if you can. You can choose between fine dining and a more relaxed option. All in all – a really lovely place to stay for a few days.
Le Quartier Francais Tasting Menu – A Memorable Gastronomic Journey
Each course on the Le Quartier Francais Tasting Menu was as much – if not more – a work of art than part of a meal. The chef prides herself on using local produce and this was certainly a sample of some of the best South Africa has to offer. We each had a different menu chosen for us, which was unusual in itself. Even the wines that accompanied it were different for each of us. Three hours slipped happily away as we enjoyed the theatre of the banquet. The experience needs to be booked well ahead and is only available on certain nights. The hotel restaurant is also a great choice off the Tasting Room is not open.
Avoid the Queue via Route 62 – A Journey to the Unexpected
We are moving on today and have a long(ish) 4 and a half hour drive ahead to Hlangana Lodge in Oudtshoorn, so are making an early start. Route 62 is a good alternative to the very popular Garden Route along the coast. It is supposed to be quieter, but no less picturesque – we’ll find out today.
Don’t feed the baboons …!
It took us 5 hours to reach Hlangana Lodge. There was little traffic and the route was indeed scenic. We passed a woman carrying a large cardboard book on her head – no hands – better deportment than you see on most high streets back home. Several people had woolly hats on – odd as it was over 30 today. We also saw an ostrich running wild, with 3 chicks.
The highlight though was the baboon troop running across the motorway. We were looking out for them as there were notices warning you not to feed the baboons. Hard to photograph through the car window and we didn’t want to slow down too much or stop for obvious reasons.
Oudtshoorn – Cango Caves and Ostriches
Oudtshoorn – Cango Caves and Ostriches Cango Caves Oudtshoorn is an interesting place and it is worth spending at least a day here – or…
Accommodation Review: Hlangana Lodge
Hlangana Lodge is a very pretty and comfortable lodge on the outskirts of Oudtshoorn. There is no restaurant on site, but a complimentary shuttle into town was provided. The lodge has a peaceful pool area and gardens. Best of all, it has an absolutely excellent laundry service! We left relaxed and refreshed with a case full of clean. fresh laundry all neatly pressed and folded for the price of a couple of cups of coffee back home. What’s not to like?!
Storms River Mouth Dolphin Trail – Breathe it all in and unwind …
From Oudtshoorn, we drove for about an hour through some beautiful scenery to drop off the off the hire car at George airport, stopping off at the impressive Fancourt Golf Club en route to satisfy Tim’s curiosity. Two and a half hours later, the pre-booked transfer car had dropped us at the Storms River Tsitsikamma Section of the Garden Route National Park (GRNP) ready to start our two day hike – The Dolphin Trail.
Tsitsikamma – Place of Beautiful Waters
We met up with our fellow hikers – three couples from Germany who fortunately all spoke very good English. We set off on the day’s hike and saw a pod of dolphins almost as soon as we started (video to follow!). We walked across three suspension bridges (for once, I took my eyes off the beautiful ocean and concentrated on putting one wobbly foot in front of the other). Once we had made the crossing, a long, steep ascent followed. It was hot and this part of the hike was the most challenging. We were rewarded by “high tea` which was served in china cups! These had been drive up to the top – our two African guides had carried water etc. For the trip – but obviously not all the tea cups!
Accommodation Review – Misty Mountain Reserve
The Misty Mountain Reserve was the second hotel we stayed in on our two day Dolphin Trail Hike – a perfect place to stay in all aspects.
Our room was called Tortoise – were they trying to tell us something about our hiking speed?! There was great attention to detail here – even the the plugs had a tortoise on top
Hike to the Fernery
We left the comfort of the Misty Mountains Resort and set off on the second day of our hike, through wild garlic, curry plant, pelargoniums, yellow daisies, arum lilies and trees I have never a seen before. We saw: iron wood (heavier than water so it doesn’t float); stink wood (used for furniture, and smells when cut) and knot wood – which looked like something from prehistoric times. We passed through banks of pretty coral fern, which is (somewhat unbelievably given its delicacy and the distance) harvested for export to florists mainly in France, Germany and Holland.
Accommodation Review – The Fernery
The Fernery was booked as part of the hike package. We would have stayed longer if we could as the facilities were excellent. A day or so extra down time at this part of the trip would have been quite welcome – particularly after the exertion of the hike. The Fernery has a lovely swimming pool area surrounded by peaceful gardens – a lovely place just to hang out for a few days.
Arrival at Shamwari Game Reserve – “By-ye-thi” I salute you!
A cheerful chap called Brian drove us all the way up the coast through Port Elizabeth and on to Shamwari Game Reserve. It took 5 hours in all. Bayethe Lodge is tented accommodation (although you would never really know you were actually in a tent!) set in very peaceful surroundings of rich vegetation giving a real feeling of seclusion with spectacular views of the African bush. The inspiration for the name of Bayethe Lodge comes from the Afrikaans “By-ye-thi” – “I salute you”.
Bayethe Lodge Shamwari Game Reserve Bayethe – Accommodation Review
Bayethe Lodge is a little further away from the game reserve than some of the other lodges, but is quieter and better for an adults only experience. The tents were very comfortable – though we were glad we had packed some warmer clothes. An open air shower would have been even better – but the private hot tub was a great facility.
Shamwari looks after you very well indeed. Early morning and evening game drives are part of your package and specialist photographic safaris are also available. Safaris are catered for on a full board basis, so only your drinks are additional.
The restaurant is good and the mixture of private tables and group dining works well.
Lions – King of the Bush
We were up at 5 to start our morning game drive. What a way to spend your birthday! This morning, we saw black rhino (very rare – this was the first in the open sighting our guide had seen in three years); elephants, giraffes and cheetah – all in one morning! Awesome. This morning had been good, but it got much better on the evening game drive. We spent an hour – just the two of us with three guides – watching lions – King of the Bush. Such a privilege.
Cheetah Going in for the Kill … 4 out of the Big 5
Today’s game drives would reward us with sightings of 4 of the Big 5 (rhino, buffalo, elephant, cheetah and leopard). This morning, an hour or more’s driving was rewarded by a cheetah sighting. The kill was fresh – somewhat distressing (more so as the prey was a pregnant female springbok) until you get used to the fact that you are watching the natural world all around you as it happens in real life here. The light was right and we were – with some valuable guidance. From our very talented guides – able to take some great shots.
Shamwari Photographic Safari – Let there be Light …
We have spent the last couple of days on a Shamwari Photographic Safari. These are led by Ryan and his Dad Iky (Iky’s Photograhpic) who, with the impressively expert help of Frank our ranger and driver, patiently showed us how to get the very best out of our cameras and capture the beauty of this wild and fascinating place.
The photographic safari added greatly to our overall experience of Shamwari and I would wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone interested in photography – whether inexperienced amateurs like us looking to invest some time in learning more about the art – or experienced photographers looking to share their passion and enhance skill.
Down Time – Rain Stops Play at Shamwari
After four days of 5 am starts and an hour and a half drive back through driving rain in an open truck, we woke at 4am to a big thunder storm – the lightning lit up the tent and thunder rolled all around for some hours. In view of the weather, we decided to abandon the 5am game drive and take some much needed down time this morning. Good call – one of the other vehicles turned back after just 1 km! We have seen so much here already after three days that missing out on one game drive didn’t seem like a big deal anyway. On reflection, 3 nights would have been sufficient – even with good weather every day.
Goodbye Shamwari – Hallo Knysna
This morning was our last 5am start and our last game drive. It was time for us to say “Goodbye Shamwari – Hallo Knysna”. Sicla was on a mission to find me more elephants – not too difficult to track with the large prints their feet make. They are rather like huge marshmallows!
Accommodation Review – The St. James of Knysna
The St. James of Knysna hotel was comfortable and our room was enormous – but the atmosphere was a bit staid/old fashioned. It was also a long way out of town. We would have been better staying at a B & B closer to the centre of town. We had to get a cab to the restaurant where we were meeting friends – it is not advisable to walk it.
Knysna – Not so Nicena
We hiked the Robberg Peninsula today – a really lovely walk. The weather was overcast, which was a bit of a shame, but it was warm and dry at least.
There are a lot of lovely coastal and forest walks around Knysna – much nicer than the built up areas all around the coast from here to Plettenberg Bay (Plett). In parts of the Garden Route aalong the coast, there are townships on both sides of the road – not at all scenic. Lots of properties here have electric fences protecting them and most shops/hotels etc seem to have 24 hour armed respond security. A quarter of the back page of the Visit Knysna tourism flier has safety advice for tourists. All common sense stuff, but disconcerting nonetheless
Paradise Found – Grootboos Private Nature Reserve
A five hour drive out of Knysna down the remainder of the N2 Garden Route took us through miles of golden fields dotted with neatly stacked, circular hay bales protected by mountain ranges. It struck us that the drive after the end of the Garden Route was actually much more scenic, despite all the hype. Our arrival at Grootboos Private nature reserve was the highlight of the day. This was Paradise found!
Accommodation Review – Grootboos Private Nature Reserve
We arrived to a very warm and friendly welcome at Grootboos Private Nature Reserve and were shown to our suite. The lodge has panoramic view across beautiful Walker Bay, which is a protected site, accessed by permit only. The suites are beautifully decorated and the food is absolutely fantastic. Of all the lovely places we have stayed on this trip so far, this is definitely one of the best.
Fun in the Fynbos – Christmas in Cape Town
Better weather today meant we could take the 4×4 trip through the fynbos clad slopes of the Grootbos nature reserve. They are doing a wonderful job here conserving unique vegetation made possible by the four soil types they have – six flower species are only found in Grootbos. So many of the flowers have medicinal value as well as great beauty. Most of the proteas had finished flowering, unfortunately – they are at their best in October usually.
Christmas in Cape Town. It took 3 and a half hours to get back from Grootboos to Cape Town in the end – much longer than we had anticipated because of heavy traffic. It looked very different from three weeks ago – Christmas had arrived here while we had been on our travels!
Accommodation Review – Cape Grace Hotel Cape Town
The Cape Grace Hotel is a very comfortable hotel with great facilities, including a whisky bar with a huge variety of whiskies available to taste. It is more expensive than the Victoria & Alfred though and the location isn’t as good. either. The swimming pool was very welcome at the end of a long journey and a good place to relax before making the trip home.
Goodbye South Africa – Final Reflections
This has been without doubt one of the best holidays we have ever taken – and it has some strong competition. Stunning scenery, excellent food, luxurious accommodation and friendly people have combined to make this a truly unforgettable trip. There are problems here and the frequently seen townships are a very stark reminder of that. There are some places where we have felt uncomfortable, but very many more where we have felt very welcome and at home. Some of the little cafes we have stopped off at en route are a great example of just how hard so many people are trying here to make the best of what they have. The faultlessly solicitous service everywhere is also a happy memory – everyone, no matter what their job is, has been making a great effort to do it well.