Explore South Africa

The Big Picture

A Suggested 2-3 Week Route

This isn't the only way to do it, but it's a solid backbone to build your own trip around - loop in the wedding week in the middle, and add or drop the optional legs depending on how much time and budget you've got.

Days 1-6Week One

Cape Town & the Peninsula

Settle in, adjust to the time zone, and work through the city's icons - Table Mountain, the V&A Waterfront, Robben Island, Bo-Kaap, Kirstenbosch, and a full day down the Cape Peninsula to Boulders Beach and Cape Point.

Days 7-11Week Two

Stellenbosch & the Wedding

Head through to the Winelands for the wedding week itself - full details on the main site. Good base for Franschhoek, wine tastings, and slower days between events.

Optional add-on: Garden Route +3-4 days

A scenic drive east from Stellenbosch along the coast - Hermanus for whale watching, Knysna, and Tsitsikamma forest. Great if you'd rather stay road-based than fly.

Optional add-on: Kruger National Park +3-4 days

A direct ~2.5 hour flight from Cape Town gets you to safari country. Genuinely worth the detour if it's your only trip to South Africa for a while - details below.

In & Around Cape Town

Top Things To Do

Costs are approximate 2026 per-person rates in South African Rand (ZAR) - prices shift, so treat these as ballpark and check official sites closer to your trip.

Table Mountain Cableway

The obvious one, and worth it - a rotating cable car up to sweeping views over the whole city and coastline.

~R450pp2-3 hrsFamily-friendlyAny group size

Aerial view of Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope

Cape Point & Cape of Good Hope

Dramatic cliffs at the tip of the peninsula, usually combined with the scenic drive down and Boulders Beach on the way.

~R515pp entryHalf dayFamily-friendlyAny group size

Boulders Beach Penguins

A colony of African penguins on a beach near Simon's Town - genuinely one of the best "just for fun" stops in the Cape.

~R245pp1-2 hrsFamily-friendlyAny group size

Robben Island

A ferry from the V&A Waterfront and a guided tour of the former prison, often led by an ex-political prisoner. Moving, and books out weeks ahead.

~R600pp3.5-4 hrsFamily-friendly (10+)Any group size

Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden

Beautifully landscaped gardens under the mountain, with a treetop canopy walkway and plenty of picnic-friendly lawns.

~R100-230ppHalf dayFamily-friendlyAny group size

Bo-Kaap colourful houses with Table Mountain

Bo-Kaap Walking & Cooking Tour

Cape Town's historic, brightly coloured Malay quarter - wander on your own or book a guided cooking class for something more hands-on.

~R400-900pp2-4 hrsFamily-friendlySmall-medium groups

V&A Waterfront

Shopping, seafood, harbour views, and a good default for an easy half day between bigger activities.

Free to browseFlexibleFamily-friendlyAny group size

Franschhoek Wine Tram

A hop-on-hop-off tram through the valley, stopping at estates along the way - a fun, easy group activity that doesn't need a designated driver.

~R380-550ppHalf-full dayAdults-orientedGreat for groups

View of Table Mountain from Lion's Head at sunset

Lion's Head Sunset Hike

A moderate hike (with a couple of short scrambles) that's become a Cape Town rite of passage for sunset.

Free2-3 hrsOlder kids+Any group size

Two Oceans Aquarium

A reliable rainy-day or younger-kids option at the Waterfront, with a decent shark tank and touch pools.

~R260pp2 hrsFamily-friendlyAny group size

Hermanus Whale Watching

Roughly 1.5 hours from Cape Town, with genuinely excellent land-based whale watching in season (June-November).

Free from landFull dayFamily-friendlyAny group size

Segway Tour, Spier Wine Farm

A fun, easy way to see a working wine farm in Stellenbosch - good for something a little more active.

~R550-650pp1-2 hrsTeens+Small groups

Golden Hour

Best Sunset Spots

Cape Town takes its sunsets seriously. A few favourites, roughly in order of effort required:

Signal Hill

Drive-up views over the city bowl and Atlantic - zero effort, maximum payoff. Popular, so arrive early for parking.

Camps Bay Beach

Palm-lined promenade, a strip of bars and restaurants right on the sand, and the Twelve Apostles mountain range as backdrop.

Clifton Beaches

Four linked coves, slightly more low-key than Camps Bay, sheltered from the wind - bring a bottle of something and a blanket.

Bloubergstrand

Across the bay, with the classic postcard view of Table Mountain silhouetted against the sunset - worth the drive out.

Lion's Head

The hike from earlier doubles as the best sunset spot in the city, if you're up for the climb.

Sunset Cruise, V&A Waterfront

Catamaran trips leave most evenings in summer - a relaxed, no-effort way to watch the sun go down over the Atlantic.

After Dark

Bar Hopping & Nightlife

A few neighbourhoods to base an evening around, depending on the vibe you're after:

Long Street

The classic Cape Town night out - dense strip of bars, live music venues, and clubs. Loud, lively, walkable between stops.

Bree Street

A cocktail-and-craft-beer crowd, slightly more polished than Long Street, with excellent small-plate restaurants mixed in.

Kloof Street

Relaxed rooftop bars and gastropubs, good for starting an evening before heading further into the city centre.

Camps Bay Strip

Beachfront bars and restaurants with sunset views built in - more upscale, better for a slower evening than a big night out.

Woodstock

Cape Town's arts-and-industrial district - breweries, warehouse bars, and a younger, more alternative crowd.

For The Food & Drink Lovers

Eat & Drink Like a Local

Cape Town's food scene punches well above its weight. A few standout picks by category - book the fine dining ones well ahead, the city's top tables fill up weeks in advance.

For the Foodies

Fine Dining - FYN

The reigning Restaurant of the Year, blending Japanese precision with South African ingredients like fynbos and Kalahari truffle. Book weeks ahead - it's the most talked-about table in the city right now.

Seafood - Galjoen

A District Six favourite consistently named among the city's best seafood spots - fresh, unfussy, and full of flavour.

Steakhouse - Marble

Coal-fired steaks with a jaw-dropping view over Table Mountain and the harbour, perched above the V&A Waterfront.

Cape Malay - Bo-Kaap Kombuis

Authentic Cape Malay curries and bobotie, served with sweeping views over the city from high up in Bo-Kaap. A genuine local institution.

Local Favourite - Kloof Street House

A grand old Victorian mansion turned restaurant, famous for its grilled ostrich and garden dining - equal parts glamorous and relaxed.

For the Drinkers

Craft Beer - Woodstock Brewery

A Woodstock institution with a huge beer selection and tasting trays to work through - come thirsty.

Cocktails - Cause Effect Cocktail Kitchen

Theatrical cocktails built around local ingredients and Cape references - one of the city's most talked-about bars. Book ahead.

Sundowners - Sky Bar at Grand Daddy

Retro airstream caravans, a mini outdoor cinema, and seriously good sunset views - one of Cape Town's most original rooftop bars.

Closer Than You'd Think

Safaris Near Cape Town

Kruger is a flight away, but if you'd rather keep things simple, several excellent Big 5 reserves sit within a few hours' drive of Cape Town - easy to slot in as a day trip or a short overnight either side of the wedding.

Aquila Private Game Reserve

Closest · Easiest

About 1h45-2hrs from Cape Town via Stellenbosch/Worcester on the N1. Malaria-free, with shared open-vehicle game drives (private options available).

Day tripR2,480-R5,460 · AED 550-1,210 · £110-£250 · AUD 210-470

Overnight, pp/nightR4,400-R5,600 · AED 970-1,240 · £200-£255 · AUD 380-480

Best for: guests short on time, day-trippers, budget-conscious

Inverdoorn Private Game Reserve

Good Middle Ground

About 2-2.5hrs from Cape Town in the Ceres Karoo. Malaria-free, two game drives a day, all meals included, plus an on-site cheetah conservation centre.

Overnight, pp/nightR4,425-R5,590 · AED 980-1,235 · £200-£255 · AUD 380-480

Best for: a proper overnight safari without breaking the bank

Sanbona Wildlife Reserve

The Splurge

About 3-3.5hrs from Cape Town on Route 62, near Montagu. Malaria-free, no day trips (minimum 2 nights), with a choice of three lodges: Dwyka Tented, Gondwana Family, or Tilney Manor.

Overnight, pp/nightR7,500-R15,400 · AED 1,660-3,405 · £340-£700 · AUD 645-1,320

Best for: honeymooners, bucket-list stays, 58,000 hectares with no crowds

Rhinos at Botlierskop Private Game Reserve

Botlierskop (Garden Route)

For Extended Trips

About 4.5hrs from Cape Town on the N2, near Mossel Bay/George. Malaria-free, with 4 of the Big 5 (no leopard) and horseback safaris available.

Day visit~R925 · ~AED 205 · ~£42 · ~AUD 80

Overnight, pp/night (from)R8,730+ · AED 1,930+ · £397+ · AUD 749+

Best for: guests doing a Garden Route road trip before or after the wedding rather than a dedicated safari trip

Worth knowing: all four options above are malaria-free - worth flagging since "safari" understandably makes some guests assume otherwise. Aquila and Inverdoorn are the easiest to slot in as day trips either side of the Stellenbosch wedding. Exchange rates used above are approximate (£1 ≈ R22, AED 1 ≈ R4.53, AUD 1 ≈ R11.65) and will shift before July 2027, so treat these as ballpark figures rather than quotes.

Worth The Detour

Kruger National Park

Want the full Big Five experience rather than the closer options above? A few days chasing the Big Five in the original is hard to pass up - and Kruger is more reachable from Cape Town than most people expect.

Getting there: direct flights run from Cape Town International to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (Nelspruit) in around 2.5 hours with Airlink or FlySafair - no need to route through Johannesburg. Budget 3-4 days minimum to make the flights worthwhile.

Budget

R1,000-2,500 /day pp

Self-drive through SANParks rest camps (e.g. Skukuza, Lower Sabie) - basic huts or bungalows, your own vehicle, and public game drives. Great value, more independence.

Mid-range

R3,000-6,000 /day pp

Comfortable private lodges or tented camps, usually including meals and guided game drives - the value sweet spot for most first-time visitors. Example: Rhino Post Safari Lodge, on an unfenced private concession inside Kruger itself.

Luxury

R10,000-25,000+ /day pp

All-inclusive private reserve lodges - gourmet dining, night drives, guided bush walks, and low vehicle density at sightings. Example: Singita's Lebombo and Sweni lodges, both inside Kruger National Park.

International visitors also pay a SANParks daily conservation fee (roughly R486pp/day at state-run camps) on top of accommodation - private reserve rates are usually all-inclusive of this.