South Africa is one of those countries that really does offer something for everyone.
There’s the excitement of seeing Africa’s Big Five on safari, the spectacular scenery of Cape Town, beautiful vineyards, outstanding restaurants and some of the world’s most memorable coastal landscapes.
And what makes South Africa particularly special is how wonderfully these experiences can combine.
Imagine beginning your holiday in Johannesburg, continuing to a luxury safari lodge in Kruger or Sabi Sands, before exploring Cape Town and the beautiful Cape Winelands.
Alternatively, the Garden Route and Shamwari Private Game Reserve offer a fantastic combination of coastal scenery and wildlife.
For us, South Africa is an exceptional destination for a tailor-made journey combining wildlife, cities, food, wine and beautiful accommodation.
Phillip has travelled around Johannesburg, providing first-hand experience of this important gateway to South Africa.
That experience gives us a personal starting point when discussing Johannesburg and its place within a wider holiday. It also encourages us to think carefully about the beginning of a journey, particularly when an international flight is followed by another transfer.
We would use the city as an opportunity to pause and gain some context before heading into the bush. For travellers interested in history, making room for a guided visit can be just as worthwhile as allowing time to recover from the flight.
Our suggestions for the rest of South Africa reflect the kind of journey we would plan around your interests. You may want wildlife to be the main focus, with a few days in Cape Town afterwards, or prefer a longer coastal holiday with a safari towards the end.
We would discuss those choices with you from the outset, so the route feels comfortable and each stop has a clear place in the holiday.
For us, the attraction is being able to enjoy very different experiences without losing the sense of one connected journey. The quiet concentration of a game drive and the pleasure of a long vineyard lunch can both belong within the same holiday.
South Africa also gives us plenty of scope to match the accommodation to the occasion. A safari lodge is central to the wildlife experience, while a well placed city hotel gives you freedom to explore. In the Winelands, the setting may be a reason to stay a little longer.
We particularly like the possibility of building a holiday around a few priorities. Keen wildlife watchers might give more nights to the bush, while travellers drawn to food and scenery could spend longer around the Cape. There is no need for everyone to follow the same route.
The most appealing journeys leave room to enjoy those choices, with quieter days between the bigger outings.
For us, South Africa offers an extraordinary balance of wildlife, spectacular scenery, wonderful food and exceptional wines.
It’s a country that lends itself beautifully to a genuinely memorable tailor-made holiday.
There is something absorbing about setting off into the bush without knowing what the morning will bring. A guided game drive gives you time to watch, listen and learn, with the landscape itself becoming part of the experience.
We would build in several outings rather than treating safari as a single excursion. Different drives reveal different moments, and quieter encounters can be every bit as memorable as seeing a large animal nearby. Between drives, leave room to rest and enjoy the lodge.
Whether you choose the Kruger region or the Eastern Cape, the aim is to settle into the experience and let the wildlife determine the pace.
Cape Town rewards a mixture of planned sightseeing and time to explore at your own pace. Table Mountain offers a memorable perspective on the city, while the waterfront provides a different setting for a leisurely afternoon.
We would keep the mountain visit flexible, as weather can affect the cableway, and avoid filling every day with fixed arrangements. Choose a few experiences that interest you most, then leave space for the neighbourhoods, restaurants and views encountered along the way.
A comfortable base makes that balance easier. Returning somewhere you enjoy after a day out can be as important as deciding which attraction to visit next during your stay.
The Cape Peninsula offers a rewarding change of scene from the city, with coastal views and opportunities to stop along the way. Cape Point and the African penguins at Boulders Beach are natural highlights for many visitors.
We would give the outing a full day rather than adding it to an already busy programme. That leaves time for the journey itself, a relaxed lunch and the places that catch your attention. A private guide can help bring the day together if you prefer someone else to handle the driving.
Keep the emphasis on enjoying the coast, with a manageable number of stops and time outside the vehicle.
A day among the vineyards can be as much about the surroundings and food as the wine itself. Choose a small number of estates around Stellenbosch or Franschhoek, allowing enough time to enjoy each visit.
We would favour a thoughtful selection over a packed tasting schedule. A private driver makes it easier to relax, while a lunch overlooking the vines can become the focus of the afternoon. Tell us whether you enjoy learning about wine or simply want a beautiful setting and good food.
For travellers staying nearby, there is less pressure to squeeze everything into one day, with another morning available to explore at leisure.
The Garden Route invites you to get out of the car and spend time in the landscape. Around Tsitsikamma, forest and coastal walks provide a different way to experience the scenery between overnight stops.
We would choose an outing to suit your interests and comfort with walking, rather than assuming everyone wants a demanding hike. There can be as much pleasure in a shorter walk with time to pause as in covering a longer distance. Check local conditions before setting out and allow time for the return journey.
A quieter evening afterwards helps keep the balance, especially when another day of driving lies ahead on your route.
Johannesburg deserves time if understanding South Africa's history is an important part of your holiday. The Apartheid Museum, Constitution Hill and a thoughtfully guided visit to Soweto offer different perspectives on the city and the country.
We would plan a manageable programme around your interests, allowing space to take in what you hear and see. These visits deserve attention, rather than being hurried through on the way to another stop. A knowledgeable local guide can provide context and help connect the places you visit.
Consider spending an additional night if arrival times would otherwise leave little opportunity to explore before continuing towards your safari accommodation the following day.