SOUTH AFRICA: From the Kruger to Cape Town

A 12-days trip that will take you to discover the most famous destinations in South Africa, from the Kruger National Park to Cape Town.

South Africa is an extremely varied country, the scenarios range from the ocean to white beaches to the savannah, from canyons to deserts.

Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, always multicultural and lively, while the nearby Cape Peninsula evokes epic stories of shipwrecks and ships that have sailed these waters since ancient times.

The Cape of Good Hope, as well as Cape Point, are unmissable destinations, you can admire the impetuous ocean and, with a little luck, you can spot whales in the months from August to October.

Not far from Cape Town are the wine areas of Stellenboch and Franschhoek with ancient cellars that produce excellent wines; you can visit the cellars and taste the local wines accompanied by excellent dishes.

Obviously nature in South Africa is the undisputed protagonist, taking a safari is an unforgettable experience and being able to admire elephants, lions and other animals in their wild habitat is an incredible privilege.

And finally the region of Mpumalanga with fascinating geological conformations, canyons, valleys, waterfalls and mountains with bizarre shapes; this was once an area dotted with villages of miners who came here to work in the numerous mines.

Visit to Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula

Cape Town is a lively and cosmopolitan city that must be turned and experienced: the colorful district of Bo Kaap, the historic center, the Castle of Good Hope, the V&A Waterfront, Table Mountain and its beaches are just some of the must-see things of this city.

Going up to Table Mountain with the cable car is a must, both the climb and the various observation points at the top offer indescribable panoramas; several paths venture among the rocks, the fynbos and the rocks’ procavie, walking them is really easy and absolutely to do.

In the bay in front of Cape Town is Robben Island, the island sadly famous for being the place where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for several years.

The Cape Peninsula, in addition to the city of Cape Town, is home to a series of villages, beaches, promontories and spectacular landscapes; not to be missed: the Twelve Apostles, Chapman’s Peak Drive, the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Point, the African penguins at Boulder’s Beach in Simon Town, the beaches of Camps Bay, Clifton Beach and Fishhoek, surfing in Muizenberg, fishermen of Hout Bay and Kalk Bay, the vineyards of the aristocratic Constantia and much more.

Visit to the wine areas of Stellenboch and Franschhoek

Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, the two wine areas located inland from Cape Town are a destination not to be missed; you can visit the cellars and taste their wines, have lunch at remote restaurants among the vineyards or have a chic picnic organized by the chefs of the cellars.

The buildings of many cellars are in Cape Dutch style, the white of these colonial buildings stands out between the green of the vineyards and the blue sky.

The town of Stellenbosch has a lively historic center with several craft shops and art galleries.

Safari at a private reserve inside the Greater Kruger

The Greater Kruger, the area adjacent to the Kruger National Park, offers the opportunity to spot the Big 5 namely: leopard, lion, buffalo, elephant and rhino, but also numerous other iconic species of the African savannah such as zebras, hyenas, giraffes, wild dogs and numerous species of antelopes, as well as several species of birds.

The advantages of safari in a private reserve are different: the private reserve offers an exclusive and classy environment; the guides are expert and perfectly know the territory and the behavior of the animals, so as to make sighting easier; the private reserve area is dedicated only to the guests of the reserve itself, so no other vehicles are encountered during the safari.

Visit to the Mpumalanga region

The Blyde River Kanyon is a very scenic natural spectacle, from the different observation points you can always see different landscapes, in the deepest point the canyon has a depth of 1,000 meters.

The three lookouts can be interesting and not to be missed: the Three Rondavels, a curious rock formation that recalls the shape of traditional huts, the Bourke’s Luck Potholes, perfectly smooth and cylindrical holes dug into the rock by the force of the water that resemble huge pots and the God’s Window an incredible viewpoint.

Not far away is Pilgrims Rest, a UNESCO-protected village, at the end of the 1800 it was one of the miners’ villages in this area when the gold rush broke out.

Useful info

At Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula there is a Mediterranean climate, the winters, from June to August, are mild with some downpours and summers, from December to March, hot and sunny, but a little windy.

The Greater Kruger and Mpumalanga area has an equally mild but tropical climate, but the hottest months, from December to April, are humid and precipitation may occur; while the summers, from June to September, are sunny, dry and the nights can sometimes be very cold.

South Africa is a destination that can be visited all year round.