The Cape
Cape Town is the country's most visited city: Table Mountain, the V&A Waterfront, Bo-Kaap's coloured houses, Robben Island, penguins at Boulders Beach and the Cape Winelands within an hour's drive. Most visitors give it four or five days.
The coast road
The Garden Route runs east from Mossel Bay to the Storms River through forests, lagoons and beach towns such as Wilderness, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay. It is South Africa's classic road trip and links neatly with Cape Town.
The bush
Kruger National Park is one of Africa's great wildlife parks, home to the Big Five. You can self-drive between national park rest camps or stay at a private lodge in the reserves along its western edge.
The cities of Gauteng
Johannesburg is the economic heart of the country and the main international gateway. Soweto, the Apartheid Museum, Constitution Hill and the creative neighbourhoods of Maboneng, Braamfontein and Rosebank make it far more than a stopover.
The Indian Ocean
Durban is warm all year, with a long beachfront promenade, the country's best curries and easy access to the Drakensberg mountains, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and Zulu heritage sites.
How to combine them
For a first trip of ten to fourteen days, pair Cape Town with Kruger, flying between them via Johannesburg or direct to the airports near the park. Add the Garden Route if you have time to drive. Diaspora visitors heading to KwaZulu-Natal or the Eastern Cape often base themselves in Durban. The free trip planner helps you balance flights and drives.