Country guide
South Africa travel guide
Our route team has mapped 3 destinations in South Africa across 1 curated route, adding up to 29 places to eat, see and do. Its route is filed under scenic drives. It runs 10 days end to end.
- Destinations
- 3
- Places
- 29
- Curated routes
- 1
- Trip lengths
- 10 days
- Routes favor
- Oct – Apr
Where our routes go in South Africa
Tap a dot to open that destination's guide.
3 destinations in South Africa
Ordered by how many of our curated routes stop there, then by how many places we have picked.
Best of South Africa
Our curated picks by theme, drawn from the places our route editors chose for their routes.
Places worth planning around
A short sampler from the 29 places in South Africa, starting with those featured on the most of our routes.
SeeBo-Kaap
Hillside quarter of bright houses and mosques, the historic heart of the Cape Malay community.
OutdoorsBrenton-on-Sea
Long, wild beach west of the Knysna Heads, good for walks below vegetated dunes.
EatBabylonstoren
Cape Dutch farm with a huge working fruit and vegetable garden, a farm-to-table restaurant and wine cellar.
OutdoorsBoulders Beach
Sheltered coves near Simon's Town home to a colony of African penguins, viewed from boardwalks.
EatEast Head Café
Waterside cafe at the Knysna Heads, popular for breakfast and seafood lunches on the deck.
DrinkDelaire Graff Estate
Hilltop estate on the Helshoogte Pass with wine tastings, art and wide views of the Simonsberg.
Curated routes through South Africa
One curated route stops here. Open it for the day-by-day plan.
Best time to visit South Africa
Our route here recommends Oct – Apr.
Climate averages (NASA POWER, 2001–2025) for 3 of our destinations here: February is the warmest month, with average highs near 79°F (26°C), and July the coolest at about 63°F (17°C). June is the wettest, around 3.5 in (88 mm) of rain, and February the driest at about 0.8 in (21 mm).
NASA POWER is a gridded model (roughly 50 km cells), so coastal and mountain spots read as regional averages.
Weather by destination
Getting around South Africa
Legs between consecutive stops on our routes. Distances are straight-line estimates, not driving distances.
- Cape Town → Stellenbosch & Franschhoekabout 40 km (25 mi) straight-line
- Stellenbosch & Franschhoek → Knysna & Plettenberg Bayabout 386 km (240 mi) straight-line
Planning a trip to South Africa
How many days do you need for a trip to South Africa?
Our curated route here is planned as a 10-day trip. Shorter visits work if you focus on one or two destinations.
What are the best places to visit in South Africa?
Going by how often our route team includes them, the most-featured destinations in South Africa are Cape Town, Knysna & Plettenberg Bay and Stellenbosch & Franschhoek. Cape Town alone has 10 hand-picked places in our guides.
When is the best time to visit South Africa?
Our route here recommends Oct – Apr. NASA POWER averages put the warmest weather in February and the most rain in June.
Where can I find the best restaurants in South Africa?
See our curated picks: best restaurants in South Africa, chosen from 6 places in our curated routes. We also have lists for things to do and outdoor spots.
Nearby countries
Take your crew to South Africa
Start from one of our South Africa routes in TripsCircle, then shape it together: shared itinerary, polls for the big decisions, split expenses and packing lists.