When I first started planning my trip to South Africa, I knew I wanted it all – mountains, wine, wildlife, oceans, and a few thrills in between. Maybe it was also because it was our honeymoon and I wanted it to be even more perfect than the wedding! We only got 15 days off work and divided it into 10 days of South Africa and 5 days of Mozambique beaches. It was a dream. A bit on the cold side, if you ask my husband (we did travel there in June = African Winter) but it was still warm enough for shorts.
This post focuses on the 10 days we had to explore South Africa – I built an itinerary that blends Cape Town’s iconic sights, the breathtaking coast, a taste of wine country, and the unforgettable safari experience of Kruger National Park. At the end of the post you have a short Itinerary overview you can copy and use to your liking. I’ve also added some affiliate links (with no extra cost to you) for the activities we had.
Here’s how it all unfolded:
Day 1 – Arrival in Cape Town, South Africa
Touching down in Cape Town, we felt instantly welcomed by the vibrant, coastal energy of the city. It had a different vibe than I expected, very modern, almost European. We checked into an amazing hotel – Gorgeous George, with impeccable decor and style (I cannot recommend this place enough – or any of our stays, for that matter).
We took a nice walk (about 30 min) to the V&A Waterfront — perfect for strolling with the sea breeze in our face. That first evening, we kept it simple: we had some burgers there and after, a sunset walk to shake off the jet lag.
Day 2 – Table Mountain & City Vibes
The next day we felt refreshed and ready to explore; we wasted no time — our day began with the iconic Table Mountain. Taking the cable car up felt surreal; as it slowly rotated, the whole city unfolded beneath us like a giant postcard. One of us was busy snapping photos of Lion’s Head and Robben Island, while the other just stood there in awe, quietly soaking it all in. At the top, we wandered along the trails, pointing out rock hyraxes (our new favourite little animals) and comparing who spotted the best angle of Camps Bay far below.
Back down in the city, we headed into the Bo-Kaap neighborhood. The bright rows of painted houses made us smile instantly – we kept nudging each other to guess which colour we’d live in if we had the chance. From there, we strolled through the Company’s Garden, where my husband was fascinated by the history and I happily fed peanuts to the squirrels darting around the paths.
By evening, we were both ready for dinner at the Test Kitchen, one of Cape Town’s best restaurants. It was amazing! From pork belly with pineapple, to some type of gazelle in red wine reduction, to golden and silver desserts – it was all there. 10/10 would visit again.
Day 3 – Cape Peninsula Adventure
This day was pure drama – in the best way. We rented a car for a couple of days and my husband finally took the wheel (he couldn’t wait) while I played co-pilot along Chapman’s Peak Drive. The number of photos and shots of the cliffs dropping into the sea I have on my phone is unimaginable (it really is so beautiful!). By the time we reached the Cape of Good Hope, it really did feel like standing at the edge of the world. We hiked up to Cape Point, laughing about who would be brave enough to lean over the railing where the two oceans seem to kiss (and sharing one between us, too).
On the way back, I was way too excited for Boulders Beach. I love animals! There is a small entrance fee (around 10 $) for accessing the beach and you can even see them from the broadwalk. Be sure to bring a jacket as it can get pretty windy! We crouched down to watch the little African penguins waddling like overdressed toddlers. My had to beg my husband to snap as many photos of me with them as possible (yes, he is that kind of husband, where I get home with one good photo of myself ;)) and I couldn’t stop squealing how cute they are! It was one of those shared joys that make travel together unforgettable. We were lucky that there weren’t that many tourists there so we got some good photos!
Back at the hotel we made ourselves cocktails in our room’s mini bar (not a fridge, an actual mini bar) and celebrated another day of being married and exploring the world together.
Day 4 – Shark Cage Diving
This was our thrill-seeker day. We left before sunrise for Gansbaai, nerves buzzing in the car. Can you imagine, being able to dive with the Great Whites? It’s definitely a bucket-list experience. We went with White Shark Project and they were the best. After a short intro on land we went on the boat. Once out at sea, wetsuits zipped up, my husband admitted, ‘I’m not sure if I’m ready for this,’ and I wasn’t either… but when it was our turn, we climbed right in. The cold shock of the water was instantly forgotten when a massive great white appeared — sleek, powerful, and terrifyingly beautiful. We locked eyes with it through the bars, and I squeezed my husbands hand so hard I thought I might cut off his circulation.
Yes, it was freezing cold. No amount of neoprene suits will make it warm! We were in the water for probably around 10-15 minutes, what actually felt muuuch longer due to the fact that you’re staring face to face with a shark! They asked us later if we want to go again but it was actually amazing to experience them from the boat too, so we skipped the second outing 😀
This was definitely a MUST do, for everybody! And yes, this was on our HONEYMOON! You will never forget anything like this.
On the way back, still full of adrenaline, we stopped in Hermanus, which felt quieter and much calmer. We had a nice dinner with all sorts of meat cuts (oh the meat here is to die for) and later drove to our hotel overlooking the sea. We went for a short walk to the cliffy shore in the late afternoon. We stood on the cliffs together, and imagined seeing whales breaching in the distance, which, as we’ve been told, happens quite often. We hugged, still shivering from the cold, but buzzing from everything we’d seen.
Day 5 – Whale Watching & Hermanus
After breakfast we drove to Hermanus port, this time to try our luck to see the whales up close from a boat. There was a short briefing beforehand and off we went. The sea was choppy (we actually planned to do this before the sharks, but switched as we gave the sharks the priority), so I must say that there was quite some swaying. Some people got a bit seasick, but we were lucky to feel fine. It took us quite a bit of time to spot the whales, but when we did – WOW!
The sheer size of them left us speechless – humpback whales breaching on repeat! Make sure you do have a good camera as the boat cannot approach the whales really really close due to environmental and safety reasons. I was so happy to be able to see them!
By the afternoon, we traded sea spray for some relaxing time along the shores of Hermanus. After that meat feast the other night we opted for vegetable bowls overlooking the ocean. After our late lunch we drove back to our design hotel in Cape Town. They had a band playing on the terrace and we sipped cocktails while trying to grasp what we already experienced in these short 5 days.
Day 6 – Cape Winelands & Wine Tasting
This was our indulgence day. We made a reservation for a wine/champagne (I should say MCC) tour and our guide picked us up in the morning to take us on our tasting experience. The road took us to the Stellenbosch countryside full of vineyards. We visited 5 wineries; and each stop was a feast — MCC (it’s actually champagne made with the ‘method cap classique = MCC) tastings with sweets at one, wines with cheese at another, chocolate pairings at the last. By the third vineyard, we were tipsy enough to start joking about buying a house here ‘just to keep the cellar stocked.’
Between tastings, we strolled through charming and very well kept estates, each a bit different than the next, holding hands, taking silly photos in the vines. It felt decadent, but also lighthearted — like we were letting go of every bit of stress we’d carried into this trip (or the wedding).
In hindsight I would probably drink less as the drinks really just kept coming! At the end of the day we were 5 bottles heavier and had to make a ‘war plan’ how to fit everything into our suitcases. Luckily we did remember to drink a lot of water so we didn’t have a huge hangover the next morning (it is quality wine, after all).
There is also a Hop-on Hop-off Wine tram going from Cape Town to several wineries. I would probably choose this if it weren’t our honeymoon. 🙂
Day 7 – Off to Johannesburg
The next morning we swapped vineyards for city vibes and flew into Johannesburg. This city is something completely different from Cape Town. We could sense that crime rates are probably much higher here, since every house had a high wall with barbed wire around it and a security guard up front. I admit I didn’t feel as free and safe as in Cape Town.
With a free afternoon before our safari, we headed to one of the big shopping malls (we did feel very safe there :)) – my husband even squeezed in a haircut while I browsed the shops. We wanted to visit the Apartheid museum but we were too short on time. But I guess we needed to leave something for next time.
Later that evening, we dressed up a little and went out for dinner at Marble, one of the city’s most talked-about restaurants. The buzzing atmosphere, open-flame cooking (steaks!), and skyline views gave us a whole new side of South Africa before our wild adventure ahead.
Day 8 – Kruger Safari
After breakfast we boarded our transfer toward Kruger. About an hour later, the city melted away into bushland, and we arrived at our lodge – Shalati, with our guide Victor warmly welcoming us. This was one of the most extraordinary places we’ve ever stayed: Shalati – The Train on the Bridge in an old train that has been repurposed into a luxury hotel, perched right on the historic Selati Bridge above the Sabie River. The carriages have been transformed into elegant rooms with floor-to-ceiling glass windows — so even from bed, you’re surrounded by the wild.
We could see families of elephants from our bed and hippos from our bathtub. After unpacking and relaxing a little bit it was time for our first afternoon Safari! The golden light filtered through the acacia trees as giraffes emerged from the bush. Baby baboons were playing with each other by the road. Elephants crossed the road in front of us. We stopped briefly for a coffee with a kick (or cha, as they say) – a little splash of Amarula (a South African spirit from the marula fruit, similar in taste as Bailey’s).
As the sun began to set, we experienced a few raindrops but Victor had us covered (literally) with blankets and raincoats. Back at the lodge, we had dinner (amazing food!) by a firepit, listening to the night sounds — crickets, distant calls, and the rustle of unseen creatures. We didn’t even need to talk; just sitting there together, under that vast African sky, was enough.
Day 9 – More Safari and Time for Pampering
Our day started early (4:30) with a short breakfast and a morning game drive. Victor explained this is the time to see the most animals, especially the elusive ones, before they head into hiding to rest. It was also the time before the park actually opens, which means lesser crowds to scare off the animals (as this resort is actually already inside the national park).
And lucky us! We ran into a family of 5 lions; an adult lioness and her 4 rather grown up lions, slowly moving through the bushes. They stopped right before us, sniffed the air, and proceeded to follow the road ahead. We were so excited! Seeing the lions was one of the highlights of this Safari! After sunset we drove to a water pit where we saw different animals coming to drink – antelopes, kudus, gazelles, hippos, elephants. I almost missed the zebras, but we finally saw them too.
We returned to our hotel for lunch before another safari game drive in the afternoon (yes, we loved it!). My husband was kind of tired from getting up this early so I had a surprise for him; I ordered a couples massage in the evening! Anyway – after having too much food for lunch, Victor prepared another fantastic drive for us – we saw a leopard up close and we finished the day with spectacular views of the entire basin, having a gin an tonic and cheering to us (Yes, Victor was a bit of a mixologist, too :D). Romantic and unforgettable experience.
Back in our room, we were greeted by two professional masseuses and I don’t say this lightly – but this was one of the top 3 massages we’ve ever had in our lives! And we’ve had them all over the world (the top one being in our home town), so this really speaks volumes. After the massage we had champagne (yes, one of the bottles we got in Cape Town) and strawberries in our bathtub, trying to spot some wildlife from the window. Amazing end of an amazing day.
Day 10 – Farewell South Africa
On our final morning, we opted for a different activity – the bush walk. This option was provided by an agency outside our hotel, which meant no Victor and no blankets (sad emoji) but we were greeted by two guides that drove us deep into the park. There we started our walk, each of them carrying a rifle just in case. They ensured us that they only have them so they can shoot in the air and scare away the wild animals, if a (too) close encounter were to occur.
Not half an hour later we saw a hyena from away, she was sniffing the air and spotted us… and started moving toward us slowly! She came so close! she was maybe 3 metres (10 ft) away from us. I could feel my heart pounding. The guides assured us she means no harm: ‘She has a big belly and blood around her mouth. It means she is full.’ Luckily the were right!
It was another out-of-this-world experineces, you only see on TV, walking through the savannah bushlands, seeing lions tracks in the mud, animals freely roaming around. A thrilling thing to do as our last act in South Africa. We had to head back to catch a flight to JoBurg and then our remaining 5 days in Mozambique.
From oceans to penguins, from vineyards to lions, from adrenaline to stillness — South Africa had given us everything we’d hoped for, and more. I looked at my husband and said, ‘Best honeymoon ever?’ He smiled, squeezed my hand, and replied, ‘Better than the wedding.’
✨ 10 Days in South Africa – Quick Itinerary
- Day 1: Arrival in Cape Town – stroll the V&A Waterfront, sunset walk.
- Day 2: Table Mountain, Bo-Kaap neighborhood, Company’s Garden, fine dining.
- Day 3: Cape Peninsula – Chapman’s Peak Drive, Cape of Good Hope, Cape Point, Boulders Beach penguins.
- Day 4: Shark cage diving in Gansbaai, dinner in Hermanus.
- Day 5: Morning whale-watching boat tour, drive back to Cape Town.
- Day 6: Wine (or MCC) tasting.
- Day 7: Fly to Johannesburg → explore city, fine dining for dinner.
- Day 8: Full-day Kruger safari – Big Five and dinner under the stars.
- Day 9: Full-day Kruger safari – Big Five and dinner under the stars.
- Day 10: Morning bush walk, farewell to South Africa.
🛎️ Tips & Bookings
🎟️ Tickets & Attractions
- Table Mountain Cable Car
- Half day tour of Cape Point and Boulders Beach
- Wine Tour (a MUST!), Wine tram
- Shark Cage Diving
- Hermanus Whale Watching Tour
- Johannesburg Apartheid Museum
- 3 Day Kruger Safari (and 3 Day Budget Safari variation)- or you can book the hotel as we did and the game drives are included
- 1 Day Kruger Safari
🏨 Hotels
- Cape Town: Gorgeous George
- Hermanus: Schulphoek Seafront House
- Johannesburg: The Capital Melrose
- Kruger Safari: Shalati – train on the bridge
✈️ Flights
✨ Final Thoughts
South Africa is a land of contrasts — wild and luxurious, rugged and welcoming, thrilling yet peaceful. This itinerary gave me a taste of everything: adventure, relaxation, and plenty of awe. If you’re planning your own trip, I hope my journey helps you craft an adventure that feels just as unforgettable.