21 days in South Africa Itinerary
21 days in South Africa Itinerary
Created using Inspirock South Africa Trip Planner
Route & dates
21 days in South Africa Itinerary
Start: Johannesburg
Fly:
4h 15min
1
Cape Town
— 4 nights
Find places to stay »
Drive:
1h 30min
2
Hermanus
— 5 nights
Find places to stay »
Drive:
2h 15min
3
Swellendam
— 2 nights
Find places to stay »
Drive:
3h
4
Oudtshoorn
— 4 nights
Find places to stay »
Drive:
1h 45min
5
Knysna
— 5 nights
Find places to stay »
Fly:
4h 45min
End: Johannesburg
Edit
View full calendar
Learn more about your trip
4
nights
Cape Town
4
nights

Mother City
Sweeping beaches, towering hilltops, and picturesque vineyards adorn the landscape of Cape Town, dominated by the imposing Table Mountain.Get in touch with nature at Boulders Beach and Clifton Beaches. Let the collections at The Franschhoek Motor Museum and District Six Museum capture your imagination. Venture out of the city with trips to Cape Point (in Simon's Town), Stellenbosch (Verbatim Bookstore & Bebe's Chocolaterie and Gluten Free Patisserie) and Cape of Good Hope (in Table Mountain National Park). There's lots more to do: hunt for treasures at Old Biscuit Mill, take in the dramatic natural features at Twelve Apostles, do a tasting at Constantia Uitsig Wine Estate, and contemplate the long history of Robben Island.
To see traveler tips, where to stay, photos, and more tourist information, use the Cape Town tour planner.
Johannesburg to Cape Town is an approximately 4.5-hour combination of train and flight. You can also drive; or take a bus. In April, daytime highs in Cape Town are 27°C, while nighttime lows are 14°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 14th (Fri) early enough to go by car to Hermanus.
Things to do in Cape Town
Side Trips
Stellenbosch, Franschhoek Motor Museum
Find places to stay Apr 9 — 14:
Highlights from your plan

Franschhoek Motor Museum
11:00am, Mon Apr 10

Table Mountain National Park
2:30pm, Tue Apr 11

Boulders Beach Penguin Colony
3:00pm, Mon Apr 10
5
nights
Hermanus
5
nights

Renowned as a premier whale-watching destination, Hermanus grew from a quaint fishing village nestled on Walker Bay.Discover out-of-the-way places like Cape Agulhas - Southernmost Tip of Africa and Funky Vibes. You'll get in some beach time at Grotto Beach and Voelklip Beach. Take a break from Hermanus with a short trip to Cape Agulhas Lighthouse in Cape Agulhas, about 1h 40 min away. Next up on the itinerary: stop by OneLove The Fashion Shack, stroll through Kwaaiwater, hunt for treasures at Hermanus Country Market, and look for all kinds of wild species at Fernkloof Nature Reserve.
To find maps, other places to visit, traveler tips, and other tourist information, read Hermanus itinerary planner.
Drive from Cape Town to Hermanus in 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus and taxi. In April, daytime highs in Hermanus are 27°C, while nighttime lows are 14°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 19th (Wed) to allow enough time to travel to Swellendam.
Things to do in Hermanus
Side Trip
Cape Agulhas
Find places to stay Apr 14 — 19:
Highlights from your plan

Cape Agulhas Lighthouse
12:30pm, Sat Apr 15

Cape Agulhas - Southernmost Tip of Africa
2:00pm, Sat Apr 15

Grotto Beach
1:30pm, Sun Apr 16
2
nights
Swellendam
2
nights

Regarded as South Africa's third-oldest town, Swellendam contains over 50 provincial heritage sites and well-preserved examples of Cape Dutch architecture.On the 19th (Wed), stop by Chocolat Etc., take in the exciting artwork at Kunstehuijs Fine Art Gallery, take an in-depth tour of Drostdy Museum, then stop by Bee Things, then look for gifts at Wilderbraam Berry Estate, and finally take in the architecture and atmosphere at Old Apostolic Church. On your second day here, take in the exciting artwork at Montagu Museum and Art Gallery, then look for gifts at Montagu Dried Fruit & Nuts, then view the masterpieces at Hardys Memories of Africa African Art and Curios, and finally take in the exciting artwork at Magpie Gallery.
To see more things to do, where to stay, reviews, and tourist information, you can read our Swellendam trip itinerary builder.
Traveling by car from Hermanus to Swellendam takes 2 hours. April in Swellendam sees daily highs of 26°C and lows of 13°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 21st (Fri) to allow time to travel to Oudtshoorn.
Things to do in Swellendam
Side Trips
Montagu, Barrydale
Find places to stay Apr 19 — 21:
Highlights from your plan

Magpie Gallery
3:30pm, Thu Apr 20

Drostdy Museum
1:00pm, Wed Apr 19

Hardys Memories of Africa African Art and Curios
2:30pm, Thu Apr 20
4
nights
Oudtshoorn
4
nights

Ostrich Capital of the World
Nestled in the arid valley of Little Karoo, the town of Oudtshoorn remains the hub of everything ostrich-related, housing the world's largest population of the flightless birds.Villa Kruger and Calitzdorp Museum will appeal to museum buffs. Shop till you drop at Peter Bayly Wines and Greg Kerr Art Gallery. There's still lots to do: experience rural life at Safari Ostrich Show Farm, admire all the interesting features of Swartberg Pass, look for gifts at Lugro Ostrich Leather Products, and identify plant and animal life at De Zeekoe Farm.
To see maps, traveler tips, where to stay, and other tourist information, use the Oudtshoorn tour planner.
Drive from Swellendam to Oudtshoorn in 2.5 hours. Finish your sightseeing early on the 25th (Tue) to allow enough time to drive to Knysna.
Things to do in Oudtshoorn
Side Trips
Calitzdorp, Prince Albert, La Chocolaterie Rococo
Find places to stay Apr 21 — 25:
Highlights from your plan

Safari Ostrich Show Farm
11:00am, Sat Apr 22

Calitzdorp Museum
5:00pm, Sun Apr 23

Swartberg Pass
2:00pm, Mon Apr 24
5
nights
Knysna
5
nights

Enshrouded in lush indigenous forest and surrounding a scenic lagoon of the same name, the Garden Route town of Knysna has plenty to offer.Get a sense of the local culture at Jandreart Studio and Holy Trinity Church. Give yourself a bit of retail therapy at Mosaic Outdoor Market and Metelerkamps. Explore Knysna's surroundings by going to Wilderness Beach (in Wilderness) and The Crags (Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary & Elephant Sanctuary). Spend the 26th (Wed) exploring nature at Garden Route (Tsitsikamma, Knysna, Wilderness) National Park. Next up on the itinerary: kick back and relax at Brenton on Sea, explore the activities along Knysna Lagoon, identify plant and animal life at Featherbed Nature Reserve, and delve into the lush surroundings at Garden Route National Park.
To find photos, other places to visit, traveler tips, and other tourist information, use the Knysna itinerary planner.
You can drive from Oudtshoorn to Knysna in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. In April, daytime highs in Knysna are 25°C, while nighttime lows are 17°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 30th (Sun) so you can travel back home.
Things to do in Knysna
Side Trips
Plettenberg Bay, Wilderness Beach, Noetzie Beach
Find places to stay Apr 25 — 30:
Highlights from your plan

Garden Route National Park
10:00am, Wed Apr 26

Wilderness Beach
1:30pm, Sat Apr 29

Brenton on Sea
10:00am, Thu Apr 27
Similar Plans
22 days in South Africa
BY A USER FROM BAHRAIN
April, popular sights
PREFERENCES: April
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights
PACE: Medium
25 days in South Africa
BY A USER FROM BRAZIL
December, popular sights
PREFERENCES: December
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights
PACE: Medium
22 days in South Africa
BY A USER FROM NETHERLANDS
August, outdoors, hidden gems
PREFERENCES: August, outdoors
ATTRACTION STYLE: Hidden gems
PACE: Medium
22 days in South Africa
BY A USER FROM BRAZIL
September, culture, relaxing, romantic, beaches, historic sites, museums, hidden gems
PREFERENCES: September, culture, relaxing, romantic, beaches, historic sites, museums
ATTRACTION STYLE: Hidden gems
PACE: Medium
22 days in South Africa & Zimbabwe
BY A USER FROM ISRAEL
June, popular sights
PREFERENCES: June
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights
PACE: Medium
22 days in South Africa & Zimbabwe
BY A USER FROM ISRAEL
July, popular sights
PREFERENCES: July
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights
PACE: Medium
22 days in South Africa, Zimbabwe & Tanzania
BY A USER FROM ISRAEL
July, popular sights
PREFERENCES: July
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights
PACE: Medium
29 days in South Africa
BY A USER FROM UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
July, teens, kids, outdoors, beaches, fast-paced, popular & hidden gems
PREFERENCES: July, teens, kids, outdoors, beaches
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems
PACE: Fast-paced
24 days in South Africa
BY A USER FROM INDIA
April, culture, outdoors, beaches, historic sites, hidden gems
PREFERENCES: April, culture, outdoors, beaches, historic sites
ATTRACTION STYLE: Hidden gems
PACE: Medium
22 days in South Africa
BY A USER FROM BELGIUM
April, outdoors, relaxing, romantic, beaches, historic sites, popular & hidden gems
PREFERENCES: April, outdoors, relaxing, romantic, beaches, historic sites
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems
PACE: Medium
22 days in South Africa
BY A USER FROM FRANCE
September, culture, outdoors, beaches, historic sites, popular sights
PREFERENCES: September, culture, outdoors, beaches, historic sites
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights
PACE: Medium
22 days in South Africa
BY A USER FROM NETHERLANDS
August, culture, outdoors, relaxing, beaches, museums, slow & easy, hidden gems
PREFERENCES: August, culture, outdoors, relaxing, beaches, museums
ATTRACTION STYLE: Hidden gems
PACE: Slow & easy
View more plans