18 days in South Africa Itinerary

On the 18th (Sat), tour the pleasant surroundings at Crocodile Centre St Lucia, then contemplate the waterfront views at Saint Lucia Estuary, and then see exotic creatures in open habitats at a safari tour. Here are some ideas for day two: tour the pleasant surroundings at Hluhluwe - iMfolozi Park Wilderness Area and then stroll through iSimangaliso Wetland Park.

To find reviews, ratings, traveler tips, and tourist information, refer to the St Lucia travel website.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands to St Lucia is an approximately 20-hour combination of flight and car. You can also do a combination of flight and car. The time zone changes from Central European Standard Time (CET) to South Africa Standard Time (SAST), which is usually a 1 hour difference. Finish your sightseeing early on the 19th (Sun) so you can fly to Nelspruit.

Kick off your visit on the 20th (Mon): admire the natural beauty at Lowveld National Botanical Garden, see exotic creatures in open habitats at a safari tour, and then tour the pleasant surroundings at Jane Goodall Chimpanzee Eden Sanctuary. Here are some ideas for day two: admire the sheer force of Montrose Falls, then explore the fascinating underground world of Sudwala Caves, and then admire the sheer force of Lone Creek Falls.

To see where to stay, more things to do, and other tourist information, refer to the Nelspruit trip itinerary planning tool.

You can fly from St Lucia to Nelspruit in 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of taxi and bus. In December, plan for daily highs up to 32°C, and evening lows to 20°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 21st (Tue) early enough to fly to Plettenberg Bay.

Escape the urban bustle at Garden Route National Park and Featherbed Nature Reserve. You'll discover tucked-away gems like Elephant Sanctuary The Crags and Knysna Lagoon. Explore Plettenberg Bay's surroundings by going to Wilderness Beach (in Wilderness) and Brenton on Sea (in Knysna). The adventure continues: stroll through Lawnwood Snake Sanctuary.

To find reviews, where to stay, photos, and more tourist information, you can read our Plettenberg Bay trip planner.

You can fly from Nelspruit to Plettenberg Bay in 5 hours. Other options are to drive; or take a bus. When traveling from Nelspruit in December, plan for slightly colder days in Plettenberg Bay, with highs around 28°C, while nights are about the same with lows around 19°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 24th (Fri) early enough to catch the flight to Hermanus.

Step off the beaten path and head to Cape Agulhas - Southernmost Tip of Africa and Grotto Beach. Cape Agulhas Lighthouse and Wine Boutique on the Shipwreck Coast are good opportunities to explore the local culture. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Hermanus: Franschhoek Pass (in Franschhoek), Drostdy Museum (in Swellendam) and Panthera Africa - Big Cat Sanctuary (in Stanford). And it doesn't end there: kick back and relax at Voelklip Beach, stop by Funky Vibes, take in the pleasant sights at Hermanus Cliff Path, and have unforgettable encounters with a shark diving experience.

To find out how to plan a trip to Hermanus, use our trip itinerary maker.

Fly from Plettenberg Bay to Hermanus in 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of bus and taxi. In December in Hermanus, expect temperatures between 30°C during the day and 18°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 28th (Tue) to allow time to drive to Cape Town.

Do some cultural sightseeing at Franschhoek Motor Museum and !Khwa ttu. Explore hidden gems such as Wine Flies Wine Tours - Day Tours and Platteklip Gorge. Explore Cape Town's surroundings by going to Fairview Wine and Cheese (in Suider Paarl), West Coast National Park (in West Coast National Park) and Eikehof (in Franschhoek). There's still lots to do: stroll through Boulders Beach Penguin Colony, enjoy the sand and surf at Clifton Beaches, get great views at Cape Point, and take your sightseeing to a higher altitude at Signal Hill.

For photos, traveler tips, and tourist information, go to the Cape Town day trip planner.

Traveling by car from Hermanus to Cape Town takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of taxi and bus; or do a combination of taxi and train. In December, daily temperatures in Cape Town can reach 30°C, while at night they dip to 18°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 3rd (Mon) to allow enough time to fly back home.