43 days in South Africa & Kenya Itinerary

Sweeping beaches, towering hilltops, and picturesque vineyards adorn the landscape of Cape Town, dominated by the imposing Table Mountain.

Cape Town is known for nature, sightseeing, and beaches. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: take some stellar pictures from Cape Point, head off the coast to Robben Island Museum, tour the pleasant surroundings at Signal Hill, and get up close and personal with brilliant marine life at Two Oceans Aquarium.

To see ratings, where to stay, reviews, and tourist information, read Cape Town day trip site.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands to Cape Town is an approximately 15-hour flight. The time zone changes from Central European Standard Time (CET) to South Africa Standard Time (SAST), which is usually a 1 hour difference. Plan for much hotter temperatures traveling from Amsterdam in January, with highs in Cape Town at 32°C and lows at 20°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 16th (Mon) so you can fly to Oudtshoorn.

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.

You'll find plenty of places to visit near Oudtshoorn: Meiringspoort (in De Rust) and Cape Palette Art Gallery (in George). There's much more to do: Head underground at Cango Caves, cruise along Swartberg Pass, tour the pleasant surroundings at Cango Wildlife Ranch, and relax in the rural setting at Highgate Ostrich Show Farm.

For maps and more tourist information, use the Oudtshoorn online journey builder.

Fly from Cape Town to Oudtshoorn in 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. Traveling from Cape Town in January, you will find days in Oudtshoorn are a bit cooler (28°C), and nights are about the same (18°C). Finish up your sightseeing early on the 19th (Thu) so you can go by car to Plettenberg Bay.

As one of South Africa's most popular beach destinations, the resort town of Plettenberg Bay comes to life in December and January, when the holiday homes fill up with domestic tourists and foreigner visitors.

Change things up with these side-trips from Plettenberg Bay: Knysna (Garden Route National Park & Knysna Heads), The Dolphin Trail (in Storms River) and Tsitsikamma National Park (Waterfall Trail & Suspension Bridge). There's still lots to do: tour the pleasant surroundings at Robberg Nature Reserve and look for all kinds of wild species at Wildlife Areas.

To see where to stay, traveler tips, and more tourist information, read our Plettenberg Bay online trip builder.

Getting from Oudtshoorn to Plettenberg Bay by car takes about 2.5 hours. Other options: take a bus. January in Plettenberg Bay sees daily highs of 28°C and lows of 20°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 24th (Tue) so you can fly to Kruger National Park.

One of Africa's largest game sanctuaries and part of UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Program, Kruger National Park provides an immersive experience of wildlife.

You'll find plenty of places to visit near Kruger National Park: Kruger National Park (in Nelspruit) and Kumbaya Home Decor (in Hoedspruit). Spend the 25th (Wed) surrounded by wildlife at Game drives at Phalaborwa Gate in Kruger National Park. There's still lots to do: trek along Sweni Wilderness Trail, tour the pleasant surroundings at Olifants Wilderness Trail, and indulge in some personalized pampering at AM Spa Kruger.

To find maps, more things to do, other places to visit, and more tourist information, read our Kruger National Park trip itinerary builder tool.

You can fly from Plettenberg Bay to Kruger National Park in 5.5 hours. Other options are to take a bus; or take a bus. While traveling from Plettenberg Bay, expect a bit warmer days and about the same nights in Kruger National Park, ranging from highs of 34°C to lows of 20°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 29th (Sun) so you can fly to Johannesburg.

Founded when gold was discovered in the area in the late 19th century, Johannesburg quickly grew into a bustling metropolis, South Africa's largest city and the region's economic hub.

Step out of Johannesburg to go to Krugersdorp and see 7th Heaven Scuba, which is approximately 42 minutes away. Spend the 1st (Wed) trying your luck at Gold Reef City. Next up on the itinerary: examine the collection at Apartheid Museum, take a stroll through Maboneng Precinct, try to win big at Montecasino, and contemplate the long history of Constitution Hill Human Rights Precinct.

For ratings, other places to visit, where to stay, and more tourist information, use the Johannesburg sightseeing planner.

You can fly from Kruger National Park to Johannesburg in 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. In January in Johannesburg, expect temperatures between 33°C during the day and 19°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 3rd (Fri) to allow time for the flight to Watamu.

Hailed for its picturesque scenery and pristine beaches, the village of Watamu on Kenya's Indian Ocean coastline attracts both adventure seekers and those looking for a relaxing seaside holiday.

Spend the 5th (Sun) exploring nature at Watamu National Marine Park. There's still lots to do: get engrossed in the history at Gede Ruins, enjoy the sand and surf at Spiaggia delle Tartarughe, delve into the lush surroundings at Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, and tour the pleasant surroundings at Mida Creek.

Plan my trip to Watamu with suggested itineraries provided by Inspirock.

Traveling by flight from Johannesburg to Watamu takes 9.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. The time zone difference moving from South Africa Standard Time to East Africa Time is 1 hour. Plan for a bit warmer temperatures traveling from Johannesburg in February, with highs in Watamu at 36°C and lows at 30°C. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 7th (Tue) to allow time for the car ride to Tsavo National Park East.

Start off your visit on the 8th (Wed): stroll through Tsavo East.

To find more things to do, reviews, where to stay, and other tourist information, go to the Tsavo National Park East trip planning app.

Getting from Watamu to Tsavo National Park East by car takes about 8.5 hours. Other options: do a combination of car and train; or do a combination of taxi, bus, train, and car. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 8th (Wed) to allow time for the car ride to Naivasha.

Nestled on the shore of the eponymous lake, the market town of Naivasha boasts an enviable location and serves as gateway to several national parks, including Hell's Gate--inspiration for the landscapes of Disney's "The Lion King." Boating among the hippos of the vast, placid lake; camping; and bird-watching top the list of things to do in Naivasha.

Kick off your visit on the 9th (Thu): explore the wealth of natural beauty at Hell's Gate National Park. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 10th (Fri): explore the wealth of natural beauty at Mount Longonot.

For reviews and other tourist information, read our Naivasha trip planning website.

You can drive from Tsavo National Park East to Naivasha in 6.5 hours. Other options are to do a combination of car, train, and taxi; or do a combination of car, train, and shuttle. In February in Naivasha, expect temperatures between 34°C during the day and 13°C at night. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 10th (Fri) so you can catch the flight to Maasai Mara National Reserve.

Home to the Great Migration and Africa's exceptional wildlife, Maasai Mara is a must on a Kenya itinerary.

Spend the 12th (Sun) surrounded by wildlife at Olare Orok Conservancy. Spend the 13th (Mon) surrounded by wildlife at Mara Triangle. It doesn't end there: look for all kinds of wild species at Ol Kinyei Conservancy and stroll through Eluai Plain.

For traveler tips, maps, reviews, and other tourist information, refer to the Maasai Mara National Reserve road trip planner.

Traveling by flight from Naivasha to Maasai Mara National Reserve takes 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of shuttle, bus, and car. Traveling from Naivasha in February, expect nights in Maasai Mara National Reserve to be about the same, around 11°C, while days are a bit cooler, around 25°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 15th (Wed) so you can fly to Nairobi.

You're likely to visit Nairobi at least once on a trip to Kenya, as the sprawling city houses the country's international airport and remains the jump-off point for many tours and safaris.

Spend the 17th (Fri) exploring nature at Nairobi National Park. There's lots more to do: tour the pleasant surroundings at Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, admire the striking features of African Heritage House, see Off-Road Tours, and see the interesting displays at Karen Blixen Museum.

To find traveler tips, ratings, reviews, and other tourist information, you can read our Nairobi route builder website.

Traveling by flight from Maasai Mara National Reserve to Nairobi takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of car and bus. Expect a bit warmer temperatures when traveling from Maasai Mara National Reserve in February; daily highs in Nairobi reach 32°C and lows reach 19°C. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 20th (Mon) to allow enough time to fly back home.