What Makes it Special?
- Take the cable car up Table Mountain for views over the city and beyond.
- Wander the brightly coloured streets of Bo Kaap.
- Road trip down to the Cape Peninsula, with secret beaches & ocean viewpoints.
- Visit the penguins at Boulders Beach.
- Explore the lesser-visited coastal trails in the De Hoop Nature Reserve.
- Hop between historic vineyards on the Franschhoek Wine Tram.
Your tailor-made holiday will be as unique as you are. These itineraries are just a starting point, a bit of inspiration to show what’s possible. Your own trip all starts with a conversation with one of our South Africa experts, who’ll take the time to understand what matters most to you and design the perfect holiday to match.
It might be a long way to go, but with no jet lag to contend with, we'd argue a short South Africa holiday is always an option. We wouldn't recommend going for any less than a week, there's simply too much to see. But, if you have 10 days to spend in South Africa, you can see a lot. We've packed this short jaunt full of highlights and designed it to give you a great introduction to the Rainbow Nation. It's a relaxed trip, taking in some of the Cape's most beautiful areas, including Cape Town’s history and charm, the penguins of the Cape Peninsula, and a lesser-visited national park tucked away off the usual tourist trail. We’ve even factored in some well-deserved time sipping on something cold and crisp in the Winelands.
Over this 10-day South Africa holiday, you'll spend a good chunk of time in Cape Town and around. Conquering Table Mountain, walking in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela on Robben Island, exploring the colourful streets of Bo Kaap, and sampling plenty of food in the endless world-class restaurants. (We're huge foodies here at HA, so your specialist will be able to recommend some top spots for top dinners.) You'll hire a car and drive yourself down to the picturesque Cape Point, being sure to stop off at the many hidden beaches and quaint towns along the way. Any highlight of a Cape Peninsula road trip is always going to be the penguins of Boulder's Beach. These suited and booted little fellas are as adorable as they are playful, it's a must.
This short South Africa holiday idea also includes a drive out to the lesser-visited De Hoop Nature Reserve. Here you'll leave the crowds behind, be immersed in absolute tranquillity and get a flavour of some of the local South African wildlife, too. The coastal reserve is home to herds of bontebok, eland and zebra, as well as a rich marine life and countless species of birds. Last, but absolutely not least, you'll head to the quaint and picturesque towns of Franschhoek and Stellenbosch in the South African Winelands. What better spot to end your quick South Africa holiday than in the foothills of the mountains, surrounded by vines, sitting in the sunshine with a glass of something delicious at one of South Africa's world-class vineyards.
12 hours from London
When to go
- October to April
Average temperature
- 14-22°C
Average rainfall
- 60mm/month
Itinerary at a Glance
Day by Day
Here's a summary of what you might get up to day-to-day on this South Africa holiday. As always, this is just an idea. Every single day of your trip will be tailored to suit you.
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To make the most of your short time in South Africa, you'll take a night flight from the UK to Cape Town. Hopefully, you'll arrive fresh and ready for your adventure to begin the following morning. We'll always look into the most convenient flights for you and tweak the plan accordingly.
Welcome to Cape Town! First things first, you'll collect your hire car, or be met by one of our friendly representatives for a private transfer into the vibrant city of Cape Town, where you'll spend your first three nights. Why not get your short break to South Africa off to a flying start by hopping on one of the city sightseeing buses for a tour of the city on your first afternoon? This will help you get your bearings ready for getting the most out of the days to come. Cape Town is a real haven for foodies, with countless world-renowned restaurants to choose from so head out tonight to find your favourite. We know our food here at HA, so do chat to us and we'll be happy to recommend a few spots. We can always sort a reservation too if you'd like a seat with a view!
Spend a full day exploring Cape Town today. This beautiful city is packed full of historic sights, cultural experiences, stunning coastal scenery and iconic landmarks. Highlights you can't miss include taking in the view from the top of Table Mountain (whether you hike up or take the cable car!), strolling around the V&A Waterfront, taking in the colourful streets of Bo Kaap and crossing the shark-infested waters to Robben Island, where the legendary Nelson Mandela was imprisoned.
Today, you'll hop in your hire car and drive down to the Cape Peninsula. With its wealth of small villages, attractive bays and beaches, nature trails and wildlife to explore and enjoy, you'll be fighting the urge to pull the car over around every corner to get your camera out. Don't miss a stop at Simon's Town to visit the African penguin colony at Boulders Beach.
You'll be getting off the beaten track today as you head east out of the city to the unspoilt and lesser-visited De Hoop Nature Reserve. This tranquil reserve feels a bit like a well-kept secret, all too often missed off South Africa holiday itineraries. You'll spend the next three nights here, soaking up the unspoilt fynbos (a distinct type of vegetation that grows only on the very southern tip of Africa!), spotting the unique South African wildlife and marine life that live amongst the sand dunes, wide open plains and the waves. We highly recommend hiring a bike, it's a freeing way to explore the reserve, discovering a wealth of bird, animal and rare plant species as you go.
If you're visiting South Africa during whale season (June to November), the De Hoop Nature Reserve is the perfect place from which to spot these incredible creatures. You might even be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of them breaching the waves from the comfort of your hotel.
Your last stop on this whistle-stop tour of South Africa is a good one. You'll spend the next couple of nights soaking up the sunshine (and the wine) in the remote and tranquil Winelands. The towns are so quaint and characterful here, and we have so many options of brilliant places to stay. Whether you fancy snoozing in an intimate guesthouse in a pretty town, treating yourself to a pamper at a luxurious boutique hotel, or getting back to basics with an authentic stay at a remote wine farm, we've got you covered.
There are great experiences to be had here too, so do chat to us about what might suit you best. You might have a sweet tooth and savour the idea of a chocolate and wine pairing, or maybe you like the idea of travelling in style between the world-class wineries – if so, the Franschhoek wine tram just might be for you.
The one negative of this short South Africa holiday idea is that it's over all too soon! It's time to drive back to Cape Town airport today to drop your trusty steed off and hop on a flight back to the UK. We hope you'll land home with a whole lot of love for the Rainbow Nation and thoughts of when you'll return to experience more.
Places you'll visit
We have hundreds of partner hotels across the world, with our tailor made trips you can pick from our range of beautiful hotels
What You're Saying
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Our recent family holiday to South Africa, expertly organised with the assistance of Holiday Architects, was an unforgettable experience. The journey exceeded all expectations, offering phenomenal moments from start to finish. The service provided by their team was exceptional, with a special mention to Catherine, who was absolutely outstanding. I wholeheartedly recommend Holiday Architects to anyone looking for a meticulously planned and extraordinary travel experience. Their team’s expertise and commitment to excellence truly set them apart.
Gurkirat Sidhu
Trustpilot
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Excellent company to deal with. Lisa Dyboll pulled together an exceptional South African itinerary for us and was available to us throughout our trip. We had one tiny issue and she dealt with it swiftly and effectively. Lisa totally understood our requirements and put together a perfect trip. I would highly recommend Holiday Architects and we will certainly use them for future trips and a special mention for Lisa Dyboll who has incredible knowledge of South Africa.
Sue Atherton
Trustpilot
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We had a wonderful 2-week trip to South Africa organised by Kirsty from Holiday Architects. Everything was perfect: the fact that she listened to our vague ideas of what we wanted to do and then came back with very thoughtful suggestions. We followed her guidance and could not have been more delighted with our experience! It was all very personal and the attention to detail was excellent - from pre-trip briefings to a lovely welcome back phone call seeking feedback. The accommodation throughout our road trip was top quality and the suggested activities were brilliant. We would definitely recommend!
Ange
Trustpilot
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We had a fabulous holiday in South Africa. Catherine at Holiday Architects really listened to what we wanted to achieve in our 10 days there and planned an itinerary that was pitched perfectly for us. The hotel in Cape Town, Bed and Breakfast in Franschoek and the lodge in Amakhala were all extremely comfortable and the transfers between the three and the airports were like clockwork. We were provided with links and information to book tours and trips while we were there. We will definitely be using Holiday Architects again, the only problem will be picking the destination as there are many exciting trips to chose from!
Mrs Helen Watts
Trustpilot
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We have just returned from a 6 week epic adventure in South Africa and Mozambique , put together by Lisa Dyboll at Holiday Architects . She put up with my endless changes and requests and the end result was outstanding . To have a company take such time in ensuring we got exactly the trip with the right balances of budget and experience was amazing. Lisa gave us excellent advice and steered us away from potentially stupid ideas! We will absolutely use them again as their expert knowledge and service was invaluable.
Rona Hulbert
Trustpilot
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The most amazing and memorable trip to South Africa. Catherine organised the perfect itinerary for us, listening to our requirements and booking accommodation which completely suited our needs. The attention to detail from initial phone call with Catherine, to the final documents listing detailed driving instructions, restaurant recommendations, excursion recommendations etc etc was first rate. We had an issue with the hire car on day 2, this proved no problem at all and Catherine arranged (with local ground team) to replace the car first thing the following morning. This was our second trip with Holiday Architects and I look forward to booking our third trip sometime soon!
LennonJ
Trustpilot
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Kirsty @ Holiday Architects helped us to plan an amazing trip to Kwazulu-Natal in South Africa. We'd found the area we wanted to visit but were uncertain about the self-drive suitability but Kirsty was able to give first hand insight and experience of the area and many of the places we ended up visiting which was invaluable, giving us a really good balance of mountains, safari, lakes & coast that suited us perfectly. Everything went very smoothly - we would absolutely use Holiday Architects again.
Nick Trowell
Trustpilot
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Top marks go to Lisa who arranged our holiday to Cape Town and the Garden Route. All the places we stayed were amazing and the driving directions were perfect. I would definitely recommend this company to anyone who wants a great holiday.
Richard
Trustpilot
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We used Holiday Architects to book our honeymoon to South Africa last May. We honestly couldn't recommend them enough. Kirsty was so knowledgeable and helpful. She listened to exactly what we wanted and planned the perfect itinerary for us. Kirsty planned everything - flights, accommodation, draft excursions, restaurants and tips & advice. Kirsty is a regular visitor to SA and so her recommendations were personal and well-thought out which we really appreciated. We would definitely use the company again and would recommend them to anyone. Holiday of a lifetime thanks to Kirsty!!
Jemma Coulter
Trustpilot
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Holiday Gallery
Meet our South Africa experts
We offer tailor-made holidays to suit a wide range of tastes. Our experts Catherine, Kirsty, Lisa and Paul are dedicated to all things South Africa and are here to help you plan your perfect trip.
Catherine Williams
Destination Manager
Catherine fell for Africa in 2000 and has been back countless times ever since. With South Africa being one of her favourite spots, she’s your go-to for everything from self-drives to safaris, hikes and vineyards.
Kirsty Leggate
Destination Manager
With family living just outside Kruger National Park, Kirsty’s been travelling to South Africa for more than 20 years. From solo trips to family adventures, she knows the country inside out, and always finds new reasons to return.
Lisa Dyboll
Destination Manager
Our resident South African, our Lisa really has spent a lifetime exploring the country. Especially fond of Kruger, coastal drives and any excuse for a well-earned sundowner with a view, she brings real passion and knowledge to every holiday she plans.
Paul Turner
Destination Manager
It's the sheer variety that first enticed Paul to South Africa. The wine, the landscapes, the wildlife. He's full of ideas for how to pair the highlights with the lesser-known corners to make your South Africa holiday extra special.
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Expert Comment
Lisa Dyboll
Meet Lisa”