What Makes it Special?
- Canoe down the Olifants River in the heart of the Cederberg Mountains.
- See the San Bushman rock art hidden in caves and rocky outcrops.
- Hike through blooming Namaqualand during South Africa’s vibrant flower season.
- Stay at South Africa’s most remote luxury lodges, far from the beaten track.
- Track rare desert-adapted wildlife on foot in the Tswalu Kalahari.
- Indulge in a Michelin-level desert dining experience on the Klein JAN Culinary Journey.
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.
If the idea of getting off the beaten track and exploring some of South Africa's lesser-visited destinations appeals, then we've designed this holiday idea with you in mind. Here at HA, we understand the importance of the highlights. When you visit a country for the first time, you want to know you're seeing all the best bits that people rave about. However, we also see the value in the lesser-visited spots, those sights and experiences lurking away from the usual tourist trail that'll give you a real, authentic insight into the country and its people. If this isn't your first visit to the Rainbow Nation and you're keen to dive a little deeper, we've got you covered.
Your adventure starts in Cape Town, where you'll explore beyond the headliners. From Kirstenbosch Gardens to District Six and Constantia to the Silvermine Nature Reserve waterfall. Leaving the city, you'll make your way into the Cederberg Mountains to explore Bushman Rock art and paddle a canoe down the river. Travelling further north, you reach Namaqualand, where the spring flowers famously burst across the landscape between the months of August and October. Heading inland, you have an overnight in Upington before arriving in the southern Kalahari Desert for a safari experience like no other – reclining in comfort, with the most amazing backdrop of the unique Tswalu Kalahari Reserve.
12 hours from London
When to go
- All year round
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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Your adventure begins with an overnight flight from the UK to Cape Town, where you'll land tomorrow, ready to experience a different side to the Rainbow Nation.
Welcome to Cape Town. Your off-the-beaten-track South Africa holiday starts with three nights in the city. This is very much on the usual tourist trail, but there are sights to explore and parts of the capital to uncover that most visitors miss. Whether you visit the areas of District Six or Constantia, or head out to the Silvermine Nature Reserve waterfall, there's more to see than Table Mountain. Failing that, just spend your time sampling the phenomenal food in one of the city's many top restaurants. There are so many, you could return every weekend and it would take a good year or so to try them all.
Today you'll take a road trip to explore the beautiful Cape Peninsula. Of course, there are the top sights to see here: The penguins of Boulder's Beach, Cape Point lighthouse, Muizenberg Beach and the spectacular Chapman's Peak Drive itself. But, there are also quieter spots to find if you venture off the usual route. We'd recommend a visit to Kirstenbosch Gardens, especially if you're visiting in spring, the sea of blooming flowers makes a great addition to your Cape Peninsula road trip.
Next up, your journey into undiscovered South Africa will take you north through the jagged natural beauty of the Cederberg Mountains. This stunning mountainous landscape is a real haven for hikers and boulderers, so chat to us if you'd like to plan in an active adventure or two.
There's plenty to fill your next few days in the Cederberg Mountains. Take a walk through the predator-free landscapes, paddle a canoe down the beautiful Olifants River, winding its way through the valley, or head off on a guided tour to see some of the San Bushman rock art nearby. After days of adventure, we recommend rounding off your stay in the Cederberg with a gin or wine tasting evening.
The next stop on your South Africa holiday is the flower-filled region of Namaqualand. If you're travelling between August and October, Namaqua National Park is even more beautiful than normal. Bursting to life with countless, multicoloured flowers blanketed across the landscape, it's a slice of South Africa's beauty that few visitors see or know about. Take plenty of opportunities over the next couple of days to experience the landscape in full bloom. There are some beautiful walks to take, or you could choose to head off on a jeep tour to see even more.
Nestled on the banks of the Mighty Orange River, Upington is the perfect place for a stopover on your way from Namaqualand to Tswalu Kalahari. Break up the drive, pop your feet up and prepare for your safari adventure tomorrow.
The next few days are clear for safari adventures and more. Beyond the game drives, we recommend taking a Rock Art Tour, and heading off on a guided walks through the desert to learn all about the quirks and characteristics of this unique landscape and the animals who live here. Soak up the luxury with a Boma dinner, experience the taste sensation of the Klein JAN Culinary Journey and spend a night under the stars in an open-air room.
Leaving Tswalu today, you’ll return to Upington, where it’s time to board a domestic flight to Johannesburg and then connect on home to the UK. For an additional cost, you can take the light aircraft direct from Tswalu to Johannesburg for ease!
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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