South Africa’s story stretches from ancient San rock art to a modern democracy, layered with Khoisan heritage, Dutch and British colonial eras, and a triumph over apartheid. Today, its cities hum with creative energy and its landscapes—mountains, oceans, and bushveld—feel like a continent’s worth of scenery in one nation.

This 7-day South Africa itinerary focuses on two hubs: Cape Town and Johannesburg. You’ll ride a cableway up Table Mountain, trace the dramatic Cape Peninsula to the Cape of Good Hope and Boulders penguin colony, sip in the Cape Winelands, then fly to Johannesburg for a Soweto and Apartheid Museum deep-dive and a full-day Big Five safari in Pilanesberg.

Practical notes: The local currency is the South African Rand (ZAR). Load shedding has eased but can still occur—carry a small power bank. Tap water is generally safe in major cities. Drive on the left; ride-hailing is widely used. Summer (Dec–Feb) is warm in Cape Town and hot up north; spring and autumn offer mild weather and fewer crowds.

Cape Town

Cradled by Table Mountain and the Atlantic, Cape Town pairs natural drama with neighborhoods full of flavor and color. Bo-Kaap’s candy-bright terraces tell tales of Cape Malay heritage; the V&A Waterfront adds dining, local design, and harbor views; nearby, Constantia and the Winelands have been making wine since the 1600s.

• Top highlights: Table Mountain, Cape of Good Hope, Boulders Beach penguins, Camps Bay sunsets, Zeitz MOCAA, colorful Bo-Kaap, and the Old Biscuit Mill (Saturdays).
• Dining & drinks: Try Kloof Street House (eclectic, candlelit garden), Willoughby & Co (legendary sushi at the Waterfront), The Pot Luck Club (small plates with a view), and The Codfather (choose-your-catch seafood in Camps Bay).
• Coffee & breakfast: Origin Coffee Roasting (De Waterkant), Jason Bakery (butter-rich croissants and “doughssants”), and Clarke’s (brunch classics).
• Where to stay: Browse hotels on Hotels.com (Cape Town) or apartments on VRBO. Favorites: One&Only Cape Town (resort-style waterfront luxury), Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront, Cape Town (ocean-edge decks), The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa (mountain-and-sea setting), Mojo Hotel (Sea Point value), or the social, centrally located The Backpack.
• Getting there: Check long-haul and regional flights to Cape Town on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Uber from the airport to the City Bowl is ~20–30 min, usually ZAR 250–400 depending on traffic.

Day 1: Welcome to the Mother City

Morning: Fly into Cape Town. For the best prices and schedules, compare routes on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Aim to arrive by early afternoon.

Afternoon: Check in and stretch your legs at the V&A Waterfront: browse The Watershed for local design, grab small bites at the V&A Food Market (biltong, Cape Malay curry), and take a spin on the Cape Wheel for harbor-and-mountain vistas.

Evening: Dinner picks at the Waterfront: Willoughby & Co (fast-moving line, superb sashimi), Baia (seafood platters), or Karibu (springbok, bobotie, and local wines). If energy allows, enjoy a sunset drive to Signal Hill for your first golden-hour view of the city.

Day 2: Table Mountain, Bo-Kaap Colors, and a Cape Town Food Story

Morning: Coffee at Origin (single-origin pour-overs) then ride the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway when the wind is calm. Stroll the summit boardwalks and spot proteas; if clouds (the “tablecloth”) roll in, pivot to a Lion’s Head hike or the Company’s Garden museums.

Afternoon: Explore Bo-Kaap’s bright terraces and spice-scented grocers, then taste the city’s culinary mosaic on The Cape Town Essentials Food Tour. Expect Cape Malay koesisters, biltong, and stories linking cuisine to history.

Evening: Book Kloof Street House for a lively, leafy dining room (think ostrich fillet, excellent vegetarian plates) and finish with a nightcap at The Gin Bar—tucked behind a chocolate shop—for South African craft gins.

Day 3: Full-Day Cape Peninsula—Cape of Good Hope and Penguins

Trace one of the world’s great coastal drives with a guided peninsula day. See Hout Bay, Chapman’s Peak, the Cape of Good Hope, and the African penguin colony at Boulders Beach. A small group keeps it relaxed and scenic.

Recommended tour: Table Mountain, Penguins & Cape Point Small Group Tour Cape Town.

Post-tour dinner: Head to Camps Bay for seafood at The Codfather (choose your fish by weight) or sushi at Paranga. Catch sunset on the promenade—Atlantic swells, palm silhouettes, and Lion’s Head turning pink.

Day 4: Cape Winelands—Heritage, Vines, and Mountain Views

Spend a full day among Cape Dutch gables and vineyard valleys. You’ll sample elegant Chenin, Cap Classique, and Pinotage while learning how French Huguenots and Dutch settlers shaped Stellenbosch and Franschhoek.

Recommended tour: Wine Tour to Stellenbosch & Franschhoek with Tastings & Lunch.

Evening back in town: Reserve The Pot Luck Club for creative small plates (smoky, sweet, salty flavor “dial”) or keep it casual at Mojo Market with live music and a dozen global food stalls.

Johannesburg

Johannesburg—Jozi to locals—is a city of gold built on entrepreneurship and reinvention. Art-deco towers meet street murals; buzzing neighborhoods like Rosebank and Melville mix galleries, cafes, and live music. Nearby lies Soweto, a crucible of the freedom struggle, and to the northwest, Pilanesberg’s volcanic hills shelter the Big Five.

• Top highlights: Soweto and Vilakazi Street, Apartheid Museum (check operating days), Constitution Hill, Rosebank’s Keyes Art Mile, and day safaris in Pilanesberg.
• Dining & drinks: Marble (live-fire grill and skyline views), Saint (glamorous Italian), The Local Grill (dry-aged steaks), and Sakhumzi in Soweto (hearty township fare).
• Coffee & breakfast: Father Coffee (Rosebank), Bean There Coffee Roastery (44 Stanley), and Tashas (reliable all-day breakfast).
• Where to stay: Search Hotels.com (Johannesburg) or VRBO. Standouts: The Saxon Hotel, Villas & Spa (quiet luxury in Sandhurst), Protea Hotel by Marriott Johannesburg Wanderers (leafy Illovo base), and Curiocity Backpackers Johannesburg (social, budget-friendly).
• Getting there from Cape Town: Morning flights CPT→JNB take ~2 hours; fares often ZAR 1,000–2,200 ($55–$120) one way. Compare and book on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Uber to Rosebank/Sandton is ~25–40 min from OR Tambo, depending on traffic.

Day 5: Fly to Johannesburg, Artful Afternoon, Skyline Dinner

Morning: Fly Cape Town to Johannesburg (aim for an 8–10 am departure). Use Trip.com or Kiwi.com to compare carriers and times.

Afternoon: Check in, then explore 44 Stanley’s courtyards (Bean There for fair-trade espresso; boutiques for South African design). If it’s a weekday, consider a guided tour of Constitution Hill—former prison turned human-rights precinct with sweeping city views.

Evening: Dinner at Marble in Rosebank—think dry-aged steaks, coal-roasted veg, and Joburg-by-night views. For a digestif, pull up a stool at the bar downstairs or stroll Keyes Art Mile’s galleries if still open.

Day 6: Full-Day Big Five Safari in Pilanesberg

Swap skyline for savanna on a day trip to Pilanesberg, about 2.5–3 hours from Johannesburg. In an open safari vehicle, scan for elephants in the fever trees, lions on sun-warmed rocks, rhino near waterholes, and birdlife along Mankwe Dam.

Recommended tour: Full Day Pilanesberg Experience in Open Vehicle (early hotel pickup, national-park game drives).

Evening (back in Jozi): Refuel at The Local Grill (Parktown North) for expertly aged beef or go plant-forward at Fresh Earth. If you’ve got energy, pop into A Streetbar Named Desire in Rosebank for inventive cocktails.

Day 7: Soweto Stories and Departure

Morning: Dive into living history on a half-day guided visit to Soweto, including Vilakazi Street (home of two Nobel laureates) and time at the Apartheid Museum when open (often Wed–Sun; check times before you go). Tour option: Half Guided Day Tour of Soweto And Apartheid Museum.

Afternoon: Lunch at Sakhumzi on Vilakazi Street for township favorites (chakalaka, grilled meats) and music, then head to OR Tambo for your flight.

Evening: In the air—already plotting your return.

Practical Add-Ons and Alternatives

• Robben Island: If you have spare time in Cape Town, consider the Robben Island Half Day Tour with Pre-Booked Entry Tickets (sells out early).

  

• Hop-on bus: For flexible city sightseeing in Cape Town, the Cape Town Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour loops Table Mountain, Camps Bay, and the Waterfront.

  

• Car vs. guided tours: Driving the peninsula is beautiful, but tours include narration, parking, and skip-the-hassle timing—useful on a short trip.

Booking pointers: Domestic flights are frequent—compare prices on Trip.com and Kiwi.com. For stays, mix a hotel base on Hotels.com with a neighborhood apartment via VRBO for local flavor.

In one week you’ll touch South Africa’s greatest hits—mountains, penguins, wine valleys, living history, and wild game—without rushing. Expect goosebumps at Cape Point, clinking glasses in Franschhoek, and quiet awe as elephants cross a Pilanesberg track. You’ll leave with stories that beg for a second chapter.