15 2-Day Experiences in South Africa to Plan a Trip Around

1.2-Day Safari at Garden Route Game Lodge

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 928 reviews · 2 days · from $533Our pick

Two days of coastal road stops and open-air safari drives from Cape Town, with an overnight at Garden Route Game Lodge.

“First class 2 day trip providing good accommodation and excellent viewing of wildlife. Nervous about length of drive but this was made into a plus rather than negative by our super guide who provided lots of stops and visits to places of interest. Overall a great oversight into South Africa.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.South African Wildlife and Safari 2-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 411 reviews · 2 days · from $322

2-day safari from Cape Town to Oudtshoorn with open-top 4x4 drives, bush drive wildlife, and optional elephant observation.

“The whole trip was great. We visited 2 safaris and saw 4 out of big 5s. The backpackers hostel where we slept was very nice. During driving we had enough stops for refreshment. It was great experience and I definitely recommend!”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.2 Day Safari Experience from Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 326 reviews · from $447Top rated

Two days from Cape Town to Garden Route Game Lodge with Big Five drives, Cape Agulhas, Hermanus, and Betty's Bay penguins.

“Our tour guide Chris really made this experience exceptional. He picked us up early the first morning and the three of us were part of a group of nine. A nice comfortable size. On our way to the Garden Route game lodge, we made a stop at Cape Agulhas, which is where thRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.2 Day South African Wildlife Tour with 4×4 Safari from Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 251 reviews · from $279

2-day 4x4 safari from Cape Town to Botlierskop and Buffelsdrift, plus Oudtshoorn and a Route 62 return drive.

“This was a great experience - our tour guide Neville was attentive and great story teller! Gave great history about South Africa and pointed out sights during our drive to and from the game reserves. Overall very accommodating and open to all of our questions!”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.2-Day Wildlife Tour with Safaris and Luxury Stay

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 51 reviews · 2 days · from $534

Cape Town to Oudtshoorn for Big Five 4x4 safaris, luxury canvas glamping, optional rescued elephant viewing, plus a Route 62 road trip.

“Sehr gut organisierte Safari Tour in einem Sprinter Bus. Gute Unterkünfte und Game Drives. Ein besonderes Lob an unseren Guide Maudi,freundlich , gut organisiert ,hat uns alle Fragen beantwortet und war immer für uns da, jederzeit wieder würde ich mit diesem Veranstalter buchen.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.2-Day Addo Elephant Park Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 46 reviews · 2 days · from $597

2 days in malaria-free Addo Elephant National Park from Port Elizabeth with Big Five safari, Sundays River cruise, and giraffe tracking.

Check availability →Read our full review

7.All inclusive BIG 5 Kruger 2 Day Safari from Johannesburg

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 11 reviews · from $722

2-day Big Five Kruger safari from Johannesburg with small-group open-vehicle drives, Tembo Lodge stay, meals, and transfers.

“Very well organised. Nick was great - very knowledgeable, gave really good overview of history, culture, nature as we show to Kruger. It is a long ride from Johannesburg and Nick made the time fly by. I would really recommend him as a guide. Given was my safari guide and also was great. He seemed more upset about not seeing lions than me :D but it’s nature so you can’t expect animals to come and parade on demand. He really tried though to find them and also gave amazing explanation about flora and fauna. My only feedback is to the main office - please confirm with your guests a day…”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Private 2-Day Cape Town Highlights: Robben Island,Table Mountain Tickets & Wine

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · from $628

Two-day private Cape Town highlights with Table Mountain, Robben Island, penguins, Cape of Good Hope, and Stellenbosch wine tastings.

“This was a perfect way of seeing and learning about the key areas and politics around Cape Town and South Africa. The private tour was just us and the very experienced guide, Alex. He was lovely and everyone seemed to know him. He was very flexible and even helped with bartering when getting some souvenirs. He chose lovely places for lunch.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.1/2 Day Hluhluwe Imfolozi Big 5 Tour from Richards Bay

★★★★★★★★★★2.5 · 7 reviews · 8 hours · from $236Best value

Morning 4x4 Big 5 drive from Richards Bay to Hluhluwe Imfolozi, with white rhino conservation and bird watching, plus port or hotel pickup.

“The organisation was a shambles. There was a man with a scrappy piece of paper with our names on who directed us out of the secure area to a beaten up small red car with broken mirrors and lights, static seatbelts and no aircon. There were another 3 couples in the same boat. Eventually about an hour later, we were told to move to a large minibus which was fine. The driver from another company was going to do our tour. However 3 couples were on. different tour to St Lucia hippo cruise, which meant a detour of over an hour, then an hour back for our tour. The safari…”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.1 Night 2 Days eSwatini ( Swaziland Tour)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 7 reviews · from $313

Two days in eSwatini from Pretoria with Malolotja canopy tour, Ngwenya glass, Ezelweni market, Mbabane culture, and an overnight hut or lodge.

“Operator accepted the tour but didn't show up in the morning of the tour. All the plans were ruined. No communication that the tour is cancelled. Stay away from this operator.”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.2 Day Small Group Garden Route Big 5 Safari Tour from Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · from $1,436

Two days on the Garden Route from Cape Town with Cango Caves, elephant and safari drives, an overnight lodge stay, and a Big 5 game drive.

“Unbelievable experience with first class service all the way. Morne Hill was my guide and he was fantastic. High end all the way. Spectacular transport vehicle. To notch accommodations. Safari experience that would rival any other experience that would cost 10 times as much. Even got a trunk hug from and elephant!”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Kruger National Park 2 Days 1 Night Magical Safari from Johannesburg Private

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · from $569

Private 2-day Kruger safari from Johannesburg with Panorama Route drive, Big Five game drives, and a night in Hazy View.

“The tour is wonderful and the tour guide is amazing. We had saw what we want as Big 5 and the hotel is very good.”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.All Inclusive 2 Day Kruger Safari from Nelspruit

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $597

Two days and one night in Kruger National Park from Nelspruit, with open-vehicle safaris, meals, and lodge comfort for Big Five chances.

“It was absolutely an amazing experience. The professionalism of the staff was outstanding. Very knowledgeable and friendly. They made the whole trip worth taking. I will definitely be going back and bringing family and friends.”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.2-Day Schotia Safaris & Addo Wildlife Reserve

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 4 reviews · 2 days · from $716

Two days of open-4x4 safaris in Addo and Schotia, with luxury lodge, guided bush walk, meals, and small-group guiding.

Check availability →Read our full review

15.2 Days Pilanesberg National Park Luxury Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $509

Two-day luxury safari to Pilanesberg from Johannesburg, with sunset and sunrise open-vehicle drives plus Big Five chances.

“Super safari. Notre chauffeur et guide était génial. Un grand merci à lui pour ce moment partagé. Le safari dans le parc était magnifique. Nous avons eu des rangers passionnés qui nous ont permis de voir un maximum d’animaux. Le lodge où nous avons passé la nuit était top! Très bien organisé. Recommande ++++ superbe expérience.”

Check availability →Read our full review