19 days – South Africa Self-Drive Adventure & Walking Safari

Day 1: Cape Town – Table Mountain
Visit the iconic Table Mountain and spend the night at the SANParks Overseers Mountain Cottage, situated high on the mountain with breathtaking views. This accommodation is accessible only on foot via a 2–2.5 hour hike from Constantia Nek. Luggage transfer is available from the car park.
Tips:
Bring your own meals; there are no restaurants on the mountain.
Prefer to overnight at the foot of the mountain and climb Table Mountain after a good night’s sleep? Our travel advisers can arrange it.
Activities:
Hike Table Mountain via Platteklip Gorge
Photography and sunrise viewing

Travel to the Cederberg, a rugged and beautiful mountain region with unique rock formations and rich biodiversity.
Activities:
Mountain walks and rock formations
Explore the Sevilla Rock Art Trail
Gabriel’s Pass hike & Wolfberg Arch
Stadsaal Caves & Elephant Rock Art
Wine tasting at local wineries

Extra tips:
Stargazing at the astronomical observatory
Visit the Ou Tronk Museum and Velskoendraai Padstal
Tea tasting at Huis van Rooibos

Experience the vast plains of Namaqualand, famous for its spectacular spring flowers and rich wildlife.

Activities:
Caracal Trail, Korhaan and Skilpad walking routes
Spot dolphins and whales on the 6 km coastal walk
Birdwatching: African Black Oystercatcher, Verreaux’s Eagle, Kori Bustard
Landscape and wildlife photography

Discover the spectacular Augrabies Falls National Park, 120 km west of Upington.

Activities:
Visit the Augrabies Falls and admire the deep gorge
Climb Moon Rock & drive the Hartmann’s Loop
Rafting and guided night drives
Photograph unique rock formations and wildlife

Travel from Augrabies Falls to the Karoo National Park, a vast semi-desert landscape full of wildlife and open plains.

Day 8 – En route:
Stops in Upington and Prieska
Victoria West & Beaufort West

Day 9 – Explore the park:
Drive the scenic Klipspringer Pass
Potlekkertjie Loop for wildlife (black-backed jackals, steenbok, eland, Cape mountain zebra)
Picnic at Doornhoek or Bulkraal
Bossie Trail: discover the rich Karoo flora

The first leg of the trip takes you south on the N14 to Upington, a 1.5-hour drive through the stark beauty of the Northern Cape. In Upington, a green oasis along the Orange River, you can stop for a hearty breakfast and coffee at a local café while refueling for the journey ahead.

Continuing south on the N10, the landscape shifts as you enter the Karoo’s vast plains. The vegetation becomes sparse, with low-lying hills and signature Karoo shrubs scattered across the horizon. By midday, you reach Prieska, an ideal place for lunch and a short break before continuing deeper into the Great Karoo.

From Prieska, you take the N12 toward Victoria West, where the scenery grows even more dramatic. The endless Karoo vistas stretch to the horizon, occasionally interrupted by isolated farmhouses or a herd of springboks roaming in the distance. Victoria West is a great spot for a quick refreshment and perhaps a taste of South Africa’s famous koeksisters at a local bakery.

The final stretch leads you to Beaufort West, the gateway to Karoo National Park. By late afternoon, you turn off toward the park, where the majestic Nuweveld Mountains dominate the skyline. As you arrive at the Rest Camp, the Karoo greets you with its serene silence, broken only by the occasional call of a jackal or the sight of grazing springboks near reception.

After checking in, there’s just enough time to watch the sunset from your veranda, as the Karoo’s colors shift into deep reds and purples. The journey has taken you from the thundering Augrabies Falls to the tranquil vastness of the Karoo, showcasing two vastly different yet equally mesmerizing South African landscapes.

Visit the Valley of Desolation in Camdeboo National Park, a spectacular geological formation with basalt columns up to 120 metres high.

Activities:
Hike the Crag Lizard Trail (±1.5 km)
Sunset photography
Wildlife spotting (springbok, kudu, zebra, many bird species)

Explore the lesser-known Mountain Zebra National Park, a rugged reserve with impressive wildlife and 4×4 routes.

Wildlife:
Cape mountain zebra, buffalo, cheetah, black rhino, eland, kudu, springbok, baboons, jackals
Occasional leopard sightings in the mountains

Activities:
4×4 routes and gravel roads
Game drives and wildlife viewing

Experience the tranquillity and beauty of Nature’s Valley, where forest, river, mountains and sea converge.

Activities:
Walks along the river and coast
Explore tidal pools; spot dolphins and whales (June–November)
Optional: explore Tsitsikamma National Park, kayaking, snorkelling, canopy tours

Stay in the picturesque Wilderness region, with long beaches, forests and lagoons.

Activities:
Wilderness National Park: Half Collared Kingfisher Trail
Kayaking on the Touw River
Paragliding from the dunes
Beach walks and birdwatching

Extra tips:
Visit George or the Map of Africa viewpoint
Coffee at Elvis Brew

Discover De Hoop Nature Reserve, famous for whales, fynbos and endless beaches.

Activities:
Whale watching from the dunes (June–November)
Walking the Whale Trail & Koppie Alleen Trail
Mountain biking & kayaking on De Hoop Vlei
Birdwatching (260 species, incl. blue crane)
Optional: wild food workshop with Roushanna Gray

Drive back to Cape Town and visit en route:

Boulders Beach penguin colony
Chapman’s Peak Drive
Optional: hike Lion’s Head at sunset
Enjoy a relaxed dinner or café visit in Cape Town

Departure Day

Drive to the 4×4 rental depot and return your rental vehicle. Afterward, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight home.

✈️ Extension available upon request!

Extensions:
More wildlife: see our 21-day Johannesburg itinerary
Walking-focused: see our 14-day walking safari (Johannesburg start)
Different country: how about a 21-day Namibia self-drive?