One week itinerary in South Africa: tour around Cape Town

South Africa in 7 daysis the perfect time to visit the essential sites without having to run to the four corners of the country. Cape Town will be your base and you will discover a magnificent city surrounded by natural sites unique in the world. The best route to visit South Africa in a week is punctuated by visits as beautiful and interesting as each other:

• The different districts of Cape Town: Bo-Kaap, Sea Point, Green Point or the Waterfront.
• The breathtaking view at the top of Table Mountain.
• The famous Kirstenbosch botanical garden.
• The legendary Nelson Mandela prison on Robben Island.
• The many exclusive activities in Cape Town such as diving with seals, cage with white sharks or even cruises to see whales.
• The essential Cape of Good Hope
• The penguin colonies
• The renowned Muizenberg surf spot.
• The beautiful beaches of Camps Bay and Clifton.
• Or the Stellenbosch and Franschhoek vineyards on the wine route.

With all these visits, we promise you an exceptional stay in South Africa ! 

If you are still unsure of the length of your stay, you can always consult our article: How many days does it take to visit South Africa?

Why take a 7-day tour of South Africa?

South Africa is THE African country to visit. It offers extremely varied landscapes (sea, mountains, metropolises, desert, savannah, etc.), a fascinating history to discover, safaris counting among the best in the world and delicious gastronomy. On the practical side, the country is stable, it is one of the most developed in Africa, malaria is non-existent and if you stay in tourist areas it is safe. So why deny it? With family, as a couple or with friends, you will enjoy this personalised tour week in South Africa.

Safety on your week-long South Africa itinerary

Insecurity in South Africa is not a myth but tourists are not affected if they do not venture alone in risky areas like townships or if they do not walk in the evening. deserted alleys. By staying on the beaten track and using common sense, you will never be attacked. Especially if you are staying in Cape Province as is the case on this tour (it is the safest part of South Africa)! Our feeling is that we often feel more in danger in certain streets of Paris than in this country! If, however, you want to leave with peace of mind, we recommend that you take out insurance with AXIS. They are leaders in travel insurance and offer very good prices for full coverage (in addition to the medical / accident / sports aspect, they also provide many other things such as lost luggage or passports, cancellation of travel, etc.).

Summary of the itinerary "visit South Africa in 1 week"

• DAY 1: The different districts of Cape Town and visit of Table Mountain
• DAY 2: Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden and Robben Island Prison
• DAY 3: The Cape Town peninsula and its Cape of Good Hope
• DAY 4: Muizenberg, its beach and its surf spot
• DAY 5: Hermanus whales and white sharks
• DAY 6: The South African Wine Route to Stellenbosch and Franschhoek
• DAY 7: The best activities to do in Cape Town

NB: This week-long itinerary in South Africa can be done as a road trip by sleeping in different places at each stage or you can also choose to return every night to Cape Town and thus avoid having to pack your bags every day. In view of short distances, both options are feasible.

(Click in the map below on 'show map' then on the right arrow to view your journey step by step.)

How many days should you plan to make a route in South Africa?

As we said, this one week itinerary in South Africa is the perfect time to tour the must-see sites by choosing as a base one of the most beautiful cities in the world: Cape Town. It's the ideal circuit to enjoy your vacation without hurrying and spending time in the car. On the other hand, if you absolutely want to make a road trip in South Africa, we recommend that you leave at least 10 days. Our 10-day itinerary in South Africa takes you on the Garden Route also known in French as the Garden Route and it ends in the only national park in Cape Province that hosts the Big 5: Addo Elephant Park. For those who don't want to miss out on a Kruger National Park safari, then we recommend a minimum 2 week tour (I invite you to read our best routes to visit South Africa in 15 days). As for travelers who wish to make the complete tour of the country, you will need between 3 weeks and 1 month minimum (we have also written articles on 3 week tours in South Africa and those of 1 months).

When to go for a weeklong itinerary in South Africa?

Concerning the best time to go on a week-long itinerary in South Africa, summer is from December to March and the tourist season from mid-December to the end of February. So leaving in November or March seems to us a good compromise to have the fewest possible travelers but always the sun. Those are the equivalents of June and September in France. July and August are the least touristy periods but it is winter so bring warm clothes. Even if it is never very cold, the Cape is often windy so a waistcoat and a windbreaker are essential.

Our favorites during this week-long itinerary in South Africa

• The cap is the most beautiful city in South Africa and after staying there it will undoubtedly fit into your list of the most beautiful cities in the world. We would gladly stay there longer as there is so much to explore. Enclosed between the Atlantic and Table Mountain, Cape Town is surrounded by breathtaking nature. You can enjoy the mountains in the morning, the ocean in the afternoon and dine in a Michelin-starred restaurant while only driving for 15 minutes during the day! Our favorite part of Cape Town was the lion's head hike to see the sunset. It is absolutely necessary to do it!
• Et our favorite excursion during this week-long itinerary in South Africa will remain the discovery of the Cape Peninsula : Chapman's Peak Drive is one of the 5 most beautiful roads in the world, the Cape of Good Hope with its lighthouse on the cliffs is legendary and the colony of penguins of Boulders beach near Simon's Town is just to eat. Our tip: Go early to have time to do the Shipwreck Trail of Cape Point. It runs along the coast of the Cap de Bonne Esperance National Park for only 1,5km and there is never anyone there as 99,9% of tourists enter the park, drive to the tip of the peninsula to see Cape Point. and Cape of Good Hope and off they go. This short walk allows you to see the animals of the park which do not show themselves in the most touristic places: baboons, antelopes, dassies, etc… And you can also see several wrecks along the beach as well as the vertebrae of whales. We highly recommend it. 
• Finally, our only regret was to have spent only one day in the wine region because there are many great estates to visit. Being a lover of good bottles, we could easily spend the week there!

What we liked least about this week-long South Africa itinerary

The 7 days of this itinerary in South Africa were perfect. The only thing we can say is that the day along the coast between Muizenberg and Hermanus can be avoided. If you are not a surfer, Muizenberg Beach is not worth Clifton Beach. Then, Betty's Bay et Kogel Bay have some very beautiful, idyllic beaches but having already spent time on Cape Town's beaches, it didn't seem necessary to waste more time lounging on a towel! But that is our personality… If you like to bask in the sun then you will love this day! But if like us, the beach is good in small doses, then we advise you to skip this step and add time either on the South African wine route in Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, or in Cape Town to enjoy of all the activities that the city has to offer.

Our little tip : the road between Muizenberg and Hermanus is short so you can leave Muizenberg in the morning of DAY 4 and go directly to the whale / white shark day of Hermanus (DAY 5). If you have decided to come back to Cape Town to sleep every night, it is also possible to do the white shark and whale activities of Hermanus during the day. Most tour operators even pick you up in Cape Town and take you back to your hotel in the late afternoon. To choose your tour operator correctly, we invite you to consult our article on Hermanus.

The budget to plan for this one week itinerary in South Africa

By being careful, we can have a wonderful trip of a week in South Africa for a budget of 540 € per person (flights excluded) or € 77 per day (see details of expenses below). The most expensive is accommodation in Cape Town but if you book all the hotels that we recommend first in this article, then you will only pay around € 430 for 7 nights in double rooms in B&B, or on average € 60 per night. By sharing the room with your spouse, it brings you back the night to 30 € per person. We strongly advise you to choose this option because quality guesthouses in Cape Town (tested and approved by us) at € 30 per night on average per person, it's unbeatable!

NB: Be careful though to book well in advance because during the high season these tips are often full ...

Breakdown of expenses for this weeklong itinerary in South Africa

To note :

• This budget excludes souvenirs and shopping.
• Car and gas rental costs were cut in half because there were two of us. If you are 3 or 4, the budget will be even smaller.
• We ate every day for lunch and dinner in classic restaurants (nothing gourmet but it was always very good). Alcohol was not taken into account.
• The 'activities' budget is quite small because most of the sites to visit are free! It includes entry into national parks, diving with white sharks, the ferry to Robben Island, etc ... In short, we did not deprive ourselves.
• The 'Housing' budget has been calculated according to all accommodation recommended first in this 7-day itinerary in South Africa. These are always double rooms in hotels or quality B & Bs where we have already booked. The other accommodations recommended by following the links give you other options at different prices (from hostel to luxury hotel) and they are recommended either by us or by friends who have stayed there. You can easily reduce your budget to less than 60 € per day and per person if you decide to book in the youth hostels that we recommend by following these links (they all offer double, family or dormitory rooms).
• This budget does not take into account the return flight to Cape Town to give you an idea of ​​the budget per day to be expected on site. A flight booked in advance in March or November costs around € 550 return. To book a ticket at the best price, it is best to find out about the skyscanner comparator. At that price, the week in Cape Town following this itinerary will cost you less than € 1100 per person (550 € of flights + 540 € on site)!

1 WEEK ROUTE BUDGET IN SOUTH AFRICA
Per person in euros
CAR (7 days shared by 2)	50€
ESSENCE	35€
MEAL	90€
ACTIVITIES	150€
ACCOMMODATION	215€
TOTAL	540€

Our tips for renting a car during this week-long tour of South Africa

• It is best to have your rental car to do this. one week itinerary in South Africa and be free of these movements. However, you can also do all the excursions offered in this tour from Cape Town without having to rent a car thanks to the many tour operators that take you on the wine route, to the Cape of Good Hope or even to Hermanus.
• Don't forget to take your international license. It is free on request at the prefecture.
• Here, we drive on the left like the English do!

Consulting : Rent a car in Cape Town at the best price thanks to comparators rentalcars.com et discovercars.com.

The best week-long South Africa itinerary day by day

You will find below the best week-long itinerary in South Africa day by day with all essential sites to visit and the best activities to do absolutely. For each step, you will find links to access all additional information : the journey times to plan per day, the best providers for the excursions not to be missed, the advice to know and especially a list of the best hotels, guesthouses and youth hostels at every stage.

DAY 1: Discover the most beautiful neighborhoods of Cape Town in South Africa

Stroll through the Cape Town's most beautiful neighborhoods: Bo-Kaap, Camps Bay, Sea Point, Green point and Waterfront. In the evening, enjoy the sunset above Table Mountain and end the day on the busy street of Kloof Street.

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To stay, The Villa Rosa is an excellent central B&B.

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For more details :

• Detailed itinerary for day 1: Our guide to visit Cape Town neighborhoods in one day
• Our selection of hotels in Cape Town for all budgets

DAY 2: The essential Cape Town excursions in South Africa

Besides Table Mountain, you should definitely visit the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden and prison on Robben Island where Mandela was locked up. When you return from the ferry, you can go shopping at the craft market Water Shed. You will sleep again at The Villa Rosa.

For more details :

• Detailed itinerary for day 2: Tips for visiting these 2 essential Cape Town sites

DAY 3: On the way to the Cape of Good Hope, at the tip of South Africa

This 7 day tour in South Africa continue with around the Cape Peninsula which includes the mythical route of Chapman's Peak, the famous Cape of Good Hope and finally the penguin colony of Boulders National Park.

You will end the day at Muizenberg where you will spend the night at The Muize.

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If complete, our second crush is Admiralty B&B.

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You can also decide to return to Cape Town in less than 30 min and sleep again at The Villa Rosa or in another of the recommended accommodation.

For more details :

• Detailed itinerary for day 3: Organize your excursion to the Cape of Good Hope
• Muizenberg's best accommodation in South Africa

DAY 4: The beautiful coastal road between Muizenberg and Hermanus

Relaxing and / or surfing day along the coast: Muizenberg beach, Betty's Bay, Kogel Bay… It's not the dream beaches that are missing on the journey! If you have time before you get to Hermanus, end the day by exploring the city wine route.

To accommodate you, 6 Stemmet Lodge is the best value for money from Hermanus.

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Alternatively, if you have chosen to remain based in Cape Town, you may return to The Villa Rosa after your day at sea and save Hermanus for the next day.

For more details :

• Detailed itinerary for day 4: The best stops between Muizenberg and Hermanus
• Read our article on the best hotels in Hermanus

DAY 5: Spot whales and cage dive with white sharks in Hermanus

Hermanus is THE city to see Whales et cage diving with white sharks. Don't miss it! (You don't need to know how to dive!) After an emotional day, you will spend the night again at 6 Stemmet Lodge.

Alternatively, if you have chosen to stay based in Cape Town, many tour operators offer to pick you up from Cape Town early in the morning and will drop you off at night. The Villa Rosa or others. To choose the best provider with whom to do these cruise and diving activities, we invite you to read our very informative article on the subject (see below).

For more details :

• Detailed itinerary for day 5: A must read before booking a whale or white shark tour

DAY 6: Discover the magnificent South African wine route

Today you can pet cheetahs in a sanctuary but you will especially do tastings in the best vineyards of Stellenbosch and de Franschhoek on the wine route of South Africa.

In the evening, the ideal is to sleep on site at theEendracht Hotel. (Drink or drive, you must choose !)

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If you are based in Cape Town The Villa Rosa, no problem ! You can make the trip between Cape Town and Stellenbosch in 45min but the driver will not have to do all the tastings… If there is no volunteer to drive, a very nice tour of the vineyards by tram is offered by the city of Franschhoek and in addition they pick you up from your hotel in Cape Town. For more information on all of these options, we invite you to read our guide to the South African Wine Route (see below).

For more details :

• Detailed itinerary for day 6: the best day trip on the South African wine route
• The best hotels in Stellenbosch and Franschhoek on the South African wine route

DAY 7: The best activities to do in Cape Town

For the last day of your one week itinerary in South Africa, enjoy the many Cape Town activities: hiking, museum, shopping, extreme sports, relaxation… there is something for everyone. At the end of the afternoon, climb to the top of lions head for sunset or admire the view from Signal Hill. If your plane is the next day, you will sleep again at The Villa Rosa.

For more details :

• Detailed itinerary for day 7: Best things to do in cape town
• Book your return flight at the best price on the Skyscanner comparator.

We hope this one week itinerary in the Cape region you will like it as much as we liked. He goes around unmissable sights of South Africa guaranteeing you a fantastic stay!

Find out more about South Africa

If you want to extend your tour, we have also written articles on the best routes for visit South Africa in 1 month , 3 weeks, 2 weeks, 17 days ou 10 days.

To stay in Cape Town, you can follow our guide: Discover the best Cape Town hotels in South Africa: from the best hostels and B & Bs to the finest residences.

In addition, you will find links below that may interest you about South Africa:

• The best routes to visit South Africa
• Where to sleep in South Africa?
• Go on a circuit in South Africa
• The best routes by region: What to do in South Africa?
• The best tailor-made itineraries to visit South Africa
• The best routes to visit South Africa