How to Spend Two Weeks in South Africa

From snorkeling with seals to climbing Table Mountain — and the safari of a lifetime — here’s how you should spend your perfect two weeks in South Africa.

In case you didn’t know, I’m obsessed with the country of South Africa.

(Jokes, of course you know that, I’ve only been talking about it nonstop since November.)

But what I haven’t told you is exactly what we did and where we stayed from start to finish during our two week trip. And yes, I realize that is by far the most important content I can share, so alas— here is our bare-bones itinerary from our November trip to South Africa (which was mostly in and around Cape Town), starting first and foremost with my newest travel video to whet that appetite.

Let’s time travel back to my Cape Town adventure, shall we?!

Want an overview of everything you saw in my Cape Town “highlight reel?” Let’s dive in…

Cape Town Accommodations: An African Villa in the Tamboerskloof neighborhood. Tamboerskloof is close to the popular Long Street, and has restaurant after restaurant, coffee shop after coffee shop, and a very “artsy” vibe that (per usual) totally jived with me. The bonus? An African Villa has three little dachshunds who “work” in the office, so… there’s that for you dog lovers (me!!).

South Africa Sights:

• Robben Island: Exploring the island Nelson Mandela and dozens of other political prisoners were held during the height of South Africa’s apartheid.
• Seal Snorkeling: We went with Cape Town Bucket List on one of the coolest (and cutest!) adventures to date — snorkeling with seals in Hout Bay, just 20 minutes from Cape Town!
• District Six Museum: This museum is dedicated to telling the stories of tens of thousands of Capetonians who were forcefully removed from their home due to the color of their skin. It’s a moving, sad but must-see museum to get the full picture of South Africa’s apartheid-filled past.
• Kirstenbosch Gardens: These lush botanical gardens outside Cape Town cultivate 7,000+ plant species, making it a fragrant and peaceful stop for the afternoon. The grounds also look straight out of Sound of Music. Beautiful singing not guaranteed (although they do have concerts there in the summer!)
• Boulders Beach: This small beach 40 minutes from Cape Town is home to hundreds of little penguins who spend their days swimming, lounging and looking just too darn cute. Boulders Beach has a boardwalk to keep visitors from actually interacting with the penguins (a no-no), but you’re close enough to get sharp photos and videos of these amazing creatures.
• Cape of Good Hope: The southernmost point of Africa can’t be missed, if for no other reason that the fact you can see baboons and other wildlife along the way!
• Groot Constantia: This winery on a huge estate near Cape Town has a handful of interesting and delicious wine pairings, including my number one favorite, the chocolate and wine tasting. Groot also has hilarious ducks just living the dream on said estate, so make sure you step outside and enjoy the grounds, too! (Those ducks quacking away at the end of my video? Yep, these guys. I love.)
• Safari: We went on an incredible three-day Safari at Inverdoorn Game Reserve, staying in the Kuganha Private Tented Camp where we had elephants and giraffe basically right at our doorstep (or, in the elephant’s case, poolside!). The wildlife viewing is top-notch, including hours spent watching a mom and baby rhino graze, sleep and even catch a drink at the watering hole. While it’s hardly the size of Krueger National Park, Inverdoorn is the perfect way to squeeze in some good Safari action just two hours from Cape Town.
• Spier Wine Farm: We ended our trip at Spier Wine Farm, a family-run winery with tasting rooms, a market with local crafts and artwork, multiple restaurants and even a brewery! It was the perfect way to end our trip, but, like everything in the travel world, I wish we had just one more day!

Have you been to South Africa? Share your favorite experiences in the comments below!