Combinez une visite de la ville du Cap avec un safari

Yes, you can combine a Cape Town city tour with a safari, and many travellers do. The two are about two hours apart by air, so a trip can include Table Mountain, the Cape Peninsula and the Winelands, then a flight to a Big Five reserve for game drives. A comfortable version takes seven to ten days: three to four in Cape Town, the rest in the bush. A rushed version squeezes both into five days and leaves you tired.

This guide explains how to plan the order, the flights and the days, so that each half gets the time it needs.

The city and the bush offer different pleasures and different energy. In Cape Town, you walk, look at views, eat well and visit historic places. On safari, you wake early, sit in a vehicle and watch animals. Doing one after the other balances the trip: a restful bush stay after the city, or a city break after the early starts of a safari. South Africa makes this easy, since domestic flights are frequent and the roads are good.

A good Cape Town visit takes three or four days. That covers Table Mountain, a Cape Peninsula day with Cape Point and the penguins at Boulders Beach, a day in the Winelands and a free day. A safari needs at least three nights to see enough, and four if you want leopard viewing and Big Five sightings at a relaxed pace. A seven-day trip with three days in Cape Town and four in the bush works, and an eight to ten-day trip adds comfort.

See the 8-day Cape Town and Big Five safari holiday and the 10-day South Africa Big Five safari and historic Cape.

City first is usually easier. You land in Cape Town, recover from the flight, enjoy the sights and then fly to the safari when you are rested. The bush has early starts, and a rested traveller handles them better. Safari first works if you prefer to finish with a relaxed city stay, a spa day or a wine estate. It also helps if you plan to leave from Cape Town. Choose the order that suits your flights.

Read the 7-day Kruger safari and Table Mountain adventure for an example of a short combination.

Cape Town to the Kruger area is not a direct flight in most cases. The usual route is Cape Town to Johannesburg, about two hours, then a short flight to Hoedspruit or Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, about an hour, followed by a road transfer to the lodge. Some travellers fly into Johannesburg first and end in Cape Town. Allow most of a day for the transfer, and plan around the baggage limits of light aircraft if your lodge has an airstrip.

We confirm the flights and the transfer times before you book, and keep a buffer for connections.

The best-known option, with excellent leopard and Big Five viewing. It is a malaria area, so ask your doctor. See the 5-day luxury Kruger and Sabi Sands safari.

A coastal and bush mix, with the St Lucia wetlands and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi. Read how to combine iSimangaliso with a Big Five safari.

Some reserves in the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape are malaria-free, which suits families and those who prefer to avoid tablets. The range of animals differs from Kruger, so ask what you can expect.

Four rules help:

• Spend at least three nights in each half.
• Do not schedule a flight and a major activity on the same day.
• Add a rest day before the international flight home.
• Choose one safari area rather than two.

Remember that the best moments, such as a leopard in a tree or a view from Table Mountain at sunset, need patience and time.

A balanced plan has a mountain, a coast, a vineyard and a story. Table Mountain gives the view, by cable car if the wind allows. The Cape Peninsula gives the sea, with Cape Point and the penguins at Boulders Beach. The Winelands give lunch, scenery and a slower pace. Robben Island or the District Six Museum gives the history. If you have a fourth day, leave it free: explore the V&A Waterfront, a market or a neighbourhood. The 10-day South Africa Big Five safari and historic Cape uses this structure.

Cape Town has a Mediterranean climate: dry, warm summers from November to March and cooler, wetter winters from June to August. Wind is part of life. The south-easter in summer can close the cable car for days, so keep a flexible day. In winter, storms are possible, but clear, crisp days are common, too. The bush in the north-east is at its best in the dry winter, so a winter trip often means a cold, wet start in Cape Town and a dry, clear finish in the reserve. Pack layers for both.

The city stay needs a normal suitcase. The safari may need a soft bag if you fly to a lodge with a small aircraft. A simple plan is to pack a soft duffel for the bush and leave the suitcase with your hotel in Johannesburg or Cape Town. Keep the safari clothes light, because lodges offer laundry. Weight limits on small planes are about 15 to 20 kilograms. Ask us which flights you will use, and we will give you the exact limit before you pack.

South Africa is a good country for self-drive, and the Cape Peninsula and Winelands are easy to drive. A private guide gives you context, saves you from parking and lets you enjoy a glass of wine in the Winelands. For the bush, a guide and tracker at a private reserve are part of the value. Many travellers use a guide in the Cape for one or two days and relax the rest of the time.

• First-time visitors to South Africa
• Couples and honeymooners who want a city, wine and wildlife
• Families who want variety

• Travellers with only four or five days
• Those who dislike flying or connecting airports

Think about what you want from the bush. If you want close leopard sightings and an exclusive feel, choose a private reserve in the Sabi Sands area. If you want a lower price and the chance to self-drive, choose a lodge inside Kruger or a smaller private reserve. If you prefer to avoid malaria tablets, pick a malaria-free reserve in the Eastern Cape or Limpopo. Ask about the number of vehicles, the guiding and the flight connections. A good lodge makes the transfer easy and meets you at the airport with a sign.

Yes. The Winelands are a day trip from Cape Town, and a night in Stellenbosch or Franschhoek adds a taste of wine country. The Garden Route is a longer drive east along the coast, with forests, lagoons and beaches. It suits travellers with more time, usually ten days or more. Read the best bird-watching spots in South Africa if you like birds on the way. Our 7-day South Africa luxury honeymoon includes the Winelands.

• Cutting the bush to two nights. It does not give enough time.
• Ignoring the weather. Table Mountain depends on wind and cloud.
• Forgetting baggage limits. Light aircraft are strict.
• Skipping malaria advice. Ask early.

Yes if you value history. Tickets are limited, so book ahead.

Cape Town is best from November to March, and the bush from May to October. Choose by priority.

Yes. It is a day trip from Cape Town.

Yes for a longer trip. See the 5-day Garden Route adventure.

Yes, if tickets and weather allow. The island takes about four hours including the ferry, so keep the afternoon light.

Yes. Choose a malaria-free reserve if you prefer, and ask about lodges with child-friendly programmes.

Tell us your dates and the balance you want, and we will plan the flights and the nights. Talk to Our Tour Specialist, or see the South Africa destination page.