10-Day South Africa Big Five Safari & Historic Cape

This 10 day South Africa Big Five safari puts history first and the bush second. You spend five days in the Western Cape and Johannesburg, with Robben Island, Table Mountain, the Cape Peninsula, the Winelands and a Soweto heritage tour, then fly to the Greater Kruger area for two nights of game drives. The last full day follows the Panorama Route and Blyde River Canyon toward Johannesburg. Domestic flights, a private guide and your lodge are planned for you, so you spend your energy on the places, not on the logistics.

The first half is a history lesson delivered on location. On day two you cross to Robben Island, where the prison held political prisoners during apartheid, and the tour takes about three and a half to four hours including the ferry. Table Mountain follows if the cable car is running. Day three covers the Cape Peninsula, with the cliffs at Cape Point and the African penguins at Boulders Beach, and day four is slower, in the Stellenbosch and Franschhoek Winelands. Read how a Cape Town city tour combines with a safari before you decide how much time to give the Cape.

On day five you fly to Johannesburg for a heritage tour of Soweto with a local guide, then fly toward Greater Kruger. Two nights of game drives follow, with a guide and tracker looking for lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo and rhinos. Sightings are never guaranteed, and the lodge schedule sets the rhythm. On day nine you drive the Panorama Route past viewpoints over Blyde River Canyon, and continue toward Johannesburg. Browse the Big Five safari page, the wine tasting page and the South Africa destination page, and read the best park for the Big Five in South Africa.

Easy to moderate. The city sites involve short walks and some steps, and Table Mountain can be visited by cable car, not on foot. The Cape Peninsula day has many stops and a lot of driving. On safari, days start early and you sit in a vehicle on tracks that can be dusty or bumpy. The Panorama Route has short walks to viewpoints that can be rough or slippery after rain. The hardest part is day nine, which is long. Guests with back problems or limited mobility should tell us before booking so that we can adjust the plan.

Cape Town has dry summers and wetter winters, so the Cape days are easiest from November to March, while the Greater Kruger area is at its best for game viewing in the drier months, roughly May to October, when the bush is thinner. No single month is best for both, so the choice depends on what matters more to you. Tell us your dates and we will say honestly what to expect. Read the best time to book an African safari.

This tour suits couples, solo travellers, families with older children and small groups who want South African history and a Big Five safari in one trip. If you prefer more time in the city and a longer bush stay, see the 8-day Cape Town and Big Five safari holiday. For a focused luxury bush stay, see the 5-day luxury Kruger and Sabi Sands safari.

Tell us your dates early, because Robben Island tickets and lodge availability are the first things to go. We advise on visas free of charge and confirm hotels and the lodge after booking. The route from Greater Kruger to Johannesburg is long, so we confirm the final overnight before you book. Domestic flights have baggage limits, so pack in soft bags.

For a journey built around heritage and community, see our Signature Journey, the 6-day KwaZulu-Natal safari with Zulu cultural heritage.