SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa's standouts.
A shortlist of the 10 1-day tours most worth booking in South Africa, with what each one is like on the day, who runs it, and what it costs.
Express Big Five safari from Cape Town with Breede and Hex winelands stops, buffet lunch and champagne at Aquila.
“It was my very first safari ever and it was absolutely amazing. Mike went above and beyond! He managed everything extremely well and thanks to him I did not have to que a single time. Also his knowledge about the area is huge. You can Read more”
One day in Soweto and Johannesburg’s key justice sites, with Hector Pieterson Museum, Apartheid Museum, and Constitutional Hill.
“We had a fantastic day with our guide, Clement Tshabalala. He shared a wealth of knowledge about Johannesburg’s history and daily life, which made the tour both interesting and educational. The museum visits were meaningful, though in our opinion, visiting one less would have made the day a bit more relaxed. The visit to Soweto…”
Private Cape Town day trip with Table Mountain, Cape Point, and Boulders Beach penguins, plus coastal drives and big views. $210.
“Coco was amazing. We went up Table Mountain, saw the penguins at Boulders Beach, and Cape Point/Hope, and even made a detour to Bo Kaap. She is extremely knowledgeable and friendly, and definitely enhanced the experience. If you decide to take this tour, ask for Coco.”
See Table Mountain views, Bo-Kaap culture, and Cape Town highlights on a hotel pickup half-day with an AC minibus and optional Castle stop.
“Cable car was closed unfortunately so we ended up doing a rather simple tour with a nice fellow driver but who barely told us anything interesting. Probably one of the lowest value tours i have ever had :(”
Cape Winelands day trip from Cape Town with hotel pickup and 3 wine tastings in Paarl, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch.
“Thoroughly enjoyed the wineries visited on this trip. Our guide, although slightly challenged with the English language, went out of his way to ensure that we had an enjoyable experience. We could have done without the 30 min stop in Stellenbosch. There was very little to see or do here.”
A full-day 4x4 trip from Durban’s area to Sani Pass and Lesotho, with a Basotho village visit, bread tastings, and the highest pub stop.
“An extraordinary and exceptional journey with Major Adventures into Lesotho - Highest Pub in Africa Day Trip - 22/01/2025”
Hop-on hop-off Johannesburg plus a guided Soweto visit with Mandela and apartheid sites, all in one flexible 5–6 hour day.
“This was a good overview of the city and its history. Just sad that the Apartheid Museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, so we missed that stop. So we added the Soweto portion onto our experience and it was great. It was our favoRead more”
Durban to Sani Pass and Lesotho on a 4x4 day trip with Basotho village time and homemade bread for a small group.
“Was an incredible day our guide Siya was great and he was very knowledgeable and more than happy to help and answer any questions we had. Would highly recommend this tour”
Full-day Pilanesberg safari from Johannesburg with hotel pickup, a 5-hour open-vehicle drive, lunch by a waterhole, and ranger guiding.
“Put this on your bucket list! Even though every tour will be different and you may not see the same wildlife I did (ex: we didn't see any cats), it is awesome. Our guide / ranger was so knowledgable, answered our countless questions, and made it very interesting. If you only have a day and…”
Shore-based Southern Right whale watching in Hermanus plus wine tasting and a scenic coastal return from Cape Town. Seasonal and timed right.
“The trip was very beautiful, passing through amazing landscapes. The guide Rodney was knowledgeable, though not a very good listener. Nevertheless, he made sure we got the best spots for each activity. We saw Whales and Penguins. Wine tasting was also done, though in short.”
