With so many things to consider for your ideal South African safari, this guide comes in handy for planning a safari loop from Cape Town to Johannesburg.
- Why one destination is not enough for luxury safari holidays
- Tailor-made luxury safari holidays: The ultimate difference
- The luxury route begins: Cape Town
- Garden Route: An oasis for luxury safari holidays
- Arriving in Jhb: Luxury safari holidays at Kruger National Park
- Why choose Tailormade Africa Safaris for your luxury safari holiday
These travel tips from Tailormade Africa Safaris are just what you need for a memorable all-around safari experience under the African sun.
With so much to experience on luxury safari holidays in South Africa, guests are often left wishing they had just a bit more time. In this blog, Tailormade Africa Safaris explores how a safari loop from Cape Town to Johannesburg gives you an extended trip with luxury accommodation, immersive activities, adventure, and plenty of downtime.
Start in the picturesque winelands and end your safari in the iconic Kruger region. The best part is that we do the planning for you, so you have more time to enjoy.
Why One Destination is Not Enough for Luxury Safari Holidays
For the discerning traveller, a luxury safari holiday is not just a few days of game drives; it is an immersive, comprehensive journey into the true heart of a destination. Limiting your experience to just one game reserve for a short time simply doesn’t allow for this depth.
Such a fleeting visit restricts you to a singular ecosystem and only a handful of activities, and barely gives you a chance to unwind before the next flight. It can be more stressful than relaxing when you are racing against the clock. True indulgence requires time—time to slow down, relax, and fully absorb the quiet rhythms of the bush.
This is why at Tailormade Africa Safaris, we recommend a Cape Town to Johannesburg safari loop that offers the ultimate, holistic South African experience. With this travel itinerary, you get to blend the country’s cosmopolitan highlights with its spectacular wilderness.
Starting in the Winelands and ending near the world-renowned Greater Kruger safari destination, this loop allows you to explore South Africa’s diverse offerings.
Forget the one-dimensional approach to safari, and instead, contrast the coastal atmosphere and the vineyards of the Cape with the iconic Big Five reserves and varied landscapes near Johannesburg. Visiting multiple, distinct game reserves ensures a richer, more varied wildlife experience, guaranteeing you leave with a profound connection to this magnificent country.
Tailormade Luxury Safari Holidays
We offer safari loop experiences with a customised difference:
- Personalised tour itineraries & travel advice
- Our owners have good relationships with various tour operators and lodges
- Years of experience to give you the best safari adventure
The Luxury Route Begins: Cape Town
The start of a truly unforgettable South African safari loop is not in the heart of the bush but amidst the sophisticated elegance of the Western Cape. Beginning your luxury safari holiday in Cape Town serves as the perfect transition into your wilderness adventure. Instead of rushing straight to a game reserve, discerning guests are encouraged to first immerse themselves in the region’s renowned Winelands. This initial phase is all about relaxation and gentle exploration.
Here, the experience centres on staying in exclusive, boutique accommodation. Cape Town is known for its historic estates and designer hotels nestled among rolling vineyards. Spend your days savouring world-class cuisine and wine pairings, exploring charming towns like Paarl, Franschhoek, and Stellenbosch, and enjoying the beautiful scenery.
These luxury Cape accommodations are designed for pre-safari rejuvenation. Imagine waking in a beautifully restored Cape Dutch manor house, focused on quiet repose. Many feature world-class spas and curated spaces, helping you shed the stress leading up to your travels. This indulgent beginning sets a high benchmark for service before transitioning to the rugged, yet refined, elegance of the bush camps.
We love this slow, indulgent start that allows you to shed the stress of travel and fully attune yourself to the holiday pace. After this leg of the journey, you will feel rested, rejuvenated, and fully prepared before heading north to the exhilarating, high-action excitement of the safari portion of your itinerary.
Garden Route: An oasis for Luxury Safari Holidays
Next up on your safari loop is the Garden Route, which effortlessly transforms a simple journey into a comprehensive luxury safari holiday in South Africa. As you travel east from the Cape Winelands, this stunning coastal stretch sets a different pace for your extended safari experience.
The scenery serves as a relaxing oasis before the Big Five excitement, which is coming up further north. It offers a welcome contrast to the city and the bush, allowing you to breathe in the crisp Indian Ocean air and explore one of the world’s most beautiful coastal drives.
The Garden Route is known and loved for its blend of high-end relaxation and unique adventure activities. Popular stops in malaria-free Eastern Cape include Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, where you can meander among exclusive boutique hotels and world-class golf courses.
Try a sunset lagoon cruise with fresh oysters and fine wine, enjoy whale watching from land or boat, or explore the indigenous forests of the Tsitsikamma National Park via a guided forest canopy tour. This interlude ensures you are completely refreshed and ready for the shift from coastal tranquillity to the high-adrenaline thrill of the ultimate safari destination.
Arriving in Jhb: Luxury Safari Holidays in the Kruger region
The final, climactic destination of the Cape Town to Johannesburg luxury loop is the legendary Greater Kruger National Park region. It was established in 1898 to protect indigenous wildlife and can now be accessed via a short flight from Johannesburg.
This is the iconic safari experience that travellers dream of, offering the best chance in South Africa for exhilarating Big Five encounters. After the cultural and coastal beauty of the south, concluding the journey here provides a spectacular crescendo.
Stay in exclusive private reserves like Sabi Sand or Timbavati, renowned for exceptional guiding and highly personalised service. Experience thrilling game viewing, often including walking safaris and night drives, experiences unavailable in many other parks. Ending the loop at Kruger allows you to combine diverse landscapes and activities with the ultimate wildlife immersion.
In these private reserves, the luxury extends beyond the exquisite lodge design and gourmet dining. You benefit from fewer vehicles and unrestricted traversing, maximising exclusive sightings. This means your guides can track the Big Five off-road, providing exhilarating, up-close encounters. The dedicated service and intimate atmosphere ensure an intensely personal and superior wildlife experience.
It is the perfect conclusion, ensuring you leave South Africa with memories ranging from sophisticated city life and coastal serenity to the pure, untamed excitement of a world-class safari.
Why Choose Tailormade Africa Safaris for Your Luxury Safari Holiday
- Dedicated owners passionate about safari & conservation
- Experienced guides
- Bespoke luxury safari holidays
- Everything planned for you, reducing the stress of booking flights and hotels
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is there to do in the Cape Winelands?
A: Visit historical vineyards, partake in wine tasting, purchase locally made wine, and visit markets and local botanical gardens.
Q: How should I pack for a safari loop?
A: Pack lightly, as you will be making several stops, but be sure to include clothing for both cold and warm temperatures, as some regions are hot and dry while others have cooler evenings. Pack plenty of sunscreen, swim gear, and comfortable walking shoes, as well as at least one smart outfit for a formal dinner at a restaurant.
Get the full luxury safari holiday experience with a comprehensive safari loop from Cape Town to Johannesburg. Experience the best of boutique lodges, wildlife viewing, the flora and fauna of the Cape region, and the untamed wilderness of the Kruger National Park.
Contact Tailormade Africa to make your booking, and we’ll create your ideal itinerary.
