Highlights of South Africa in 10 Days

Fly to Johannesburg and stay in the Melrose Arch Precinct at the African Pride or the Protea Fire and Ice Hotel. (Both are Marriott properties.)

Insider tip: The Melrose Arch Precinct is a very safe neighborhood. You can even do a morning run if you want, as long as you stay within the neighborhood compound area.

Extra tip: If you want to wear your favorite jeans or travel outfit again, the hotel can do your laundry for you on the same day and at a very affordable price.

Allow time for jet lag and relaxation. Wander around the Melrose Arch area and do a visit to the Apartheid museum or the Soweto township on Vilakazi St and a visit to Nelson Mandela’s home. Have a meal in Soweto for mid-day.

Insider tip: The Sakhumzi restaurant is a buffet that can accommodate every diet and still has local cuisine.

Do the other half of the above, as the Apartheid Museum is enough for one day and Soweto itself is enough for one day. For the day of this museum, add in a short driving tour of Johannesburg. Have an afternoon coffee or lunch in Maboneng, an iconically famous area of town to hang out in. Allow yourself about three hours for the museum. It’s quite amazing!

Insider tip: Consider some time at the spa if you’re too tired to do all of these activities. The Sorbet Spa is within walking distance from either hotel. It has separate facilities for men and women in the mall of Melrose Arch Precinct.

Fly to Cape Town and settle in to your next hotel. Have dinner at the Openwine Bar, and arrange for some trips after evaluating the weather. Check online. You might find a jazz and music night at the OpenWine Bar at 72 Wale Street in the Cape Town city centre. It’s a popular hangout for locals and tourists alike!

Insider tip: The Airlink Airline will feed you a meal and give you local wines to drink in-flight. They also have vegetarian and vegan plated food options.

Extra tip: If you are a member of Star Alliance for airlines, you will receive frequent flier miles for Airlink if you input your Star Alliance membership number.

Do a Cape Town Culinary Tour and enjoy the rest of the afternoon freely. If you’re feeling adventurous, go up to Table Mountain for a sunset cocktail. Shop for some wines and local treats. Wander around the beautiful city for dinner.

Insider tip: I loved Olive Branch Deli and Wine Concepts for local food items and wines on Kloof. Both are within walking distance of the Mount Nelson Hotel.

Visit Robben Island or Table Mountain. Robben Island starts and ends at the V&A Waterfront, and that’s a lovely spot to have a meal and wander around on foot. Also, if you enjoy shopping, the V&A Waterfront is a cute and picturesque shopping area for jewelry and other items. Alternatively, Table Mountain is a scenic place to picnic with a view. I don’t recommend both on the same day as that can be quite exhausting. Later, have a leisurely meal in the evening at a local spot nearby your hotel. Check in with the hotel staff for local spots to suit your palate.

Insider Tip: If you have a fear of heights or claustrophobia, then the tram up to the top of Table Mountain might not be the thing for you.

Extra Tip: undefinedBlondie is a local restaurant that’s very casual, and tasty. Everything is prepared in the wood-fired oven and is so tasty! It’s walkable from Mount Nelson.

If you’re a bit overwhelmed by history as it is quite intense, take a leisurely day trip down to Stellenbosch. Do some wine tastings at a few wineries and have lunch there as well. Return and relax at your hotel pool. If you have not yet done Table Mountain, this might be a good evening for a sunset cocktail there and a light meal at the restaurant enjoying the relaxing view.

For one more day, if you don’t mind a long road trip, go down towards Cape Good Hope at the Southwestern tip of South Africa to Boulders Beach. Visit the penguins. Along the way, stop at the ostrich farm, the Hout Beach Bay and Noordhoek. Take time to eat lunch at the Food Barn, an award-winning restaurant! If you fancy a hike up the lighthouse at the Cape after a trip up the funicular, then you should decrease the time at other stops along the way. The ride is quite scenic and you’ll be tempted to stop at many places for photos and views. Return and relax at the hotel.

Check out and fly home in the evening. Request a late checkout or do the infamous high tea at the Mount Nelson. Enjoy a spa treatment so that you can have a full belly and a hot shower before your evening flight home.

Note: All of these items can be rearranged for a different order of activities. Sometimes based on weather or other conditions beyond your control, such as the funicular being closed. The key is to do only one major item per day and enjoy your time relaxing. It’s vacation!

If you’re like me and do not like riding in a vehicle for a long time, then you might want to skip the penguins at Boulders Beach. That is a long day of driving. Then again, the penguins were adorable to see and the beach area was quite beautiful. The meal at the Food Barn is absolutely worth it, and that’s not as far along in the road trip. The area is also quite charming and has little shops and a little village to wander around.