{"id":127514,"date":"2020-06-29T14:59:06","date_gmt":"2020-06-29T14:59:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/?p=127514"},"modified":"2020-06-29T14:59:06","modified_gmt":"2020-06-29T14:59:06","slug":"south-africa-itinerary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/south-africa-itinerary\/","title":{"rendered":"The ultimate South Africa itinerary for backpackers"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u2018Hamba Kahle<\/em>\u2019 (go well), \u2018let\u2019s have a braai\u2019\u00a0 <\/em>(barbeque) and \u2018it was so lekker<\/em>\u2019 (awesome\/good\/tasty) are just a few of the phrases you\u2019ll hear in the medley of languages when you touch down in South Africa. With eleven national tongues and cultural groups to match, South Africa is a chaotic cultural hive which will have you singing with the Zulus and braaing with the Afrikaaners before your trip is over. Dubbed the Rainbow Nation for its cultural diversity, the country\u2019s natural landscape is equally diverse in its dramatic scenery. From deserts to forests, mountains to grasslands and a long and varied coastline, a two-week South Africa itinerary will have you ticking off your bucket list<\/a> faster than you can write it. Let\u2019s go!<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@timalanjohnson<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

South Africa itinerary \u2013 2 weeks<\/b><\/h2>\n

Days 1 – 5:\u00a0<\/strong>Cape Town<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Affectionately named by locals as the Mother City, Cape Town<\/a> is a booming South African travel hotspot and probably the most accessible spot for backpackers to ease themselves into the country. While renting a car is always the best option for getting around South Africa, Cape Town has a safe and convenient bus system called the MCiTi bus, which gets you to most places of interest. Otherwise, Uber is your cheap and cheerful friend and the best option for moving around in the night. The city sprawls around the iconic Table Mountain and along the Atlantic coastline, set against a backdrop of the Cape Fold Belt mountain range. Hundreds of nature trails, sparkling rock pools, water sports and adventure activities are easily accessible from anywhere in the city, making it a playground for nature lovers and adrenaline junkies.<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@austindistel<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

For those who prefer to eat and drink their way through a country, Cape Town will be right up your street. It\u2019s got a number of scenic wine farms offering cheap tastings of some of the best wine in the world. Those on the Constantia Wine Route are breathtaking, with spectacular views and a relaxed atmosphere. The MyCiTi bus can get you there and depending on how much wine you drink, you can stumble along to different farms as you go. Cape Town also has loads of eclectic markets and an endless amount of cheap food options for budget backpackers. The Old Biscuit Mill Market in Woodstock is popular, and the neighbourhood is awash with vintage stores and artisan cafes. Cape Point Vineyards Noordhoek Community Market<\/a> is a food and wine market with scenic sunset views over the vineyard and lake, while the Oranjezicht City Farm Market is a centrally located, friendly spot for fresh-from-the-farm food. For the best caffeine fix, Truth Coffee<\/a> is a world-renowned coffee shop that doubles up as an immersive, steampunk experience. On a hot day, their iced coffee is unbeaten.<\/p>\n

Looming over the city, Table Mountain is the pride of Capetonians and while you have a view of it from basically everywhere, the views from the peak are unparalleled. Don\u2019t worry if you left your hiking boots at home, there is a cable car which takes you to the flat peak and is easily accessible with the MyCiTi bus. There are a number of routes up Table Mountain, from a relatively easy ascent via rocky stairs to a death-defying scramble up cliffs. Choose the trail which best suits your fitness level and appetite for adventure! The most popular, safest and easiest hiking route is up Platteklip Gorge, which starts near the cable car station. This trail is moderately easy with only steps, and lots of opportunities to catch your breath while you pretend to admire the view. The panoramic views and warm fuzzy feeling when you get to the top make it all worth it.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0\ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@renateeriksen<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

To immerse yourself in Cape Malay culture, visit the historic and colourful Bo-Kaap neighbourhood, a quirky and bright array of houses dating back to the 1760s whose rainbow colours you may recognise from many Instagram feeds. The multicoloured neighbourhood, formerly known as the Malay Quarter, was constructed as leased living quarters for slaves from Malaysia, Indonesia and the rest of Africa. These people were known as Cape Malays, and a distinctive culture has grown from their descendants. The \u201chuurhuisjes\u201d (rental houses), were white when the slaves lived there. When they were able to buy property, it\u2019s believed that in order to celebrate their freedom they painted their houses in bright colours. Many Cape Malay families have been living in these houses for generations and Bo-Kaap is a must-visit to begin to understand South Africa\u2019s cultural heritage. If you want to dive deeper, Cape Fusion Tours<\/a> offer an awesome half-day cooking course in Cape Malay food.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0\ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@claudiofonte<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

The city centre is chaotic, with hawkers shouting out \u2018mineral water for your daughter\u2019 or \u2018mangoes, mangoes – wherever a woman is, man goes!\u2019 – simply strolling around is an experience. Take a walk down Long Street, a funky area with impressive street art, vintage stores and vibey bars with large terraces for prime people-watching. Be careful of pickpockets in this area, as it\u2019s an infamous street for getting your phone swiped. Head over to Green Market Square to haggle over prices for handmade African artwork, or to the V&A Waterfront for a sunset boat trip or lunch overlooking the harbour. Drop-in to Yours Truly<\/a> on Kloof Street, a coffee shop\/bar packed with backpackers and locals from 5pm every afternoon, winding down the day with an ice-cold beer on the upstairs garden terrace. Down the road is Kloof Street House<\/a>, a visual fantasy land which will have you feeling like you\u2019ve fallen down the rabbit hole straight into a Lewis Carroll novel – the fantastic food is just a bonus.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve rented a car, the Cape Peninsula loop is a spectacular mini road trip which can be done in a day and is packed with sights and activities. If the erratic local traffic is too daunting, you can break the trip up and use Uber to ferry you around (the MyCiTi bus does not travel here). Head over to Muizenberg beach, the first stop on the loop. Here you can enjoy the warmer water and the small waves which make it the perfect place for novice surfers – you can rent budget wetsuits and boards and learn by yourself, or book some lessons. Muizenberg has a laid back, beach bum feel, in contrast to the other glam beaches around Cape Town.\u00a0 Kalk bay is the next village over and is quaint and idyllic, dotted with welcoming cafes, designer beachwear shops and the famous Kalkys<\/a> – the best fish and chips in Cape Town.<\/p>\n

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Muizenberg beach<\/em> \ud83d\udcf7 @_entreprenerd<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

From Kalk Bay, head over to Boulders Beach (R160\/\u00a38) and visit the penguins – not the Arctic type, the kind of smelly but unbelievably cute African type. Keep your eyes peeled for whales and dolphins too. If you\u2019re not driving, end your day in nearby Simons Town, otherwise it could be an expensive Uber back. From Boulders Beach, the road continues along the coast towards Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope through a large nature reserve (entry R320\/\u00a315) that extends from the southernmost tip of the peninsula to Table Mountain. The route continues through one beautiful seaside town to the next, with plenty of opportunities for an icy dip in the sea and a walk on the beach. You can loop back to town via Chapmans Peak, an elevated coastal road with epic views. If that hasn\u2019t satisfied your beach cravings, the four Clifton beaches are a popular choice for backpackers and locals alike for their white sand and rocky coves. Llandudno beach is a great spot to enjoy the humbling African sunsets.<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udcf7\u00a0@austindistel<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

The Western Cape is the natural habitat of the fascinating Fynbos vegetation. It\u2019s a small but diverse floral kingdom, with two-thirds of the plant species occurring only in the Western and Eastern Cape. The perfect place to appreciate the Fynbos is the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens<\/a> (entry R75\/\u00a33.50). Meander through rock gardens, gape at the strangely gorgeous cycads and walk on the architectural marvel that is the Tree Canopy Walkway. The Skeleton Gorge trail up Table Mountain starts in the garden and involves a technical but doable ascent up a shaded gorge which ends at a Coca-Cola coloured mineral lake, perfect for a swim on a hot summer\u2019s day. If you happen to find yourself in Cape Town in summer, there\u2019s a concert at Kirstenbosch Gardens almost every weekend, where you can get a taste of local live acts with Table Mountain as your backdrop. Arrive early and know that picnic blankets and bottles of wine are encouraged!<\/p>\n