The 13 2-Day Experiences in South Africa That Earn Their Price

1.2-Day Safari at Garden Route Game Lodge

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 928 reviews · 2 days · from $533Our pick

Travel in a small group of up to 12 from Cape Town with guides such as Chris, Vaughan, Benjamin, or Frank. Stop at Hermanus, Betty’s Bay, and Cape Agulhas, then spend a night at Garden Route Game Lodge with dinner and two safari drives.

“The game lodge and safari guide was such an amazing experience and we’re so knowledgeable about the animals. But most of all our transport guide Benjamin was exceptional! Made the journey so pleasurable, pointing out landmarks, answering question and taking us to see extra tourist attractions a long the way! Thanks Benjamin.”

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2.South African Wildlife and Safari 2-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 411 reviews · 2 days · from $322

Travel from Cape Town or Stellenbosch to Oudtshoorn for two safari drives at Botlierskop and Buffelsdrift. You may spot rhinos, elephants, buffalo, lions, and more. Guides such as Nev, Denver, Ulrich, and TK are known for making the long drives engaging. Add the elephant observation for about R640.

“Ulrich was fantastic, making everyone comfortable by being super friendly, clear and informative. The safaris were fab and we saw so much. Food at the backpackers was amazing.”

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3.2 Day Safari Experience from Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 326 reviews · from $447Top rated

Leave Cape Town at 6am for Cape Agulhas, an overnight stay at Garden Route Game Lodge, and sunset and sunrise safari drives. Your driver-guide may be Vaughan, Chris, Benjamin, or Frank, while reserve guides such as Abi or Zandre lead the wildlife drives. Return via Hermanus and Betty’s Bay.

“The 2 Day Safari Experience was amazing!! Both the Tour guide and Ranger informed the guests about the iternary and both had a good sense the humor. The dinner and breakfast at the Lodge was outstanding. I would highly recommend it”

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4.2 Day South African Wildlife Tour with 4×4 Safari from Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 251 reviews · from $279Best value

Leave Cape Town early with a local guide such as Neville, TK, or Denver, then cross Route 62 to Botlierskop and Oudtshoorn. You’ll take two open 4x4 drives, spend one night near the ostrich capital, and may add a guided elephant observation at Buffelsdrift for about R700.

“Excellent trip. Two safaris and saw numerous animals including lions, zebras, giraffes, rhinos.... Guide / driver was very good”

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5.2-Day 4-Star Pilanesberg Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 61 reviews · 2 days · from $609

Leave Johannesburg for Pilanesberg’s volcanic hills and four game drives in two days. You’ll ride in both open 4x4s and a closed minivan, sleep at a 4-star lodge, and may spot four of the Big Five. Guide Moloko has earned special praise for her care and effort.

“Mye for pengene! Nydelig sted og veldig god mat!”

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6.2-Day Wildlife Tour with Safaris and Luxury Stay

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 51 reviews · 2 days · from $534

Leave Cape Town early for Botlierskop and Oudtshoorn, then spend the night at luxury Buffelsdrift Lodge or a selected farm stay. You’ll join two shared 4x4 drives, travel Route 62, and may add a close elephant observation. Guides such as Maudi, Dylan, and Denver are noted for safe, helpful service.

“Résultat mitigé. Dylan, le guide était top. Je le recommande vivement. Le programme est intense sur les 2 jours avec de longs trajets de 6h. Mais vous n’avez pas le choix si vous venez de Captown. Les van ne sont pas confortables. Concernant les 2 safari, cela me paraissait plus être un grand zoo sans enclos plutôt qu’un safari. J’ai moins apprécié le 1er safari Bufflesdrift car plus petit et beaucoups moins d’animaux. En revanche les lodges surplace et l’environnement étaient magnifiques. Il n’y avait pas de lions dans les 2 réserves. Suppléments éléphant cher, mais sympa car nous avons pu les approcher de très près et de les toucher.…”

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7.2-Day Addo Elephant Park Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 46 reviews · 2 days · from $597

Spend two days with Afroventures Tours and Safaris, led by an English-speaking local guide such as John, Sidwell, or Riccardo. You’ll combine a full Addo safari, a Sundays River cruise and dune tour, and a close giraffe encounter, with one night of 4-star lodging and meals included.

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8.2-Day Safari into Kruger National Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 29 reviews · 2 days · from $616

Leave Johannesburg early for Kruger National Park, then take an afternoon and morning safari in an open vehicle. Guide Rudzani has earned special praise for finding wildlife and caring for guests. The trip includes transport, park fees, bottled water, and one night near Hazyview, but meals cost extra.

“It was a great experience to be in real safari! It worth for it. Thank you especially for my driver Rudzani was kind and took care of the participants so well.”

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9.Big 5 Kruger National Park 2 Days Safari from Johannesburg

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 25 reviews · from $721

Leave Johannesburg at 7 a.m. for Kruger National Park, staying overnight in Hazyview. Your driver-guide takes you through Phabeni Gate for a four-hour afternoon drive, followed by a 5:30 a.m. morning safari. Guides such as Patrick and Lambert have helped guests find both large and small wildlife.

“We had a tour guide pick us up promptly at our hotel in Johannesburg and drive us to our accommodation in Kruger. I am a little confused because the lodging we were provided was different from what was advertised in the listing. For the pricRead more”

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10.2-Day Best Highlights Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 13 reviews · 2 days · from $497

You’ll tour Cape Town with a private English-speaking guide, combining Table Mountain, Cape Point, Seal Island, Boulders Penguins Colony, Robben Island, Bo-Kaap, Groot Constantia, and Kirstenbosch. Guides such as Fiston and Joshua have been praised for kind, flexible service.

“Good tour but timings of visits changed as Robben island and Table Mountain subject to weather ie visit whilst you can. Also the time of year (1st Jan 2020)we went is a popular time so the queues for table mountain were long - over 2 hours just to get up - so opted out. Otherwise the 2 day tour gave a good overall experience of the Cape. The guide Josh was charming and helpful.”

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11.2 Day Small Group Cape Town: Garden Route Big 5 Safari Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 6 reviews · 2 days · from $1,908

Travel from Cape Town to Oudtshoorn and Mossel Bay with an English-speaking guide and shared vehicle. Visit Cango Caves, Buffelsdrift and Botlierskop game reserves, meet giraffes, tour an ostrich farm, and spend one night at Chandelier Game Lodge. Expect long driving days and a late return.

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12.2-Day Lesotho Guided Trip with Lodging & Meals

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 5 reviews · 2 days · from $457

Join an English-speaking guide such as Peter or Justin for a two-day, small-group journey from Durban over Sani Pass into Lesotho. You will visit Mokhotlong, choose a Basotho village visit or horse ride, sleep near the pass, and travel by comfortable 4x4 with meals included.

“Peter was a great guide. We enjoyed going over Sani Pass as well as the food and accommodations in Lesotho. Would highly recommend the Roof of Africa for adventures!”

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13.Kruger National Park 2-Day Safari Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 3 reviews · from $1,296

You fly from Cape Town to Johannesburg, continue by shuttle to Mpumalanga, and enter Kruger for an afternoon and dawn safari. A 3-star game lodge in Hazyview, park fees, flights, and transfers are included. Your guide speaks English, and Cape Town hotel pickup is provided.

“I ranked it good because I did not get to see the rhino.”

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