Average stay: Cape Town Tourism Destination Intelligence, 2025.
7 nights: city, mountain and sea
| Night | Base | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1–4 | Atlantic Seaboard or V&A Waterfront | Table Mountain (flexible morning), Bo-Kaap with a local guide, Zeitz MOCAA, Signal Hill sundowners, dinner at a starred restaurant |
| 5–7 | Constantia or stay put | Private Cape Point & Boulders day, Kirstenbosch, Constantia lunch, helicopter flight |
10 nights: add the Winelands
| Night | Base | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1–5 | Cape Town | As above, at a slower pace; Robben Island |
| 6–8 | Franschhoek or Stellenbosch estate | Two tasting days, Babel or La Petite Colombe lunch, cycling the vines |
| 9–10 | Cape Town or a malaria-free reserve | Last-night dinner, or two nights at a Western Cape reserve such as Aquila |
14 nights: whales, wine and the bush
| Night | Base | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1–5 | Cape Town | City, mountain, peninsula, sea |
| 6–7 | Hermanus / Hemel-en-Aarde | Whales (in season), Pinot Noir tastings, cliff path |
| 8–10 | Winelands | Franschhoek and Stellenbosch |
| 11–14 | Sabi Sand (Greater Kruger) | Fly north for a private-lodge safari, then fly home via Johannesburg |
See also safari add-ons and when to visit.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Cape Town?
Seven nights covers the highlights comfortably; ten adds the Winelands; fourteen allows Hermanus and a safari. Foreign visitors averaged 9.5 nights in 2025.
Should I do the safari before or after Cape Town?
Usually after: you fly north from Cape Town and connect home via Johannesburg, finishing on a high.