Day Trips & Excursions in South Africa

Take a hassle-free day trip to Pietermaritzburg, the capital of KawZulu-Natal province, on this small-group tour from Durban, limited to 11 people or fewer. Visit the site where Nelson Mandela was captured, learn about traditional Zulu culture, and more on an 8-hour excursion from the city.

The Apartheid Museum is one of South Africa's most important history museums, offering a harrowing insight into the rise and fall of the apartheid regime. On this tour, combine a visit to the Apartheid Museum with a tour of the Soweto township, the former home of Nelson Mandela. Discover the township's troubled history and rich cultural heritage as you stroll down Vilikazi Street, learn about the Youth Uprising in 1976 at the Hector Pieterson Museum and visit the Nelson Mandela House Museum.

Explore the Cradle of Human Kind, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on this full-day tour from Johannesburg. Learn about where the human race started and see fossils that date back to the beginning of humans' time on earth.

If you've got limited time in Cape Town and want to plan a personalized day trip based on your preferences - this is the tour for you. It'll be a stress-free day with Cape Town hotel pickup and drop-off included. Travel in a comfortable vehicle between dispersed locations and get insider tips on the best viewpoints. Itineraries vary based on your interests, but potential sites include Hout Bay, Clifton, Camps Bay, Boulders Beach, Kalk Bay, and Cape Point.

On a tight schedule? Don't worry: you can still experience Mpumalanga's spectacular Panorama Route and have plenty of time to spare. Set out from Hazyview - outside of Kruger National Park - on a convenient half-day tour of the region's stunning natural highlights. Experience awe-inspiring views around every corner, including the dramatic Lisbon Falls, God's Window - so named because of its incredible views, and the always verdant Blyde River Canyon, the third largest canyon on the planet. You'll be back at your Hazyview hotel without skipping a beat.

Explore the edge of the world during this full-day round trip road trip. Catch a boat to Seal Island in the morning, then hit the road and wind your way along the Misty Cliffs. View more wildlife and spectacular scenery on your way to the Cape of Good Hope to ride a funicular up to the lighthouse. Return trip via Boulders Beach to visit with African Penguins.

Explore South Africa's most famous township with this 10-hour guided tour of Soweto from Johannesburg. Enjoy a personal experience of how vibrant and lively Soweto from your guide, who was born and raised in the township.

Learn about the different tribes of South Africa on this half-day tour to the Lesedi Cultural Village. Get a window in to the culture of tribes such as the Xhosa and the Zulu, as well as a chance to taste their cuisine. Round-trip hotel transportation included.

Get to know the history and landmarks of Johannesburg, also known as the City of Gold, in a full-day tour. Visit Soweto, the hometown of Nelson Mandela, as well as a full city tour and a visit to the Apartheid Museum. All entrance fees, lunch, snacks, and bottled water included. Pickup and drop-off at your Johannesburg hotel.

Combine visits to Soweto, Gold Reef City, and Johannesburg on a single tour. You'll get a full picture of the region by traveling with a guide on this carefully curated itinerary. Get orientation tours of both Soweto and Johannesburg, in addition to visiting the Hector Pieterson Museum, the Gold Reef City Theme Park, and exploring a gold mine. Transportation between all sites makes this tour easy and seamless.

Explore the traditional culture of the Zulu people with this full-day tour from Durban. Visit the cultural village of Shakaland to learn about the legacy of the great King Shaka, a revered leader of the Zulus. Get introduced to Zulu traditions such as Sangomas and assegaai-wielding warriors, and see demonstrations of spear making and dancing. Enjoy a buffet lunch during the tour.

Experience some of South Africa's most spectacular natural wonders on a full-day trip from Hazyview, close to Kruger National Park. Set out along Mpumalanga's stunning Panorama Route, known for its gushing waterfalls, prolific fauna, and awe-inspiring vistas. Wind past hidden caves and towering mountain peaks, taking in sights like the always verdant Blyde River Canyon and Bourke's Luck Potholes - a series of cylindrical rock formations created by years of erosion. Tour the former gold mining town of Graskop and marvel at the Three Rondavels, iconic mountain tops resembling traditional African homesteads.

Get the safari experience in just one day on this full-day Kruger National Park tour from Pretoria. With all the details arranged in advance, including transportation and meals, this ambitious undertaking in a single day becomes completely manageable. Spend three hours in the park and embark on a game drive to seek out the Big 5 and see the park's different ecosystems, flora, and fauna.

Explore the Cradle of Humankind on a full-day tour from Pretoria. Learn about the earliest homid relatives and their way of life in the Maropeng region, then visit the Sterkfontein caves. Finish the day with a drive through a local wildlife park in search of Africa's Big Five, followed by a buffed dinner.

Spend a day exploring the 19th-century Anglo-Zulu battlefields of Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift. Learn about the history of the battles that took place on 22 January 1879 and then see the landscape on which the fighting occurred.

Your private tour guide will drive you around the city pointing out historical facts and important buildings, museums, parliament and not forgetting the cultural aspect, you'll get to visit the famous African Market, where you'll have a chance to do some shopping if desired.  If time allows, visit the District Six museum or perhaps Signal Hill and finally take the cable car up to Table Mountain where you'll get an amazing perspective of the city of Cape Town along with views of Robben Island.  If the weather doesn't allow for a Table Mountain trip, then your guide will take you on a tour to the famous Kirstenbosch Gardens.

Spend some time in the great outdoors during this full-day private trip to South Africa's Swartberg Mountains region. Experience the postcard-perfect scenery and diverse wildlife of this natural haven as you stop at the UNESCO-listed Swartberg pass, scout for 'klipspringer' (antelopes) and jackals, and learn about local conservation efforts at the H.O.P.E. Foundation, plus much more.

The Cradle of Humankind is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the site where some of the world's oldest and most significant hominid fossils were found. On this full-day tour, enjoy extra time to take in all the exhibitions, both with and without your guide. Enjoy the interactive displays and take an underground boat ride through history at the Maropeng Visitor Center, then venture underground to explore the Sterfontein Caves.

The dramatic coastal roads and beautiful beaches of the Cape Peninsula lie just south of Cape Town. Take in the highlights on this full-day tour and travel in the comfort of a private vehicle, all the way to Cape Point at the southern tip. Along the way, cruise to Seal Island from Houts Bay, visit an ostrich farm, admire the views along the Chapmans Peak Drive, and spot penguins on Boulders Beach.

Get the full safari experience in just one day on this tour to Kruger National Park from Johannesburg. Perfect for those short on time or who don't have the budget for a multi-day safari, this day trip gives travelers three hours in the national park and the opportunity to seek out Africa's elusive Big 5. Breakfast, lunch, and round-trip transportation are included, so you can focus on the experience instead of trip logistics.