Arrive in the afternoon at Victoria Falls Airport. Obtain your Kaza Univisa on arrival, which allows multiple entries into Zambia and Zimbabwe and also day trips into Botswana. The Stanley & Livingstone Boutique Hotel will pick you up.

You will be exhausted but try to push through and visit Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwe side that afternoon, which is one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World! No guide needed. The hotel will arrange the transfers. Then you can come back to the hotel, eat a quick dinner on-site, and go to sleep early since jet lag will be settling in quickly.

Dinner: At hotel (delicious gourmet a-la-carte meals!) 

Overnight: Stanley & Livingstone Boutique Hotel. This beautiful African chic hotel is stunning and is the perfect base for your Victoria Falls adventure! If interested, check out my full hotel review.

Arrange through the hotel to cross over into Zambia to do one of the most epic bucket list experiences. 

10:30 am: Bucket list Item #1. Swim in Devil’s Pool on top of the world’s largest waterfall, Victoria Falls. How do you do it? Read more about my epic Devil’s Pool experience. Lunch/2nd late breakfast included.

Afternoon: At your leisure. We decided to relax and drink champagne by the pool. Other options: Afternoon safari drive at the hotel property or a sunset Zambezi River Cruise.

Breakfast: Watch the giraffes on the dining terrace while you eat a delicious made-to-order breakfast, which is included in your hotel rate 

Dinner: At hotel

Overnight: Stanley & Livingstone Boutique Hotel

Arrange through the hotel to transport you to the Wild Horizon’s office in Zimbabwe. This is the tour operator, who will take you to Botswana. Why are we going to Botswana? ELEPHANTS!

Breakfast: Request a to-go breakfast box provided by your hotel

Lunch: Chobe Marina Lodge in Botswana (included in your tour rate)

Dinner: At hotel

Overnight: Stanley & Livingstone Boutique Hotel

Fly 3 hours nonstop from Victoria Falls Airport in Zimbabwe to Cape Town International Airport through South African Airlink.

Land at 2:40 pm if taking the nonstop flight from Victoria Falls. Rent a car with the highly-rated local company, Cabs Car Hire. I am very particular about what countries I feel comfortable driving in. I definitely felt safe driving in South Africa. Use common sense, avoid driving at night, and have your partner constantly remind you to “stay left,” and you will be fine. Drive 1-1.5 hours to Franschhoek for Bucket List Item #2, the Cape Winelands. Learn how to plan your ultimate wine country getaway by reading my comprehensive article on South Africa wine country. Arrive around 4:30 pm. Settle in and relax the remainder of the evening.

Breakfast: One last delicious meal at At Stanley & Livingstone Boutique Hotel

Dinner: Casual dinner at Tuk Tuk Microbrewery in Franschhoek. 5 min. walk from the hotel. No reservations required.

All-day wine tour with La Rochelle Tours to Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, home to the top pinot noir producers in South Africa! 1.5 hour scenic drive from Franschhoek.

8 am: Pick up time

10 am: Storm Wines

11:30 am: Creation Wines (multicourse lunch + wine pairings)

2:15 pm: Hamilton Russell

3:30 pm: Quick stop to check out the seaside town of Hermanus

Breakfast: Wonderful made-to-order breakfast at the hotel (included in the rate)

Dinner: 7:30 pm reservation at top restaurant La Petite Colombe

Overnight: Cape Vue Country House

We designed our own DIY wine tour using Uber. To find out more how we did our own wine tour, check out my article Cape Town Wine Tour.

9 am: Pick-up time via Uber 

10:30 am: Kanonkop Wine Estate. No South Africa itinerary is complete without trying the quintessential South African wine, the pintotage

12:30 pm: The Table at De Meye (farm to table lunch + wine). Our favorite restaurant in South Africa (dare I say, even more than The Test Kitchen!). See 5 Must-Try Franschhoek Restaurants & Beyond for details.

4 pm: Moreson Wine Farm

Breakfast: At the hotel. Always eat a big breakfast before a wine tour.

Dinner: 7:30 pm reservation at top restaurant Chefs Warehouse at Maison

Overnight: Cape Vue Country House

Drive 1 hr. to Cape Town. Check-in and drop off luggage/rental car at the hotel.

12 pm: Uber to Neighbourgoods Market at the Old Biscuit Mill, which is held on Saturdays from 9am – 2pm.  Lots of vendors to try some local Cape Malay food.  

1:30 pm: Uber over to V&A Waterfront. Take in the sites around the harbor.

3 pm: Take the aerial cableway to Table Mountain (weather-dependent activity).

All of these activities are included in my best Things to Do in Cape Town.

Breakfast: One last breakfast at Cape Vue Country House before the drive

Dinner: Check off Bucket List Item #3. Dine at one of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, The Test Kitchen. How do you get reservations? Check out my article Best Restaurants in Cape Town. If you are a foodie, this is a must for your South Africa itinerary.

Drive around the Cape Peninsula. Lots of sites to check out! 

10:30 am: Check out the brightly colored bathhouses at Muizenberg Beach.

12 pm: No South Africa itinerary is complete without seeing the South Africa penguin, whose home is the beach! Find the hidden entrance to swim with these penguins at Boulders Beach.

2:30 pm: Have the best fish & chips for a late lunch at Fish on the Rocks at Hout Bay. Even Somebody Feed Phil on Netflix thinks so.

4 pm: Walk along the spectacular Tree Canopy Walkway at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens

Breakfast: At the hotel

Dinner: Soup and snacks at hotel. Tomorrow is going to be an early morning! 

Overnight: Derwent House Boutique Hotel 

4:30 am: Pick up. Why are you getting up this early? To cross off Bucket List Item #4.

8 am – 5 pm: Shark cage diving with Great White Shark Tours! Nothing can prepare you for staring eye to eye with a 4,000 pound powerful great white shark. You will also see plenty of bronze whaler sharks. I have written in detail all you need to know about shark cage diving in South Africa.

Breakfast: Light continental breakfast at the Great White Shark Tours headquarters. You do not want to eat too much in case it comes up later!

Dinner: 6:30 pm at Thali, lovely restaurant focusing on modern Indian tapas. No reservations required.

Nightcap at The (not-so-secret) Gin Bar located in a chocolate shop. Intrigued? Check out my article on Top 10 South African food and drink.

Overnight: Derwent House Boutique Hotel 

Uber to the start of the trailhead of the Lion’s head hike.

10:30 am: Witness the beauty of the city of Cape Town from the top of Lion’s Head, Bucket List Item #5. This gorgeous city is surrounded by both mountains and ocean. To see how to get this view, please see my article on Lion’s Head hike.

1:30 pm: Have some of the best coffee in the world at Truth Coffee, and you must try their eclairs.

4:30 pm: Stroll around the vibrantly painted Cape Malay neighborhood known as Bo-Kaap.

Breakfast: At the hotel

Dinner: 8:30 pm at another top South Africa restaurant, The Pot Luck Club 

Overnight: Derwent House Boutique Hotel 

Drop off the rental car and take the 10:35 am 2.5 hr. nonstop flight via SA Airlink to Skukuza Airport.

4:30 pm: 3 hr. afternoon safari drive. They do not waste any time. You arrive at the safari lodge early in the afternoon and a few hours later are riding around in a jeep scoping out all the wildlife. 

Breakfast: At Derwent House Boutique Hotel before your early flight 

Dinner: At Lion Sands River Lodge. All gourmet a-la-carte meals are served at the lodge and are mouthwatering. All meals and drinks included.

5:30 – 8:30 am: Morning safari drive

8:30 am – 4:30 pm: At your leisure. Swim, work out in the gym, or get a massage or facial at the spa. I opted for the massage.

4:30 – 7:30 pm: Afternoon safari drive

Your 2-week South Africa itinerary includes the ultimate Bucket List Item #6, the South Africa safari. If you feel overwhelmed with the planning process on how to book the best safari experience, I have written a comprehensive article on all the questions you may come across while planning your South Africa safari and how to choose a safari lodge.

What animals are you going to see? Everything. Lions, leopards, elephants, zebras, buffalo, rhinos, giraffes, wild dogs, wildebeest, hippos, warthogs, African civet, and many species of birds. Wow.

Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner: At Lion Sands River Lodge

Overnight: Lion Sands River Lodge

5:30 – 8:30 am: Morning safari drive

8:30 am – 4:30 pm: At your leisure

4:30 – 7:30 pm: Afternoon safari drive

Another spectacular safari day out in the African bush

Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner: At Lion Sands River Lodge

Overnight: Chalkley Treehouse at Lion Sands River Lodge. You have to reserve this experience ahead of time. No walls. No roof. No Wi-Fi. Just you and a starlit sky.

The South Africa itinerary culminates in one of the most romantic experiences. Sleeping in a treehouse is Bucket List #7. Please check out my article on the Chalkley Treehouse to hear about our experience.

5:30 am: Last morning safari drive

Take the 2:50 pm 1 hr. nonstop slight via SA Airlink to Johannesburg Airport.

Take the 9:45 pm 8 hr. 25 min. flight from Johannesburg Airport to London Heathrow Airport and then home to the United States via Virgin Atlantic

Breakfast: At Lion Sands River Lodge

One last martini at the gorgeous Lion Sands River Lodge bar before the long flight home.