South Africa 8-Day Tours & Itineraries

Explore 12 trips designed by local kimkim specialists to get ideas for your trip to South Africa.

In eight days, you’ll have time to take in the highlights of multiple regions of South Africa—with the flexibility to do it your way. South Africa is synonymous with safaris, and you can choose from several options, from the open grasslands of Kruger to the waterways of Chobe National Park in Botswana. Pick an itinerary with a lot of variety, from city life to the coastline and more, or stick with the big parks for increased chances of catching glimpses of Africa’s Big 5 game animals. 

For more, read about the best 8-Day tours to South Africa.

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Cape Winelands
Map of Cape Town & Kruger Park Safari - 8 Days
Cape Town & Kruger Park Safari - 8 Days

Enjoy a majestic eight-day tour of Cape Town and Kruger Park Safari, two of South Africa’s top highlights. You will take in the beauty of the Cape Peninsula, Winelands, and the city of Cape Town, followed by a great safari experience in the Kruger National Park, where the iconic African wildlife roam free.

A vineyard in Stellenbosch near Cape Town
Map of Cape Town & Garden Route - 8 Days
Cape Town & Garden Route - 8 Days

Experience one of the most beautiful parts of the world as you make your way along South Africa's Garden Route for a unique mix of scenery, multiculturalism, and outdoor activities. This 8-day adventure starts and ends in Cape Town—capped by the magnificent Table Mountain—where you'll have several days to explore this fascinating city (and nearby vineyards) with the help of local guides.

Elephants on parade in South Africa
Map of Garden Route and "Big 5" Tour - 8 Days
Garden Route and "Big 5" Tour - 8 Days

Get ready for the road trip of a lifetime!  Explore the Western Cape, Little Karoo, Whale Route, Addo Elephant National Park, and more. Ride down Africa's largest dune on a sandboard, explore Wilderness National Park in a canoe, relax and shop in Cape Town, and jump from the world's highest bungee bridge (if you dare!).

Young elephants playing in the water in Kruger National Park
Map of Authentic South Africa: Johannesburg to Kruger National Park - 8 Days
Authentic South Africa: Johannesburg to Kruger National Park - 8 Days

After arriving in Johannesburg, you will have the chance to explore the vibrant "City of Gold" including the many art galleries, markets, and historical museums. You will also take a township tour through Soweto, South Africa's "living museum" filled with rich history, before departing for Kruger National Park. A few days in Kruger National Park will give you a full opportunity to discover the reserve's thousands of wildlife species and unique heritage spots before you depart back to Johannesburg and visit Blyde River Canyon along the way.

Victoria Falls
Map of Southern Africa Safari: Cape Town, Victoria Falls, & Chobe National Park - 8 Days
Southern Africa Safari: Cape Town, Victoria Falls, & Chobe National Park - 8 Days

Eight days of elephants and expansive views are yours to explore on this itinerary. Begin in Cape Town, where you'll enjoy tours both within the city and out into its surrounding areas to see the sights and sample the cheese, wine, and chocolate of the Winelands. Continue to feel the rush of Victoria Falls, followed by a river cruise down the Zambezi to scope out the wildlife of Chobe National Park.

Sunrise in Kruger
Map of Explore South Africa: Cape Town, Johannesburg, & Kruger Safari - 8 Days
Explore South Africa: Cape Town, Johannesburg, & Kruger Safari - 8 Days

Eight days will introduce you to some of the high points of South Africa on this itinerary. Spend three nights in Cape Town complete with scenic drives, wine samples, and sweeping views, followed by a night in Johannesburg for a skim of the history of the Soweto district. End your outing with a safari through Kruger National Park and all its native wildlife.

Baobab in Kruger
Map of Classic South Africa: Cape Town, Johannesburg, & Kruger Safari - 8 Days
Classic South Africa: Cape Town, Johannesburg, & Kruger Safari - 8 Days

Follow a classic South Africa route for eight days on this itinerary. Start off on Cape Town's scenic seaboard and wine country, then go north for a night in Johannesburg accompanied by a tour of the Soweto Township. From there you'll head to Kruger National Park for a safari across its famous territory.

In the Cederberg Mountains
Map of Wine & Nature in South Africa: Cape Town, Winelands, & Cederberg - 8 Days
Wine & Nature in South Africa: Cape Town, Winelands, & Cederberg - 8 Days

Enjoy eight days exploring from the coast to the cliffs on this itinerary. Follow the coastal drives out of Cape Town and down into an aquatic cage experience with great white sharks, then go inland to the famous vineyards of Stellenbosch and the Winelands. Finish up in the mountain caves and trails of Cederberg before you head home.

Sunset over Johannesburg
Map of History & Wildlife in South Africa: Johannesburg & Kruger National Park - 8 Days
History & Wildlife in South Africa: Johannesburg & Kruger National Park - 8 Days

The area in and around Johannesburg is full of history, from the rise of Nelson Mandela to the evolution of the first human ancestors. Discover it all on this eight-day itinerary covering the largest city in South Africa and one of the largest game reserves on the continent. Visit Mandela's home in Houghton, learn traditional cooking methods in Soweto, and see the "Big Five" in Kruger National Park before the week is out on this fascinating trip.

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