Destination: South Africa

LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL ITINERARY INFORMATION

Itinerary: Grand Circuit

TWO MONTH / CAPE TOWN TO CAPE TOWN

Even if you can't squeeze everything in on this 5000km-plus journey, you'll undoubtedly come away with an excellent overview of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Six weeks (more via public transport) is the bare minimum, but allow at least two months to follow detours and to get into the region's pulse.



Starting in Cape Town, head eastwards, following Route 62, the Garden Route or bits of both to Eastern Cape. If entering Eastern Cape from Prince Albert via the Karoo, don’t miss Graaff-Reinet with its charming architecture, striking setting and the nearby Karoo Nature Reserve. Entering Eastern Cape via the coast, recommended stops include Tsitsikamma National Park and Addo Elephant National Park Moving eastwards, Amathole is well worth exploration, as is the Wild Coast, before Durban. From here, it’s in, up and over the Sani Pass for a Lesotho detour.

Head back to KwaZulu-Natal for as much time as possible enjoying the parks, including Mkhuze Game Reserve, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park and the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park. Sodwana Bay is an amenable spot for relaxing before moving on to Swaziland, Kruger National Park and then to Johannesburg and Pretoria. Possible stops en route include Sabie and Pilgrim’s Rest .

Time and inclination permitting, detour northwards into Limpopo, for a visit to Mapungubwe National Park or to the Soutpansberg region. Otherwise, continue from Jo’burg southwest to Kimberley, gateway to South Africa’s vast northwest, detouring to Clarens and the eastern Free State en route. Explore the Kalahari, including Augrabies Falls National Park, before swinging down towards Namaqualand. Finish up by relaxing in the Winelands and then on to Cape Town.