Cape Town safari

A Cape Town safari offers the best of two worlds - vibrant city life and authentic wilderness adventure. One day, travellers can stand atop the iconic Table Mountain, overlooking a city framed by two oceans, and the next, find themselves on an open 4x4 drive in the Greater Kruger, coming face-to-face with lions, elephants, or leopards.

The journey begins in one of the world’s most beautiful cities, alive with fine dining, cosmopolitan energy, and multicultural flair. Guests can explore the historic Cape Winelands on a leisurely “slow winefari,” tasting award-winning wines alongside artisanal cheeses and chocolates, all set against Cape Dutch architecture and breathtaking scenery. The adventure continues with the dramatic Cape Peninsula, where wildlife encounters at Cape Point, penguins at Boulders Beach, and pristine beaches like Camps Bay and Clifton showcase the region’s natural beauty.

What makes this truly special is the seamless transition from Cape Town’s cosmopolitan charm to the raw African bushveld. A short flight whisks travellers to the legendary Sabi Sand or Thornybush reserves, famed for their Big 5 sightings and intimate safari experiences. Here, expert guides lead the way, luxury lodges provide comfort, and dining under the stars completes the picture.

This rare blend of city, beach, wine, and wilderness creates the ultimate African escape - crafted for discerning travellers seeking contrasts, variety, and unforgettable experiences.

Key attractions include a trip to the top of Table Mountain for supreme views of the city and the Atlantic Ocean. You can explore the Cape Peninsula, visiting Cape Point and the African penguin colony at Boulders Beach. The V&A Waterfront offers shopping, dining, and ferry access to Robben Island, the infamous prison that held Nelson Mandela and be shown around by an ex-political prisoner to learn about the prison hard conditions and the Apartheid regime. A visit to the Cape Winelands, including Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, is highly recommended for wine tasting, gourmet meals, and magnificent scenery. Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, with its treetop canopy walk, is also a popular choice.

Cape Town enjoys a Mediterranean climate with hot and dry summers from November to March and cold and wet winters from April to October. The windy season runs from September to February.

• February offers arguably the best weather, with clear skies and moderate temperatures, after the main festive season crowds have departed.

• March continues to offer warm weather with lower tourist volumes.

• April signals autumn, bringing pleasant weather and fewer tourists, though Easter and public holidays can see an increase in local visitors.

• November and December mark the beginning of summer, with the Cape Winelands in lush green exuberance and Cape Town entering festive mode. The first two weeks of December can offer lower prices before the peak holiday rush. Whale watching in Hermanus typically ends in November.

Absolutely. Cape Town seamlessly integrates into a diverse safari itinerary. You can enjoy a South African combo safari by combining Cape Town with the Greater Kruger area, just a convenient 2-hour direct flight away. This allows for an exquisite blend of coastal and city experiences with a Big Five bushveld safari, offering luxury lodges and intimate wildlife encounters. Alternatively, Cape Town can be combined with a safari to Botswana's Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park, or a visit to Victoria Falls. Flights from Cape Town International Airport to Maun (Botswana) facilitate these connections.

In Cape Town, guests can choose from guest houses or hotels conveniently located near the city centre and V&A Waterfront. For those extending to the Cape Winelands, boutique hotels or farm manor houses are an option. During combined safaris, accommodation ranges from luxury safari lodges and tented camps that blend with their surroundings to exclusive-use safari villas, ideal for families or groups, offering dedicated staff and private amenities. Mobile tented camps also offer an authentic, immersive experience. Many lodges are all-inclusive, covering activities, meals, and services.

Yes, family and multi-generational safaris in Cape Town are designed to create lifelong memories. Options include luxury villas ideal for groups, and itineraries that cater to different age groups. Teenagers and older children might enjoy adventure activities such as hiking and kite-surfing, while adults will enjoy sightseeing, restaurants and wine farms.

We have been handcrafting experiential safaris since 1991. Travel in Africa is about knowing when and where to go, and with whom. A few weeks too early/late or a few kilometres off course, and you could miss the greatest show on Earth. And wouldn’t that be a pity?

Booking through a respected tour operator with many years of experience means that all you need to focus on is helping us design your safari and then having a superb vacation. The rest – all the nitty-gritty detail and admin – is done while you relax. Our 24/7 concierges take care of problems such as flight changes and missed flights, last-minute road transfer and lodge changes due to unexpected events, and itinerary changes requested by you.

Remember that you will not save money by attempting to book and manage your own safari, but you will encounter mistakes and problems that arise.

You only make your first payment when you book your Cape Town safari holiday. Your second (last) payment is about 90 days before you travel.

Yes, your money is safe. Your payments go into a third-party TRUST ACCOUNT – protecting them in the unlikely event of a financial setback on our part. Also, we are members of SATSA who attest to our integrity, legal compliance and financial stability. See what travellers say about us.

By booking your safari with Africa Geographic, you make a significant difference because:

• We donate a portion of every safari sold to selected conservation efforts at ground level

• Your safari supports our conservation publishing efforts, which educate the world about Africa's incredible biodiversity and the local people who protect it

• Our chosen lodges support local community initiatives, ensuring that tourism benefits the nearby villages directly. They also adhere to strict environmental practices, such as limited vehicle numbers and sustainable camp operations, which help protect the ecosystem

YOUR safari choice does make a difference – thank you!