8 Days South Africa Self Drive Tour

This is a great 8 Day / 7 Night Self-Drive Tour and Safari, where we provide you with a rented vehicle and GPS Unit to explore South Africa, including Cape Town and its beautiful surroundings, the Panorama Route, Hoedspruit with a hot air ballooning experience and the famous Kruger National Park!

8 Days South Africa Self Drive Tour
Itinerary at a Glance:
  • Day 1

    Victoria & Alfred Hotel, Cape Town

  • Day 2

    Full Day to Explore the Cape Peninsula

  • Day 3

    Full Day to Explore the Cape Winelands

  • Day 4

    Cape Town to Kruger Park Area

  • Day 5

    Hot Air Balloon flight and onto Kruger National Park

  • Day 6 to 7

    On Safari at Rhino Post Safari Lodge, Kruger National Park

  • Day 8

    Drive back to Johannesburg

Day 1

Victoria & Alfred Hotel, Cape Town

On arrival at the Cape Town International Airport, South Africa, you will make your way to the Avis Desk, where you will collect your rented vehicle (Group C - Toyota Corolla or similar with manual gears and air-conditioning and a GPS Unit).

From the airport, you will make your way to the V&A Waterfront area, where you will check in at the Victoria & Alfred Hotel to spend the next (3) nights on a bed and breakfast basis.

Victoria & Alfred Hotel, Cape Town
Walk through the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town

The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is a complex of shops and restaurants that form part of Cape Town’s Harbour. It is centrally located and enjoys beautiful views of Table Mountain.

Day 2

Full Day to Explore the Cape Peninsula

Today we suggest you take a full day to explore the Cape Peninsula by driving the M6 coastal road that takes you through the beaches of Camps Bay, Llandudno and the small village of Hout Bay.

From Hout Bay, you continue along the craggy Chapman’s Peak drive that was carved into the ocean cliffs between 1915 and 1922.

Cape Point, near Cape Town, South Africa

You continue south to the Cape Peninsula (also known as Cape Point) for spectacular ocean views. From here continue with the coast through the naval town of Simons Town and then head north back to the city with a possible stop at the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.

Day 3

Full Day to Explore the Cape Winelands

Today we would suggest you take a drive through the nearby Cape Winelands. The old towns of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl are just three examples of quaint historic villages rich in the Dutch & French influence of years gone by.

The Franschhoek Valley, Cape Winelands, South Africa

Not to mention the many exquisite wine farms in the area, many with top-rated restaurants, wine & cheese tastings, organic food offerings and much more!

Day 4

Cape Town to Kruger Park Area

Early this morning after your breakfast, you will make your way back to the Cape Town International Airport, returning your rented vehicle to board your flight to the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.

On arrival in Johannesburg, you will make your way to the Avis Desk, where you will collect your rented vehicle (Group C - Toyota Corolla or similar with manual gears and air-conditioning and a GPS Unit).

Khaya Ndlovu, near Kruger Park
View from the deck at Khaya Ndlovu

From the airport, you will make your way east over the grasslands and farmlands of the Highveld to the mountainous Mpumalanga Escarpment area.

You could take in some of the breathtaking viewpoints that look over the Blyde River Canyon (the world’s greenest canyon), before continuing down the escarpment into the bushlands of the Greater Kruger Park, also known as the Lowveld.

You continue to the small town of Hoedspruit, and just outside the town you enter the Blue Canyon Conservancy and check in for (1) night on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis at the Khaya Ndlovu Manor House.

Day 5

Hot Air Balloon flight and onto Kruger National Park

Early this morning you will make your way before sunrise, to the launch field where you will enjoy a sunrise hot air ballooning flight experience. This is followed by a full English breakfast and citations for bravery! (A light-hearted tradition of hot air balloonists).

Hot Air Balloon Flight near Khaya Ndlovu, South Africa
Lions are the most sought after animals in Kruger Park, South Africa

From here you make your way south and then east and enter the Kruger National Park at the Paul Kruger Gate. You continue to the Rhino Post Safari Lodge.  Here you will spend the next (3) nights on a fully inclusive basis.

Included in your stay are: Accommodation, brunch, high tea, dinner, teas/coffees, twice daily game viewing activities and the services of professional ranger and camp staff.

Day 6 to 7

On Safari at Rhino Post Safari Lodge, Kruger National Park

Days are spent under the expert guidance of the local rangers on morning and after-game drives, during which you explore the vast wilderness areas of the great Kruger National Park!

Elephants in front of Rhino Post Safari Lodge
Room Interior, Rhino Post Safari Lodge, Kruger Park

Day 8

Drive back to Johannesburg

Today marks the end of your journey and you will end your tour with a drive back to the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.  Here you will return your rented vehicle and board your late afternoon/evening outbound flight back home.  (Flight at own arrangements)

Tour Cost

2025
R49,360 per person sharing (May - Aug 2025)

R54,430 per person sharing (Sep - 17 Dec 2025)


2026
R63,640 per person sharing (Jan - Mar 2026)

R62,240 per person sharing (Apr 2026)

R42,065 per person sharing (May - Aug 2026)

R69,095 per person sharing (Sep - 17 Dec 2026)

Included

03 Night’s accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis

01 Night’s accommodation on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis

03 Night’s accommodation on a fully inclusive basis:  Rhino Post Safari Lodge only:  Brunch, high tea, dinner, teas/coffees, twice daily game viewing activities and the services of professional ranger and camp staff.

01 Hot Air Ballooning Experience as per itinerary in the Hoedspruit region

Flight: Cape Town - Johannesburg one way excl. taxes

07 Days use of a Group C Vehicle (Toyota Corolla or similar with manual gears and air-conditioning)

Premium Collision Damage Waiver (zero liability)

Premium Theft Loss Waiver (zero liability)

Unlimited Mileage

Third-Party and General Public Liability Insurance

Sandblasting / Water and Undercarriage Damage / Rim and Hubcap damage

Windscreen / Tyre Damage Waiver

Location Surcharge

Personal Accident Insurance (PAI)

1 x GPS Rental

Claim Admin Fee – only in the event of an accident or theft

Value added tax 15%

Young Driver Surcharge

Excluded

Visas if required

Flights not specified

Airport taxes

Meals not specified

Bar accounts / beverages & premium imports

Laundry

Additional activities/sightseeing/entry fees/park fees

Personal items and gratuities

Car Rental notes and excludes:
All these charges will be billed directly to the renter and are subject to change without notice

In the case of tyre damage, only Avis-approved suppliers may be used for the purchase and replacement of tyres. This will ensure the correct brand and specification of tyre is fitted at the Avis negotiated price. Avis will only refund if the correct brand and specification of tyre has been fitted.

Accident towing fee

Additional Driver fee

Additional Spare Tyres

After-Hours Check-out Fee

Call-out Fee – negligence

Claim Administration Fee

Collision Damage Waiver

Cross Border Fee

Delivery and Collection Fees

E-toll Administration Fee

Fuel

Location Surcharge

E-tags

One Way Cross Border fees

One-Way Fees within South Africa

Overdue Rental Administration Fee

PAI (Personal Accident Insurance) – per day per Rental Agreement

Paraplegic Hand Controls Free of charge

Refuelling Service Fee

Refundable Rental Deposit

Rental Contract Fee

Replacement Tyre Delivery Fee

Sandblasting

Special Equipment one-way fees (GPS, Baby Seats, Bicycle Racks, Wifi)

Theft Loss Waiver

Tourism Levy 1% of T&M

Traffic Fine Administration Fee

Tyres, Rims and Hubcaps

Under-carriage and Water Damage

Valet (Vehicle cleaning fee)

Young Driver Surcharge

GPS accessory replacement

Road Side Assistance

Windscreen, Tyre Damage Waiver

Worldwide Adapter

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Mark Crawford
01 August 2026
Wow! That is the best word to describe our fantastic safari experience crafted by Petru and the team from African Travel Gateway. Every detail was perfectly executed: from flights, to transport, to game lodges. We stayed at Notten’s and Bateleur Safari camps - both were spectacular lodges with wonderful accommodations, terrific staff, great food and fantastic daily game drives that provided up-close wildlife viewing. Thank you African Travel Gateway for the trip of a lifetime!
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Lisa Wilson
31 July 2026
Petru is the absolute best African Safari Travel agent! We have used her three times with a group of 4 twice and recently with a group of 10, July 2026. Petru is full of knowledge, very organized and has made each and everyone one of our safari trips flawless and perfect. I highly recommend Petru and give her +5 stars
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Mary Johnson
31 July 2026
We just returned from South Africa with the King Party of 10 people. Petra arranged and coordinated every detail of our time which was wonderful! She really went beyond the call of duty trying to locate my missing iPad . Thank you so much for an out of this world experience !
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Char Putvin
31 July 2026
Our agent, Petru, was amazing. She suggested the perfect itinerary based on our interests. Arrangements were flawless from start to finish. She checked in during our trip to make sure all was going as planned. She really cared about our group of 10 and wanted this trip to be everything we dreamed about and more.
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Angie King
31 July 2026
I've been fortunate enough to use this agency 4 times; just as with the other trips, this one was spectacular. Petru is simply a rock star. This time, Petru organized a trip for 10 from the United States. This trip was flawless. Petru provides excellent communication, is extremely detailed oriented and she is very patient. She is committed to customer service. I absolutely love the app that has all our documentation and important information right on your phone. She helped me choose two extraordinary bush camps for our group and negotiated prices. She makes the process very easy to plan on our end. I do think it benefits anyone from outside South Africa to use a local travel agency. I do hope to return for a 5th time and when I do I will not hesitate to use this agency and Petru again.
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Sirisha Durbhakula
13 July 2026
Lize was a wonderful agent. Incredibly responsive and adaptive to an intergenerational trip to Zimbabwe and South Africa. Worked within our budget and gave us the best experiences!
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Tane Taylor
05 June 2026
Some trips are great, and some stay with you forever. My journey through Cape Town, the Okavango Delta, and Victoria Falls was definitely the latter. Each destination offered something completely different. The beauty and energy of Cape Town, the magic of the Okavango Delta, and the sheer awe of Victoria Falls. Despite moving between such diverse places, everything flowed seamlessly from start to finish and for that I have to thank the team at African Travel Gateway who took care of every detail with an incredible level of care and professionalism. Communication was clear throughout, every arrangement worked perfectly, and the planning behind the scenes was evident at every stage. I felt completely stress-free for most of the tour and wouldn't hesitate to recommend African Travel Gateway to anyone looking to travel to Africa. Thank you guys! I could not have done it without you and I will be in touch to plan another one soon. I have far too many wonderful photos from the trip to share, but here are a few I hope you like.
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Diogo Miranda
08 April 2026
I booked a trip to Botswana through African Travel Gateway – Customized Safaris, including a 3-day stay at Amber Camp, and I couldn’t be happier with the experience. From start to finish, everything ran smoothly and without any issues. The entire journey met — and in many ways exceeded — my expectations. The level of organization and attention to detail gave me complete peace of mind throughout the trip. What truly stood out was the exceptional support from the team. They were always available, attentive, and genuinely committed to ensuring everything went perfectly. This was easily one of the best trips I’ve ever had, and I would highly recommend African Travel Gateway to anyone looking for a seamless and memorable safari experience.
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Ali Bararsani
22 January 2026
I had a bucket list trip. African Travel Gateway is first class all the way. I travel extensively. +/- 100,000 miles for business & pleasure in 2025. I live in Los Angeles & wanted to plan a trip of a lifetime for my girlfriend ( as a surprise birthday present in September 2025 ) I worked directly with Lize Enderstein through the entire booking/travel process. She was delightful. Personable. Communicated in a timely manner in spite of 10-11 hour time difference with Los Angeles. There was a hiccup on our trip at Mostwari Game Reserve ( i.e., hot air balloon ride that had to be canceled due to bad weather ). Balloon ride was scheduled for January 2. Lize communicated me real-time on New Years Day & worked with me to process refund for that portion of the trip. The attention to detail that Lize & African travel gateway provided was impeccable. Top notch. They will be my "go to" travel agency for any & all trips to African continent on a going forward basis. Go Lize!
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Driss Moumni
30 December 2025
We had an absolutely incredible experience working with Petru at African Travel Gateway. Our two-week trip (South Africa, Botswana, Namibia & Zimbabwe) was truly once-in-a-lifetime, with memories we’ll cherish forever. Everything went smoothly from start to finish. Botswana was the clear highlight of the trip. The sheer quantity and variety of wildlife we saw was amazing, and the standard of the safari lodges — especially Moremi Game Lodge — exceeded our expectations. We really felt we benefited from Petru’s experience when it came to selecting the right safari lodges, striking a balance between comfort, amenities, and overall value for money. Petru was incredibly attentive and thoughtful in putting this trip together, especially on fairly short notice, and it really showed. We were also very glad not to have to deal with booking flights, transfers, and activities ourselves — having everything seamlessly organized made the entire journey much more relaxing. Highly recommended!
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William McCormack
20 November 2025
I cannot say enough about the service received from African Travel Agent Petru. From beginning to end it was excellent. The detail and the professionalism is to be attained by others. Ive had 3 trips over number of years and each time I am delighted with the engagement, suggestions, etc and most importantly the trips we highlights to me. Ive recommended Petru to friends and those who did reach out were also very pleased. I highly recommend this agent and company. Till we engage again, Thank you Petru and continue delivering a top service.
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Guy Hudson
20 November 2025
We’ve been booking through African Travel Gateway for over 25 years now and honestly, they’ve never dropped the ball once. They have looked after us for ages and just get what works for our family. This last trip we took the three kids (11, 9 and 6) to South Africa – Cape Town, a few nights camping in the Karoo, and then Kruger. They put the whole thing together perfectly: nothing felt rushed, everything suited the kids, and the logistics were completely painless. Cape Town was great fun (Table Mountain, penguins, the works). The Karoo nights were something else – massive sky full of stars, big campfire, total peace and quiet the kids still go on about. And Kruger… wow. We saw the Big 5 – lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, rhino – plus heaps of giraffe, zebra and everything else, pretty much every single drive. The guides were brilliant with the children and kept everyone safe. Everything just worked – flights, transfers, the lot. They checked in along the way and tweaked little things when we needed. Proper personal service. If you’re thinking of taking kids to South Africa, we can’t recommend African Travel Gateway enough.
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Pierre Boucher
30 September 2025
A heartfelt thank you to Bianca for arranging our unforgettable journey through South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana. Everything went smoothly from start to finish, and your attention to detail made all the difference. Alex and I enjoyed every moment — from the breathtaking landscapes to the incredible wildlife and the welcoming people we met along the way. It was truly the trip of a lifetime, and we are so grateful for all the care and effort you put into making it perfect. With sincere appreciation,
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Mark Montague
04 August 2025
We had a wonderful time visiting South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. We had a party of 10, including 4 grandchildren ages 10 and 8 and everything went beautifully. Lize did a great job helping us plan the itinerary, booking flights within Africa and identifying the best lodging and camps for us to visit. We saw the Big 5 on two separate days and also saw African wild dogs. Each of our camps in Sabi Sands, Victoria Falls and Moremi Game Reserve had a distinct style but all were welcoming and comfortable and animals proliferated. We would definitely use African Travel Gateway if we return to Africa. Thanks Lize!
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Andrew Beardmore
18 July 2025
Working with Lize, we crafted our second fully customized self-drive adventure through Southern Africa - this time in Northern Namibia. The itinerary was a perfect blend of rugged campsites and luxurious lodges. Lize’s expert knowledge and thoughtful advice were invaluable, everything was planned to perfection. We had the most incredible time, experiencing so much of what this stunning region has to offer, yet it feels like we’ve only just scratched the surface. We can’t wait for our next adventure!

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