30 days in South Africa & Mbabane Itinerary

Founded when gold was discovered in the area in the late 19th century, Johannesburg quickly grew into a bustling metropolis, South Africa's largest city and the region's economic hub.

To see traveler tips, where to stay, photos, and tourist information, you can read our Johannesburg online itinerary creator.

Sydney, Australia to Johannesburg is an approximately 17.5-hour flight. Traveling from Sydney to Johannesburg, you'll gain 8 hours due to the time zone difference. Traveling from Sydney in November, you can expect nighttime temperatures to be slightly colder in Johannesburg, with lows of 15°C. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 29th (Wed) to allow time for travel to Kruger National Park.

One of Africa's largest game sanctuaries and part of UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Program, Kruger National Park provides an immersive experience of wildlife.

Get in touch with nature at Game drives at Phalaborwa Gate in Kruger National Park and Moholoholo Wildlife Rehab Centre. You'll visit kid-friendly attractions like Idube Game Reserve and Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre. Get out of town with these interesting Kruger National Park side-trips: Hoedspruit (Kumbaya Home Decor, iNyoka Art Gallery, & more).

To see traveler tips, maps, reviews, and other tourist information, you can read our Kruger National Park trip itinerary builder.

Traveling by combination of train, flight, and taxi from Johannesburg to Kruger National Park takes 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. Plan for a bit warmer nights when traveling from Johannesburg in November since evenings lows in Kruger National Park dip to 19°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 3rd (Sun) early enough to travel to Mbabane.

Although attractions in Mbabane itself remain scarce, this capital of the Kingdom of Swaziland provides a picturesque setting, pleasant weather, and plenty of amenities for tourists exploring the nation's mountains, forests, and valleys.

Kick off your visit on the 4th (Mon): head outdoors with Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary - Day Tours, contemplate the long history of Swazi Cultural Village, and then have fun at Royal Swazi Spa. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: take in the exciting artwork at Tintsaba Crafts, look for all kinds of wild species at Malolotja Nature Reserve, and then look for gifts at Ngwenya Glass.

For maps, ratings, other places to visit, and other tourist information, you can read our Mbabane trip generator.

Getting from Kruger National Park to Mbabane by car takes about 6.5 hours. December in Mbabane sees daily highs of 32°C and lows of 22°C at night. On the 6th (Wed), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can travel to Hluhluwe Game Reserve.

Here are some ideas for day two: look for all kinds of wild species at Heritage Tours & Safaris.

For more things to do, reviews, maps, and other tourist information, go to the Hluhluwe Game Reserve tour planner.

Traveling by car from Mbabane to Hluhluwe Game Reserve takes 4.5 hours. Finish your sightseeing early on the 8th (Fri) so you can travel to Ladysmith.

Ladysmith is a town in the Uthukela District of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Start off your visit on the 9th (Sat): see the interesting displays at Ladysmith Siege Museum, then witness the site of a historic battle at Spion Kop Battlefield, then take in the history at Spioenkop Battlefield, and finally identify plant and animal life at Nambiti Game Reservve.

To see more things to do, other places to visit, ratings, and more tourist information, read Ladysmith trip itinerary planner.

Drive from Hluhluwe Game Reserve to Ladysmith in 4.5 hours. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 9th (Sat) early enough to travel to uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park.

On the 10th (Sun), sample the tasty concoctions at Nottingham Road Brewing Co. and then stroll through Sani Pass. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 11th (Mon): pause for some serene contemplation at St Matthews Church and then surround yourself with nature on a nature and wildlife tour.

For traveler tips, other places to visit, ratings, and more tourist information, refer to the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park itinerary planner.

The Route module can help you plan travel from Ladysmith to uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 11th (Mon) so you can travel to Port Edward.

Port Edward is a small resort town situated on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, right on the Eastern Cape Province border.Port Edward is a tourist resort for seasonal visitors from more affluent regions of South Africa. On the 12th (Tue), relax in the rural setting at Beaver Creek Coffee Farm and then make a splash at Wild Waves Water Park. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: tour the pleasant surroundings at Trafalgar Beach and then tee off at Southbroom Golf Course.

For maps, photos, reviews, and more tourist information, read Port Edward online itinerary creator.

The Route module can help you plan travel from uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park to Port Edward. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 13th (Wed) to allow time to travel to Durban.

Sunny weather and golden beaches await you on a vacation in Durban, a busy port city on the Indian Ocean known for its outdoorsy atmosphere.

On the 14th (Thu), contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Hare Krishna Temple of Understanding, cool off at uShaka Marine World, and then enjoy the sand and surf at Golden Mile. Keep things going the next day: kick back and relax at Umhlanga Main Beach, explore the galleries of Burnedale, and then take in the spiritual surroundings of Brake Village Sri Siva Soobramaniar Alayam.

To find traveler tips, other places to visit, photos, and tourist information, you can read our Durban sightseeing planner.

You can drive from Port Edward to Durban in 2 hours. In December in Durban, expect temperatures between 32°C during the day and 25°C at night. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 15th (Fri) so you can travel to Cape Town.

Sweeping beaches, towering hilltops, and picturesque vineyards adorn the landscape of Cape Town, dominated by the imposing Table Mountain.

Visiting Boulders Beach and Robben Island will get you outdoors. Museum-lovers will appreciate District Six Museum and Cape Town Holocaust Centre. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Cape Town: Noordhoek Beach (in Noordhoek), Cape Point Nature Reserve (in Cape Town Central) and Cape of Good Hope (in Table Mountain National Park). The adventure continues: take your sightseeing to a higher altitude at Table Mountain, enjoy the sand and surf at Bloubergstrand Beach, go for a stroll along the water at Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, and stroll through Clifton Beaches.

To find reviews, where to stay, other places to visit, and other tourist information, read our Cape Town trip itinerary builder.

Traveling by combination of bus and flight from Durban to Cape Town takes 5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. Traveling from Durban in December, plan for a bit cooler nights in Cape Town, with lows around 19°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 25th (Mon) to allow enough time to travel to Johannesburg.

On the 25th (Mon), steep yourself in history at Union Buildings. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: see the interesting displays at Apartheid Museum and then try to win big at Emperors Palace, The Palace Of Dreams.

For reviews, where to stay, other places to visit, and other tourist information, you can read our Johannesburg tour planner.

Do a combination of flight and train from Cape Town to Johannesburg in 4.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 27th (Wed) to allow time to travel back home.