where do you stay overnight?
Your lodge-to-lodge trip in South Africa is the perfect balance of untouched wilderness and inviting luxury. Some stays are wonderfully authentic and simple, right in the heart of rugged nature, such as the iconic Kruger National Park area or the spectacular Blyde River Canyon. On other nights, you can treat yourself to exclusive extras and plenty of comfort, such as at a stylish private lodge in the heart of the Mthethomusha Game Reserve.
Here’s an overview of the lodges included in your 15-day South Africa road trip. The exact accommodation may vary depending on the travel dates and availability, but the route and itinerary will remain the same. You’ll receive all the details in the Travelbase app around 30 days before departure.
Day 1
Day 1
Your hotel for tonight is in a quiet neighborhood of Johannesburg, the ideal place to start your South African road trip at your own pace. You'll find modern, comfortable rooms with air conditioning, a private bathroom and a swimming pool, perfect for relaxing after a long flight. In the morning, enjoy an excellent breakfast before setting off on your adventure through South Africa.
Day 2
Day 2
Breakfast included
Private bathroom
Free entry to the Graskop Gorge Lift Company
Swimming pool
Restaurant & bar
Mogodi Lodge is perched on a steep cliff near Graskop, with beautiful views over the Kliprivier basin. The lodge offers simple, comfortable rooms and self-catering chalets surrounded by greenery, plus a pool on the edge of the gorge and an on-site restaurant. From here, you can easily explore famous highlights along the Panorama Route, including God’s Window, the Blyde River Canyon and Bourke’s Luck Potholes. A fun detail: Mogodi Lodge is just a stone’s throw from the famous Graskop Gorge Lift, where a glass elevator takes you 51 metres down into an ancient indigenous forest.
Day 3 & 4
Day 3 & 4
Breakfast included
Private bathroom
Wi-Fi
Swimming pool
Restaurant & bar
Shingalana Guest House is an intimate and welcoming place to stay, tucked away in a tropical garden in the heart of Hazyview. The guesthouse offers comfortable, atmospheric rooms surrounded by palm trees, along with a delicious breakfast and a refreshing pool to cool off in after a warm day. A nice bonus: the guesthouse is just a ten-minute drive from Phabeni Gate, so you can be one of the first to enter the famous Kruger National Park in the morning and spot some wildlife.
Day 5
Day 5
Breakfast included
Private bathroom
Swimming pool
Wi-Fi
Damicha Guest Lodge is a peaceful and welcoming place to stay, beautifully located in the picturesque Ezulwini Valley near Mbabane. The lodge offers comfortable, tastefully decorated rooms set in a well-kept garden, along with a swimming pool, free Wi-Fi and breakfast included. From the lodge, you can easily take trips to nearby Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary or explore the local craft markets. A fun detail: the lodge has spectacular views of the iconic Execution Rock, a historic mountain peak rising majestically above the valley.
Day 6 & 7
Day 6 & 7
Ndiza Gallery Lodge
Ndiza Gallery Lodge sits on a raised dune in St. Lucia, offering panoramic views of the Indian Ocean and the Maputaland wetlands. The lodge features charming, comfortable rooms and self-catering apartments set in a tropical garden, along with two swimming pools and a hearty breakfast on the deck overlooking the scenery.
A fun detail: while having breakfast on the lodge’s wooden viewing deck, you may find yourself face to face with curious bushbuck, cheeky monkeys and all kinds of tropical birds.
Day 8
Day 8
Breakfast included
Private bathroom
Swimming pool
Restaurant & bar
Treetops Guest House is a relaxed, peaceful place to stay, tucked away in Walmer, a leafy garden suburb of Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). The guesthouse offers comfortable, spacious rooms with private entrances and bathrooms, plus a refreshing garden pool and a generous breakfast served in the lapa.
Day 9
Day 9
Breakfast included
Private bathroom
Swimming pool
Restaurant & bar
The Village Lodge is a welcoming, atmospheric stay, beautifully set in the rustic Storms River Village at the foot of the Tsitsikamma Mountains. The lodge offers comfortable, characterful rooms surrounded by a large green garden, along with a delicious breakfast and a cozy restaurant with a firepit.
A fun detail: within walking distance of the lodge, you’ll find the iconic Marilyn’s 60’s Diner, where you can enjoy a classic milkshake among retro vintage cars and rock-‘n-roll memorabilia.
Day 10
Day 10
Day 11
Day 11
Breakfast included
Private bathroom
Swimming pool
Restaurant & bar
Springfontein Wine Estate is a small-scale, authentic winery, idyllically situated among the fynbos-covered hills near the coast of Hermanus and Stanford. The estate offers charming, tastefully furnished cottages nestled among the vineyards, along with a swimming pool and an extensive breakfast included. You can also enjoy an exclusive on-site tasting of their organic Pinotage or sit down to an elegant dinner made with local ingredients. Fun fact: Springfontein produces award-winning, terroir-driven wines that are harvested entirely by hand and matured in Walker Bay’s cool sea breeze, giving them their distinctive mineral character.
Day 12
Day 12
Breakfast included
Private bathroom
Swimming pool
Restaurant & bar
La Terra de Luc Guesthouse is a charming, historic guesthouse set on a small farm in the picturesque Franschhoek Valley. It offers stylish, comfortable rooms nestled among orchards and mountains, plus a garden swimming pool and a delicious breakfast with views across the estate. You can also set off on a riverside walk directly from the property or hop on the famous Franschhoek Wine Tram to explore the surrounding wineries. A fun detail: springbok, donkeys and alpacas roam the grounds, adding a unique rural charm to your stay in the heart of the winelands.
Day 12 & 14
Day 12 & 14
Breakfast included
Private bathroom
Wi-Fi
Check Inn Hotel is a hip, modern hotel in the lively coastal neighborhood of Green Point in Cape Town. It offers sleek, comfortable rooms with contemporary design, private bathrooms, fast Wi-Fi and a stylish lounge where you can relax. From the hotel, you can easily explore the lively V&A Waterfront, cycle along the promenade or hike up iconic Table Mountain. A fun detail: the hotel is just steps from the famous Cape Town Stadium and Sea Point Promenade, so you can walk from your room to the best coffee spots and watch the sunset over the ocean in just a few minutes.
Wind down after a day on the road
Almost every lodge has a pool and a restaurant. Perfect for freshening up and relaxing after a long, hot day. Your roadbook and the Travelbase app also include recommendations for shops, restaurants and bars. It’s the perfect way to discover South African cuisine and try local specialities.
