South Africa's Best-Kept Secrets & Lesotho: Self-Launched
12 days · South Africa & Lesotho
Amatungulu Tours charges £2,350
No-markup version: ~£950 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Amatungulu Tours' 12-day Cape Town to Johannesburg loop, cutting out the guided group and doing it yourself with Baz Bus, minibus taxis, shuttles and the occasional rental car. You'll hit the same highlights — Table Mountain, Cape Point, the Garden Route, Addo elephants, the Wild Coast's Hole in the Wall, a Sani Pass 4x4 into Lesotho, the Drakensberg and Johannesburg's Apartheid Museum — but staying in hostels, backpackers and budget guesthouses, and booking individual activities direct. Costs are rough backpacker estimates for a solo traveller, assuming you share a dorm or twin where possible and self-cater some meals; a rental car for the Garden Route stretch will pay off if you can split it with a couple of people.
Day-by-day
Cape Town: Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch & Constantia
Cape Town
Fly into Cape Town International and grab a MyCiTi bus or Uber (roughly £12–18) to a hostel in the City Bowl or Observatory. Book your Table Mountain Aerial Cableway ticket online in advance (about £22 return) — go early to beat the queues and cloud. In the afternoon take a MyCiTi bus or cheap Uber to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden (£8 entry) and do the Boomslang canopy walkway. Finish with a tasting at Groot Constantia (about £8–10, plus the hop-on City Sightseeing wine route bus if you don't want to drive). Eat at a Cape Malay spot in Bo-Kaap or a budget braai joint in Observatory.
🚌MyCiTi bus / Uber around the city
🛏Backpacker hostel dorm, City Bowl or Observatory (£12–18)
- →Table Mountain Aerial Cableway (book online)
- →Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
- →Groot Constantia wine tasting
- →Bo-Kaap wander
Cape Peninsula loop: Cape Point, Chapman's Peak & Boulders Beach
Cape Town / Simon's Town
Hire a car for the next few days (about £25–35/day, worth splitting) or join a small-group Cape Peninsula day tour (GetYourGuide, roughly £45–60). Drive the Atlantic seaboard through Camps Bay, over Chapman's Peak Drive (toll about £2.50), down to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope (Table Mountain National Park entry ~£18), and ride the Flying Dutchman Funicular (~£4). Stop at Boulders Beach to see the penguins (~£9). Skip the commercial duck parade and instead do a self-guided tasting at Spier or Vergenoegd if you're passing — or just head back for sundowners. Overnight in Cape Town or push on to Hermanus (about 2 hours) if you want a whale-watching morning.
🚌Rental car (~£30/day) or Cape Peninsula small-group day tour
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse, Cape Town or Hermanus (£15–25)
- →Chapman's Peak Drive
- →Cape Point & Cape of Good Hope
- →Flying Dutchman Funicular
- →Boulders Beach penguins
Over Route 62 to the Garden Route (Oudtshoorn / Wilderness)
Wilderness / Oudtshoorn
If you're in Hermanus, do an early-season whale-watching boat trip (June–Nov, ~£45) before hitting the road. Drive Route 62 through the Klein Karoo — stop at a farmstall for homemade pies and biltong. Detour to Oudtshoorn for the Cango Caves Heritage Tour (~£9) and, if you're keen, an ostrich farm visit. Push on over the Outeniqua Pass to Wilderness, where budget backpackers lodges sit right behind the beach. Alternatively, if you're not driving, Baz Bus runs the Cape Town–Garden Route line with hop-on hop-off passes (about £130–160 for a multi-stop pass).
🚌Rental car via Route 62, or Baz Bus hop-on hop-off pass
🛏Backpackers in Wilderness (£15–22)
- →Route 62 scenic drive
- →Cango Caves Heritage Tour
- →Farmstall stop
- →Wilderness beach sunset
Plett, Storms River Mouth & Jeffreys Bay
Jeffreys Bay
Morning boat ride or kayak at Plettenberg Bay (~£20–25) if you want to see dolphins and seals. Then into Tsitsikamma National Park for the Storms River Mouth suspension bridge walk (park entry ~£10) and the Big Tree forest walk. Carry on to Jeffreys Bay — the classic backpacker surf town. Book a beginner surf lesson at one of the hostels or local surf schools (about £25–30 including board), or just rent a board for the afternoon (~£12). Budget hostels on Da Gama Road are cheap and sociable.
🚌Rental car or Baz Bus along the N2
🛏Jeffreys Bay surf hostel dorm (£12–18)
- →Plettenberg Bay boat ride
- →Storms River Mouth suspension bridge
- →Big Tree forest walk
- →Surf lesson or board hire at J-Bay
Addo Elephant National Park: game drives & night drive
Addo
Drive or Baz Bus to Addo (about 1.5 hours from J-Bay). Self-drive game viewing in Addo is very doable — entry is around £15 per person per day plus ~£12 for the car — and the main game area is full of elephants, zebra, buffalo and lion. Book a SANParks sunset or night drive direct through the park (roughly £18–25) for the best chance of spotting nocturnal animals. Stay in a SANParks cottage or a budget guesthouse just outside the park gate; pick up supplies in Colchester or Paterson and braai for dinner rather than restaurant prices.
🚌Rental car (self-drive game viewing)
🛏SANParks cottage or budget guesthouse near Addo (£18–28)
- →Self-drive game viewing in Addo
- →SANParks night game drive
- →Braai dinner
Addo to Kei Mouth on the Wild Coast
Kei Mouth
Long driving day (about 4 hours) east along the N2 to Kei Mouth, a sleepy Wild Coast village. This stretch is best done with your own car — public transport here is limited to minibus taxis from East London, which are cheap but slow. Once there, walk the beach, hire a horse for a Wild Coast beach ride (~£25) or take a boat cruise on the Great Kei River to spot fish eagles (~£15). Budget guesthouses and a backpackers lodge keep costs low — expect self-catering or a simple pub dinner.
🚌Rental car via the N2 (~4 hours)
🛏Budget guesthouse or backpackers, Kei Mouth (£18–25)
- →Great Kei River boat cruise
- →Wild Coast beach walk
- →Optional horseback ride
Kei Mouth to Coffee Bay / Hole in the Wall
Coffee Bay / Hole in the Wall
The Wild Coast road to Coffee Bay is rough but gorgeous — allow 3–4 hours from Kei Mouth. Check in at a backpackers near Hole in the Wall (Coffee Shack and similar are the classic budget options, roughly £15–22 dorm) and walk to the famous rock arch in the late afternoon. A traditional Xhosa village walk and home-cooked meal organised through your hostel costs around £12–15 and is the most meaningful cultural experience on the route — far better than a packaged version.
🚌Rental car (rough gravel roads; drive carefully)
🛏Backpackers dorm near Hole in the Wall (£15–22)
- →Hole in the Wall rock arch walk
- →Xhosa village visit & home-cooked dinner via hostel
Hole in the Wall & Coffee Bay coastal day
Coffee Bay / Hole in the Wall
A full day on foot. Walk the cliff trail between Coffee Bay and Hole in the Wall (about 5 km each way, rough but stunning), swim if the tide is right, and hang out at the hostel. Many hostels also run guided hikes, surf lessons or village markets on this day — ask at reception. Nothing needs booking in advance; keep it cheap and slow.
🚌On foot
🛏Backpackers dorm near Hole in the Wall (£15–22)
- →Coffee Bay–Hole in the Wall coastal hike
- →Beach time
- →Optional surf lesson or village market
Wild Coast to Underberg (Drakensberg foothills)
Underberg
Big travel day: drive inland from Coffee Bay via Mthatha and the N2 to Underberg (about 5–6 hours). If you're without a car, take a minibus taxi from Coffee Bay to Mthatha and then a shuttle or taxi to Underberg — cheap but slow, and you'll need to organise it the day before. Underberg is the gateway to Sani Pass. Book a budget B&B or backpackers (about £20–28) and confirm your Sani Pass 4x4 tour for tomorrow — several companies run day trips from Underberg for £55–75 including the Lesotho permit and a guide.
🚌Rental car via Mthatha (~5–6 hours), or minibus taxis
🛏Budget guesthouse/B&B, Underberg (£20–28)
- →Scenic drive through the Drakensberg foothills
- →Organise Sani Pass 4x4 for tomorrow
Sani Pass 4x4 into Lesotho
Sani Pass / Lesotho / Underberg
The highlight of the trip. Join a Sani Pass day tour in a 4x4 (about £55–75 per person including the Lesotho border formalities) — you cannot drive your own rental car up, and the pass is genuinely steep and spectacular. Cross into Lesotho, have lunch at the Sani Mountain Lodge (Africa's highest pub, ~£10–15) and visit a Basotho village with your guide. Bring your passport for the South African and Lesotho border posts (UK passport holders don't need a visa for short visits). Return to Underberg for the night.
🚌Sani Pass 4x4 tour (booked locally or via GetYourGuide)
🛏Budget guesthouse/B&B, Underberg (£20–28)
- →Sani Pass 4x4 ascent
- →Lesotho border crossing
- →Sani Mountain Lodge lunch
- →Basotho village visit
Underberg to Champagne Valley via the Midlands Meander
Champagne Valley / Drakensberg
Drive north through the Midlands Meander (about 3 hours), stopping at the Mandela Capture Site near Howick (memorial + museum, ~£6) and Thokozisa Lifestyle Centre for crafts and a cheap lunch. Arrive in Champagne Valley beneath the Drakensberg escarpment. Stay in a budget self-catering cottage or backpackers (Monks Cowl area, around £20–30). Optional extras if your timing works: the Drakensberg Canopy Tour (~£35) or the Drakensberg Boys Choir concert on Wednesdays (~£15).
🚌Rental car via Howick and the Midlands Meander (~3 hours)
🛏Self-catering cottage or backpackers, Champagne Valley (£20–30)
- →Mandela Capture Site
- →Thokozisa Lifestyle Centre
- →Optional canopy tour or Boys Choir concert
Champagne Valley to Johannesburg: Apartheid Museum & Gold Reef City
Johannesburg
Drive to Johannesburg (about 4–4.5 hours) or, if you've dropped the car at Durban instead, take the Gautrain or a budget flight. Head straight to Gold Reef City — the Apartheid Museum is next door (entry ~£6) and deserves 2–3 hours; the Gold Reef City theme park and underground mine tour (75 m descent, ~£12) are a fun way to finish. Drop your car and fly out of OR Tambo, or stay a night in a Melville or Maboneng hostel (about £18–25) if your flight is the next morning. Note that the tour's published Day 12 itinerary puts you at OR Tambo for 19:00–21:00, so book an evening flight.
🚌Rental car to Johannesburg (~4 hours), or budget flight Durban–Joburg (~£40–60)
🛏Hostel in Melville/Maboneng if needed (£18–25)
- →Apartheid Museum
- →Gold Reef City underground mine tour
Self-launched vs. Amatungulu Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Amatungulu Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£950 | £2,350 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,400 per person (60%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Amatungulu Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£950
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does South Africa's Best-Kept Secrets & Lesotho: Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £950 per person for 12 days in South Africa & Lesotho. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Amatungulu Tours?+
Yes — Amatungulu Tours charges around £2,350 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £950 — a saving of roughly £1,400 (60%) per person.
How long is the South Africa & Lesotho trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 day-by-day stops through South Africa & Lesotho.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, wildlife trip through South Africa & Lesotho, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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