South Africa · 1-DAY TOURS

Top 15 1-Day Tours in South Africa

28 tours  ·  from $38 a head

Good 1-day tours fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and where they differ.

Big Five Safari and Breede River Valley Guided Day Trip - Reaching Aquila Private Game Reserve
1-Day Tours, Guided, Safari & Game Drives, Safaris and Game Drives in Cape Town, Tour Reviews, Tours in Cape Town

Big Five Safari and Breede River Valley Guided Day Trip

1.Big Five Safari and Breede River Valley Guided Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 526 reviews · from $155Our pick

Travel from Cape Town to Aquila Private Game Reserve in an air-conditioned vehicle with guides such as Mike, Werner, or Jamie. Enjoy Du Toitskloof scenery, optional wine tasting, a buffet lunch with champagne, and a 2 to 3 hour group safari drive. The reserve fee is extra.

“So after being picked up from our hotel we got taken to the resort where we got to see the big four nice giraffes gazelle's elephant's it was well worth the money and we were well looked after in terms of refreshments I would recommend this tRead more”

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Jo'berg in 1 Day: Soweto, Apartheid Museum & City Tour - From the National Football Stadium to Soweto
1-Day Tours, Apartheid & Mandela History Tours, Apartheid History Tours in Johannesburg, City Tours, Museums, Soweto & Township Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Johannesburg, Township Tours in Johannesburg

Jo’berg in 1 Day: Soweto, Apartheid Museum & City Tour

2.Jo’berg in 1 Day: Soweto, Apartheid Museum & City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 524 reviews · 8 hours · from $142

Spend eight hours with an English-speaking guide exploring Soweto, Vilakazi Street, Hector Pieterson Museum, the Apartheid Museum, Constitution Hill, and central Johannesburg. Pickup and entrance fees are included, with WiFi onboard. Guides such as Khutso, Thapelo, Tinyiko, and Sello are known for clear historical commentary and friendly humor.

“Omg! It was awesome, a big thank you to Khutso and Zanele they were so good to us. Khutso is a top tour guide he told us everything we needed to know. God bless you and I will certainly recommend you guys to others.”

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Cape Town: Cape Peninsula & Table Mountain Private Day Trip - Bo-Kaap brings a quick burst of color
1-Day Tours, Cape Point & Cape of Good Hope Tours, Private, Table Mountain Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Cape Town

Cape Town: Cape Peninsula & Table Mountain Private Day Trip

3.Cape Peninsula & Table Mountain Private Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 206 reviews · 10 hours · from $210

Spend 10 hours touring Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula in a private vehicle with an English- or French-speaking guide. Ride Table Mountain’s cable car, see Bo-Kaap, penguins at Boulders Beach, Cape Point Lighthouse, Chapman's Peak, Simon's Town, and Muizenberg’s shark spotters. Guides such as Israel, Coco, and Jean-Luc are praised for clear explanations and flexible pacing.

“We came to South Africa for the first time from Korea for our honeymoon. Our guide, Chrismank, was incredibly kind and friendly! 😊 We were also very lucky with the weather, and his explanations were so clear and engaging that we learned a lot about South Africa that we didn’t know before. The trip felt very safe, and we had such a great time that the day just flew by. Huge thanks to our guide for making it such an enjoyable experience! ☺️”

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Table Mountain and Cape Town City Half-Day Trip - Bo-Kaap gives the city drive some depth
1-Day Tours, City Tours, Half-Day, Table Mountain Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Cape Town

Table Mountain and Cape Town City Half-Day Trip

4.Table Mountain and Cape Town City Half-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 191 reviews · from $46

Spend about four hours seeing Cape Town by air-conditioned minibus, riding the Table Mountain cableway at your own cost, and visiting Bo-Kaap, the Castle of Good Hope, and Diamond Works. Guides such as Hamilton, Glen, Bayathe, and Super have earned praise for their friendly explanations. Pickup and drop-off cover Cape Town city-center hotels.

“Not too much to say. Saw what I wanted to see. I wasn’t happy that the people who booked this tour canceled and I was the only one. It’s always nice to be with others. But I had private tour.”

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Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl Winelands Full Day Trip from Cape Town - Franschhoek, pretty streets, and lunch choices
1-Day Tours, Full-Day, Tour Reviews, Tours in Cape Town, Wine Tours, Wine Tours in Cape Town

Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl Winelands Full Day Trip from Cape Town

5.Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl Winelands Full Day Trip from Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 115 reviews · from $101

You’ll visit three Cape Winelands areas from Cape Town, with wine tastings in Paarl, Franschhoek, and Stellenbosch. Expect a cellar visit, scenic drives, free time in historic towns, and a small group of up to 12 people. Guides such as Carola, Ivan, Eddie, and Basil have been praised for lively local commentary.

“Really enjoyed the wineries and the towns of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. The tour guide, Basil, was excellent and very knowledgeable and gave an interesting perspective on the social structure of south Africa.”

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Sani Pass day trip - Crossing the border into Lesotho
1-Day Tours, Sani Pass & Lesotho Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Underberg

Sani Pass day trip

6.Sani Pass day trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 63 reviews · from $127

This full-day 4x4 trip takes you from Underberg up the rough, spectacular Sani Pass and across the border into Lesotho. Your guide, possibly Elias, Alan, or Patrick Jolly, handles the mountain road, border paperwork, and local commentary. You will visit a Basotho village, taste fresh bread, and stop at the highest pub in Africa. Bring a passport, warm clothes, and patience for a bumpy ride.

“At the outset I’d like to commend Yolande for ensuring our late booking went well.”

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From Durban: Sani Pass, Lesotho and Basotho Village Day Trip - The early ride from Durban to Himeville
1-Day Tours, Sani Pass & Lesotho Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Underberg

From Durban: Sani Pass, Lesotho and Basotho Village Day Trip

7.Sani Pass, Lesotho and Basotho Village Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 43 reviews · 13 hours · from $191

Leave Durban early for a full-day 4x4 trip over Sani Pass into Lesotho. A small group of up to eight travels with an English-speaking guide, visits a Basotho home, tastes homemade bread, and pauses at Africa’s Highest Pub. Guides such as Siya and Pat are praised for their local knowledge and helpful manner.

“Everything was extremely nice, the guide is an awesome guy and knows a lot about the area and the costumes. I surely recommend this tour as an option to get to know better Lesotho and the Sani Pass”

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Big 5 Safari One Day Tour - Four hours at Aquila Private Game Reserve
1-Day Tours, Safari & Game Drives, Safaris and Game Drives in Cape Town, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Cape Town

Big 5 Safari One Day Tour

8.Big 5 Safari One Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 27 reviews · from $227

You’ll leave Cape Town early with a driver such as Martin, cross the Du Toitskloof mountains, and spend about four hours at Aquila Private Game Reserve. The day includes hotel transfers, bottled water, an air-conditioned vehicle, a buffet lunch, and a small group of up to seven. It is a practical safari choice when you cannot spare several days for Kruger or another distant reserve.

“Martin was Great!!! He got us there in incredible time Very informative and knowledgeable the tour was great Just enough to get a view of the 5 Would recommend Martin to everyone”

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Pilanesberg Game Reserve Safari and Sun City Day Trip from Johannesburg - The early pickup and ride north
1-Day Tours, City Tours, Pilanesberg & Sun City Tours, Safari & Game Drives, Safaris and Game Drives in Pretoria, Tour Reviews, Tours in Pretoria

Pilanesberg Game Reserve Safari and Sun City Day Trip from Johannesburg

9.Pilanesberg Game Reserve Safari and Sun City Day Trip from Johannesburg

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 26 reviews · from $296

Start with a closed-vehicle safari in Pilanesberg, home to more than 7,000 animals and the Big Five, then visit Sun City for pools, casinos, restaurants, and the Lost City. Hotel pickup, a professional guide, and park admission are included. Plan for a 6 to 7 a.m. pickup and a long day on the road.

“Although the driver had a breakdown and arrived late to pick us up we had an amazing day, private tour with flexibility and a wonderful tour guide. For the limited time spent in the game reserve we were able to see a large variety of game!”

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From Richards Bay: Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve Day Trip - Looking for the Big Five
1-Day Tours, Safari & Game Drives, Tour Reviews

From Richards Bay: Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve Day Trip

10.From Richards Bay: Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 15 reviews · 6 hours · from $242

You’ll ride in a fully air-conditioned closed vehicle from Richards Bay to Hluhluwe Imfolozi, South Africa’s oldest national reserve. A guide leads the six-hour outing through hilly Zululand country, where you may see Big Five wildlife and a wide range of birds and animals. Pickup and drop-off cover a 5 km radius of the harbor.

“Ne pas admettre des clients de différentes langues ensemble.”

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1 Day Whale Watching at Yzerfontein - The 6:30 am welcome briefing
1-Day Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Cape Town, Whale Watching

1 Day Whale Watching at Yzerfontein

11.1 Day Whale Watching at Yzerfontein

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 14 reviews · from $331

Meet the crew at Yzerfontein Harbour at 6:30 am for a briefing, breakfast snacks, and a high-speed RIB trip aboard Meganova. With up to 10 people, you search for humpback whales, dolphins, seals, and seabirds with a whale specialist and skipper, then return for a picnic lunch and debrief.

“Amazing trip I'd highly recommend, especially photographers! Small groups of people which makes the trip so much nicer. Although we didn't get to see a super group, we saw a lone juvenile Humpback and then a mother with her calf. PleRead more”

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From Durban: Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve Day Trip - What the safari can realistically deliver
1-Day Tours, Safari & Game Drives, Safaris and Game Drives in Durban, Tour Reviews, Tours in Durban

From Durban: Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve Day Trip

12.Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 13 reviews · 12 hours · from $242

You leave Durban early for a private, guide-led day at Hluhluwe Imfolozi, South Africa’s oldest game park. Expect a long drive, a closed-vehicle safari, and chances to see rhinos, elephants, giraffes, antelope, birds, and possibly the Big 5. Optional extras include Emtoneni Wild Cat Sanctuary, a wetland boat cruise, and a Zulu cultural visit.

“Absolutely loved my day trip to Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve. Freddy is an incredible guide, and has so much experience finding the animals. We had so much fun on the tour and were able to see rhinos, giraffes, elephants, tons of antelope, crocodiles, birds… the list goes on and on. 100% recommend.”

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Marine Big 5 Safari full day trip from Cape Town - Leaving Cape Town at 6:00 am
1-Day Tours, Full-Day, Safari & Game Drives, Safaris and Game Drives in Cape Town, Tour Reviews, Tours in Cape Town

Marine Big 5 Safari full day trip from Cape Town

13.Marine Big 5 Safari full day trip from Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 13 reviews · from $242

Leave Cape Town early for Gansbaai and a two-hour Marine Big 5 boat trip around Dyer Island, Geyser Rock, and Shark Alley. Your marine biologist guide helps you look for great white sharks, whales, Cape fur seals, African penguins, dolphins, and seabirds. Pickup, coffee, a muffin, and light lunch are included, but rough seas and a long road journey can affect the day.

“Great viewing. High seas that day. If you're thinking of going make sure to take something to help if you get sick. A couple of passengers did and you just have to ride it out until we're all done. They can only help replace the bags you're using buRead more”

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From Durban: Isandlwana Rorkes Drift Battlefields Day Trip - Rorkes Drift and the night after defeat
1-Day Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Durban

From Durban: Isandlwana Rorkes Drift Battlefields Day Trip

14.Isandlwana Rorkes Drift Battlefields Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 12 reviews · 14 hours · from $198

Travel from Durban to Isandlwana, Rorke's Drift, and the Fugitives Drift and Queen's Colours memorials on a history-focused 14-hour tour. Your English, Greek, Portuguese, or French-speaking guide leads the day, with guides such as Thani, Thami, Bafana, and Aaron praised for clear explanations. Bring lunch, water, sunscreen, and sturdy shoes.

“Fantastic day visiting the battlefields I have read about over the years made all the better with the knowledge of Thami who proved to be a great guide and host. Highly recommended.”

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Cape Town: Tour Cape Point & Boulders Beach Penguin Day Trip - Bo-Kaap and the first taste of Cape Town
1-Day Tours, Boulders Beach Penguin Tours, Cape Point & Cape of Good Hope Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Cape Town

Cape Town: Tour Cape Point & Boulders Beach Penguin Day Trip

15.Tour Cape Point & Boulders Beach Penguin Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 10 reviews · 9 hours · from $38Best value

Spend nine hours touring Cape Town’s peninsula in an air-conditioned minivan with an English-speaking guide. You’ll see Bo-Kaap, Camps Bay, Hout Bay, Chapman’s Peak, Cape Point, Simon’s Town, Boulders Beach penguins, and Muizenberg. Guide Guyon has earned special praise for his warm, enthusiastic storytelling.

“liked the penguins & Bo kaap. disliked length of stops & lunch at 15.30 with only one choice of restaurant”

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New in 1-Day Tours

★ 5.0Cape Peninsula & Boulders Beach Day Trip from Cape TownFrom $424 reviews
★ 5.0Lesotho: Sani Pass Scenic Day Trip w/ Village Visit & LunchFrom $923 reviews
★ 3.4From Richards Bay: DumaZulu Cultural Village Day TripFrom $2424 reviews
★ 3.3The Best Private Cape Town Safari Day Trip – Aquila Big 5From $3743 reviews
★ 5.0Discover Scuba Diving – 1 day experienceFrom $1555 reviews
★ 4.0Big Five Safari and Breede River Valley Day TripFrom $1745 reviews
★ 4.41 Day Garden Route Tour: From Port Elizabeth to the CragsFrom $2364 reviews

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