America still hasn’t earned a spot in next year’s World Cup (held from June 11 to July 11), but after their surprising performance this past week in the Confederations Cup, including a win against mighty Spain, you can book your flight to South Africa. Tickets for the World Cup are already on sale for the many venues, which include stadiums in Jo’burg, Capetown, and Durban. However, looking at the list of host cities, I’d grab tickets at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Port Elizabeth. Get your full of World Cup soccer, then head out on a 10-day jaunt that starts with the spectacular Garden Route and ends at one of the most majestic cities in the world, Capetown. Along the way, you can stop at the private game reserve of Amakhala to see the Big Five, visit the surfing capital of Plett, and snap photos of the cliffs and beaches along Jeffreys Bay. Then head inland from George to visit the ostrich farms and Cango Caves in Oudsthoorn and the award-winning wineries of Stellenbosch.

In Capetown, hike or grab the cable car to the top of 3,563-foot Table Mountain, then stroll down to the city center, called City Bowl.  Sure, you can try provincial fare like the dried jerky they call biltong or grilled springbok (a small antelope). Far more common are grilled fish and steak found at European, Indian, Japanese, and Malaysian restaurants.  Indeed, post-Apartheid Capetown is an incredibly cosmopolitan city, with chefs from all over the world opening new restaurants. Heading south to the Cape of Good Hope, be sure to lounge on Clifton’s white sand beaches (even during Capetown’s winter, temperatures are often in the mid-70s Fahrenheit), stroll through the intriguing sub-Saharan flora at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, and take a detour on Chapman’s Peak Drive, South Africa’s version of Big Sur. Lekka, mon.