South africa

A holiday in South Africa is one of a kind imagine the taste of a chilled glass of sparkling champagne from the vines of nearby world-class wineries – the vibrant city of Cape Town awaits. Imagine arriving with the iconic Rovos Rail. There is always something for everyone here whether you are travelling solo, on a honeymoon or a memorable family safari you can hike through the Cedarberg mountains to ancient rock art sites, watch whales off the shore of Hermanus and dolphins at Plettenberg Bay. KwaZulu Natal’s fascinating history, the dramatic Drakensberg Mountains and wonderful Zulu culture has much to offer. Explore its mountain ranges, deserts, wild swamps and vast savannah in South Africa’s National Parks – Kruger, Madikwe, Kalahari and Eastern Cape, amongst many others where you get to see The ‘Big Five’ while staying at some of the most luxurious lodges in Africa.

South Africa safaris

South Africa is situated in the southern-most part of Africa, with neighbouring countries of Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland and Lesotho. Its coast is shared by two oceans, with the South Atlantic on the west and the Indian Ocean on the east. It’s world’s 25th largest country in both size and population well known as a “rainbow nation” because of its multicultural identity with its friendly people – it is a country worth visiting. A magnificent combination of landscapes and ecosystems supports a healthy outdoor lifestyle and provides great holidays to suit all tastes and budgets.

The most popular holiday hotspots is Cape Town and the Garden Route which can easily be combined with Big 5 safari options in Kruger National Park. The country is unique with great safari trips in year-round non-malaria areas, ideal for family safaris with children.

Safaris are perfect for first time visitors and a gateway for seasoned travellers.

Staying with the Cape, the city of Cape Town is one of the most popular destinations, with luxury hotels on the waterfront, and stunning views of Table Mountain. The mountain can be ascended in a cable car although the more adventurous can climb it; the panoramic views from the top are stunning, and there is a small restaurant, several shops and walking trails on the plateau.

This incredible biodiversity in the Cape makes it one of the most fertile places in the world, and as a result there are a lot of vineyards, fruit farms and floristic farms to explore. Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschoek are particularly old and beautiful towns. Luxury hotels to stay in as well as lodges where exquisite cuisine and fine wines are the norm. Beautiful sights of the coast from Mossel Bay to the Storms River is known as the Garden Route, and this can be explored leisurely including Knysna’s famous art galleries, woodcarvings and freshly caught oysters to try.

The best whale-watching in the world can be seen at Hermanus and other thrilling activities such as shark cage-diving, sea-kayaking, canoeing and horse-riding.

For those interested in nature, there are a large number of wildlife reserves and national parks, including the famous Kruger National Park in the Limpopo Province. The more common African mammals can be found here, including lion, leopard, blue wildebeest, kudu, elephant, hyena, hippopotamus and giraffe, as well as rare animals such as white rhino and African Hunting Dogs. It has 517 different species of birds, along with eagles, and there are luxury safari lodges to stay at. Lake St Lucia and Madikwe Reserve are some of our favourite destinations in the country – far quieter than the Kruger and offering especially good wildlife. Horse riders and scenery enthusiasts are never disappointed by the Drakensburg Mountains.

A more historical side of South Africa can be experienced in the Battlefields of KwaZulu Natal.

North West Province has a buffet of adrenalin sports; sky diving, paragliding, hang-gliding, climbing, and a multitude of water sports, amongst others.

The seasons in South Africa are the following;

September to October – Spring
November to March – Summers are normally hot especially Durban and also gets humid when it rains. While in Cape Town these are the best months to visit.

April to May-Autumn
June to August-Winter in Gauteng can drop to as low as -9C

Our recommendation