Africa
South Africa
Calling all explorers! South Africa has a total of eight UNESCO-registered World Heritage Sites. They cover staggering natural beauty with Mapungubwe National Park, historical gravity with Robben Island and links to the struggles of Nelson Mandela, and the origins of humanity itself with the Cradle of Humankind paleontological site. South Africa is a country with the power to fascinate and inspire on many different levels.
Average Temperature (°C)
Summer
28
Autumn
26
Winter
20
Interesting Fact
South Africa is the only country in the world with three capital cities. Namely the Executive Capital of Pretoria, the Judicial Capital of Bloemfontein, and the Legislative Capital of Cape Town.
Ideal for...
The Big Five
A primary reason why many ventures to South Africa is for a chance to spot The Big Five at one of the many world-class game reserves available.
The chance to see an African lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, African leopard, and rhinoceros in the stripped-back wilderness of their natural habitat is an unforgettable opportunity, particularly when taking a safari family holiday, with many game reserves also offering dedicated bush tours for children alongside the excitement of game drives as part of a trip of a lifetime to see their favourite animals brought to life before their eyes.
Art
Art collectors now list Cape Town as a vital stop on their international journeys, with some of the finest collections in the world to be found in Africa’s creative capital. This, bolstered by the imminent opening of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art, offers an intriguing glimpse into the latest works of the continent’s leading imaginative minds.
Whale Watching
From May to November, Humpback and Southern right whales visit the area, while from November to January, leatherback and loggerhead turtles lay their eggs on the beaches. Join a community-guided tour to witness turtles laying eggs on the same beaches they emerged from!
Something Different
Mbombela to Hoedspruit via the Long Tom Pass
A spectacular scenic alternative to the Panorama Route in Mpumalanga, this 250km-route combines breathtaking scenery with culture and history. As you drive along the route, stop at the Sudwala Caves, some of the oldest caves in the world at around 240 million years old, for a tour.
Northern Cape
Head off-road in the Northern Cape and test your driving skills on a 4x4 adventure. South Africa’s largest province is also its least populated and that means a huge expanse of land perfect for an adventure! Expect carpets of flowers, brilliant green shrubs, sand dunes and rugged mountains.
View our suggested itineraries...
Route 62 & Garden Route
Self-driving is a wonderful way to explore Route 62 - known to be one of the longest wine routes. The drive itself takes you to quaint towns and quirky stops en route. Allow at least 5 hours to enjoy the route as you head to the historical town of Oudtshoorn where one can visit the Cango Caves or enjoy a tour of an ostrich farm. Afterwards, you can continue onto a private lodge with overlooks the Indian Ocean and is known for its pristine local flora, fynbos. Then we would recommend staying a couple of nights in the town of Knysna.
Kynsa is well known for being one of the top destinations along the Garden Route. From Knsyna you can either decide to travel back to Cape Town or head North to Port Elizabeth and finish off with an Eastern Cape safari experience as an add-on to your amazing holiday.
Hermanus Coastal
Less than 2 hours drive from Cape Town, the seaside town of Hermanus is a popular holiday destination. Beautiful Cape mountains, covered in abundant Cape fynbos offer great hiking opportunities. The expansive Walker Bay provides many ocean-based activities, none the least boat-based whale watching where the peak season is August and September. The lovely sea air creates the perfect environment for producing outstanding wines also.
Cape Town
Staying in Cape Town provides you with a great base to explore the many sights it has to offer. For a first-time visitor, you will want to see the Cape Peninsula visit the penguins, which is an all-time favourite. No trip to Cape Town is complete without also visiting the Cape Winelands which offer a spoilt-for-choice range of estates and restaurants to enjoy. Another trip we would recommend is a boat ride to Robben Island to visit the cell where Mandela was incarcerated.
We would also recommend an itinerary which is designed to allow you to have plenty of free time to explore all of the above and many more, you could even visit Kruger National Park to add on a safari.
