South Africa is the complete holiday destination for you. Whether it is an awesome animal encounter on a Big 5 safari at dawn, wine tasting on some of South Africa’s oldest wine farms or lazing on a beach soaking up the sun, South Africa ticks all the right boxes. With 11 languages spoken, 9 different provinces that offer so much, South Africa is as diverse as any other country around the world.

Some destinations of interest are: the multiple tourism award winning city of Cape Town(Africa’s favourite City), the wines of the Cape Winelands, whale watching paradise of Hermanus, the scenic and easily self-driven Garden Route, malaria free safaris of the Eastern Cape and of course the world famous game reserves of the Kruger National Park, Madikwe, child friendly safari lodges of Pilanesburg and don’t forget the Sabi Sands.

All of this is available to you in South Africa and access to all these experiences is quick and easy.

Cape Town: award winning city

Sitting right at the south west tip of Africa, Cape Town often features as one of the top destinations in the world. An unbeatable blend of natural beauty and year-round fun makes Cape Town an easy city to choose as the ultimate holiday destination. Unbelievable scenery, beautiful white beaches close to the city center and a large selection of luxurious accommodation(self catering apartments or villas, 5 star hotels, guest houses, etc) options will ensure you have a stay that you deserve. Fill your days by shopping at the V&A Waterfront, a scenic drive to the Cape Point or visit the iconic Table Mountain(recently voted one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World). Don’t forget a stop at the Boulders Penguins that is also perfect for the kids. The Two Oceans Aquarium is always a hit with the children as well. And don’t forget a face to face encounter with the Great White Sharks for the adventurous at heart.

Kruger Park: Speciality Big 5 game viewing

South Africa’s largest and best known reserve, the Kruger National Park is home to the country’s greatest diversity of wildlife and includes Africa’s Big 5. Kruger National Park is well known for their safari lodges that offer you the chance to encounter these wild animals while enjoying the luxury of 5 star accommodation.

Why pick Kruger for your South Africa safari? It’s where to go in South Africa for reliable big game sightings and offers accommodation from budget to 5 star luxury. Nearby airports makes it easily accessible by air allowing you to combine this part of your holiday with a few days in Cape Town or a tropical island resort in Mozambique.

Garden Route: beaches, forests & seaside towns

South Africa’s Garden Route is a natural playground of warm sea, pristine beaches, indigenous forest and laid-back little towns. With immaculate beaches around Plettenberg Bay, many world class championship golf courses, fairyland forest of the Tsitsikamma and its Tree Top Canopy Tour, cruising on the lagoon of Knysna and the thrill seeking Bloukrans Bridge Bungy Jumping makes the Garden Route the perfect family destination. The air doesn’t get fresher than our beautiful Garden Route!

Cape Winelands: Wine Tasting Paradise near Cape Town

The valleys and mountains of the Cape Winelands are a treat for both wine and food lovers: sip, swirl and sample award-winning wines and indulge in gourmet cuisine. All this is only an hour’s drive from Cape Town. Spending a night or two in the winelands is a must and will help you unwind at the end of your busy holiday. Make sure you have Franschhoek on your travel radar for brilliant wine and fine dining.

Eastern Cape: malaria-free Big 5 safaris

An Eastern Cape safari offers an exciting and stress-free family safari. A malaria free safari experience at the end of the Garden Route makes for an unforgettable end to your Garden Route travels. While many lodges are family and children friendly we also have some secluded and luxurious lodges that offer a Big 5 safari away from crowds and kids for those romantic couples out there.

Pilanesberg Game Reserve: great game viewing & close to Sun City

Adjacent to Sun City and just 2 hours from Johannesburg this Big 5 safari park has an abundance of wildlife spread across about 580 km2 of diverse bushveld terrain. Pilanesburg accommodates virtually every southern African mammal and is also home to healthy population of Lion, Leopard, Black and White Rhino, Elephant and Buffalo. With a host of fabulous family safari lodges and Sun City on your doorstep Pilanesburg is a favourite family holiday destination.

Madikwe Game Reserve: Big 5 game viewing relatively close to Johannesburg

The malaria free Madikwe is about a 3.5 hour drive or short charter flight from Johannesburg or Pretoria. The Reserve is currently the fifth largest game reserve and is also one of the lesser- known parks in South Africa. Its Kalahari grasslands and woodlands makes it a hidden- gem and it is regarded as one of the best conservation areas in Africa and offers the Big 5 in a 680 km2 park (750 km2 including newly incorporated privately owned land). During your visit you could also have the rare privilege of possibly seeing the highly endangered African Wild Dog.

Travel dates for South Africa

Best Time to Visit Cape Town

The best time of the year for a Cape Town beach holiday is from late January to late April.

Cape Town enjoys a temperate climate with warm, dry conditions from October to April. Temperatures peak between December and February, with Christmas and New Year being Cape Town’s busiest time of the year and most popular time for a Cape Town beach holiday. Cape Town’s infamous south-easter wind – Cape Doctor – can blow hard during this time of the year, occasionally clearing the beaches and creating the famous Table Cloth of Table Mountain.

By February the wind will often back off and most visitors decide to head home, making late January to April a fantastic option for a holiday.

The best time for a whale watching holiday is from July through to late November when the huge migratory southern right whales arrive along the coastline, wild flowers bloom on the West Coast and the weather warms up. Explore the Hermanus coastline for the best land-based whale watching on offer.

Best Time to Visit the Kruger Park

Kruger National Park is considered a year-round destination and has two distinct seasons. Choosing exactly when to go to the Kruger depends on what you want to get out of your safari experience.

The dry winter season from May to October is considered the best time to go to Kruger. The animals are much easier to spot and follow as the vegetation is low and not so thick.

Mid-winter – June to August – is a very comfortable time of year to visit the Kruger. Not as many mosquitoes, there is little rain if any and the temperatures are comfortably warm during the day and cool at night.

At the end of winter(September and October) it is very dry with often uncomfortably hot and humid conditions. Concentrations of animals around water sources are at their highest during this period often making it the best game-viewing time for a Kruger safari.

From November onwards the Summer rains arrive, peak in January and February and end around April. The reserve is transformed into a beautiful, busy green landscape that offers spectacular photo opportunities. During the “Summer Season”, many young animals are born making it a predators paradise. Game viewing is still very good and often makes a good beach and safari holiday combo.

While the risk of malaria is low in the Kruger it is highly recommended that you consult a travel clinic or medical practitioner for advice about malaria if you are planning to travel to Kruger during or just after Summer.

Best Time to Visit the Garden Route

The Garden Route has a fairly consistent all year round climate. Temperatures are highest in the summer months of November to April. The best time to travel the Garden Route to avoid the crowds is from February to April. However on the Garden Route you can experience rain at any time of the year so keep this in mind.

Temperatures rarely fall below 16°C – even in winter – so your decision as to when to go to the Garden Route should also depend on your interests: whale watching season runs from July to late November, there are some amazing hiking trails, surfing, mountain biking and don’t forget the Knysna Oyster Festival that takes place in July. Sporting events, food and festivities all together in one of South Africa’s most beautiful towns.