South Africa

Being a land of diverse cultures, South Africa is full of people who are always eager to welcome you with their arms wide open.

A country which is a retreat for adventure lovers who feel the adrenaline rush, at the same time for travellers who like to sit back and relax on the beach to watch the sunset while eating delicious food and sipping on some wine from the local winery.

Descend into the underwater as you swim with the sharks or drive along the most beautiful sceneries. One can witness South Africa’s history and culture in some of the world’s best known museums and galleries. Go for a wildlife safari and take in the gravitas of the Big 5, and other untamed beauty living as one.

There’s so much to experience and explore in South Africa that no matter what you do and which part of the country you visit, you will have journey to remember.

Holiday themes for South Africa

Experiences for families in South Africa: South Africa is considered to the ideal destination for families travelling to the continent. From the charming city of Cape Town to the vast options for wildlife safaris, the country has a lot to offer to children. 

• Cape Town is one of the most popular destination for families looking for a fun filled holiday with children. The city has the Two Oceans Aquarium, Butterfly World and the Planetarium. Parents will can enjoy an evening at the bustling Victoria & Alfred Waterfront  where one can experience shopping, entertainment and culinary delights. Also not to miss the trip up to the top of the iconic Table Mountain via cable car with the whole family to get the magnificent view of the city and the ocean. Part of the Table Mountain National Park and a short drive from Cape Town, kids can enjoy walk at the Boulders Penguin Colony which is home to several thousand African penguins. 
• Go Whale watching at Hermanus: Whale watching is one of the most famous adventure offerings at Hermanus, 2.5 hours from Cape Town in South Africa. It is generally considered to be one of the best places in the world for this activity. June and November is the best time to spot the Southern right whales, Bryde’s whales, and orcas. 
• Sun City is the ultimate family resort located in South Africa 2 hours north of Johannesburg. There is a plethora of facilities available at this popular resort. Here children can take part in a range of activities from trampolining to mini golf; youngsters can search for hidden treasures at ‘Finders Keepers’; at Animal World they can enjoy feeding time and pet the farm animals; while under 18s night club Chirp is open only on weekends and during high season is a great place to hangout. Fringed by a palm shaded beach, the pool complex boasts the wave pool that has a five flume rides, a lazy river and a shallow children’s pool with slides withspouting water fountains. Watersports are also provided at Sun City’s Water World, where there is a man-made lake where one can enjoy activities like waterski, canoe, windsurf and many more.
• Wildlife safaris: South Africa is home to the famous Big Five – the African lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros – as well as other popular African animals. During these games drives the naturalist strive to educate visitors on the importance of conservation of various species – which surely gives a vital message to our young enthusiasts. 

Self-Driving in South Africa

• Self-drive is a popular option for trips in South Africa specially to the Cape Town and the Garden Route region. Most of the Self-driving tour itineraries focus on the southern part of the country starting from Cape Town, going to the garden route to Knysna and further to Port Elizabeth to experience wildlife at Adda Elephant Reserve. 

• When in Cape Town, one can plan a visit to the Winelands and the vistas of the Garden Route, driving along the country’s most scenic coastal route. Then for the ultimate finish, the drive concludes with a few days on a safari at one of the national parks. 

• For wildlife enthusiasts there are penguin beaches, ostriches farms, whales watching trips and game drives. For the love of wine and gourmet food there are many options in the city and wineries of the Winelands. For those who love driving through the open and scenic countryside there are stretches of road that pass through the sandy beaches and travel over spectacular mountain passes.

Train journey in South Africa

• South Africa has two luxury trains, The Rovos Rail and Blue Train and both offer a five star travelling experience. These train journeys gives you an opportunity to explore the untouched parts of Southern Africa. The train tour itineraries can last anything from one day to two weeks depending on the preferences and interests of the travellers.
• The most popular route which is preferred by travellers from across the globe is the one which from Pretoria to Cape Town (or vice-versa), while many other itineraries travel across borders to Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia and Tanzania.
• A trip on either of these trains, the Blue Train or Rovos Rail can be easily be incorporated with an extension to a safari experience in Kruger National Park.

When to visit

May to September is considered to be the best time to visit South Africa especially the national parks. This is the dry season and wildlife is easier to spot around waterholes when the animals gather to the waterholes to quench their thirst. May and September are wonderful times to visit also because it is less cold and most days are sunny, there is little to no rain, and there are very few mosquitos.

The wet season is from October to April. This is after the first rain, so the entire scenery turns lush green and the country looks super fresh. This is the best time for bird watching because most of the migratory birds are around during these months. 

Getting around in South Africa between major cities/regions (such as Kruger National Park) is typically done by local flight. These domestic flights connect almost all of the major points of interest for the travellers, although some routes will require short connection via Johannesburg, which is the largest airport in the country. Private charter flights also connect to more remote areas of the country.