South Africa
Mixing traditional cultures with modern delights, South Africa provides once in a lifetime experiences to all that visit.
You will leave South Africa with memories of unique wildlife encounters, the most beautiful wonders of the world, the finest cuisine and the genuine warmth of its people.
For further inspiration, please check out our South Africa Holidays page.
Cape Town
Cape Town is an easy, overnight flight away from London, and is considered to be 'the' place to visit on a first time trip to South Africa, although it is also extremely popular with repeat visitors.
'The Mother City', as Cape Town is commonly know, is not a large city, and is guarded by the impressive Table Mountain. The central point of Cape Town for visitors is the V&A Waterfront, where you will find numerous bars and restuarants, along with great shopping in Victoria Mall. This is where the ferry trips across to Robben Island (now a World Heritage site) leave from, and there are many companies offering boat trips around the coastline, as well as scenic helicopter flights over Cape Town and beyond.
The climate in Cape Town is similar to that of the Mediterranean, with summer temperatures around 25 degrees celcius along the coast, and 15 degrees celcius in winter. You can expect the inland temperature to rise by 3 to 5 degrees.
You can travel around the city easily, with plentiful metered taxis available. A hop-on hop-off bus service also departs every 15 minutes from the Aquarium at the water front, taking a loop of the city.
Robben Island
Robben Island, a World Heritage Site homing a world-class museum, is famously paired with the life story of Nelson Mandela, who has changed Robben Island Prison from a symbol of oppression to one of hope for citizens of South Africa. The island is located in Table Bay, and boasts superb views back to Table Mountain.
The three hour round trip to the former prison and Leper Conoly departs from the V&A Waterfront. Guided tours of the prison complex are available to visitors, and are often led by ex-political prisoners who offer a first hand insight to the living conditions experienced by inmates.
We recommend pre-booking a tour before departing on holiday, which we are happy to arrange for you.
Table Mountain
Standing at over 1,000 metres, Table Mountain offers amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean and Cape Town, and is a must-see attraction during any visit to Cape Town.
The flat-topped summit is considered by many spiritualists to be a sacred sight, and there are nearly 350 footpaths on the mountain with varying levels of difficulty. Many people choose to take a three minute ride in a cablecar to the summit.
The Winelands
Surrounding Cape Town are areas of spectacular scenery, stunning views and superb seascapes. Just a 45 minute drive from the centre of Cape Town are the wine regions of Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschoek.
Stellenbosch is home to more that 140 wine farms, and is the second oldest town in South Africa. It's winelands boast the largest concentration and variety of wine farms and wine tasting venues in the country. A holiday atmosphere in this quaint town makes for the perfect base for wine and culture lovers.
Paarl, a 40 minute drive outside of Cape Town,has a scenic beauty that inspires visitors to get in their car and drive along the main routes in the valley and around the surrounding mountains. Visitors can also explore Paarl from a different angle - either on horseback along the foothills of the mountains, on any of the wide variety of hiking trails and bike routes, or from a hot air balloon in the early morning.
Garden Route
The Garden Route, the road between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, spans for 622km and is one of the world's best road trips. In addition to its stunning scenery, it passes through many quirky towns with locals ready to welcome yuo with their fresh produce. The views along the way vary from open farmland, lakes, mountains and oceans, which may be dotted with whales if you visit at the correct time of year, between June and November.
Treasures to be found along the Garden Route include lakes, rivers and untouched beaches of Wilderness National Park, and a 'Big Five' safari in the 'malaria free' Game Reserve.
Johannesburg
Johannesburg is the ‘City of Gold’, with so much on the go. As the host city for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the entertainment and leisure options are endless here. There are restaurants for virtually every type of cuisine, and Johannesburg is well-known for its vibrant nightlife.
Must-see tourist attractions in Johannesburg include Hector Peterson Museum, Apartheid Museum, Gold Reef City Theme Park, and the World Heritage Site at Sterkfontein Caves.
Kruger National Park
South African National Parks (SANP) are responsible for the conversation and management of much of the country's wildlife and natural habitats. The most famous of all is the Kruger National Park, which was founded over a century ago, and is situated in the Mpumalanga province. Mpumalanga also hosts the world's third deepest gorge - the Blyde River Canyon, and the Sudwala Caves, which are 3,000 million years old!
Kruger National Park is full of wildlife and scenic treasures, paired with historic towns and diverse African cultures. If you are looking for a Big 5 safari experience in South Africa, you won't go wrong with a visit to Kruger. The Big 5 relates to lion, buffalo, and for
visitors keen to spot the elusive leopard, do consider a stay in the world renown Sabi Sands Game Reserve, a neighbouring private reserve to Kruger.For golf fanatics, South Africa is a golfer's paradise, and at Leopard Creek in Kruger, one of the most exclusive golf resorts in Africa, you can tee of surrounded by the wildlife.
Madikwe Game Reserve
Madikwe is one of the top Game reserves in the world. It receives praise for its use of the local community in its sustainable development and wildlife conservation projects.
Over a seven year stage, Madikwe introduced over 8,000 animals and almost thirty different species to the Reserve. As a result of this success, there are now plans to link Madikwe with another reserve to create a mega-conservation corridor.
The accommodation in Madikwe is of a very high quality, with private, luxury lodges and spectacular views.
Durban and Kwazulu-Natal
The province of KwaZulu-Natal has so much to offer visitors seeking the 'Real South Africa'. The Zulu Kingdom is quickly becoming the new 'must see' area in South Africa. With a subtropical climate, it is a fantastic place to visit during the South African 'Winter'.
To the east are sandy beaches and sparkling waters of the Indean Ocean, offering wonderful diving and snorkelling opportunities. Inland, you will find the St Lucia Wetlands, one of the three UNESCO world heritage sites in the KwaZulu-Natal province.
If you are seeking an active holiday, the Drakensberg Mountains has a wealth of recreational activities, including mountain biking, guided walks, fly fishing, rock climbing, swimming in crystal clear rivers and hot air balloon rides over hidden valleys.
Image credits to Visions of Africa
