South Africa
South Africa has it all, “ A world in one country”, a land of contrasts blending traditional African culture with European. It is the perfect destination for the entire family, romantic honeymooners, adventure seekers or food enthusiasts tempted to taste the uniquely delicious local flavours. Cape Town and the Winelands are a haven of sublime restaurants and the finest wines, the latter known as the “Culinary Capital of South Africa”.
Variety is what you can experience when you visit South Africa! It is the ideal destination if you are seeking to combine a Big Five Safari experience with breathtaking scenery and the stunning beaches of the Cape and Natal. The scenery around Cape Town, Garden Route, Eastern Cape is “Beyond Expectation”, not to mention the spectacularly beautiful Panoramic Route and the Blyde River Canyon, close to the Kruger National Park. The cosmopolitan cities of Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban offer gourmet cuisine, museums, nightlife, shopping, diverse cultures and warm hospitality. South Africa’s amazing diversity of culture is evident wherever you go. Cultural villages, ethnic restaurants and unique areas such as the colourful Cape Malay suburb of Bo-Kaap in Cape Town, will introduce you to some of the different customs and traditions.
The selection of luxury accommodation in cities, towns and private game lodges is world class. A sophisticated, reliable infrastructure, allows visitors to travel around easily. Driving is on the right hand side of the road, the highways are well maintained. The major airports provide easy access domestically, regionally and Internationally. South Africa is an excellent choice for couples, independent or family travel, something to suit everyone’s tastes.
Highlights
- Cape Town – Table Mountain, Robben Island, V&A Waterfront, Bo-Kaap, sandy beaches, Chapman’s Peak, Cape Point, Botanical Gardens and Nature Reserves
- Cape Winelands – Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Hermanus, gourmet food and wine, quaint little towns
- Garden Route – Big 5 Game Reserves, white sandy beaches of Plettenberg Bay and Wilderness, Knysna Waterfront and lagoon, breath taking scenery
- Kruger Park Region – Big 5 Game Reserves, adventure activities, amazing scenery along the Panoramic Route, Blyde River Canyon
- Alternative Big 5 Game Reserves in S.A – Eastern Cape, Kwa-Zula Natal, Madikwe, Pilanesberg, Marakele, Welgevonden
- Durban & Drakensberg Mountains – Big 5 Game Reserves, sandy beaches, spectacular mountain scenery
- Karoo – semi desert, spectacular mountain scenery and passes, Cango Caves and ostrich farms in Oudtshoorn
- Namaqualand – semi-desert turns into a beautiful natural garden in Spring (August and September)
Map
Rough Climate Guide
Temperature (ºC) – Average lows and highs
Average Rainfall (inches) – This varies according to the year and location
Best Safari Time – Best ⬤ Mixed ⬤
Subject to climate change and beyond our control
Cape Town
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Temp ºC | 16/26 | 15/26 | 14/25 | 12/23 | 10/20 | 8/18 | 7/17 | 7/18 | 8/19 | 10/21 | 13/24 | 15/25 |
| Rain fall | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 2.8 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.7 |
| Safari |
Kruger Park
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Temp ºC | 15/26 | 14/25 | 13/24 | 11/22 | 8/19 | 5/16 | 9/22 | 12/24 | 13/25 | 12/24 | 13/25 | 14/25 |
| Rain fall | 5.1 | 3.9 | 3.7 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 4.2 |
| Safari |
GETTING THERE
- Most major international carriers fly into Johannesburg, some fly direct to Cape Town
- International & Domestic Airports such as; Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, P.E/Cquberha, East London, George, Nelspruit, Hoedspruit, Skukuza provide easy access domestically, regionally and Internationally.
- Charter flights
- Excellent road network – driving is on the right hand side of the road, a valid driver’s license written in English is required, International License is preferable
- High speed train, “Gautrain” to & from O R Tambo, Johannesburg International Airport to Sandton, Rosebank, Park Station, Braamfontein, Johannesburg and Pretoria
- Private taxis & Uber (Safety is all important, we advise you to be on your guard), suggest pre-arranging a private taxi or asking the concierge at your hotel to book a taxi / transfer for you.
(All Airline carriers, air flights & routings are subject to change).
OVERVIEW
Cape Town
Highlights:
- Iconic Table Mountain, one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the South Africa
- Robben Island, Nelson Mandela’s prison cell
- Scenic drive from V&A Waterfront, Seapoint, Bantry Bay, Camps Bay, Llandudno, Hout Bay, Chapmans Peak, Cape Point
- Sandy Beaches dotted around the peninsula, Bantry Bay, Camps Bay, Hout Bay, Fish Hoek
- Cape Point and African Penguin Colony at Boulders Beach, Simonstown
- Winelands Tour of Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, known as the “Culinary Capital of South Africa” (a day trip out of Cape Town approximately 50 minutes – 1 hour).
- Savour a glass of Pinotage, a red blend unique to South Africa
- Scenic drive up Bain’s Kloof Pass. Robertson – the “Garden Town of the Boland”
- Hermanus, whale watching capital in season, June – November, wonderful wine farms (a day trip out of Cape Town approximately 90minutes)
- Colourful Cape Malay suburb of Bo Kaap in Cape Town
- Fishing villages of Hout Bay and Kalk Bay near Fish Hoek serve delicious fresh fish
- Botanical Gardens of Kirstenbosch
- V&A Waterfront, shopping mall, restaurants, luxurious hotels, yacht basin, boat rides and sunset cruises
- Paternoster, quaint little fishing village boasting the award winning “Wolfgat”, Restaurant of the year 2019 (approximately 2 hours drive up the west from Cape Town)
- Namaqualand’s semi-desert turns into a beautiful natural garden when thousands of different types of flowers bloom in Spring (a day / overnight trip out of Cape Town anything from 1 hour to 6h30)
Plettenberg Bay & Knysna on the Garden Route
Highlights:
- Long stretches of white sandy beaches in Plettenberg Bay and Wilderness
- Wine farms
- Gourmet Restaurants
- Cango Caves and ostrich farms of Oudtshoorn
- Stunning mountain passes, Swartberg, Montagu and Robertson
- Adventure, adrenalin rush sports
- Waterfront at Knysna and sunset cruise on the picturesque lagoon
- Savour the famous Oysters & fresh fish
- Big 5 non-malaria Game Reserves, Shamwari, Gorah Elephant, Addo Elephant National Park, Kwandwe, Lalibela, Kariega, Amakhala, Gondwana, Sanbona / Little Karoo. Here one can view not only the Big 5, but also the Great White Shark and Southern Right Whale from the nearby coastline in season (generally June – November).
- The Tsitsikamma National Park is the largest marine reserve in South Africa and home to an indigenous rain forest that harbours 116 types of giant trees.
Private Game Reserves Surrounding The Kruger Park
Highlights:
- Finest game viewing in the world
- Widest diversity of wildlife in South Africa
- Up close Big 5 sighting all year round
- Game drives in open 4×4 vehicles, game ranger and tracker working together to find sightings (not all lodges have trackers)
- Walking safaris with armed ranger through Big 5 game territory (selected lodges only)
- Limited vehicles at wildlife sightings at any one time in private game reserve, no large crowds
- Wildlife roam freely, few fences
- Birders Paradise for those who enjoy ticking off some of the 520 recorded species
- Exclusive Use, conservation areas
- A variety of 5 star luxury accommodation, some with star beds, luxury treehouses, spas, private pools and Wi-FI.
- Sole use Private lodges with private vehicles on request and additional cost
- Family friendly lodges with specialised safari programmes for children
- Intimate, romantic lodges ideal for honeymooners and weddings
- Delicious food, wine and friendly staff
- Easily accessible via road or air. Self drive, private road transfer in air-conditioned vehicles, light aircraft flight or private plane.
- Number of airports close by, KMIA, Nelspruit, Skukuza, Kruger Park, Eastgate, Hoedspruit making it easy to connect with other destinations/ Johannesburg, Cape Town, Vic Falls, Durban, Mozambique.
Johannesburg (City of Gold) and Surrounding Private Game Reserves
Highlights:
- Apartheid Museum, follow in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela
- Soweto Tour (Soweto meaning South West Township)
- The Cradle of Humankind, World Heritage Site, one of the world’s most important fossil sites including the famous “Mrs Ples” and Little Foot
- Sandton City, shopping and gourmet restaurants
- Gold Reef City, experience going down a gold mine
- Sun City, golf, game drives into the Pilanesberg National Park, variety of entertainment for young and old, approximately 2h30 from Johannesburg.
- Pilanesberg National Park, approximately 2h30 drive from Johannesburg, see the Big 5 and enjoy family entertainment at Sun City, non-malaria
- Welgevonden Game Reserve, approximately 3 hour drive from Johannesburg, Big 5 Private Game Reserve with luxury game lodges, non-malaria
- Marakele Game Reserve, approximately 3h30 hour drive from Johannesburg, Big 5 Private Game Reserve, Marataba Luxury Game Lodges, game drive and walking safaris, non-malaria
- Madikwe Game Reserve, approximately 4 hour drive from Johannesburg, Big 5 Private Game Reserve with luxury game lodges, non malaria
Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal
Highlights:
- Sandy beaches of the Indian Ocean
- Gateway to Mkuze, Hluhluwe, Phinda, Mkuze Falls Big 5 Game Reserves
- St Lucia / iSimangaliso Wetland Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, miles of sandy beaches, coral reefs, deep sea diving, coastal dunes, reed and papyrus wetlands.
- St Lucia, leatherback turtles come out to hatch in season from 01 November
- Majestic Drakensberg Mountains and the famous Battlefields of Kwa-Zula Natal