South Africa, known as The Rainbow Nation, is a country that boasts a mixture of attractions to suit every kind of holidaymaker – from those seeking family fun and lovers of the great outdoors, to beach bunnies, foodies, thrill seekers and lovers of culture. From bustling cities like Cape Town and Durban, to splendid game reserves, mountain retreats and picturesque coastline, it’s the perfect place to explore. South Africa has close to 600 national parks and reserves, collectively boasting spectacular scenery, impressive flora and fauna, excellent holiday vacation facilities and affordable prices.

The Cities

South Africa boasts a number of highly-modern yet quintessentially African cities, where skyscrapers, boutiques, and 5-star hotels co-exist harmoniously with vibrant African markets and crowded settlements. Iconic Cape Town knew its first inhabitants as early as 100,000 BC. Today, it is a cosmopolitan city of awe-inspiring beauty encompassing the Table Mountain National Park, a Natural World Heritage site.

The Safari Parks and Attractions

South Africa boasts several National Parks, with the largest being Kruger National Park in the Northern Province and Mpumalanga. Major tourist attractions include Table Mountain and the cable way, Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, Oudshoorn (Cango Caves, Cango Crocodile Ranch, Highgate and Safari Ostrich Farm), Karoo National Park, Sea World, Howick Falls, Drakensberg, Umfolozi Game Reserve, Natal National Botanical Gardens, St. Lucia Game Reserve, Pilgrim’s Rest, Gold Reef City, Pretoria National Botanical Gardens, Warmbaths, Sun City, Lost City, and Pilanesberg National Park.

Table Mountain has always exerted a powerful and charismatic pull, enchanting all who fall under its spell. For many centuries only a handful of enterprising people could say that they had climbed it until the cable way put the summit within everyone’s reach in 1929. Since then, over 16 million people have taken the trip to the top. The Table Mountain cable way has since become a landmark in Cape Town, and has carried some of Cape Town’s most illustrious visitors, including Queen Elizabeth II, Oprah Winfrey, and Sting.

South Africa is one of the safari destinations with some of the most spectacular wildlife sanctuaries. Besides wildlife, this destination has an excellent holiday climate through out the year, ideal for visiting its vibrant cities and vast landscapes.

Many visitors come to South Africa to see the Kruger National park, the Garden Route and the vibrant cities and towns in the Cape. Many more are attracted by the diverse scenery and the battlefields of Kwazulu Natal and the culture of the people of Gauteng province.

Best time to Visit South Africa

Being in the southern hemisphere, the seasons in South Africa are the opposite of that in the northern hemisphere.

Summer holidays are in December and January
Autumn is in May and June when it is warm during the days and cool at night.
From July till end of September, it is wet and cold in most of the country.

South Africa Holiday Highlights

While in Cape, visit the iconic table mountain, the Cape Town itself and Robben Island. Include the wine lands with over 200 cellars.

Visit some of South Africa’s premier game reserves, including Kruger National. Note that the reserves in the Eastern cape are malaria free.

Take the inspiration Garden route, enjoying the majestic mountains, lush forest, wild flowers, pristine beaches and hospitable villages along the way. Include KwaZulu natal for poignant history and magnificent landscapes.

South Africa Tailor Made Trips

To find your ideal South Africa holiday, call one of our specialist advisors who can help tailor make it to your exact specifications. Browse our online portfolio or order our Africa brochure and see what you can create.

You could:

• Combine a Kruger safari with a stay on the sugar soft beaches Mauritius.
• Explore bustling Cape Town before moving onto exotic Dubai.
• Try a stay in South Africa with a hope across the border into Namibia for a truly African experience.

Why not try a tour from the breathtaking Victoria Falls to the phenomenal Kruger National Park, or perhaps try a self-drive holiday through the beautiful Cape vineyards – a tailor made tour allows you to put together all the ingredients you want to include.