Known as the great ’rainbow’ nation, South Africa is one of the most geographically diverse countries on the African continent. This magnificent land has three major regions: the Coastal Belt running from Cape Town along the Garden Route up to Kwazulu Natal in the northeast; the stunning Drakensberg Mountains that stretch unbroken for over six hundred miles and the Central Plateau, covered by rolling grasslands known as ‘highveld’ starting east of Johannesburg and stretching to the Swaziland border.
This is a land of many experiences - from a traditional safari watching the ’big five’ in one of the world’s biggest national parks to relaxing on blue flag beaches or surfing at some of the world’s best super tubes. You can discover the unmatched tastes and ambience of exquisite wine routes or experience the architectural delights and hustle and bustle of some of the world’s most exciting cities. Here, you can watch whales doing acrobatics at the world’s whale watching capital, come up close and personal with the ’great whites’ or take part in any of the endless adventure sports on offer by air, sea or on land.
Our African safari specialists provide an unequalled choice and range of locations and accommodation, offering a diverse and all encompassing itinerary to ensure the perfect luxury South African safari!
- Cape Town - The ’Mother’ city, where old and new are married together in a seamless join of history, architecture, cultural pursuits and the warmth of its people. Set on a peninsula of soaring, rocky heights and lush green valleys, the city is dominated by the imperious Table Mountain overlooking the convergence of the Indian and Atlantic oceans. Cape Town is a city of immense natural beauty, firmly positioned on the international map, offering a plethora of sensations and experiences whatever your tastes and preferences might be...(read more)
- Winelands - The Winelands are a series of fertile wine producing valleys a short drive north of Cape Town. Unlike most of the world’s wine growing regions, the Winelands are not just about vines and wines, but also grand architecture and stunning mountain scenery. The towns of Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschoek are among the oldest in the country and their streets are lined with beautiful Cape Dutch and Georgian houses... (read more)
- Garden Route -The Garden Route follows the rugged coast between Mossel Bay in the east and Storms River in the west. It consists of a mosaic of sweeping lakes and wetlands, empty unspoilt beaches, amazing mountain passes, nature reserves, prehistoric caves and the country’s largest indigenous forest. With the warm waters of the Indian Ocean washing the bays, beaches and capes, the area provides endless activities including scenic walks, deep-sea fishing, water skiing, steam train rides, sailing, sunset cruises, bird watching, whale and dolphin spotting, golf and the chance to simply relax and enjoy the picturesque surroundings... (read more)
- Eastern Cape - The shoreline of this province extends from the Umtamvuna River in KwaZulu Natal, to the mouth of the Storms River on the scenic Garden Route, in the west, and stretching inland, to the north, bordering on Lesotho. The Eastern Cape offers endless miles of untouched and pristine coastline and some of the world’s best beaches and is widely heralded as one of the best sailing venues in the world. The Eastern Cape also boasts the most concentrated elephant reserve in Africa... (read more)
- KwaZulu Natal - KwaZulu Natal, is one of the smallest provinces in South Africa stretching from the southern borders of Swaziland and Mozambique to the Eastern Cape border in the South. Known for its scenic diversity, KwaZulu Natal is justly proud of its untamed wilderness, broad beaches, lush subtropical vegetation and the soaring peaks of the Drakensberg. The region is also home to the largest concentration of battlefields in South Africa, drawing visitors from all over the world....(read more)
- Kruger and Mpumalanga - Kruger National Park and the Mpumalanga Game Reserves offer one of the best wildlife experiences in Africa. Established in 1898 to protect the wildlife of the South African Lowveld, this is an area of nearly two million hectares of unrivalled diverse fauna and flora and is a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques. The southern portion of Kruger Park in Mpumalanga offers a combination of lush and verdant grasslands and dramatic woodland and is where most of the camps are situated, surrounded by large concentrations of game... (read more)
- Waterberg - The Waterberg has been described as South Africa’s best keep secret. Its rugged beauty, together with its diversity in plant and animal life, has led to the development of the Waterberg Nature Conservancy, an amalgamation of conservation areas covering more than 150,000 hectares. The lodges of the Waterberg are an ideal safari destination for visitors to South Africa who will be arriving or departing through Johannesburg, or spending some time at Sun City...(read more)
- Johannesburg and Pretoria - Johannesburg or the ’City of Gold’ is the pulsating heart of South Africa offering some truly superb hotels and fascinating tours such as visits to Soweto, the Mandela Museum, the diamond mines of Cullinan, the Cradle of Mankind and the Elephant Sanctuary in the Magaliesberg. Art and craft galleries abound and this is a very good place to buy diamonds. Pretoria is the country’s official defacto capital and is famous for its flowering jacaranda trees in springtime and historical landmarks...(read more)
WHEN TO GO
South Africa’s seasons are the reverse to Europe’s, with midwinter in June / July and midsummer in December / January. The highveld and interior has a temperate climate with sunshine all year - summers are hot and thundery and winters are dry, bright and cold. The Cape has a Mediterranean climate - summers are dry and warm to hot, while winters are wet, mild and changeable. KwaZulu Natal has a sub tropical climate with sunshine all year - summers are hot, thundery and humid while winters are mild.
- December to March - summer, great time for the beach, grape harvest in the Winelands, game viewing good but bush is lush and green with long grass, electric thunderstorms on highveld, humid at sea level on Natal coast, beautiful photographic light, migratory birds, incredible sunsets, peak season, essential to book early for flights and accommodation.
- April to August - autumn to winter, warm to cool days and cold nights, rain in the Cape, some very good low season rates from May, fewer tourists, best game viewing, whale season from June.
- September to November - spring, Namaqualand flower season ends in October, tourist season starts picking up, rains break at the end of October, whale season.
