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South Africa
Often referred to as a world in one country, South Africa is a hugely diverse land, in both its scenery and its culture. Holiday options here are equally diverse - enjoy an intense South African safari in Kruger National Park, a relaxing beach holiday on one of South Africa's many beautiful beaches, or maybe a city break in Cape Town. The Garden Route and Winelands regions offer a number of beautiful country retreats, while the Cedarberg and the Drakensberg ranges are a paradise for keen hikers.
South Africa is certainly a wonderful destination for a safari. There are more than 300 game and nature reserves in South Africa, set out amongst a wide range of habitats, ranging from the game-rich acacia savannahs of the Kruger National Park to the red rolling sand dunes of the vast Kalahari Gemsbok Park. Bordering Kruger is Mpumalanga, home to many of the countries finest game reserves such as Sabi Sands, Timbavati, Thornybush and Londolozi.
Some of South Africa's reserves are malaria free, making them suitable for a family safari. Choose from Madikwe Game Reserve, easily accessible from Johannesburg, or the reserves of the Eastern Cape such as Kariega, Lalibela, Shamwari and Kwandwe. These reserves are a perfect add-on to the Garden Route and can easily be included in a self drive itinerary. All of these parks and reserves offer an excellent South African safari experience with top class wildlife viewing in a range of accommodations suitable for every budget.
A few days in Cape Town, with its fantastic location surrounded by beautiful beaches, is a must. There is much to see and take in here. Take the cable car to the top of Table Mountain and enjoy the incredible views from the top. On the slopes of Table Mountain are the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens with a wide array of indigenous flora, trees, birds and small mammals. To the south is the rugged beauty of the Cape Peninsula and Cape Point, and in the Bay you can visit Robben Island, now a World Heritage Site.
Cape Town boasts a wonderful relaxed atmosphere and a variety of good restaurants. Seafood is a speciality. From here you can also visit the fertile Winelands and a number of historic towns such as Paarl, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch where you may spend a night or two enjoying gourmet food and some of the world’s best wines.
A self drive or guided tour from Cape Town along the Garden Route is particularly rewarding. Here you will find an idyllic coastline with a mosaic of lakes, lagoons and wooded valleys. Diced by river gorges and locked between the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma mountain ranges, this is one of Africa’s most beautiful spots. Your first stop might be Hermanus which in July to December is great for whale-watching, followed by some time at Wilderness National Park to enjoy its lakes, rivers and fens, before travelling on to Knysna to see the mighty yellowwoods of Knysna Forest and the beautiful Knysna lagoon with its prolific birdlife. Further on, Plettenberg Bay provides a wonderful location for a beach holiday, and finally the Garden Route coastline reaches the spectacular Tsitsikamma National Park with its forests, rivers and waterfalls. Perfect for walking and enjoy the flora and birdlife.
With a 3,000km coastline, South Africa offers excellent scuba diving and superb beaches. For the active there is trekking in the mountain regions of Drakensberg, Cedarberg and the Wild Coast. Whale watching by boat from July to December is another wonderful option. Botanists will thoroughly enjoy a drive along the Garden Route or even better a visit to Namaqualand when (during late August and early September) the hills and heath-lands burst in flower with vibrant oranges, purples and yellows.
All of these regions are easily explored by self drive or we can arrange a variety of tours from one to fourteen day explorations – ask us for details.
TRAVEL ADVICE
The climate changes dramatically across South Africa. The Cape area enjoys a Mediterranean climate and may be visited year round, but is hottest December-March.
Best game viewing throughout South Africa is from June to October.
Travel connections between South Africa and Tanznia or Kenya are easy.
quicklinks > request itinerary : regions
Regions in South Africa
Situated on the south-western tip of Africa, Cape Town is regarded as one of the most beautiful and diverse cities in the world, boasting a rich past, stunning location, and a host of city attractions.
The Eastern Cape is one of the most diverse regions of South Africa, geographically and culturally.
A scenic coastal region also known as the Cape Floral Kingdom.
Despite being the smallest province in South Africa, Gauteng is one of the most densely populated regions of South Africa with a number of major cities situated in the region.
South Africa's most well known and largest game reserve.
KwaZulu Natal is a major cultural hotspot on the east coast of South Africa.
A region north of the Swartberg mountains home to the largest Ostrich population in the world, as well as the well known route 62 tourist route.
Mpumalanga is one of South Africa’s most unique destinations. The region is divided in half by the Drakensberg Mountains, with expansive grasslands to the west and savannah to the east.
The North West province of South Africa is home to the Pilansberg National Park, Sun City and the Cradle of Mankind world heritage site.
The Northern Cape is the largest yet most sparsely populated region of South Africa, known for its desert, rocky coast, endless flatlands and rugged mountain ranges.
Generally regarded as the bread basket of South Africa, the Overberg's countryside is largely dominated by rich pastures, fruit orchards and huge wheatfields.
The famous towns of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl, the heart of the Winelands, are full of delightful vineyards and manor houses where you may spend a night or two exploring the region.
