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South Africa captivates with its beauty, warm people, and diverse experiences. From wine country weekends to wildlife safaris, the options are endless. The nation’s rich culture is filled with music and dance. With iconic wildlife and breathtaking landscapes, South Africa promises thrilling outdoor adventures, from the subtropical coast to the semi-desert of Karoo and the renowned Kruger National Park.
For those that have never been to Africa before, we would confidently recommend South Africa. It’s a country that does have it all. From a Big Five safari in the Kruger National Park, to the Cape Winelands region that produces some of the best wine on the planet.
All of our luxury South Africa trips are tailor-made and can be customized to suit you – our aim is to curate the perfect luxury safari for you, and with our friendly and knowledgeable specialists, we are confident we will.
When to go: Year Round
When to go: Year Round
What ever you want from your dream trip, our team of
experts are ready to help.
South Africa is such a diverse country, offering everything from white-sand beaches, exquisite food and wine tours, mountain and ample hiking opportunities, an energetic cosmopolitan city and much more. On top of that, South Africa is home to over 20 national parks and nature reserves. With such great access to many of these parks – via plane or road – it is very popular for a safari to be combined in a luxury South Africa tour.
One of the best things about safaris in South Africa is that they offer something for everyone. For families with children wanting a safari, the Eastern Cape Reserves are the perfect option, as they can be accessed by road (easily combined with Cape Town or the Garden Route), as well as offering a malaria-free safari.
Further north is the exceptional safari destination of the Kruger National Park.
The reserve itself can be explored at your own leisure with great sightings, but the private reserves and conservancies bordering the Kruger are the real jewel of South Africa’s safari crown. Reserves like Sabi Sands, Timbavati, Mala Mala and more offer more exclusive game-viewing, with reliable sightings of the Big Five, with an abundance of leopards.
Cape Town is a stunning destination with Table Mountain as the centerpiece, surrounded by the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. It offers diverse activities, from wine tours to kayaking with penguins, appealing to all interests. Relax on white sand beaches and savor the renowned local wine.
Cape Town
The Cape Winelands, an hour from Cape Town, features Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, and Paarl, known for award-winning wines. Settled by French Huguenots in 1688, Franschhoek boasts preserved charm, surrounded by mountains, top restaurants, and renowned wineries.
Cape Winelands
Kruger National Park, one of Africa’s largest game reserves, offers diverse landscapes and incredible wildlife. It’s a prime destination for spotting the Big Five and a must-visit for any safari enthusiast.
Kruger National Park
South Africa’s second-largest game reserve, Madikwe, offers a remote and wild safari experience on the border with Botswana. Malaria-free and lush, it’s known for the Big Five, Wild Dog, and Cheetah sightings. Ideal for families and couples with luxury lodges.
Madikwe Game Reserve
Easily accessible and malaria-free, the Eastern Cape Reserves are a 90-minute drive from Port Elizabeth Airport. While more commercial, they provide a great safari experience. Best visited from November to March, aligning with Cape Town’s peak season.
The Garden Route, along South Africa’s east coast, spans from Mossel Bay to Port Elizabeth. Pristine white sand beaches, Tsitsikamma National Park’s forests, and private game reserves near Port Elizabeth define this scenic route.
The Garden Route
South Africa offers diverse experiences year-round. However, the best time for safaris in Kruger National Park and other game reserves is during the dry, cooler winter months from May to September, when animals are more active and visible.
For more information on when to visit South Africa, please visit.
South Africa is home to so many diverse landscapes and destinations. Popular South Africa trips combine the cosmopolitan city of Cape Town, the mouth-watering towns of the Cape Winelands, and of course, an exhilarating safari. On top of that, South Africa’s mouth watering cuisine incorporates outside influences from all over world.
As one of the world’s top wildlife-watching destinations, a safari is a must for any visitor. Safaris in the Kruger National Park and bordering private reserves give you the opportunities to do morning and afternoon game drives, in open-sided safari jeeps. Of course, sundowners are an essential part of your daily safari!
South Africa may be best known for its Big Five, but it’s also one of the world’s best places to see whales. The town of Hermanus is known as the world’s whale watching capital. Southern Right whales can be viewed from the spectacular clifftops around Walker Bay.
The picturesque Cape Winelands, South Africa’s renowned wine region, is an hour’s drive from Cape Town. This is the country’s oldest wine route, featuring almost 150 wine farms along with historic Cape Dutch- style houses. Franschoek is the nation’s gastronomic capital, home to more than 50 outstanding wineries and countless eateries.
Cape Town offers a great contrast to a safari, a modern city with a great food and wine scene. There is also history, wildlife and beaches. The Garden Route is a beautiful area of coastline with long beaches, forests and rivers to explore. And, finally, many people will fly to Mozambique or Mauritius after their safari to enjoy the warm Indian Ocean and white sand beaches.
South Africa is one of the few countries in Africa that has malaria-free safaris, this is so important, especially for small children. These malaria-free reserves have lodges that are specially designed for families. They have special kids clubs, kids game drives and are fully fenced to keep the wildlife out of camp. Aside from safari, South Africa has great beaches, forest to explore and rivers to kayak. There is an endless list of outdoor activities for a family to enjoy.
Keep your personal belonging safe and be discreet with expensive items. At night, it is fine to walk around the Waterfront area of Cape Town as it is a busy restaurant and shopping area. Ubers are common throughout South Africa and easy to order. Your hotel will also help you to arrange transport. They are also so many guided days tours available; the tour leader will be local and ensure your safety. It’s also a great way to see the real South Africa. On safari, you will be completely safe but there are procedures to follow to ensure your safety. Your guide will run through all of these when you arrive on safari.
With South Africa’s long list of animals that most people rarely get to see in the wild. Going on a safari is one of the top things for visitors to do when visiting the country. Most of its parks and reserves offer the opportunity to watch the “Big Five,” elephant, leopard, lion, rhino and buffalo. There’s a good chance that you’ll see them all in one visit. Listening to the sounds of a lion’s roar, hearing the raspy call of the leopard, feeling the vibrations of thundering elephant herds. And enjoying relaxing evenings punctuated by the whooping of a hyena is something you won’t soon forget.
The country is home to many national parks and game reserves, all offering something unique. The lodges typically offer game drives that allow you to head out with an expert guide who knows to find the wildlife, even when the animals are well-concealed in undergrowth or grass. Bush walks are possible too, bringing the chance to focus on smaller animals and the little things that are often missed when tracking from a vehicle.
Image Credit: Baobab Ridge
The Cape Winelands is about an hour from Cape Town and includes the areas of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl. This area is the main wine growing region in Africa and produces wines that are multi award winning. The most famous of these areas is Franschhoek (translates to French Corner).
In the 1600s, Cape Town was just a small port run by the Dutch East India Company where ships docked to pick up fresh produce on their way to India. At the time, it was widely believed that wine had medicinal properties and could prevent scurvy. As a result, the Cape, having ideal soil and weather conditions, started to produce wine, with the first wine bottled in 1659. Later, in 1688, the Huguenots from France made their way to the Western Cape fleeing persecution in Europe. The French settlers brought with them their vines and wine making skills and many of those families are still growing grapes there today.
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