An incredibly varied climate home to some of the planet’s most amazing wildlife awaits you in South Africa. Get ready to embark on an epic adventure.
Offering the finest scenery and wildlife beyond your imagination; it’s no wonder South Africa is known as ‘a world in one country’. A cumulation of desert climates, sweeping savannahs and tropical waters, your South African holiday will be an unforgettable experience. From watching the penguins waddle up the sands of Boulders Beach and riding the fantastic Rovos Rail to hearing a Zulu specialist guide reencounter the Zulu Wars at the famous Rorke’s Drift, the experiences are unforgettable.
Engage in Africa’s natural landscapes: take a trip along the stunning Mediterranean coastline and wander the charming Hout Bay fishing harbour. Follow our guides to the brilliant botanical gardens in Cape Town and see the distant backdrop of mountains behind rows of vines and orchards in the picturesque winelands. Of course, a visit to the Rainbow Nation wouldn’t be complete without a wine tasting – the Winelands are punctuated with award winning wineries after all.
A safari across the African plains is exactly what you’ll get on a South Africa tour. At Kruger National Park, ride in a 4x4 across sweeping savannahs and see an array of magnificent animals in their natural habitats. You might see a herd of antelope leap over crossing streams, meet the largest land animal on Earth - the African elephant - or spot lions cooling off in the shade? And the fun doesn’t stop there. From your hotel, relax by the pool and spot hippos poking their noses out of the river. (Keep your camera glued to your hand!) Did we mention embarking on a safari sunset? You've seen it in movies and documentaries, now it’s your turn to experience to for yourself.
Find your perfect tour
Holiday search form
We've found you 4 holidays in South Africa
Selecting filter and sort by options will automatically reload the results displayed below.
Filters
Popular FAQs
The currency of the Republic of South Africa is the South African rand (ZAR). It's one of the most colourful currencies in the world. Coins come in three different colours red for 1-, 2-, and 5-cent coins; yellow for 10-, 20-, and 50-cents; and white for 1-, 2- and 5-rand coins.
The notes feature South African wild animals on the back 10-rand notes are green with a rhinoceros, 20-rand notes are brown with an elephant, 50-rand notes are red with a lion, 100-rand notes are blue with a cape buffalo and 200-rand notes are orange with a leopard.
Cape Town
Often called "the Fairest Cape" - and for good reason - this magical city is nestled between the flat-topped Table Mountain and the sea. With world-class food and an array of unique cultural experiences to enjoy as well as beautiful beaches and breathtaking natural scenery close by, you can enjoy the best of the city and the coast.
Johannesburg
Johannesburg is South Africa's largest city - a vibrant urban centre with trendy boutiques, a thriving music scene, bohemian art and an array of international cuisine.
Kruger National Park
An enormous national park - and one of the most popular in South Africa - the land is steeped in legend and history and home to a wide array of animals, including the "Big Five": Elephant, Lion, Rhino, Leopard and Buffalo. If you want to see incredible wildlife in their natural habitat, this is the place to be.
Winelands
Inland from Cape Town, you'll find the uplands. Thanks to the microclimates produced by the magnificent mountain ranges, the wine produced in the Winelands is world-renowned. This is the perfect place for foodies and wine enthusiasts who can explore the region through their stomachs, travelling from winery to winery and enjoying their fares.
Ride Rovos Rail
The Rovos Rail is a luxurious train that has been beautifully restored with wooden panels, giving it the spirit of a bygone age. It offers a unique way to experience the breathtaking scenery of South Africa and beyond, connecting some of the continent's most iconic destinations with a range of off-train excursions.
Whale watching in Hermanus
Surrounded by nature, Hermanus is stretched along a narrow stretch of land wedged on the shores of Walker Bay. A trip to Hermanus between June and December takes you to the whale-watching capital of the world as these magnificent creatures migrate every year from the cold waters of the Antarctic to breed and raise their calves. You may not even need to get into a boat when the whale bell rings you can easily spot the whales from the shore.
Visit the penguins of Boulder Beach
Protected from the wind and waves by ancient granite boulders, Boulder Beach is the perfect habitat for penguins. Known as jackass penguins because of their distinctive braying, here you see the colony of adorable penguins waddle up and down the beach, diving in and out of the water and hear their unique chatter for yourself.
Visit the Zulu War battlefields
The site of a crushing British defeat and an incredible win against all odds, Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift is the perfect place to discover more about South Africa's history through the eyes of the soldiers that fought and died here.
Go on a South African safari
The country boasts spectacular biodiversity but the jewels in its crown are undoubtedly the "Big Five": African lions, leopards, rhinoceros, elephants, and Cape buffalo. The best place for wildlife watching is Kruger National Park - home to some of Africa's most iconic species. Elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, rhino, buffalo, giraffe, hippo and zebra share the bushveld with 136 other mammals and more than 500 bird species.
Average temperatures in South Africa range from 15℃ to 36℃ in the summer and -2℃ to 26℃ in the winter. The country has a patchwork climate, including warm coastal subtropics, hot deserts, humid highlands, and snow-capped mountains. Generally speaking, the country experiences dry sunny winters with cold nights and hot summers with the chance of thunderstorms.
South African food is rich in meat - not just beef, but mutton, goat, chicken and more - and spices.
While German, French and British settlers left their mark on South African cuisine, the two main styles are Cape Dutch and Cape Malay. Cape Dutch was influenced by slaves brought over by the Dutch East India Company from areas like Bengal, Java and Malaysia - these dishes are typically Dutch, meat-based with spices like allspice and nutmeg. Cape Malay was influenced by slaves brought over to South Africa from Indonesia. You'll find popular dishes like bobotie (curried meat and fruit with a creamy golden topping), koeksisters (Afrikaner confectionery made of fried dough infused in syrup or honey), and sosaties (meat cooked on skewers).
Yes, tipping is commonplace in restaurants as people in the service industry rely heavily on tips to make ends meet. In restaurants and bars, 10-20% is standard, it's also standard practice to tip airport porters, R3 to R5 per piece of luggage, as well as tour guides and drivers.
Just under 80% of South Africans are Christian, while 5% are Jewish, Muslim, Hindu or other faiths and 15% have no religious affiliation.
