South Africa

Though the image of vast open African plains scattered with baobab and fever trees fits the north of South Africa, the rest of the country offers a unique diversity of captivating landscapes.

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Overview

South Africa
The Rainbow Nation had “the world in one country” as its marketing byline for many years. Indeed it is a country like no other in Africa. The sheer beauty of the landscape, the unsurpassed flora and fauna and the diversity of its people and culture is bewitching. It’s no wonder that so many of our clients tell us that their South Africa safari been their ‘best trip ever’!

Though the image of vast open African plains scattered with baobab and fever trees fits the north of South Africa, the rest of the country offers a unique diversity of captivating landscapes.

South Africa has so much on offer to suit all tastes: from walking trails to culinary tours, history to scuba diving, active family holidays to romantic honeymoons.

Combine game-rich Kruger Park & its private game reserves with cosmopolitan Cape Town. Enjoy the soaring mountains & vineyards of the Winelands, the family-friendly Garden Route & malaria-free game reserves of the Eastern Cape or Madikwe. If you want to venture further afield, head to the wetlands & pristine Indian Ocean beaches of northern KwaZulu Natal, the majestic Drakensberg mountains or the vast Kalahari desert

This website has loads of sample South African holidays to give you ideas and a sense of price. But we focus on tailormade trips - tailored to suit your specific interests.

Why We Love It

  • Stunning diversity of landscapes
  • Some of the best national and private game reserves in Africa
  • Fantastic destination for lovers of good food and wine, especially in the Cape
  • Varied climate so that it is perfect holiday weather somewhere in South Africa at any time of the year.
  • Only country in Africa offering malaria-free game-viewing (perhaps for families with young children or honeymooners thinking of a family)
  • Marginal difference in time zones for Europeans ensuring little down-time at the start of your safari, and making a short week away a distinct possibility
  • South Africa’s cultural diversity makes for some thought-provoking cultural tours in both urban and rural areas

Where to go in South Africa

On The Map

When to visit South Africa

Summer in South Africa

Summer is a tale of two countries: Cape Town and the rest of the Western Cape have a hot, dry summer climate. Whereas the rest of the country shares the broad summer rainfall pattern of the other countries in Southern Africa. However this rain falls mainly as afternoon or evening thunder showers and is actually welcome. It's a great time to come unless your overwhelming interest is wildlife. As you can see, climate stats for South Africa are far too broad to be meaningful. All it does is demonstrate the variety of our weather. Rather than give a uniform story!
AVG HOURS OF SUNSHINE 6-11 hours varies by region
SEA TEMPERATURE 17 to 25 ℃
MAX TEMP 24-35 ℃ / 75-95 ℉
MIN TEMP 15-22 ℃ / 59-72℉
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Autumn

The summer rains start receding somewhere in March, just when the hot Mediterranean summer starts to fade as March comes to an end. April sees the start of a few showers in the Cape. But overall this is a great time to visit. Still warm sunny weather throughout most the country, without the scorching heat.
AVG HOURS OF SUNSHINE 7 to 9 hours
SEA TEMPERATURE 16 to 25 ℃ depending on region
MAX TEMP 21-29 ℃ / 70-84 ℉
MIN TEMP 8-15.5 ℃ / 46-60 ℉
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"Winter"

This is our dry season which is warm, dry and sunny throughout much of the country. Though mornings can be very cold on the Highveld (Johannesburg and the Karoo) It is the best time to visit for a safari as you will learn elsewhere in this website. The Western Cape has a cooler wetter winter but it is a Mediterranean climate so not too much rain and pleasant tempertaures. So again a good time to visit unless you are wanting beach weather in the Cape!
AVG HOURS OF SUNSHINE 6 to 9 hours
SEA TEMPERATURE 15 to 23 ℃
MAX TEMP 18-26 ℃ / 64-77 ℉
MIN TEMP 2-11 ℃ / 36-52 ℉
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Heating up

The tale of two climates continues... Again a great time to visit South Africa but for different reasons depending on the region. Spring is wonderful in the Cape with wild spring flowers from August onwards and flowering fynbos. In the rest of the country, this is not so much 'spring' as the end of the dry season. So the game-viewing is excellent and temperatures are heating up rapidly prior to the start of the Summer rains.
AVG HOURS OF SUNSHINE 6 to 10 hours
SEA TEMPERATURE 16.5-24 ℃
MAX TEMP 21-32 ℃ / 70-90 ℉
MIN TEMP 2-11 ℃ / 36-52 ℉
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Kate Bergh

AFRICAN TRAVEL SPECIALIST

Hi I'm Kate, I'm here to help you plan your ideal holiday experience GET IN TOUCH