Why Visit South Africa?
Most trips start in Cape Town, and for good reason. From one base you can walk up Table Mountain, drive the Cape Peninsula to see the penguins at Boulders Beach, and spend a day eating and drinking in Stellenbosch or Franschhoek. Add a few days on safari in Kruger National Park and you have one of the most varied two-week trips anywhere.
Where to Go
- Cape Town: Table Mountain, the V&A Waterfront, the colourful houses of Bo-Kaap and the beaches at Camps Bay and Muizenberg. Robben Island trips leave from the Waterfront.
- The Cape Winelands: Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl are all within about an hour’s drive of Cape Town. Book tastings and lunches ahead in summer.
- The Garden Route: The coastal drive east from Mossel Bay through Knysna and Plettenberg Bay to the Tsitsikamma forest. Best done slowly over three or four days.
- Kruger National Park: South Africa’s largest national park, in the northeast. You can self-drive the main rest camps or stay at a private lodge in the neighbouring reserves for guided game drives.
- KwaZulu-Natal: Durban’s warm Indian Ocean beaches and the Drakensberg mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with San rock art.
Best Time to Visit
- Summer (November–March): Cape Town’s dry, hot season and its busiest. Long beach days, but the wind (the “Cape Doctor”) can be strong.
- Autumn (April–May): My pick for a combined trip. Settled weather in the Cape, fewer crowds, and the start of the dry season in Kruger.
- Winter (June–August): Rainy and cool in Cape Town, but the best game viewing in Kruger: the bush thins out and animals gather at water. Whales arrive along the coast near Hermanus from around June.
- Spring (September–October): Whale season at its best in Hermanus, West Coast wildflowers into September, and still good safari conditions.
Travel Tips
- The currency is the South African rand (ZAR). Cards are accepted almost everywhere; carry small notes for tips.
- Tip 10–15% in restaurants. Petrol stations are full service, so give the attendant a small tip, and the same for car guards who watch your parked car.
- Plugs are mainly type M (three large round pins), at 230V. Pack an adapter for type M; some newer buildings also have type N sockets.
- South Africans drive on the left. A hire car is the easiest way to see the Winelands and the Garden Route.
- In cities, use Uber or a taxi your hotel books at night rather than walking.
- The Table Mountain cableway shuts in high wind. Go up on the first clear, calm day rather than saving it for later.