South Africa has been my home since 2003 and this country truly is one of the most beautiful and varied countries on the planet. Every single day that I am here is a day where I am still in awe of all the natural beauty and colours: I feel alive! South Africa, home to mountain ranges, arid deserts, Africa’s most southern tip, wild swamps, endless beaches with the most beautiful sunsets, vast savannahs, but also major cities such as cosmopolitan Cape Town and Johannesburg. The country’s national parks provide visitors with some of the most rewarding game viewing and luxurious accommodation in Africa. South Africa is a country of enough contrasts and diversity to satisfy a continent.
This vast country offers perfect ingredients for a holiday of a lifetime with so many things to choose from: whether you are looking for a luxury honeymoon or an unforgettable family safari. From the Atlantic coast with the cooler waters of the Cape to Durban where you find the warm Indian Ocean, the thick bushveld of Limpopo Province to the dramatic and arid scenery of the Karoo and Kalahari, the excitement and colour of Cape Town to the sleepy and often surprisingly beautiful towns of the Garden Route. Indulge in the superb food and wine on offer in Cape Town and nearby winelands, hike through the Cedarberg mountains to ancient rock art sites, watch whales off the shore of Hermanus and watch dolphins at Plettenberg Bay. KwaZulu Natal boasts enough to fill an entire trip alone, with fascinating battlefields history, the dramatic Drakensberg Mountains and wonderful Zulu culture. Meanwhile, the world-famous national park’s and wildlife areas: Kruger, Madikwe, Kalahari and Eastern Cape, amongst many others, are home to mindblowing wildlife, including the ‘big five’. They boast superb game viewing opportunities alongside some of the most luxurious lodges in Africa.
Since this is my home, I have hand picked my favourite safari lodges, owner-run guesthouses and boutique hotels, ate at the most of the many restaurants where you will be enjoying a lunch or dinner, drove along the same roads you will, and tested out all the safari lodges.
Because South Africa is so big you have different climates in the country. The high season is the summer season in South Africa. That peaks between mid-December and the end of January; the period in which the South Africans go on holiday. It is during this season that the majority of tourists come to visit the country. The climate is mild and many festivities are on the program.
This is also the best time to explore Cape Town. But if you mainly want to spot elephants and other wildlife, then the dry winter in July and August is the best time to go. A timeline can be seen in the overview below. The greener the box with the month, the better it is to travel to a coastal town or city during that period!
