South Africa is beguiling in its variety. It’s confident, cosmopolitan Cape Town but it’s also big game viewing in Kruger National Park, the farmsteads and valleys of the Winelands, and the remote, wild Elephant Coast. Our South Africa specialists have thoroughly explored this land of contrasts, from the north to the Cape Peninsula, and can recommend the best South African experiences for you.
On your vacation to South Africa, you could learn about the country’s colonial past in the battlefields of KwaZulu-Natal, or focus on its more recent history with a visit to Robben Island. Take a relaxed road trip along the Garden Route, enjoying views over the wave-lashed coast. Or go on a Big Five safari in the Eastern Cape. Meanwhile, rail journeys traversing South Africa’s mountain ranges, grasslands, and semi-arid Karoo Desert allow you to see the country’s untouched, far-flung areas.
Suggested tours for South Africa
Explore Cape Town on a guided walk, spot whales off Plettenberg Bay, and take guided game drives on a Kruger safari. Our range of suggested itineraries is a great starting point as you begin to plan your trip to South Africa.
Suggested activities for South Africa
Hike up Table Mountain with a guide, explore the wilderness of the Cape Peninsula, and ride a historic tram through the wine estates surrounding Franschhoek. Whatever your interests, our specialists will suggest experiences designed to enhance your trip to South Africa.
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A journey aboard The Blue Train A journey aboard The Blue Train
Cape TownA journey aboard The Blue Train
Travel between Pretoria and Cape Town aboard the Blue Train to experience one of South Africa鈥檚 finest rail journeys. You鈥檒l pass through mountains, farmland, and vineyards, pausing to explore old diamond-mining towns en route.
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Cape Town city tour Cape Town city tour
Cape TownCape Town city tour
Take a guided tour of the 鈥淢other City鈥. You鈥檒l visit the Castle of Good Hope, the Parliament Buildings, and the brightly painted Bo-Kaap district for a grounding in the city鈥檚 history and culture, as well as riding the rotating cable car up to Table Mountain鈥檚 summit.
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Peninsula Tour Peninsula Tour
Cape TownPeninsula Tour
The Cape Peninsula is an area of dramatic natural beauty and huge ecological significance, which manages to retain a wild feel despite its huge popularity with visitors. As you drive south from Cape Town, you pass through the exclusive suburbs of Camps Bay and Clifton before continuing onto Hout Bay and through Constantia, where the road meanders behind Table Mountain and down onto the coast.
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More choice for your safari
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Best time to visit
Our specialists advise on the best months to visit South Africa, including information about climate, events and festivals.
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Useful information for planning your vacation in South Africa
South Africa has 11 official languages: Afrikaans, English, Sepedi, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, and Zulu. Most South Africans speak English, and signs, including road signs, are written in English and Afrikaans.
South Africa’s currency is the rand (R or ZAR).
For the latest travel advice for South Africa, including entry requirements, health information, and the safety and security situation, please refer to the .
You’ll find African, Indian, Malaysian, and European influences in South Africa’s cuisine. On a guided food tour of Cape Town you might try Indian bunny chow (curry served in a hollowed-out bread loaf), South African pap, and Dutch koeksisters (honey-infused pastries).
In safari camps and lodges, food and drink is included in your stay and tends to be a mix of international fare and local dishes. Your specialist can let your camp or lodge know of any special dietary requirements in advance.
South Africa is also renowned for its wine, and there are many vineyards you can visit, particularly in the Cape Winelands, where there’s also a big farm-to-table ethos. We can arrange for you to explore with a wine expert who’ll help choose the best food-and-wine pairings for your palate.
South Africa is a large and varied country with lots to see and do, including a safari in Kruger National Park to spot the Big Five and more. You could also explore Cape Town’s history, culture, and food on privately guided tours, hike or ride a cable car to the top of Table Mountain, and visit Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned.
Elsewhere, you can go wine tasting in the Cape Winelands with a wine master, or see ancient San rock art in the Cederberg Mountains. You could also enjoy a road trip along the Garden Route to see African penguins and whales off the coast. Our specialists have explored South Africa thoroughly and can mix and match the aspects of the country you’d most like to experience. Read our South Africa highlights guide for more ideas.
Kruger National Park is South Africa’s best safari destination, home to all of the Big Five species and much more — we recommend staying in a private reserve within the Greater Kruger area, like Sabi Sands, where you’ll enjoy a more intimate experience.
Cape Town sits between the coast and Table Mountain and offers plenty to see and do for a wide range of interests, or you could visit Johannesburg to experience a different side to South African city life and learn about its apartheid history. You can hop between vineyards in the Cape Winelands, sampling wines as you go. And, along the Garden Route, you can visit small coastal towns like Plettenberg Bay and Knysna.
Our specialists will draw on their own travels to plan a trip that includes the best places to go in South Africa matched to the experiences you want to have.
There are a wide range of hotels, guesthouses, camps, and lodges across South Africa, so where you stay depends on your preferences and budget. You’ll find luxurious hotels in the cities, intimate, locally owned guesthouses in coastal towns and more rural areas, and, in safari areas, a mix of tented camps and solid-structure lodges, often with pools and private decks. Our specialists visit each option to hand-pick the very best on offer, and can help you choose which is right for you from our collection.
Yes, South Africa is a fantastic safari destination, particularly Kruger National Park and the private reserves that border it. Here, on game drives, you’re likely to see a wide variety of wildlife, including at least some of the Big Five species (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, buffalo), cheetah, wild dog, giraffe, hyena, zebra, and many bird species. Your experienced guides can also take you out on walking safaris, where you might track rhino on foot and learn to identify smaller, lesser-known species. You can find out more by reading our guide to experiencing a South Africa safari.
It takes around 20 hours to fly directly from New York to Cape Town. Flights from the west coast to South Africa take between 22 and 39 hours, including a layover.
South Africa’s time zone is UTC+2.
South Africa is best explored by road. There are also several luxurious, scenic train journeys that we can build into your route. Internal flights are also an easy way to visit remote areas or combine South Africa with another destination. If you choose to travel by road, we’ll make the arrangements for you to drive yourself or travel with a private driver-guide. Our specialists have tried and tested routes across South Africa to find out the best ways to get around and can plan all the logistics of your trip.
Use our travel tool to find up-to-date visa and passport requirements for South Africa. Enter where you’re traveling to and from (including any stopover destinations en route or flight layovers), along with your intended travel dates and passport details, for a full list of requirements.
We suggest asking your doctor for up-to-date vaccination advice for South Africa, and it’s a good idea to be up to date with the recommended vaccinations for your home country. Another place to check the recommended vaccinations is the .
South Africa in pictures
Our expert guides to traveling in South Africa
Written by our specialists from the viewpoint of their own travels, these guides will help you decide on the shape of your own trip to South Africa. Aiming to inspire and inform, we share our recommendations for how to appreciate South Africa at its best.
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South Africa safaris: our guide to the parks & reserves South Africa safaris: our guide to the parks & reserves
South Africa safaris: our guide to the parks & reserves
Home to a star-studded cast of wildlife and some of the best parks and reserves across the continent, South Africa is the ideal destination for first-time and more experienced safari-goers alike. Specialist Chris reveals what you can do and see there.
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What to do in South Africa: our highlights What to do in South Africa: our highlights
What to do in South Africa: our highlights
From the vibrant capital city, Cape Town, to the world-famous Kruger National Park, home of the Big Five, South Africa is a land of exciting contrasts. Our specialists can help plan your ideal first visit to this African giant.
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Luxury vacations in South Africa Luxury vacations in South Africa
Luxury vacations in South Africa
South Africa can pull out all the stops for a luxury trip, and a safari鈥檚 just the start. Here, country specialist Tom shares ways to elevate your trip to the rainbow nation, from Cape Town comforts to wine tasting.
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Safaris in South Africa鈥檚 Greater Kruger Area Safaris in South Africa鈥檚 Greater Kruger Area
Safaris in South Africa鈥檚 Greater Kruger Area
Whether you鈥檙e on a self-drive safari in Kruger National Park or enjoying guided activities in a private reserve, South Africa鈥檚 Greater Kruger offers some of the densest wildlife populations on the continent. Safari specialist Andrew outlines your options for a Kruger safari.
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