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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 holiday 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.
South Africa in pictures
South Africa is one of the continent’s most varied countries, and choosing which places to visit on your trip can be daunting. There are the cities to consider: unmistakable Cape Town, overlooked by its constant companion Table Mountain; and up-and-coming Johannesburg, which has become a hotspot for art galleries and bohemian markets. Big Five safari destinations include Kruger, one of Africa’s oldest and largest national parks, while further days can be spent exploring the history of the Battlefields, chinking glasses in the Winelands or strolling the wild shores of Plettenberg Bay.
Our South Africa specialists can help you decide on the best places to go according to your interests.
Popular places to visit in South Africa
Featuring heavily on our itinerary ideas for visiting South Africa, these places are destinations that we know prove consistently popular with our travellers. How you choose to include them in your trip can be tailored into a route that best suits your preferences.
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Cape Town
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Durban
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Hermanus
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Johannesburg
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Knysna
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Kruger National Park
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Plettenberg Bay
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The Winelands
South Africa is renowned for its excellent safaris, and one of the best places to spot wildlife is Kruger National Park. The country offers far more than wildlife viewing, however, and visitors are spoilt for choice when it comes to things to see and do.
A trip up Table Mountain in Cape Town offers superb views, while in the Winelands you can sample some of the country’s finest vintages on a tour of a wine estate. Another highlight is a boat trip to the historic and poignant Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent most of his time as a prisoner.
Ideas for experiencing South Africa
Experiences you have as you travel often hold the longest memories. As part of their research trips, our specialists seek out authentic ways to get to know South Africa, and the best local guides. These activities reflect some of their best-loved experiences.
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A journey aboard the blue train 
A journey aboard the blue train
Cape TownA journey aboard the blue train
Take in the 1,600 km (994 mile) route between Pretoria and Cape Town with two nights aboard The Blue Train. Over 31 hours, you pass through mountainous landscapes, sprawling farmland and vine-woven valleys. And, with a live camera feeding TVs in the club car and your suite, you can watch the journey’s scenery unfold in real time.
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Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens 
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
Cape TownKirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens occupy a large swathe of beautiful land on the lower slopes of Table Mountain. They house a huge collection of indigenous flora, such as heathery fynbos, flowering proteas (the South African national flower), and dramatically coloured strelitzias. The upper areas of the gardens run unfenced into the slopes of the mountain and there are various pathways that meander through the woods and bushes.
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Wine Tour 
Wine Tour
Cape TownWine Tour
During the day you will visit different wine estates ranging from the larger well known to the small personal family run cellars, often sharing a glass with the wine maker themselves and being taken first hand through the process.
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Table Mountain Tour 
Table Mountain Tour
Cape TownTable Mountain Tour
Guest are taken to the lower terminal for the cable-car up Table Mountain. The cable-car is a very modern affair, and completes a 360º rotation during the ascent, affording you fantastic views over the city. Once at the top, you can explore the various pathways and viewpoints: these do not just look over the city, but also down the peninsula toward Cape Point, and, if you walk far enough, north toward the Winelands.
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Cape Town City Tour 
Cape Town City Tour
Cape TownCape Town City Tour
No visit to Cape Town is complete without a tour of the "Mother City". Your tour will include visits to the Castle of Good Hope, the Parliament Buildings and Bo-Kaap, plus of course the iconic Table Mountain.
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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.
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Sani Pass & Lesotho Trip 
Sani Pass & Lesotho Trip
The South CoastSani Pass & Lesotho Trip
Driving through the pretty Midlands, you head for the town of Underberg, where the tar road runs out and the graded track begins. Lesotho is isolated from KwaZulu-Natal by the towering Drakensberg Mountains, and the Sani Pass is the only way through them. The road cuts cut the slopes, switching through tortuous hairpin bends and offering dizzying views of valleys far below.
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Ravos Rail 
Ravos Rail
Cape TownRavos Rail
The beautifully restored carriages of Rovos Rail combine luxury travel with the chance to experience living history.
Restaurant cars, observation carriages and sleeping compartments are all restored originals from a bygone era of rail travel, with dark woods and period fittings designed for pioneering travellers and colonial grandees.
The best time to visit South Africa is from May to September, as the cooler winter months in the northern regions bring superb conditions for viewing big game. It can be rainy from November to February, but this is the best time to travel for birding, and temperatures remain warm at 22°C-33°C.
However, South Africa is a year-round destination, with varying regional climates and wildlife opportunities.
The Cape has beautiful, hot, dry weather in its summer months (between November and February), with temperatures between 23°C and 26°C. The best time to visit the Cape for whale watching is between July and November.
South Africa Climate Guide
| Destination | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
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| Cape Town | 26°C28mm | 26°C28mm | 25°C35mm | 23°C83mm | 20°C134mm | 18°C153mm | 17°C143mm | 17°C134mm | 19°C81mm | 21°C61mm | 23°C37mm | 24°C33mm |
| Durban | 28°C124mm | 28°C113mm | 28°C125mm | 26°C71mm | 24°C56mm | 23°C30mm | 22°C31mm | 23°C46mm | 24°C64mm | 24°C95mm | 25°C110mm | 27°C110mm |
| Johannesburg | 26°C138mm | 25°C107mm | 25°C91mm | 22°C61mm | 20°C21mm | 17°C9mm | 17°C7mm | 20°C8mm | 23°C27mm | 25°C74mm | 25°C118mm | 25°C123mm |
| Knysna | 24°C69mm | 25°C61mm | 23°C71mm | 22°C75mm | 20°C72mm | 19°C64mm | 18°C65mm | 19°C87mm | 19°C75mm | 20°C85mm | 22°C72mm | 24°C64mm |
| Kruger National Park | 33°C103mm | 32°C106mm | 31°C67mm | 29°C35mm | 27°C15mm | 25°C11mm | 24°C10mm | 26°C8mm | 29°C21mm | 30°C33mm | 30°C77mm | 32°C92mm |
| Plettenberg Bay | 24°C73mm | 25°C66mm | 23°C74mm | 22°C77mm | 20°C75mm | 19°C68mm | 19°C69mm | 19°C97mm | 19°C79mm | 20°C90mm | 22°C77mm | 24°C66mm |
| Stellenbosch | 28°C17mm | 28°C27mm | 26°C28mm | 23°C74mm | 20°C118mm | 18°C128mm | 17°C112mm | 17°C114mm | 19°C62mm | 22°C54mm | 25°C35mm | 26°C20mm |
| The Battlefields | 27°C124mm | 27°C109mm | 26°C79mm | 24°C44mm | 22°C15mm | 19°C9mm | 19°C10mm | 22°C20mm | 24°C41mm | 25°C85mm | 26°C105mm | 27°C127mm |
| The Drakensberg | 24°C175mm | 23°C152mm | 22°C124mm | 19°C51mm | 17°C21mm | 15°C11mm | 15°C12mm | 17°C29mm | 20°C50mm | 21°C90mm | 21°C123mm | 23°C156mm |
| The Kalahari | 33°C47mm | 32°C55mm | 29°C63mm | 26°C30mm | 22°C14mm | 19°C5mm | 19°C2mm | 22°C4mm | 26°C7mm | 29°C16mm | 31°C30mm | 32°C38mm |
Month-by-month guide to travelling in South Africa
Visiting South Africa in January
January sees hot and dry weather in the Cape, making it an excellent time of year for trips to Cape Town and the Garden Route. The Kruger and KwaZulu Natal also have high temperatures, but sunny periods are interspersed with tropical rainstorms.
Events & Festivals
- The Battlefields in KwaZulu-Natal (January): The battlefields are popular in January as it's the anniversaries of the Battle of Isandlwana and the Battle of Rorke's Drift
Visiting South Africa in February
February is one of the hottest months in the Cape, although coastal towns are cooled by pleasant sea breezes. It is a very popular month and hotels get booked up well in advance.
Visiting South Africa in March
March is a popular time to visit South Africa; particularly if the Easter break falls within this month. The weather is warm, and although there may still be some rainfall in the north, it is easing off. On safari in Kruger the bush will be thick and rivers full as this is the end of the rainy season.
Visiting South Africa in April
April is also busy, but gets quieter toward the end of the month. The weather is warm and dry throughout the country, making it a prime time to combine regions.
Visiting South Africa in May
By the time May comes around the peak summer crowds have died down, but it is still a lovely time of year to visit the country if you are not seeking particularly hot weather. The weather is warm and dry across the regions, although with chilly evenings, and safari is often superb.
Visiting South Africa in June
Midwinter in the Cape sees cooler temperatures and roaring fires in the Winelands, and although it's never really cold during the days, the tops of the mountains do occasionally see a dusting of snow. When the sun comes out, the weather is usually beautifully mild.
Visiting South Africa in July
July is the start of the whale watching season along the coast of the Western Cape; southern right whales can be best viewed from Hermanus and Plettenberg Bay as they come close to the shores to give birth. The weather can be cool and drizzly in the Cape. Warmer and drier temperatures are in the north and east of the country and this is a superb time for game viewing as animals congregate around water holes.
Events & Festivals
- Whale watching season (July to November): This is the best time to see southern right whales off the coast after their migration from Antarctica to the warm waters off South Africa, where they will have their young.
Visiting South Africa in August
August is the start of spring and flowers start to bloom across the Western and Northern Cape. Namaqualand in the Northern Cape becomes carpeted in colourful flowers and people travel from near and far to see them. The Cape is chilly at this time and early August sees the cable car for Table Mountain closed for annual maintenance. KwaZulu-Natal is the best region to visit in August, offering warm temperatures and plenty to see and do.
Events & Festivals
- Whale watching season (July to November): This is the best time to see southern right whales off the coast after their migration from Antarctica to the warm waters off South Africa, where they will have their young.
- Wild flowers on the West Coast (August to October): During spring, the dry and dusty landscape is transformed as a carpet of colourful wild flowers spreads across South Africa's west coast, creating stunning scenery
Visiting South Africa in September
In September the beautiful wildflowers on the West Coast are often in full bloom and temperatures start to rise throughout the country; although early mornings and evenings are chilly. This is a good time to combine regions throughout the country. The animals are out in full force, with many giving birth this month in the bush and whales often spotted along the coast.
Events & Festivals
- Whale watching season (July to November): This is the best time to see southern right whales off the coast after their migration from Antarctica to the warm waters off South Africa, where they will have their young.
- Wild flowers on the West Coast (August to October): During spring, the dry and dusty landscape is transformed as a carpet of colourful wild flowers spreads across South Africa's west coast, creating stunning scenery
Visiting South Africa in October
October is a beautiful month — temperatures start to heat up throughout the country but the rains are yet to come in the north. Flowers can still be found in bloom until the end of spring. This is one of the best months to combine regions.
Events & Festivals
- Whale watching season (July to November): This is the best time to see southern right whales off the coast after their migration from Antarctica to the warm waters off South Africa, where they will have their young.
- Wild flowers on the West Coast (August to October): During spring, the dry and dusty landscape is transformed as a carpet of colourful wild flowers spreads across South Africa's west coast, creating stunning scenery
Visiting South Africa in November
It heats up across the country and the rains start in the Kruger and KwaZulu-Natal. Late afternoon thunderstorms clear the air and can be spectacular. The Cape sees the last month of the whale season and this is a great time to visit inland areas such as the Karoo before the temperatures soar.
Events & Festivals
- Whale watching season (July to November): This is the best time to see southern right whales off the coast after their migration from Antarctica to the warm waters off South Africa, where they will have their young.
Visiting South Africa in December
The festive season is extremely busy in South Africa and gets filled up quickly. Restaurants and excursions need to be booked well in advance. The Cape is dry and hot and the north and KwaZulu-Natal can experience some rain. Early December is great for travel as it is still quiet before the rush of school holidays.
