Holidays in South Africa

Turning a corner in South Africa is like putting your hand in its magic hat and drawing a different landscape each time. Its diversity is astounding; a wealth of wild game reserves dot the country, cosmopolitan cities straddle epic wildernesses and rugged peaks disappear into rolling ocean waves.

When it comes to wildlife experiences, few combine a luxury holiday with the raw wilderness as seamlessly as South Africa. Game reserves like Sabi Sands and Madikwe serve up pristine swathes of riverine bushveld and savannah witnessed from majestic lodges, each faithfully built to blend in with the landscape. Here, the ‘Big Five’ can roam just feet from your bedroom and guide-led safari drives take you deep into the classic African surrounds.

South Africa’s charm extends beyond the savannah, though. The Cape Province is full of treasures, including the flat-topped icon of Table Mountain lording over Cape Town, sprawling Winelands, the whale-rich waters of Hermanus and the leafy Garden Route – arguably one of the planet’s greatest drives. Even the east of the country holds major drawcards in the form of the cosmopolitan cities of Johannesburg and Durban. Wherever you turn, South Africa is full of delightfully unique wonders.

South Africa is like many different destinations in one country, cosmopolitan cities, wildlife-filled game reserves and sun-soaked vineyards. There are so many options when it comes to stay in South Africa, including a charming boutique hotel in Cape Town, a Cape Dutch farm estate in the Winelands or one of the many luxury out-of-this-world safari lodges, which put you right in the heart of some of Africa's finest wildernesses.

South Africa’s sheer size means its various regions all experience different weather patterns.

The Western Cape, which includes Cape Town, the Winelands and the Garden Route, enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate year-round. The summer, between October and April, is warm and dry with maximum temperatures of 26°C in January and February. It’s prime whale-watching season between September and November, so head to Hermanus then for sightings of southern right whales. Cape Town receives most of its rain from June-August, but in comparison to the UK it’s a mild winter with temperatures averaging around 18°C.
If you’re looking to visit South Africa’s game reserves and national parks, May to November is the best time to go on a safari holiday, whether it’s Kruger National Park or Madikwe and Sabi Sands game reserves. Even though this is technically South Africa’s winter, the days are crisp, dry and sunny (daily temperatures average around 23°C). It’s an ideal time for game viewing, with the sparse vegetation making it easier to spot animals that are drawn to the watering holes.

In the east of the country, Johannesburg can be visited year-round. Coming to the end of winter (May-November), the city’s jacaranda trees are in bloom (October-November), but night-time temperatures can be close to freezing. On the coast, Durban’s Indian Ocean location makes for warm temperatures year-round.