South Africa

Wild places, vibrant cities

Why visit South Africa?

South Africa occupies the southernmost reach of the continent, and its landscapes span an astonishing range: savannah and snow dusted mountains, forests and tropical wetlands, endless beaches, tranquil rivers and lakes, sun baked semi desert and energetic urban centres.

Wildlife is abundant, from the famous Big Five to superb birding and eco tourism, yet the real heart of this vibrant country is its diverse cultural heritage, celebrated in a colourful flag and the nickname of the Rainbow Nation.

That sheer variety of scenery, people, history and culture adds up to a larger than life experience for the traveller in search of a truly unique and inspiring voyage.

Enquire about South Africa

Capital City

Pretoria, Cape Town and Bloemfontein

Currency

South African Rand

Official Languages

English, Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu and Afrikaans

International Airport

Cape Town International Airport (Cape Town), O.R. Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg), King Shaka International Airport (Durban)

Climate

Two oceans give South Africa two distinct climate zones, and its Southern Hemisphere seasons run opposite to Europe and North America.

The west, including Cape Town, sits under the Atlantic and has a Mediterranean climate of warm dry summers and cool rainy winters
The east, including Johannesburg, the Kruger and Pilanesberg, sits under the Indian Ocean and is subtropical, with hot rainy summers and dry cool winters
Autumn runs from March to May, winter from June to August, spring from September to November and summer from December to February

Where to go

Explore South Africa

Kruger National Park

South Africa's largest national park and the home of the iconic safari experience, sheltering the Big Five along with hundreds of other mammal and bird species.

Garden Route

A 200 kilometre ribbon of coastline connecting Mossel Bay in the west to the Storms River in the east, dotted with ever changing landscapes and experiences as it passes mountains and forests, hiking trails, lakes and lagoons, and picture perfect seaside towns.

Western Cape

Cape Town, spread beneath the backdrop of Table Mountain, is regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Its rich history and culture show in the painted houses of the Bo Kaap and across the stately buildings of the city centre; art lovers can visit the largest museum of contemporary African art anywhere, and some of the country's finest restaurants wait in the city and the surrounding winelands.

Madikwe and Pilanesberg

Two easily accessible conservation areas in the North West province near Johannesburg. Beautiful Pilanesberg holds South Africa's highest concentration of wildlife and is one of the most popular reserves for locals and visitors alike, while Madikwe, on the Botswana border, offers a more private safari experience. Both are malaria free, rich in game and home to the famous Big Five.