Southern Africa

South Africa

Mountains above the ocean, vineyard valleys and the bush — all in one easy country to travel.

Photo: Brent Ninaber / Unsplash

In Cape Town a morning can begin with a hike up Table Mountain, continue with lunch beside the Atlantic and end with sunset over the bay. It's a city where nature is always close: penguins on Boulders Beach, the wind-blown Cape of Good Hope and the colourful houses of the Bo-Kaap beneath the mountain.

An hour from the city the vineyard valleys begin — Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl, where tastings take place in old Cape Dutch farmsteads ringed by mountains. Further east the Garden Route runs past lagoons, old forests and rocky headlands: one of Africa's most beautiful road journeys.

In the northeast, on the edge of Kruger National Park, the private reserves are another world entirely: open vehicles, skilled trackers and the chance to watch a leopard from just a few metres away. South Africa lets you combine city, wine, coast and safari in one journey — without long transfers.

Why go

01
The Cape Winelands
Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl — vineyards laid out beneath steep mountains, white Cape Dutch farmsteads and a food scene as much a draw as the wine. A lovely place for a few slow days after Cape Town.
02
The Garden Route
The coastal road between Mossel Bay and Tsitsikamma — lagoons, old forests, wild beaches and rocky headlands, best explored slowly, stopping wherever the view holds you.
03
Private reserves bordering Kruger
Reserves that share unfenced borders with Kruger National Park, renowned for leopard and for off-road driving that brings you closer to wildlife. Open-vehicle drives at dawn and dusk, with quiet afternoons at lodges by the river in between.
04
The whale coast
Hermanus's cliffs are among the best places in the world to watch whales from the shore. Southern right whales usually come into these bays in the southern winter and spring, roughly June to November, though their numbers and timing vary each year.

Ways to travel

Ways to experience it

Ways to travel aren't separate paths — the best journeys often bring several together.

Wildlife & nature
Safari in the private reserves near Kruger, penguins at Boulders Beach and whales in Walker Bay at Hermanus.
Exceptional stays & escapes
Design hotels in Cape Town, guesthouses among the vineyards and safari lodges beside the rivers.
Tailor-made journeys
A self-drive along the Garden Route at your own pace, joined up with domestic flights to the bush.
Honeymoons & special journeys
Evenings in the Winelands, sunsets over the Atlantic and private moments on safari — a journey where everything comes together.
Family journeys
Short distances, easy infrastructure and variety — from penguins to elephants — make it a wonderful family destination.
Adventure & active travel
Hiking on Table Mountain and the Cape Peninsula, coastal trails in Tsitsikamma and cycling between wine estates.

South Africa

Journey inspiration

Illustrative ideas for how a tailor-made journey could look. Not bookable packages: no prices, dates or inclusions are implied.

0110–14 days
Cape Town, wine and safari
Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula, a few slow days in the Winelands and, to finish, safari in a private reserve beside Kruger.
Exceptional stays & escapes · Wildlife & nature
Plan something like this
0214–18 days
The Garden Route, unhurried
A road journey from Cape Town via Hermanus and the Garden Route, with coastal walks and stays by the lagoons, ending on safari.
Tailor-made journeys · Adventure & active travel
Plan something like this
0312–15 days
South Africa with children
Cape Town and the penguins, short hops along the coast and a family-friendly safari with time to rest.
Family journeys · Wildlife & nature
Plan something like this

Planning your journey

When to go

In Cape Town and the Western Cape, summer (roughly November to March) is usually dry and warm, while winter is cooler and wetter. In the Kruger region the dry season, roughly May to September, is often considered best for safari, as wildlife is easier to see near water. Whales are most often seen off Hermanus from June to November, though weather and nature vary from year to year.

How long to allow

We suggest at least 5–6 nights for Cape Town and the Winelands and 3–4 on safari. With the Garden Route, two weeks or more is natural.

Natural combinations

South Africa combines beautifully with Namibia's deserts or with an East African safari in Tanzania.

Areas to explore

Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula
Table Mountain, Atlantic beaches and the Cape of Good Hope.
The Winelands
Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl among the mountains.
The whale coast
Hermanus and Walker Bay.
The Garden Route
Lagoons, forests and the Tsitsikamma coast.
Kruger and the private reserves
South Africa's classic safari.

General guidance only. Weather, seasons and wildlife are never guaranteed, and travel requirements are always worth checking before you go.

Sample journey