South Africa Travel Guide

South Africa's appeal lies in how much variety it offers without complicated logistics. In one journey, you can experience the dry savanna of the Greater Kruger National Park, the beaches and mountains of Cape Town, world-class wine regions, dramatic coastlines, and a rich cultural and historical heritage. Combined with excellent infrastructure, short flight times between regions and a favourable exchange rate, South Africa makes it easy to design well-paced trips that deliver both depth and contrast.

South Africa stands out among African destinations for how much it offers — and how easy it is to experience.

It combines world-class safari experiences with modern cities, excellent roads, reliable flights and a wide range of accommodation styles, from simple and affordable to ultra-luxury. This makes it suitable for first-time visitors to Africa as well as experienced travellers looking for variety and value.

Unlike many safari-only destinations, South Africa allows you to combine wildlife, city life, beaches, scenery and culture in a single, well-paced itinerary.

South Africa is a large country, and it's not realistic to see everything in one trip. Most itineraries focus on a few key regions, linked by short domestic flights.

Located in the far north-east of South Africa, the Greater Kruger National Park is the country's premier safari destination.

It includes the Kruger National Park itself — a vast protected area of over two million hectares — as well as adjoining private reserves such as Sabi Sands and Timbavati, which share unfenced boundaries with the park.

The Greater Kruger offers some of the best wildlife viewing in Africa, including the Big Five.

Typical stay: 3–6 days.

Greater Cape Town is one of the most scenic cities in the world, set between the Atlantic Ocean and dramatic mountain ranges.

Highlights include Table Mountain, pristine (but cold-water) beaches, the Cape Winelands, historic sites, vibrant neighbourhoods and a wide range of outdoor activities such as whale watching and shark cage diving.

Cape Town is not a safari destination, but it pairs exceptionally well with a Kruger safari.

Typical stay: 4–6 days.

The Garden Route stretches along South Africa's southern coastline from Mossel Bay to Tsitsikamma.

Known for its forests, beaches, lagoons and coastal scenery, the route passes through charming towns such as Wilderness, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, with Oudtshoorn inland, famous for the Cango Caves and ostrich farming.

It's ideal for self-drive exploration at a relaxed pace.

Typical stay: 2–4 days.

The Panorama Route lies along the Mpumalanga escarpment near the Kruger National Park.

It's known for spectacular viewpoints, waterfalls and geological formations such as Blyde River Canyon. While the main highlights can be seen in one or two days, the route is often combined with a longer stay in the Lowveld or Kruger.

Typical stay: 1–2 days.

Northern KwaZulu-Natal is a warm, subtropical region along South Africa's east coast.

It's one of the best areas in the country for bush-and-beach combinations, with game reserves inland and warm-water beaches along the coast. Further inland, the Drakensberg Mountains and historic battlefield sites add depth to itineraries.

This region is often described as offering Bush, Beach, Battlefields and Berg.

Typical stay: 7–14 days.

South Africa offers several excellent malaria-free safari options, which are particularly popular with families travelling with young children or expectant mothers.

Key malaria-free areas include:

• The Eastern Cape (Addo and surrounding private reserves)
• Madikwe and Pilanesberg (North West Province)
• Parts of the Waterberg
• The Kalahari region (including Kgalagadi)

While the malaria risk in Greater Kruger is low, these regions provide peace of mind for certain travellers.

South Africa has many additional regions that reward time and curiosity, including the Karoo, Wild Coast, Namaqualand (famous for its spring flower season), and the Drakensberg Mountains.

It truly is a destination that could take months — or years — to explore fully.

South Africa is well connected by a reliable network of domestic flights and good roads.

• Johannesburg to Cape Town: ±2-hour flight
• Johannesburg to Kruger: 5–6 hours by road or ±1-hour flight
• Cape Town to Kruger: ±3-hour flight
• Cape Town to the Garden Route: 4–5 hours by road

Flying between major regions and then using road transfers or guided tours locally is often the most efficient approach.

South Africa is a year-round destination, but conditions vary by region.

• Safari destinations (including Kruger) are generally best in the dry winter months (May–September), when wildlife is easier to spot.
• Cape Town and the Garden Route are best in summer (October–April), with warm, dry weather.
• Spring (August–November) and autumn (April–May) are popular for combining safari and Cape Town in one trip.

Safety is a common concern for visitors, and it's an important question.

As far as tourists are concerned, South Africa is as safe as — or safer than — many other popular travel destinations, provided basic precautions are followed. Tourist areas are generally not crime hotspots, and millions of visitors travel safely each year.

That said, some areas and situations are known to be unsafe. We advise travellers on where to go, where not to go, and how to move around sensibly. We only recommend accommodation in safe areas and have never had an incident of violent crime on any of our safaris.

Don't let fear of crime stop you from visiting this remarkable country.

South Africa is our home, and we've been designing trips here for over 20 years. If you'd like help choosing the right regions, pacing and lodge combination, whether you're travelling as a couple, a family or on a first safari, we're happy to share honest, first-hand advice.