South Africa holidays
See why Archbishop Desmond Tutu dubbed South Africa ‘the rainbow nation’ with a landscape as diverse as its culture and peoples. Sleep under a blanket of stars in the desert or hike your way up a snow-capped mountain. The hills of the Wild Coast make a pleasing contrast to the bustle of cities like Johannesburg and Cape Town, while wildlife opportunities range from ticking off the Big Five in remote game reserves to watching waddling penguins up-close.
Our cheapest holidays to South Africa
Cape Town flights + 7 days car hire
Johannesburg flights + 7 days car hire
Combine the wonders of nature with urban chic
Cape Town, with its beaches and Table Mountain, will enthral you before you taste your way through the photogenic Cape Winelands. Kruger National Park is one of the world’s great wildernesses, while the Drakensberg offers up awe-inspiring peaks and Zulu villages. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is one of the best places to spot big cats, while the iSimangaliso Wetlands Park contains five distinct ecosystems providing a habitat for hundreds of hippos and Nile crocodiles.
The Blyde River Canyon is the world’s third largest and ranks as one of the country’s must-see sights, while the knotted and twisted rocky terrain of the Mapungubwe National Park also cries out to be explored. The Addo Elephant National Park is home to more than 600 African elephants and you can witness a spectacular sunset in the walkable Golden Gate National Highlands Park.
The incredibly scenic Garden Route is manna for outdoor adventure seekers with ample hiking, surfing and canoeing. For creature comforts in the bush swing by the exclusive yet all-inclusive Madikwe Game Reserve or visit the lush Venda region with a seasoned guide to immerse yourself in mystical indigenous culture. Book your flights to South Africa today and let your adventure begin.
Carefully selected South Africa hotels
Best hotels in South Africa for all types of traveller
We have a great range of quality hotels in South Africa to recommend. Mount Nelson A Belmond Hotel Cape Town is the only centrally located, resort-style hotel and spa near all major tourist attractions and offers unrivalled views of Table Mountain. The President Hotel is a short drive from Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront and features a stunning pool area from where you can gaze at the sun setting over the ocean, cocktail in hand. Table Bay Hotel is surrounded by the bustle of the V&A Waterfront with its high-end restaurants and shops. Its rooms feature large picture windows which look out onto the Atlantic Ocean and the majestic Table Mountain. The One & Only Cape Town is a 5-star luxury retreat by the city’s waterside complete with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto Table Mountain and an indulgent, award-winning spa.
In Johannesburg, the Hilton Sandton is conveniently located in north Jo’Burg’s Sandton business district. It offers a free scheduled shuttle bus, a family-friendly outdoor pool, floodlit tennis courts and a gazebo pool bar.
South Africa holiday FAQs
- Robben Island was for many years used as a penal colony for political prisoners, including most famously Nelson Mandela, who was incarcerated there for 18 years. Tours are led by ex-inmates with first-hand experience of prison life. See, among other things, the limestone quarry where Mandela did hard labour and the makeshift ‘university cave’ where inmates taught others to read and write.
- Voted one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature in 2011, Cape Town’s Table Mountain enthrals visitors. It’s home to more than 1,470 floral species, along with rock hyrax, porcupines, mongooses, snakes, tortoises and the rare Table Mountain Ghost Frog. Hike your way up to the summit, explore the lower slopes on the Pipe Track on the Camps Bay side or take the cable car up to the two-mile plateau at the top.
- Technically still a working harbour, Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront is nowadays more of a prime shopping and leisure destination with five shopping districts covering a whopping 123 hectares. After some serious retail therapy hunting for cool design finds in the Watershed Market, grab a sundowner at the Grand Africa Cafe & Beach, get a bite at the V&A Food Market and immerse yourself in culture at the Iziko Maritime Centre.
- Franschhoek is a wealthy town just outside Cape Town. The establishment of many top restaurants and wineries has given the town a reputation for being ‘the food and wine capital of South Africa’. You can visit the winelands on a special Wine Tram — there are many excellent art galleries and prime shopping options too.
- Kruger National Park is around 250 miles outside of Johannesburg, and well worth the journey. This massive expanse – roughly the size of a small country – is swept with savannas and grasslands. The Big Five stomp these grounds, with elegant giraffes also flitting between the baobab and acacia trees. Visit to see Africa’s mighty nature, always remembering to respect the scenery and animals that call it home.
- Just 30 minutes by train from Johannesburg, Pretoria is replete with handsome architecture, trim suburbs and significant historic sights. It’s known as the Jacaranda City thanks to the purple blooms that come to life in its many gardens and parks come springtime. Stroll through the tranquil Pretoria National Botanic Garden and take in the Voortrekker Monument and Freedom Park.
- Port Elizabeth, now officially called Gqeberha, is known as the Friendly City and is home to historic areas opening up as exciting new hubs. Found on the popular Garden Route, the area is home to beachfront spots Summerstrand and Humewood. Seek out birdlife and the lighthouse at Cape Recife Nature Reserve and then sample the unique sidewalk cafe culture around Stanley Street. See why PE is known as ‘the bottlenose dolphin capital of the world’ on a cruise spying dolphins, whales, sharks and penguins in their natural habitat.
- Cape Town is a diverse, cosmopolitan and vibrant place. The Mother City is home to stunning white-sand beaches with a mountainous backdrop, a thrilling food and coffee scene, prime shopping and immersive museums, alongside top attractions such as Robben Island and the V&A Waterfront.
- The winelands outside of Cape Town are home to hundreds of wineries. Some of the best include Groot Constantia, the country’s oldest, Vergelegen Wine Estate, which hosts a charming ‘white tablecloth’ picnic experience, and De Grendel Wine Estate, which offers fantastic views of Table Mountain, Lion’s Head and the Atlantic Ocean from its tasting veranda.
- Johannesburg is a city amid constant renewal and revitalisation. Soak up the hipster vibes of Maboneng before heading out to the Cradle of Humankind where ancient fossils have been found. Visit Nelson Mandela Square and learn about the area’s history at some of the city’s many museums.
- Sun City is a huge resort in the north west. With endless entertainment and accommodations designed for all sorts of travellers, this is an ideal destination for those hoping to make the most of South Africa’s blue skies. Find out more with our full guide to Sun City.
- Stretching along the southern coast and hugging the ocean, the Garden Route makes for a road trip that’ll leave you wide-eyed at every mile. The official start and end points are Mossel Bay and Tsitsikamma. Along the way, you’ll want to stop at platinum beaches, towering forests wrapped in mist and lagoons where colourful birds sun their beaks. One of the most popular towns to visit is Knysna, known for its oysters and ocean view dining. Visit between June and November for a chance to see whales breach in surrounding waters.
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