About South Africa
South Africa is at the southern tip of Africa, with the Atlantic Ocean on the west coast and the Indian Ocean on the east. It has good roads, many direct international flights and lodges for every budget. This makes it one of the easiest countries in Africa for a first safari. English is widely spoken.
Most people stay for 10 to 16 days. A normal trip puts together 3 or 4 nights in Kruger or the Sabi Sand, 3 or 4 nights in Cape Town, and a few days in the Winelands or on the Garden Route. From Windhoek, a flight to Cape Town or Johannesburg takes about 2 hours.
South Africa trips & itineraries
These are starting ideas, not fixed deals. We plan every trip around you. Prices are a guide, for each person sharing a room.
Every South Africa trip is planned for you
We do not sell fixed South Africa packages. Tell us your dates, group size and what you want to see, and we send a day-by-day plan and price within 24 hours.
- Free quote, no payment needed
- Change anything until it fits
- Can join a Namibia trip
Five reasons to visit South Africa
The Big Five
Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa. Lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino all live here. In the private Sabi Sand reserves next to Kruger, guides can drive off-road, so you get close to leopards and other big cats.
Table Mountain and the Cape
Cape Town sits below Table Mountain. Take the cable car to the top, drive the Cape Peninsula to Cape Point, and see the African penguins at Boulders Beach. In the evening, eat at the V&A Waterfront or in the city.
Wine farms and mountain valleys
Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl are less than an hour from Cape Town. Old Cape Dutch farms make wine in green valleys between the mountains. Spend a day tasting, or stay a few nights on a wine estate.
Coast, forests and whales
The Garden Route runs along the south coast past lagoons, forests and beaches, with stops at Knysna and Tsitsikamma. From about July to November, southern right whales come close to the shore at Hermanus.
Malaria-free safaris
The reserves of the Eastern Cape, such as Addo Elephant National Park, and Madikwe near the Botswana border are free of malaria. They are a good choice for families with young children and for anyone who cannot take malaria tablets.
Top things to do in South Africa
From game drives in the Sabi Sand to wine tasting near Cape Town, these are the things that make a South Africa trip special.
Big Five game drives
Look for lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino with a ranger and tracker.
Table Mountain cable car
Ride to the top for views over Cape Town and the ocean.
Cape Point and penguins
Drive the Cape Peninsula and see the penguins at Boulders Beach.
Wine tasting
Visit wine farms in Stellenbosch and Franschhoek.
Whale watching
See southern right whales from the cliffs or a boat at Hermanus.
Garden Route drive
Drive the south coast with stops at lagoons, forests and beaches.
Top things to see in South Africa
The animals and places that make South Africa one of the easiest and most varied trips in Africa.
The Big Five
Lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino in Kruger and the Sabi Sand.
African penguins
A colony of penguins on the beach near Simon's Town.
Southern right whales
Whales close to the shore at Hermanus from about July to November.
Table Mountain
The flat-topped mountain above Cape Town.
Blyde River Canyon
Green cliffs and viewpoints on the Panorama Route near Kruger.
Cape Winelands
Vineyards and old farm houses below the mountains.
Destinations in South Africa
These are the main areas and parks we plan trips around. Put a few together to see the best of the country.
Kruger National Park
The best-known park in South Africa, with rest camps and lodges for all budgets.
Sabi Sand
Private reserves next to Kruger, known for leopards and off-road drives.
Panorama Route
Canyons, waterfalls and viewpoints on the way to Kruger.
Cape Town
Table Mountain, the Cape Peninsula, beaches and good food.
Cape Winelands
Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl, under an hour from Cape Town.
Garden Route
A coastal road trip from Mossel Bay to Tsitsikamma.
Eastern Cape
Addo Elephant National Park and malaria-free private reserves.
Madikwe
A malaria-free Big Five reserve near the Botswana border.
Best time to visit South Africa
You can visit South Africa at any time of year. For a safari in Kruger, the best time is the dry winter from May to September, when the bush is thin and animals gather at water. For Cape Town, the Winelands and the Garden Route, the best time is the warm, dry summer from October to April. Cape Town gets most of its rain from June to August. Whale season at Hermanus runs from about July to November.
These months are a guide only. Please check the weather when you book.
South Africa holiday types
No matter how you like to travel, we can plan it. Here are some popular kinds of South Africa holiday and trip:
South Africa Big Five Safaris
Stay in a private lodge in the Sabi Sand or Kruger with two game drives a day.
Cape and Garden Route Self-Drive
Drive from Cape Town along the coast. We book the car and the places you stay.
South Africa Family Safaris
Malaria-free reserves, family rooms and short drives between stops.
South Africa Honeymoons
A private safari lodge, then Cape Town and the Winelands.
Namibia and South Africa Tours
Join Sossusvlei and Etosha with Cape Town or Kruger in one trip.
South Africa Tours for Seniors
Easy pace, good roads, comfortable hotels and private guides.
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South Africa travel FAQs
Guest reviews
Reviews from real travellers
Real words from our guests, copied as written from Google. Read them all on Google, SafariBookings and Tripadvisor.
It is hard to describe this magnificent adventure. It exceeted our expectations. Arranging the tour went very smooth. Then Peter, our guide picked us up and took us to the Walvis Bay Salt Refiners site...
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Rated 5 out of 5
“Great adventure, presented with a great deal of professionalism and care towards customer needs. Our host was very knowledgeable and competent during the trip. Refreshments well received.”
Alexander StramwoodGoogle review by Alexander Stramwood · February 2026 -
Rated 5 out of 5
“The tour was excellent. We saw dolphins, a whale, seals and other sea animals. Our guide Sherry, the skipper and other staff did a great job. The lunch and refreshments were good especially the oysters.”
Er HoGoogle review by Er Ho · December 2025 -
Rated 5 out of 5
“It's hands down the best Sandwich Harbor tour there is. I'm glad that I chose People's tour and safaris. We climbed the dunes, walked down, saw them from the most beautiful angles and had a very tasty lunch...”
Roger PorterGoogle review by Roger Porter · May 2026
