Why go on a South African Vacation?
Prolific Big 5 Game Viewing
Encountering Africa’s iconic Big 5 (elephant, rhino, lion, leopard and buffalo) is a major item on any safari goer’s bucket list. South Africa is one of the very few places on Earth where you’re able to tick off all five in one day.
Easily Combine Bush, Beach & Vine
Cape Town’s gorgeous coastline offers its visitors sun-kissed beaches, while the famous Cape Winelands will delight any gourmet. Superb infrastructure and daily domestic flights make combining a Kruger safari with a beach holiday a piece of cake.
World-class Service & Amenities
Experience culinary excellence from award-winning chefs in Cape Town, the Winelands, and Kruger’s private reserves and concessions. Plus enjoy top-notch service and amenities like spas, gyms and art galleries in each location.
Fantastic Logistics
Daily commercial flights link all the major cities, chartered airplanes can get you to safari lodges with their own private airstrips, and a self-drive holiday along the beautiful Garden Route is made safe and easy thanks to well-maintained road networks.
A Trip For Every Traveller
Multi-generational broods will love South Africa’s variety of family-friendly accommodation. Couples will find the perfect trip to celebrate a special occasion. Adventure seekers will relish in Cape Town’s plethora of outdoor activities…
Excellent Value
Thanks to a very favourable exchange rate, it’s easy to find superb accommodation that offers that extra bit of holiday pampering.
And dining out in South Africa is very affordable, so you can enjoy a great meal and local vintage without feeling guilty.
From the Big 5 to Whale, Winelands and More
There’s not much that South Africa doesn’t have to offer its visitors. The Kruger’s private reserves deliver Africa’s most reliable Big 5 game viewing, while Cape Town and its surrounding wine valleys provide an elegant, Mediterranean twist to a South Africa safari.
July to November sees South Africa’s Whale Coast hum with activity as migratory whales arrive. And then there are the beaches…
Accommodation From $450 USD
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Accommodation From $650 CAD
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Accommodation From $1,050 AUD
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Accommodation From €1,000 EUR
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Accommodation From £800 GBP
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Accommodation From R15,000 ZAR
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Top Safari Destinations in South Africa
Here are some of our best packages, all completely customisable to your requirements and travel wishes:
Kruger National Park
South Africa’s best-known national park is home to the country’s greatest diversity of animals and exquisite safari lodges on private game reserves.
As one of the oldest conservation areas in Africa, it boasts healthy populations of wildlife and highly sought-after sightings of cheetah and wild dog. But the Kruger’s pièce de résistance is the almost guaranteed encounter with the celebrities of the safari circuit: the Big 5.
Highlights
- 5-star service and exquisite cuisine – some of the best safari food in Africa
- Luxurious lodges with spas, gyms, private pools and star-beds
- Virtual guarantee of seeing all the Big 5
- Off-road driving, spot-lit night drives and guided nature walks in private reserves
Cape Town
Cape Town is truly one of those ‘have-it-all’ cities. Residents are surrounded by beautiful mountains and beaches, historical landmarks, and the bottle-green valleys of the Cape Winelands.
Most visitors spend at least three to four days (five or six are even better) exploring South Africa’s oldest city, enjoying its smorgasbord of activities and being immersed in its incredible natural beauty.
Highlights
- Basking on sun-kissed beaches (December to March)
- Wine tasting in the picturesque Cape Winelands
- Hiking or taking the cable car up Table Mountain
- The world’s best land-based whale watching (July to September)
The Garden Route
The Garden Route is a must-see on the list of most visitors gracing the shores of South Africa. The beauty of this region stretches for miles from Mossel Bay to Storms River.
It has a wonderful mix of beaches, forests, lagoons and seaside towns. It’s easy-to-navigate roads and short driving distances makes it an ideal destination for independent, self-drive vacations. It’s also perfectly paired with safari adventures in the Eastern Cape.
Highlights
- Whale-watching in season in Hermanus, considered the best land-based whale watching in the world
- Play a round of golf at some of South Africa’s finest golf courses
- Marvel at the Cango Caves, one of Africa’s greatest natural wonders
- Adventure activities from bungee jumping to treetop canopy tours
Consider Adding...
Johannesburg
In the past, visitors whizzed through Johannesburg, stopping just long enough to catch their connecting flight. Nowadays, however, ‘Jozi’ is a destination in its own right. Boasting a fantastic selection of hotels and guest houses, a thriving café culture and a budding restaurant scene, Jozi offers its visitors a unique perspective of urban South Africa.
The Whale Coast
July to November sees the Cape Whale Coast hum with activity as migratory whales arrive from the icy Antarctic to mate and give birth in warmer waters. The town of Hermanus (just under two hours from Cape Town) lies at the centre of the whale-watching experience and is known as the world’s best land-based whale-watching destination.
KwaZulu-Natal
Home to teeming game reserves and echoing ancient battlefields, flanked by mountain peaks and the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, the province of KwaZulu-Natal has everything that South African holidays are famous for. Expect long golden beaches, abundant wildlife, a diverse and welcoming people, and a sunny sub-tropical climate.
When To Go
High Seasons: May–Oct
The drier winter months are the best time for game viewing on a South Africa safari in the Kruger, Madikwe, Pilanesberg and KwaZulu-Natal. Big game are usually concentrated around water sources and are easier to spot in the thinned-out vegetation. If you want to see whales along South Africa’s Whale Coast, then a visit between June and October is a must, with the numbers at their highest in September.
Green Seasons: Nov–Apr
For a South African safari, the green season is when the landscape is a beautiful, lush emerald colour and with the best light of the year for photography. It’s calving season and there are great opportunities to witness baby animals and some dramatic predator action.
For a Cape Town beach holiday, you simply can’t beat the hot summer months between November and March, but you have to book your spot well in advance for this trendy destination.
South Africa Safari Trip Ideas
Here are some of our best packages, all completely customisable to your requirements and travel wishes:
A Romantic Getaway
Romantic Cape Town and Kruger
Begin your vacation at a boutique hotel situated in a fashionable neighbourhood of Cape Town – a perfect location from which to explore Table Mountain, the V&A Waterfront and the city’s beaches.
Franschhoek is your next stop: a foodie haven amid spectacular vineyards. Known as South Africa’s gourmet capital, this village is the ideal place for sampling the country’s gastronomic delights.
Then be whisked off to a private game reserve neighbouring Kruger National Park where you’ll encounter some of Africa’s finest Big 5 sightings, especially leopard.
Destinations
- Gardens, Cape Town
- Franschhoek, Cape Winelands
- Sabi Sands, Kruger
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Family Vacation
Family Cape Town, Winelands and Kruger
Fall under the spell of got-it-all Cape Town on this 11-day self-drive adventure and drink in the beauty of the Cape Winelands before jetting off to the Kruger National Park for a classic South African Big 5 safari.
Set yourself up in self-catering comfort in Cape Town’s fashionable Gardens neighbourhood and enjoy an individually-tailored holiday along the length and breadth of the Cape Peninsula, then travel to the heart of the Franschhoek valley in the idyllic Cape Winelands and sample the region’s finest vintages while experiencing the best dining the country has to offer.
Bring your adventure to a close at the Thornybush Private Game Reserve, which is adjacent to world-famous Kruger National Park, and enjoy twice-daily game drives, interpretive bush walks and moonlit dinners served under the stars – the perfect end to a perfect holiday.
Destinations
- Gardens, Cape Town
- Franschhoek, Cape Winelands
- Thornybush Private Game Reserve, Kruger
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How Much is a South Africa Safari?
Rates generally depend on timing (i.e key travel seasons like holidays) and level of luxury (the type of amenities and exclusivity).
As a guideline, South Africa Trips can range anywhere from approximately $450 USD per person per night in low season to over $1,550 USD at the finest lodges in high season.
What Costs Are Included?
Most accommodations are all-inclusive; all your meals, snacks, beverages, alcohol (with some exceptions) are part of your room rate. In addition, your game drives and other excursions like walking safaris and cultural village visits will all be included.
The only things you’ll have to pay for are special activities like hot-air balloon rides and spa treatments. Beyond that, just gratuities for the incredible staff who will make your stay at each lodge so memorable.
Mark Smith
South Africa is perfect for a first-time trip to Africa or returning visitors looking for exceptional year-round game viewing. I recommend starting by exploring beautiful Cape Town – the perfect way to recover from jetlag before an action-packed safari schedule. Then take your pick from malaria-free destinations to suit the whole family like Madikwe or Kwandwe at the end of the Garden Route, to the legendary Kruger National Park and its adjoining private game reserves like Sabi Sands, renowned for its prolific Big 5 sightings.
Why Travel with Go2Africa
Based in Cape Town, our team of experts are all born and raised in Africa.
When you travel with us you’re assured of the Big 5 Guarantee.
We are African
Since 1998 we've tailored unforgettable African safari holidays for over 200 000 travellers, that leaves a lasting positive impact.
We Know Because We Go
We have first-hand knowledge of every destination, lodge and activity we recommend from our 1 000+ carefully selected safari partners.
We Are With You All The Way
We take care of every detail, offering 24/7 assistance and local know-how from the right time zone, until you return safely home.
You Are In Expert Hands
With the most awarded Top Travel Specialists in Africa by Conde Nast Traveler and led by one of Travel & Leisure's A-list specialists, you are in expert hands.
Complete Financial Protection
Our clients are fully covered by our supplier default insurance, and our accreditation bond with the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association.
Making A Positive Impact Together
Every journey with us makes a meaningful positive impact by creating sustainable solutions, enabling people and nature to mutually thrive together.
Our Partners
Everything is about relationships. Fortunately, we’ve built great ones working with the top names in Africa for more than 20 years.
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