South Africa travel guide: Everything you need to know before you go

With its supermodel-like coastlines, extraordinary recreation reserves and lengthy sizzling summers that start simply because the UK is plunged into darkness, it’s no shock South Africa is persistently voted one of many high locations for British holidaymakers. Come for ridiculously photogenic views, scrumptious (and really inexpensive) wine, lengthy lazy lunches below the oak timber and the prospect to identify the Massive 5 out of your bed room window.

Present journey restrictions and entry necessities

Travellers arriving in South Africa must current one of many following: proof of vaccination; a restoration certificates; or a damaging PCR check (taken inside 72 hours of departure) or a damaging lab-conducted Speedy Antigen check (taken inside 24 hours of departure). Masks are not a requirement in public locations.

Greatest time to go

Cape City and the Backyard Route have a Mediterranean local weather with sizzling, dry summers (December to March) and funky, moist winters (June to September), whereas the remainder of the nation is comparatively heat yr spherical. February to April is unbeatable and made for lazy days on the seaside: the Indian Ocean is wallow-ready after a summer season of solar and Cape City is gloriously wind-free. Up within the Kruger Park, you’ll hit rutting season – massive cats specifically are thrillingly simple to identify once they’re taking part in the mating recreation.

Prime areas and cities

Cape City

Get your bearings by heading up Desk Mountain early within the morning when the ever present summer season wind is least more likely to blow you off your ft. When you’re feeling sporty, climb Platteklip Gorge, the oldest and quickest route, which can take you straight up in about three hours. Afterwards, bypass the crowded seashores of Camps Bay for pint-sized Bakhoeven, and half-pint-sized Beta, which boast fantastic views of Lion’s Head.

When you’ve ever obtained a postcard from Cape City, likelihood is it’s going to have been emblazoned with the jewel-coloured homes of Bo-Kaap – head there for lunch in one of many Cape Malay eating places. Stand up early one morning and wend your method alongside Chapmans Peak Drive to penguin-packed Boulders Seaside, and don’t miss a wander down the Treetops Walkway in Kirstenbosch, which – with 10-foot vegetation reaching over the rails and baboons chattering within the distance – feels nearer to the Rwandan rainforests than your typical botanical backyard.

The winelands

Knock again extra wine, this time within the shade of a historic Cape Dutch Home. The exceptionally fairly, charm-heavy city of Franschhoek is ready proper within the coronary heart of the winelands, an hour from Cape City. One in all its most spectacular wine farms is Boschendal – keep of their enchanting Orchard Cottages and have a boozy picnic within the shady, flower-filled grounds. Discover the famously beautiful, cactus and herb-filled gardens at Babylonstoren and lurch from one wine-drenched meal to the subsequent.

Plettenberg Bay

Cape City’s seashores are attractive, however dip one toe within the icy water and also you may cry. When you fantasise about floating within the Indian Ocean, then hightail it down the Backyard Route – 5 hours by automotive, or fly to George in 40 minutes. Set amid lagoons and sea is Plettenberg Bay, the place the water is a scrumptious 24C and days are spent snoozing on buttermilk-yellow sand. Gulp down oysters at one of many many beachfront eating places and select from a spread of fairly lodges to spend the night time in.

The Kruger Park

The sight and odor of hundreds of untamed animals is extraordinary, however prices can skyrocket, so combine it up with self-drive days and swanky stays. Verify into Decrease Sabie, a snug state-run lodge set on a crocodile-crammed river that prices below £80 an evening, and discover the bushveld with your individual automotive – you’ll be secure in case you keep away from bull elephants or moms with their calves. When you’re discovering the sport considerably elusive by yourself, splash out on one of many many dreamy non-public camps in both Kruger or the neighbouring Sabi Sands – most boast their very own concessions in addition to splendidly romantic bedrooms, shady swimming pools and skilled guides to trace down the Massive 5.

Greatest under-the-radar locations

The Hemel en Aarde Valley

Within the folds of the blue mountains behind the Cape seafront village of Hermanus, one can find the Hemel en Aarde Valley (it fittingly means heaven and earth in Afrikaans). This exceptionally fairly a part of the world has additionally change into one thing of an oenophile’s paradise, with quite a few South Africa’s most acclaimed wine farms now clustered alongside one dust street on the fynbos-enriched soil.

The Wilderness

Drag your self out of the highly effective undertow of the Wilderness sea and also you’ll face a endless stretch of treacle-coloured seaside to the east and an impenetrable forest to the west. Keep for an evening or two on this Backyard Route village, and in case you’re bored with battling the tempestuous sea, retreat to the close by forests, the place there are placid lagoons and even a shady waterfall to swim below. When you’re beached out, take an hour-long drive inland to the hushed, cool fantastic thing about the Cango Caves and admire the extraordinary limestone formations and prehistoric cave work, and to Oudtshoorn, which is house to Africa’s greatest colony of farmed ostrich.

The Swartland

Whereas Franschhoek could also be house to probably the most lovely Cape Dutch wine farms, it’s within the Swartland and alongside the West Coast the place pioneering wine-makers are producing a number of the most fun new vintages within the nation. When you go to in September, you’re in for an additional particular deal with as a result of all the space is briefly carpeted with thousands and thousands of ice-cream colored spring flowers. When you’re on the lookout for someplace to remain, strive the close by coastal city of Paternoster: a cluster of little white homes perched behind an enormous abandoned seaside.

Matjiesfontein

The Karoo is a sizzling, arid, and hauntingly lovely a part of South Africa that feels a world away from the close by coast. Exterior of midsummer, when temperatures might be debilitating, it’s effectively value a go to – keep within the coronary heart of Matjiesfontein on the Lord Milner Resort, a prettily embellished, historically South African spot with a deep, cool pool set below shady pepper timber and two glorious eating places that specialize in Karoo lamb. Matjiesfontein was a well-known cease level for travellers on the Cape-to-Cairo street and an vital stronghold within the Boer Battle, so verify underfoot for outdated bullets and meals cans from the 1899 struggle.

Greatest issues to do

A driving tour of the Backyard Route

Drive the Backyard Route and lurch from a protracted, boozy lunch on an award-winning wine farm to a swim in one among black lagoons that drift slowly into the Indian Ocean. Spend your morning watching elephants scratch their backs on the new gum timber and your afternoon mendacity on the seaside together with your toes within the water. It’s these wild contrasts that make the Backyard Route such a luxurious place to go to — so take 10 idyllic days to slowly discover the 400 miles between Hermanus and Port Elizabeth.

A strolling safari within the Kruger Park

The largest distinction between a strolling and game-drive safari is that the Massive 5 are not within the highlight. When you come throughout them, it’s heart-stopping – however a stroll is about experiencing the bush at a way more intimate tempo. When you’re on foot, you set down the psychological guidelines of Lion King characters and deal with 100-year-old tortoises, waddling floor hornbill and chattering vervet monkeys. You additionally get main Bear Grylls factors, and occurring a strolling safari means you’ve gotten a speaking level at dinner events for many years to return.

Go to the artwork galleries of Johannesburg

The most important hub of the nation generally is a tough place to go to because it’s nor significantly fairly, extra harmful than different elements of the nation, and there are few inexperienced areas or public areas to wander round in. Don’t essentially make a selected journey however, in case you’re staying in a single day, make sure you go to the Apartheid Museum, the Everard Learn gallery and Arts on Primary.

Eat some bunny chow in Durban

Bunny chow is a strange-sounding identify for a strange-looking concoction: a loaf of white bread hollowed out and full of curry, chutney and bay leaves. However this quirky dish can be Durban’s most well-known export and no journey to town could be full with out not less than one bunny chow dinner. Capsicum Restaurant within the Britannia Resort is a colonial-style gem within the outdated city and is known for serving the perfect chow in Durban—select between beef or hen and wash it down with candy native tea.

Getting round

Covid worn out a lot of South Africa’s low-cost airways – the most affordable and the perfect is now FlySafair, in any other case Airlink additionally does a number of routes. The nation is greater than you suppose it’s and driving from Johannesburg all the way down to Cape City will take about 14 hours, of which solely about six are lovely – so it’s best to fly between these cities. For the Backyard Route, rent a automotive and drive, and in case you’re going to Kruger you may both fly to Nelspruit (an costly route) or drive from Johannesburg. The prepare system is sadly unwieldy and never at all times secure.

Methods to get there

When you’re occurring safari in northern South Africa, then fly into Johannesburg. It’s cheaper than Cape City, and whereas inside flights to Nelspruit (the gateway to the bush) are costly, you may drive there from OR Tambo in 5 hours. Low-cost airways akin to FlySafair supply low cost inside flights all the way down to Cape City, George and PE, and South African Airways, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic all fly on to Joburg from London. When you’re solely going to the Cape, then the dream choice is to fly direct on British Airways from LHR – however it may be eye-wateringly costly and fortuitously there are a selection of extra inexpensive oblique carriers like Emirates. When you’re there, you’ll need to hire a automotive until you need to depend on Uber as public transport is poor.

Cash-saving tip

The change fee implies that outdoors of lodges, day-to-day life in South Africa goes to really feel very low cost – and even the nice Cape City eating places are unlikely to ever value greater than £35 a head. The one expense is lodging – though costs within the Cape drop outdoors of the summer season season, and good offers might be present in small mattress and breakfasts quite than giant lodges.

FAQs

What’s the climate like?

South Africa is made up of a number of climates: the east coast is tropical with heat winters and muggy summers, the Kruger Park has sunny winter days, ice chilly winter nights and highly regarded summers, whereas Cape City and the Backyard Route have a basic Mediterranean local weather.

What time zone is it in?

South African summer season (our winter) is GMT+2 whereas South African winter is GMT+1 and runs from March to the top of October.

What forex do I want?

Rands.

What language is spoken?

English could also be one among 11 nationwide languages however fortunately for guests it’s by far probably the most extensively spoken and used all through the nation.

Is it secure?

Central Cape City is usually secure to stroll round in by day, though be wise: no costly jewelry or designer purses, please. At night time, it’s dodgier – take an Uber, or in case you’re driving, park as shut as you may to the restaurant. Driving down the Backyard Route is completely secure within the day, and the identical largely applies to driving from Johannesburg to the Kruger Park in case you solely cease at petrol stations. You do must be extra cautious in Johannesburg – in case you’re driving your self, be sure to’ve deliberate your route, solely use registered taxis or Uber, and attempt to stroll outdoors as little as doable.