South Africa in brief
- The classic first trip is Cape Town + the Winelands + the Garden Route + a safari, in 12 to 16 days.
- Choose a malaria-free reserve (Addo, Shamwari) for young children or short trips, or Kruger’s private reserves for the best game.
- The Cape is best October to April; Kruger is best June to October. See when to go.
- No visa for UK passports for stays up to 90 days. The flight is about 11 to 12 hours, and the time difference is only 1 to 2 hours.
South Africa packs a whole continent into one country. You can go from penguins and vineyards to a lion sighting in about two hours on a domestic flight, all in a time zone only one or two hours ahead of the UK. That makes it easier to plan than most long-haul trips, but there is a lot to choose from. This guide sets out the regions, how they fit together, and the routes our Travel Designers plan most often.
Where to go in South Africa
Most first trips combine three things: Cape Town and the Winelands, a drive along the coast and a safari. Then decide between a malaria-free reserve in the Eastern Cape or the bigger Kruger area. The regions below run roughly west to east.
Cape Town and Table Mountain
One of the world’s great city settings. Take the cable car or walk up Table Mountain, eat your way round the V&A Waterfront and Bree Street, see Robben Island and the colourful Bo-Kaap, and drive the Cape Peninsula to Cape Point.
Give it at least three full days, because the mountain closes in high wind and you want a spare day.
Cape Town guide →
The Cape Winelands
Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl are under an hour from Cape Town, with mountain-ringed estates, long lunches and Cape Dutch architecture. Franschhoek is the food town; Stellenbosch is livelier, with a university.
Stay out here rather than doing a day trip: tastings and driving don’t mix, and the evenings are the best part.
Cape Peninsula and Boulders Beach
A full-day loop from Cape Town: Chapman’s Peak Drive, the African penguin colony at Boulders Beach near Simon’s Town, and Cape Point in Table Mountain National Park. Go early to see the penguins before the tour buses arrive.
Hermanus and the Whale Coast
About an hour and a half east of Cape Town. Southern right whales come into Walker Bay to calve from about June to November, best in September and October, and you can often see them from the cliff path. It’s a natural first stop on the way to the Garden Route.
The Garden Route
The coastal stretch from Mossel Bay to Storms River: lagoons at Knysna, beaches at Plettenberg Bay, and the forest gorges and suspension bridge of Tsitsikamma. It’s about three hours’ driving end to end, so the point is to stop: walks, boat trips, oysters and quiet beaches.
Most people self-drive it between Cape Town and Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), often with a detour inland to Oudtshoorn and the Cango Caves.
Garden Route guide →
Addo and the Eastern Cape reserves
At the eastern end of the Garden Route, under an hour from Gqeberha airport. Addo Elephant National Park has some of the easiest elephant viewing in Africa. Around it, private Big Five reserves such as Shamwari offer guided game drives with no malaria, which suits families with young children and short trips.
Game is less dense than in Kruger, but it is a superb add-on to the coast without another flight.
Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) guide →
Kruger and the private reserves
The classic safari: Kruger National Park plus the private reserves along its unfenced western edge, such as Sabi Sand, Timbavati and Manyeleti. In the private reserves rangers can drive off-road and at night, which is why leopard sightings are so good there.
Fly in from Cape Town or Johannesburg to Skukuza, Hoedspruit or Nelspruit (Kruger Mpumalanga). Antimalarials are advised from September to May.
Safari holidays →
The Drakensberg and KwaZulu-Natal
A UNESCO World Heritage mountain range with some of the best hiking in the country and ancient San rock paintings. Combine it with the Zulu battlefields, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park at St Lucia and the warm Indian Ocean beaches north of Durban.
This is the route for a second visit, or for walkers.
Three classic routes
These are the shapes most of our South Africa trips take. Each can be done as a small-group escorted tour or tailor-made, at your own pace.
Cape Town, Garden Route and Addo
- Cape Town (4 nights)
- Winelands (2)
- Hermanus (1)
- Garden Route (4)
- Addo or Shamwari (2)
Malaria-free and almost all by road. Ideal in the Cape summer (October to April) and for families.
Cape Town and Kruger
- Cape Town (4 nights)
- Winelands (2)
- Fly to Kruger
- Private reserve (3 to 4)
- Optional: Panorama Route (1)
The best of the city and the best game. Kruger is at its best in the dry season, June to October.
The full loop
- Kruger (3 nights)
- Fly to Cape Town (3)
- Winelands (2)
- Garden Route (4)
- Addo (2)
- Optional beach: Mauritius or Mozambique
For a once-in-a-lifetime trip, or add an Indian Ocean beach at the end.
Adding a beach? See our Mozambique holiday guide for Tofo and the Bazaruto islands, a short flight from Kruger.
Malaria-free reserve or Kruger?
This is the biggest decision for most families. Both give you the Big Five. The difference is in scale, game density and logistics.
| Eastern Cape (Addo, Shamwari and others) | Kruger and private reserves | |
|---|---|---|
| Malaria | None | Antimalarials advised September to May |
| Game viewing | Good, in smaller fenced reserves | Excellent, especially leopard, in a vast open ecosystem |
| Getting there | Drive from the Garden Route, or fly to Gqeberha | Fly from Cape Town or Johannesburg |
| Best time | All year | June to October (dry season) |
| Best for | Young children, short trips, a Garden Route add-on | First-time safari “wow”, photographers, longer trips |
Read more: safari and beach in one trip.
Table Mountain: how to do it well
Cable car: the rotating car takes about five minutes to the top. Book online and go on the first clear morning you have. The cableway closes in strong wind or when the “tablecloth” cloud settles, so don’t save it for your last day.
Walking up: Platteklip Gorge is the most direct route, a steep two to three hours. Go with a guide or a group, start early, and carry water and a layer, because the weather on top changes fast.
Sunset: Lion’s Head is a shorter, popular hike with views across the city and the mountain itself.
When to go
South Africa has two climates that pull in opposite directions. The Cape has dry summers and wet winters. Kruger has wet summers and dry winters. So there is no bad month for the country as a whole, only for a particular mix of regions.
- October to April: best for Cape Town, the beaches and the Garden Route. Kruger is green, hot and has newborn animals, with some rain.
- May to September: the best game viewing in Kruger. Whales on the Cape coast. Cape Town is cooler and can be wet.
- Busiest: mid-December to mid-January (the South African summer holiday) and Easter. Book these well ahead.
Month-by-month detail by region: the best time to visit South Africa.
Ways to see South Africa with us
Comparing operators? See South Africa tours compared.
Practical tips
- Entry: British passport holders don’t need a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days. Your passport must be valid for at least 30 days after you leave and have at least two blank pages. Check the FCDO South Africa advice before you travel, especially if you are travelling with children.
- Driving: self-drive is easy on the Garden Route and in the Winelands: they drive on the left, roads are good and distances are clear. Avoid driving long distances after dark.
- Staying safe: as in any big city, don’t walk alone at night in quiet areas of Cape Town or Johannesburg, keep phones and cameras out of sight in the street, and use ride-hailing apps or taxis your hotel recommends.
- Health: no malaria in the Cape, the Garden Route or the Eastern Cape reserves. For Kruger, see a travel nurse about six weeks before you go.
- Tipping: around 10 to 15% in restaurants. Safari lodges usually suggest a daily amount for rangers, trackers and staff.
- Power cuts: scheduled power cuts (“load shedding”) have eased a lot recently, and most hotels and lodges have back-up power.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in South Africa?
Twelve to sixteen days is ideal for a first trip: four nights in Cape Town, two in the Winelands, four on the Garden Route and three or four on safari. With ten days, choose Cape Town plus a safari and skip the Garden Route.
Is South Africa safe for tourists?
Most visits are trouble-free. Take the same care as in any big city: don't walk alone at night in quiet areas, keep valuables out of sight, and use taxis or ride-hailing apps your hotel recommends. The safari reserves, the Winelands and the Garden Route towns are relaxed. Check the FCDO advice before you travel.
Do I need a visa for South Africa from the UK?
No. British passport holders can visit as tourists for up to 90 days without a visa. Your passport must be valid for at least 30 days after the date you leave and have at least two blank pages.
Can you do a safari in South Africa without malaria?
Yes. The Eastern Cape reserves near Addo, such as Shamwari, and Madikwe in North West Province are malaria-free and have the Big Five. In Kruger, antimalarials are advised from September to May.
What is the best month to visit South Africa?
October is the best all-round month: warm, mostly dry weather in Cape Town, the end of the dry season in Kruger, and whales still in Walker Bay. February and March are best for Cape Town alone, and August and September are best for safari.
How long is the flight from the UK to South Africa?
A direct flight from London to Cape Town or Johannesburg takes about 11 to 12 hours, usually overnight. South Africa is only one or two hours ahead of the UK, so there is almost no jet lag.
Is the Garden Route worth it?
Yes, if you like coast, forests and the freedom of a road trip. It's about three hours' drive end to end, so plan four to six nights and stop often. If you are short of time, the Winelands and Hermanus give you a taste of it closer to Cape Town.
Keep planning
- South Africa holidays
- Best time to visit South Africa
- South Africa escorted tours
- Cape Town guide
- Garden Route guide
- Kruger and Mauritius
- All safari holidays
- Tailor-made holidays
Plan your South Africa trip with a Travel Designer
Tell us your dates and what you most want to see. We’ll suggest a route, the right safari for your group, and hotels that fit, all ATOL-protected.
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