Unmissable things to do in South Africa
There is such a diverse range of things to do on a holiday in South Africa that it’s hard to know where to start. We can tailor-make your holiday to include: wildlife safaris, trekking, horse riding, beach holidays, city sightseeing, wine-tasting . . . Time for an adventure!
When to go to South Africa
You really can come to South Africa at any time. Climate-wise, the Cape & the western half of the country is generally best from about October to March, and KwaZulu Natal & the eastern half is best from March to October. However, that really doesn’t mean you can’t or shouldn’t visit these places at other times. See our more detailed explanation, but better still, call us if you’re unsure when to plan your visit to South Africa.
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Places to go in South Africa
Read about the highlights of this incredible country in our short summary guides to the main places to go.
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Cape Town
Cape Town’s stunning setting, fascinating history and vibrant culture make it one of the world’s most popular cities.

Kruger & Panorama Route
Few names conjure up the image of an African safari like Kruger which has welcomed visitors since 1927 to experience the excitement of wildlife viewing.

Garden Route
The famously scenic Garden Route winds along the coast for 200kms with stops for nature reserves, adventure activities, beaches and resort towns.

KwaZulu Natal
Vast stretches of unspoilt coastline, dramatic mountains, superb wildlife, historic battlefields and fascinating Zulu culture - KwaZulu-Natal has an embarrassment of riches.
Places we love to stay in South Africa
Here you’ll find a small collection of our favourite places to stay in South Africa, though as an independent tour operator specialising in tailor-made holidays, we actually sell a much wider choice of South African properties than we show.
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Tsala Treetop Lodge
South Africa

Babylonstoren
South Africa

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
South Africa

Bayethe Lodge
South Africa

Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve and Wellness Retreat
South Africa

Cape Cadogan and More Quarters
South Africa

Cape Grace Hotel
South Africa

Oude Werf Hotel
South Africa

Farm 215
South Africa

Franschhoek Country House and Villas
South Africa

Fugitives Drift
South Africa

Garonga Safari Camp
South Africa

Hog Hollow Country Lodge
South Africa

Jacis Safari Lodge
South Africa

Kariega Main Lodge
South Africa

Lairds Lodge
South Africa

Leopard Hills Private Game Reserve
South Africa

Mala Mala Game Reserve
South Africa

Nottens Bush Camp
South Africa

Thonga Beach Lodge
South Africa

Three Trees Lodge
South Africa

Tswalu
South Africa

Stone Camp
South Africa

Trevoyan Guest House
South Africa

Rosenhof Country House
South Africa

The Twelve Apostles
South Africa

Rovos Rail
South Africa

Simbavati River Lodge
South Africa
Facts and information
Flight time
There are daily flights from Europe to Johannesburg (about 10 ½ hours direct) and Cape Town (about 11 hours). There is also a good network of domestic flights connecting all main towns.
Language
English is South Africa's main administrative language and is widely spoken. There are also 11 official tribal languages.
Time
GMT +2 hours
Visas
Visas are not required for British passport holders.
Health
No vaccinations are compulsory. Malaria is found in certain areas (mainly Kruger and the east coast towards Mozambique), but not throughout the country.
Read more in our Tribes blog
The Tribes blog brings you regular articles written by our specialists, travellers or partners and conservationists in our destinations. We have a big collection of articles now, so have a mooch to find some interesting short reads.
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In the Tribe: Face-to-face with Marcus Rutherford
Artist and lawyer Marcus Rutherford has travelled with Tribes eight times since 2013 - and always to Tanzania.

Barefoot Woman
The historic Kaalvoet Vrou (Barefoot Woman) statue stands proudly in South Africa’s Drakensberg Mountains.

A Nature Adventure in Mainland Ecuador
When our guests travel with us to Ecuador it's normally via Quito to the Galapagos Islands, but I wanted to see what else there was.