South Africa

Discover the magic and many facets of South Africa on your journey through the ‘world in one country’! Glittering cities such as Cape Town, world-class wine regions such as Stellenbosch and first-rate temples of gourmet dining and shopping contrast with species-rich savannahs, rugged mountain ranges, spectacular coastlines, endless beaches, lush vegetation along the Garden Route, warm-hearted people and vast nature and game reserves deep in the African bush. All this makes your trip to South Africa truly unique.

Where else but in South Africa can gourmets dine so well and so affordably? South Africa’s wine estates are a paradise for wine lovers, while the restaurants at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront serve international cuisine of the very highest quality. The beach cafés around Cape Town are the perfect place to spend hours daydreaming and gazing out to sea.

This diverse country has something for every traveller: vibrant cities, superb wine regions, secluded stretches of coastline or first-class safari experiences:

Cape Town

The ‘Mother City’, South Africa’s oldest city, is rightly regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, with numerous historic buildings, first-class restaurants, countless shopping opportunities, dream beaches and varied landscapes. Take the cable car or one of several hiking trails up Table Mountain, the city’s landmark, where at around a thousand metres you can enjoy breathtaking views over Cape Town, Signal Hill and Lion's Head all the way to the Cape of Good Hope.

Garden Route

The Garden Route, a stretch of land along the Indian Ocean, is one of South Africa’s most beautiful and popular destinations. Exactly how far it extends is a matter of definition. In the west it begins at Mossel Bay in the Western Cape province and reaches as far as Tsitsikamma National Park or Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. The main towns on the Garden Route near the coast are George, Mossel Bay, the lagoon landscape of Knysna and Plettenberg Bay. Jeffreys Bay is considered one of the best surf spots. The Garden Route stands for beauty and diversity. Right on the Indian Ocean you will find varied coastlines, miles of sandy beaches, beautiful lagoons and steep cliffs. Further inland, deep forests such as the Knysna Forest are perfect for hiking and mountain biking. Beyond them, a 1,500-metre-high mountain range separates the fertile coast from the arid semi-deserts.

Whale Coast

The region owes its name to the southern right whales that give birth to their young in the sheltered waters here from July to November. Hermanus is considered the best and best-known place in the world for watching whales from land. If you would like to get even closer to the whales, a boat trip is the way to go.

Kruger National Park

Kruger National Park and numerous private game reserves such as Sabi Sand are home to some of the most exclusive safari lodges in South Africa and the world. On a game drive you can watch lions, rhinos, elephants, leopards and buffalo, as well as a rich variety of wildlife such as zebras, giraffes, ostriches and warthogs. Along the coast around Hermanus, you can also spot the ‘Marine Big 5’: whales, great white sharks, penguins, seals and dolphins can be seen from boats – and sometimes even from the shore – off the rugged coast east of the Cape of Good Hope.

West Coast

This region is known for its long, beautiful beaches, picturesque fishing villages and species-rich national parks. The well-known West Coast National Park lies on the 25 km Langebaan Lagoon with its seemingly endless, idyllic beaches and shimmering light-blue sea. The Langebaan Lagoon wetland is one of the most important bird sanctuaries in the world, and you can also see ostriches, mountain zebras and various species of antelope here. In spring (August - September) countless flowers bloom, casting a spell over the landscape. In the Cederberg region, the weathered sandstone formations are particularly striking and create a picturesque backdrop, especially in the evening sun. This region is also where the famous rooibos tea is grown.

Winelands

The Winelands lie only around 1 hour from Cape Town. They are ideal for independent travellers who want to explore the area by hire car, but day trips from Cape Town are also available. For wine lovers, it is well worth spending a night in one of the charming little towns of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek or Paarl. The glorious landscape is characterised by pine and oak forests, fertile valleys, picturesque villages and rugged mountain formations up to 1500 m high with breathtaking mountain passes. The wine estates are also regarded as the birthplace of Cape Dutch architecture, which you can admire on many estates during a guided tour with wine tasting.

KwaZulu-Natal

Subtropical KwaZulu-Natal, with the city of Durban, offers more highlights for your holiday in South Africa than almost any other province in the country. Romantics will find miles of beautiful beaches for long walks along the Indian Ocean. Hikers and nature lovers are captivated by the highlands of the Drakensberg on the border with the Kingdom of Lesotho. And of course Zululand, with its vast nature reserves teeming with wildlife, such as the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve, famous for its many rhinos, offers first-class safaris in South Africa. Around Durban you will find some of the best golf resorts in Southern Africa. The year-round warm climate is ideal and the scenery breathtaking.

Panorama Route

The Panorama Route is one of South Africa’s most beautiful and popular destinations, leading across the rugged mountain ranges of the Drakensberg in Mpumalanga. In the north-eastern part of the Great Escarpment, the inland plateau known as the Highveld drops away steeply, offering fantastic views over the plains of the Lowveld some 1000 metres below. The Panorama Route is known for its glorious and varied landscapes. Highlights include Bourke's Luck Potholes, the former gold-mining town of Pilgrim's Rest and the viewpoints of Pinnacle Rock and God's Window, from where you can see as far as Mozambique on a clear day. Probably the most famous highlight is the Blyde River Canyon, one of South Africa’s most spectacular natural wonders and ideal for hiking.

Wild Coast

The unspoilt Wild Coast, still little known to tourists, stretches for over 250 km north-east of East London towards Durban. The coast is one of the most natural areas in South Africa. Dense indigenous forests, gently rolling grasslands, rugged cliffs and white beaches reflect the original splendour of this region. Everywhere you will see the white round huts of the Xhosa, who are very hospitable and, for many travellers, part of the ‘real’ Africa. The beaches are less crowded than on the Garden Route, but harder to reach. The region is ideal for active nature lovers: hiking, mountain biking, fishing and canoeing are just some of the activities on offer. The Nelson Mandela Museum in Mthatha is also well worth a visit.

Hluhluwe & iSimangaliso Wetland

iSimangaliso Wetland Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and stretches from St. Lucia to the border with Mozambique. Along its coastal strip of around 200 km you will find miles of deserted sandy beaches. On excursions into the hinterland with its lakes, mangroves, jungles and swamps, visitors often encounter hippos and crocodiles, and lions have recently settled here again too. Around 280 km north-east of Durban lies Hluhluwe, the oldest national park in Africa. Its gently rolling landscape is a slice of original African savannah. Alongside the ‘Big Five’, numerous other wild animals are at home here. You can explore the park in your own hire car or on a guided safari.

Durban & Drakensberg

Durban lies on the warm Indian Ocean and is South Africa’s second-largest city. With its large port, it is the most important economic centre in the province of KwaZulu-Natal and offers numerous sights and leisure activities, such as uShaka Marine World and the Moses Mabhida football stadium. This city of culture is strongly shaped by South Africans of Indian descent. The spectacular Drakensberg reaches heights of up to 3482 m, making it the highest mountain range in South Africa. Its distinctive sandstone and granite formations and crystal-clear streams and rivers amid meadows and green fields are perfect for excursions and hikes.

Swaziland

This independent kingdom covers more than 17,000 square kilometres and is surrounded by South Africa to the north, west and south. To the east it borders Mozambique. Swaziland is still ruled by a king. In the west the landscape is characterised by wooded highlands, while the central part features gently undulating, fertile hill ranges that become ever flatter towards the south. In the east lie the lowlands, mostly covered in bush and used for growing sugar cane. Swaziland is rich in cultural events and famous for its colourful ceremonies. It is also a real highlight for nature lovers and hikers, with remarkable nature and game reserves.

Madikwe & Pilanesberg

These two malaria-free national parks are extremely popular with families. Madikwe National Park covers around 75,000 hectares of bushland and lies north-west of Johannesburg on the border with Botswana. The terrain consists of wide grass and bush plains broken up by isolated inselbergs. Today more than 12,000 animals live in the Madikwe reserve, and all big game species are represented, including the ‘Big 5’. The 55,000-hectare Pilanesberg National Park borders the entertainment resort of Sun City and extends across an extinct volcanic crater 1200 million years old, so both types of vegetation can be found here. On daily game drives in a 4x4 or on bush walks, you will be accompanied by experienced rangers.

Johannesburg

With over 8 million inhabitants, Jo'burg, Pretoria and the province of Gauteng form one of the largest urban areas in Southern Africa. More than half the population of this economic powerhouse lives in the suburbs of Soweto, Diepkloof and Orange Farm in the south-west of the city. African and European influences blend in this vibrant metropolis. Johannesburg is not a holiday destination in itself, but on the way to Kruger National Park or other typical sights, or at the end of a tour, it is well worth spending one or two nights in the City of Gold. The excellent hotels, restaurants and shopping centres are found in the districts of Sandton and Melrose. A visit to the Apartheid Museum or a guided tour of Soweto is well worthwhile during a stay in Johannesburg.

When should I travel to South Africa?

South Africa is worth a visit all year round. Thanks to its geographical and climatic diversity, it is an interesting destination in every season. The best time to travel depends on which regions of South Africa you visit and what you would like to do. Different climatic conditions suit different plans, depending on whether you have a safari, long hikes, whale watching or city tours in mind. The voyageplan specialists will be happy to advise you.

Why should I take a trip to South Africa?

Because the southernmost part of the African continent is one of the most beautiful and fascinating countries in the world – and it is easy to reach, with no time difference. There are many ways to discover South Africa: by hire car on a self-drive tour, on a small group tour or on a privately guided tour. For travelling in real style, board the luxury trains Rovos Rail or the Blue Train. Whether as a couple, with friends, on your own or with your family – South Africa has something for everyone and will leave you with unforgettable memories and experiences.

Where can I book a trip to South Africa?

The voyageplan specialists have extensive, in-depth know-how gained from their own travel experience, so your trip to South Africa can be planned to perfection. Nothing stands in the way of your dream holiday in South Africa.