Cape Town
Lying immediately beneath Table Mountain, Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, a true melting pot of…
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Steppes Travel is made by the people who work here. Incredible holidays are made possible because of their vast travel experience and the great enthusiasm they bring to their work.
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We carefully select our experts based on their knowledge, companionship and influence, ensuring that you can travel with the most knowledgeable leaders in the field.
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The people who lead the way when it comes to those things which matter to us: exploration, the environment, women’s empowerment and education.
South Africa
Reborn as the ‘Rainbow Nation’, this enthralling country offers culture, wildlife, landscapes and history – all as varied as the country itself.
Few places offer as much diversity as South Africa. Vibrant Cape Town and the magnificent Kruger attract the most attention, but South Africa is dotted with private reserves, boutique properties and activities for all ages. History and culture sit side-by-side with dramatic landscapes and prolific wildlife, making for a destination that requires more than one visit for many.
Highlights of South Africa
Garden Route
Spanning from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, the Garden Route is an incredibly scenic part of South Africa, so-called because of its…
Kruger National Park and Sabi Sands
The Mpumalanga province is dominated by the Kruger National Park and the adjacent private game reserves of Sabi Sands, Timbavati and Manyeleti…
Madikwe and The Waterberg
One of South Africa's largest game reserves, Madikwe Game Reserve is home to the Big Five and has a healthy African wild…
Cape Winelands
The Cape Winelands is the largest wine-producing region in South Africa and is divided into six main wine regions, each offering their…
Eastern Cape Game Reserves
The game reserves of the Eastern Cape are a great choice for a family safari or the perfect end to a holiday…
West and Northern Cape
Defined by majestic mountains, long stretches of beach, farmland valleys and further inland, the semi-desert Karoo, this area is certainly varied in…
KwaZulu-Natal
From its subtropical palm-fringed shores, lapped by the Indian Ocean to the mountainous Drakensberg range, KwaZulu-Natal offers a wealth of scenic splendour.
Some ideas for your South Africa holiday
- Explore chic and cosmopolitan Cape Town, a buzzing city dominated by Table Mountain. Then set out on a self-drive trip through the Cape, staying at boutique properties
- Take a horse riding holiday through the Waterberg, on well-schooled horses through diverse terrain. This dramatic landscape can easily be combined with the islands of Madagascar
- Spend three days at Fugitives Drift and learn about the bloody battles at Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift. Listen to gripping accounts of the battles, against the backdrop of the Drakensburg Mountains
- Have an adventure with the whole family. Track cheetahs on foot in the semi-desert of the Great Karoo and meet the meerkats of the Kalahari
- Experience some of the best whale watching in the world off the Hermanus coast. Spot whales from your room at Birkenhead House.
Some ideas for a South Africa self-drive
- Drive the picturesque Garden Route, along the ocean-dashed Cape
- Combine vibrant Cape Town with the quiet vineyards of the Winelands
- Revel in the springtime flowers of Namaqualand and the desert of the Karoo
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South Africa
Cape and Kalahari Conservation Holiday
Experience outstanding hospitality at two of South Africa’s most sustainable properties and explore spectacular yet contrasting habitats. Tswalu is a private wildlife reserve in the southern Kalahari dedicated to protecting the biodiversity that occupies the region’s wide-open spaces and hills.
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South Africa
Safari through the Greater Kruger
Combine three beautiful lodges for the ultimate Greater Kruger National Park safari. This journey takes you across one of South Africa’s last great wildlife areas, staying in the remote northern reaches, as well as two private reserves.
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South Africa
Cape Town, Whales and Winelands Self Drive
Explore the sights and restaurants of vibrant Cape Town, before driving to the whale-watching mecca of Hermanus. Finish by escaping inland to the Cape Dutch architecture and quiet vineyards of Franschhoek, where you have the chance to sample some of South Africa‘s…
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Madagascar
Madagascan Islands and South African Safari
Explore the wildlife-packed landscape that surrounds Marataba Safari Lodge – a beautiful, intimate tented camp in South Africa’s dramatic Waterberg region. Then fly directly from Johannesburg to Nosy Be for a week on the idyllic Madagascan island of Nosy Komba, staying at…
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South Africa
The Atlantic Coast, Cederberg and Winelands
Experience the diversity of South Africa’s Western Cape. Begin with the bustle and history of Cape Town, before continuing to the endless beaches of the windswept Atlantic seaboard and majestic beauty of the Cederberg Mountains. Finish amidst the vineyards of the winelands.
Idea
South Africa
Cape and Kalahari Conservation Holiday
Experience outstanding hospitality at two of South Africa’s most sustainable properties and explore spectacular yet contrasting habitats. Tswalu is a private wildlife reserve in the southern Kalahari dedicated to protecting the biodiversity that occupies the region’s wide-open spaces and hills.
Idea
South Africa
Safari through the Greater Kruger
Combine three beautiful lodges for the ultimate Greater Kruger National Park safari. This journey takes you across one of South Africa’s last great wildlife areas, staying in the remote northern reaches, as well as two private reserves.
Idea
South Africa
Cape Town, Whales and Winelands Self Drive
Explore the sights and restaurants of vibrant Cape Town, before driving to the whale-watching mecca of Hermanus. Finish by escaping inland to the Cape Dutch architecture and quiet vineyards of Franschhoek, where you have the chance to sample some of…
Idea
Madagascar
Madagascan Islands and South African Safari
Explore the wildlife-packed landscape that surrounds Marataba Safari Lodge – a beautiful, intimate tented camp in South Africa’s dramatic Waterberg region. Then fly directly from Johannesburg to Nosy Be for a week on the idyllic Madagascan island of Nosy Komba,…
Idea
South Africa
The Atlantic Coast, Cederberg and Winelands
Experience the diversity of South Africa’s Western Cape. Begin with the bustle and history of Cape Town, before continuing to the endless beaches of the windswept Atlantic seaboard and majestic beauty of the Cederberg Mountains. Finish amidst the vineyards of…
Where to Stay
Every captivating tailor-made itinerary needs a perfect base. Our team has handpicked this collection of properties to give you luxury options in styles to suit any adventure.
South Africa
Bushmans Kloof
Offering the very best in luxury accommodation, Bushmans Kloof is an exclusive and private wilderness reserve and wellness retreat situated at the foothills of the Cederberg Mountains in the Western Cape. This semi-arid Karoo region is…
South Africa
Abalone House
Abalone House is a boutique guesthouse situated in picturesque Paternoster on the west coast, set in the tranquil south side of the village with wonderful views down to a white stretch of beach and the Atlantic…
South Africa
The Oyster Box
The Oyster Box is an iconic hotel, complete with lighthouse, it is a landmark on the Umhlanga beach on the outskirts of Durban in Kwa-Zulu Natal. After a refurbishment that took two years, the Oyster Box…
South Africa
Leeu Estates
The magnificent Leeu Estates encompasses 68 hectares of fertile vineyards, landscaped gardens and indigenous heathland. Trapped between river and mountains, this sprawling property lies minutes from the relaxed town of Franschhoek. Elegant sophistication and quiet comfort…
Experiences
Make the most of every moment in South Africa. Create an itinerary brimming with these truly unforgettable moments.
Meet our experts
A passion for travel runs right through every one of our experts - meaning they're always ready with first-hand insight about their specialist countries.
Illona Cross
Born in a small South African town, I have always followed my passion for nature and discovery. After studying Nature Conservation in Pretoria, I was one of the first women to complete a very tough cadetship in the Natal Parks Board. It was here where I cut my teeth in African wildlife management.
Talk with our experts
- 1 800 571 2985
Chris Johnston
25 years ago, my first trip to Africa took on a life of its own. I planned for three months, I stayed for two years. Whilst there, I was mistaken for a priest, attacked by sharks and arrested. Yet the countless, clattering journeys opened my eyes to the beauty of the landscapes and the grace of the people. My recent trips are undoubtedly more comfortable, but the welcome is as warm as ever and the best experiences are still those I never see coming.
Talk with our experts
- 1 800 571 2985
Explore South Africa
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Cape Town
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Kruger National Park
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KwaZulu-Natal
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Cape Winelands
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Madikwe & The Waterberg
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Eastern Cape Game Reserves
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West & Northern Cape
Sustainability
Uthando
We support projects right across the planet. In South Africa, a contribution from Steppes Travel was used to champion the Masizakhe Youth Art Project (MYAP) in the township of Gugulethu in Cape Town by providing educational support and youth development through dance, drama, poetry and singing. Masizakhe is run on a daily basis by a group of six facilitators to more than 30 children.
Why Choose Steppes?
Our knowledge and expertise set us apart. So too our curiosity. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you, all the while ensuring we travel and operate sustainably.
Are you ready to discover extraordinary once again?
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