South Africa Holidays

If you are flying internally in South Africa, you will need to collect your luggage in Johannesburg and check it in again. You will also need to clear customs, which may have a long queue. Usually, Steppes will arrange a meet-and-greet person to navigate this part of your journey – they can help speed the process up significantly.

On the other hand, if you are flying on to another country, you do not usually need to collect your bags. However, the only way to be 100% certain is to ask when you check-in your bags at your departure airport (e.g. Heathrow). The check-in staff will be able to tell you if your baggage will need collecting.

Generally, only the east (including the Kruger) of South Africa is considered a high-risk area for malaria; however, the guidance does change. But this does mean that are a range of safari options across the rest of the country that are usually regarded as malaria-free. This makes South Africa the perfect destination for those who cannot or do not want to take antimalarial medication. Please check with your doctor for the most up-to-date advice regarding malarial risk areas.

These options include safaris in Madikwe and The Waterberg in the north, as well as game reserves in the west. Generally, safaris in these areas focus on rehabilitated land, as opposed to the virgin bushveld of the Kruger. However, this is not to the detriment of the experience. You still have a good chance of seeing iconic species, the standard of guiding is comparable with the Kruger and many of the reserves are arguably more beautiful.

All the game reserves in South Africa are fenced and dominated by bushveld – an ecosystem primarily of grassland and low-thorn tree scrub. South Africa lacks the open plains and vast herds of East Africa, but, in turn, it offers a great diversity of wildlife species. The animals are often better habituated to the presence of vehicles and hence ideal for photography.

Kruger National Park is one to the best places in the world to view leopards and the reserves of KwaZulu-Natal are home to a prolific number of rhinos. The lodges are generally of a high standard of accommodation, cuisine and guiding, with 24-hour electricity and plumbed water. All these factors combine to make South Africa ideal for the first time safari-goer.

The cape and the west coast are surrounded by the deep, cold Atlantic Ocean, so are not really suitable for swimming off. However, penguins, dolphins, seals and whales are frequently seen along the coastline. Paddleboarding, surfing, diving (with wetsuits), canoeing and boat cruises are popular in the hope of getting closer to the wildlife.

Further east, after Cape Agulhas, the Indian Ocean begins and sweeps up the east coast towards Mozambique. The Indian Ocean is warmer than the Atlantic and is characterised by golden beaches that are great for swimming from, although large waves are common. The beaches along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline famously play host to international surfing competitions and become wilder the closer you get to the marine parks of Saint Lucia, where leatherback and hawksbill turtles nest.

Humpback whales migrate along the east coast from June to September and Hermanus offers a popular vantage point for this migration.

The best time to spot wildlife in South Africa is during the cool, dry season, when water is scarcer and vegetation less thick – making animals more predictable in their behaviour and easier to spot.

Thanks to its contrasting climatic zones, South Africa can claim to truly be a year-round safari destination. Between May and September, the east of the country experiences its dry season, meaning that this the best time to go on safari in the Kruger, Madikwe and the Waterberg.

In contrast, the Cape experiences its dry season between August and May, making this the best time to visit the private reserves found in this region.

There are plenty of options when it comes to travel in South Africa. If you want to link a safari in the Kruger or Sabi Sands with elsewhere, then a good network of internal flights make this simple. Or, if you prefer to travel more traditionally, then there are several luxury train options to chose from, with options to continue into the rest of Southern Africa. Alternatively, if you like more flexibility,  you can drive yourself – this is perfect if exploring the Garden Route or the battlefields of KwaZulu-Natal.

Southern right whales migrate past South Africa’s southern coast between June and November, calving between July and August. Some of the best land-based whale watching in the world can be found in Hermanus and the surrounding area, where whales often pass within a few hundred metres of the shore.

For travel along the Garden Route, you can wear what you would on a European beach holiday. You may need to dress up in a hotel/restaurant or if you choose to go out into town. South Africans like to look smart, so take something suitable to wear to fit in. If your holiday is more adventurous, then pack cotton layers such as T-shirts, a light fleece, shorts and a pair of long or zip-off trousers in muted colours. These will be important, as cold nights swiftly change into sweltering days. Socks are good with closed shoes at night to keep bugs at bay.