South Africa holidays

What are the best options for a South Africa holiday?

The team at Original Travel has travelled the length and breadth of South Africa, staying at the best lodges and trying out the best activities (and wines). Our favourites include the Kruger National Park and adjoining private game reserves, which are easily combined with those in KwaZulu-Natal, the kingdom of the Zulus, where some of the fiercest battles of both the Anglo Zulu and the Boer Wars took place under the peaks of the dramatic Drakensberg Mountains.

Cape Province, stretching the length of the southern coast, has a marvellous Mediterranean climate at is most agreeable for a south african luxury holidays between December and April. Its capital, Cape Town, is the ideal place from which to begin an exploration of the south starting with its own attractions of Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch Gardens and Robben Island, then along the Wine Route and further still into the Great Karoo or east via the Garden Route.

South Africa is a great destination for couples, solo travellers or families (owing to the fact that many parts, and game reserves, are malaria free). The safari experiences, which are somewhat overlooked compared to other African counterparts, exhibit wide varieties of wild game and stunning landscapes, especially in the likes of the Eastern Cape and Sabi Sands Game Reserve. However if you are short on time and fancy a quick getaway, Cape Town and the Winelands are ideal for a long weekend of wine, walking and whales. At risk of sounding like a broken record, South Africa can cater for all, making it a perfect destination for a tailor made experience.

CAPE TOWN

The city of Cape Town is a great place to stay on any South Africa holiday. Bordered by the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, and nestling at the foot of the amazing Table Mountain, Cape Town offers activities to be experienced as a couple or a family. The city boasts fantastic white sandy beaches, such as Camps Bay, and plenty of great places to go out at along the Waterfront or on Long Street. There are also lots of sporting activities available: hiking Table Mountain, shark cage diving, parachute jumping, surfing and kite-surfing. There are many remarkable sites to visit: Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, the Cape Peninsula and Cape of Good Hope, and Hermanus for whale watching. From Cape Town, take a trip along the wine route in the Cape Winelands. A weekend gives you plenty of time to discover the vineyards of Paarl, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch. Finally, Cape Town is also the starting point for a road trip around South Africa, along the Garden Route, exploring the beaches of Plettenberg Bay, Knysna (famous for its oysters), Tsitsikamma Park and Jeffrey's Bay - a surfer's paradise. Some trips to South Africa will take you further north, to Durban, Kwazulu-Natal, and Swaziland, where you can admire beautiful handicrafts or even for a stay in the Drakensberg Mountains or on the wild beaches of Maputaland.

PARKS, LODGES AND SAFARIS

South Africa is an exceptional country for a safari holiday. The country has about twenty national parks and many private reserves. The most famous is still Kruger National Park : one of Africa's largest animal reserves (roughly 7,500 square miles), which is a five-hour drive from Johannesburg. During your South African safari, by 4x4, you will have the chance to see the 'Big Five': lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffaloes. Animals can be seen throughout the year, with the best period between July and October.

Discover the amazing views of the Blyde River Canyon in the area. Then visit Marakele National Park in the heart of the Waterberg Range. Further north, on the border with Zimbabwe, Mapungubwe National Park offers a vast zoological and archaeological heritage. Accommodation within the park is usually in lodges. These are luxury establishments that have been designed to protect the environment and to extend the animal watching experience as much as possible. If you want to travel with your family to South Africa, be sure to check with us in advance as lodges sometimes only accommodate children of a certain age.

JOHANNESBURG

Johannesburg has an bad reputation, yet it has many historical, natural and cultural treasures. Spending two or three days in the city is an original idea for a South Africa holiday. In particular, you can discover the many sites linked to Gandhi, who lived in this country for 21 years. Among them is Constitution Hill, the seat of the current parliament and the place where Gandhi was previously imprisoned. Travel to Soweto and follow in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela, symbol of the anti-apartheid struggle. Equally worth a visit is the deeply moving Apartheid Museum. Johannesburg is also an artistic city, with many galleries including 70 Juta. It is a trendy city and shoppers will love a visit to the CBD and Sandton neighbourhoods.

Discover our home in Johannesburg - Satyagraha House. Built at the turn of the last century, it was home to a special guest: Mohandas Gandhi. Now restored, it is listed as part of the city's historic heritage and is home to a museum. This site of historical importance has also been converted into a guesthouse. Take the opportunity during your stay in South Africa to relive an important part of the country and the Mahatma's history.