Highlights of South Africa
Embark on an epic search for the Big Five at Kruger National Park, savor delicious wines in Stellenbosch, explore the iconic Garden Route and spot pods of whales in the Indian Ocean on our South Africa small group tours.
Kruger Safari
Discover Kruger National Park on our dedicated South Africa Wildlife tour or Family Safari and Beach Adventure - an immense natural landscape, home to more than 140 species of mammal and over 500 species of bird. From forests and rivers to desolate savannahs and mopane woodland to prickly thorn thickets, the diversity of its scenery is surpassed only by the extraordinary number of opportunities to spot African wildlife, with all ‘big five’ African animals – lions, buffalo, leopards, rhinoceroses and elephants, all inhabiting the park.
Rise before dawn and board the safari trucks for a game drive through the park. As the sun casts its rays over this iconic natural landscape, look out for buffalo and antelope drinking from the waterholes and giraffes grazing among the acacia trees. Patiently watch herds of elephant and follow prints in search of a pride of lions or maybe even a cheetah.
The Garden Route
Join our South Africa Garden Route tour or Family Garden Route tour for an unforgettable South Africa adventure. This iconic road trip will lead you along the south coast from Cape Town, around Plettenberg Bay and onto Gqeberha (formerly known as Port Elizabeth). Ascend Cape Town’s iconic Table Mountain for unforgettable views, savor the region’s wines in the vineyards of Stellenbosch and stop to visit the world’s largest colony of African Penguins at Stony Point.
Get the blood pumping with adrenaline-fueled white-water rafting on the Breede River’s rapids, explore the limestone caverns of the Cango Caves, and hike through Robberg Nature Reserve, keeping an eye out for dolphins and seals in the Indian Ocean. If you’re visiting between July and November, you may even spot a whale. Finally, set off on a game drive safari in Addo Elephant National Park in search of elephants, lions, hyenas and leopards and dine with views across a nearby waterhole teeming with wildlife.
Winelands
For wine connoisseurs, a visit to South Africa’s Winelands is a must-do. Join our South Africa Highlights Discovery tour to learn how the local wine is harvested and produced, with the opportunity to savor a selection of the best red and white wines that the region has to offer. Stellenbosch boasts an excellent reputation for producing some of the finest Chenin Blanc, best enjoyed with fresh seafood from the nearby Indian Ocean. Or try the local Pinotage, a blend of Pinot Noir and Cinsaut - the perfect partner for braai-grilled meat.
Solo Travel
Our small group tours to Africa are a popular choice for couples, friends and solo travelers alike. Everyone who travels with us shares a love for fun and authentic adventure, so whether you’re traveling solo, or with company, you’ll be in the company of like-minded people, with ample opportunities to make new friends along the way. Your local tour leader will run the everyday logistics of your vacation, ensuring you see all of the must-see sights and the lesser-known hidden treasures on your South Africa adventure.
Best time to go to South Africa
Garden Route
South Africa’s Garden Route offers plenty of amazing coastal scenery all year round. The high season from November to February brings lots of warm, sunny weather, but expect large crowds at popular destinations.
Christmas is also a great time to visit, with an electrifying atmosphere in Cape Town. Temperatures gradually cool from March to July, and the nights feel colder, but the advantage is that popular sights will be much quieter. Consider taking the family in August for a fun adventure with the climate remaining comfortable with warm temperatures and , with rainy days every now and then - or enjoy a Springtime break in September or October when the temperatures slowly rise again and the whale watching at Hermanus is at its best.
Kruger Safari
For the best chance of spotting the Big Five, plan your visit to Kruger National Park during the dry season, from June to October, when the wildlife tends to congregate around waterholes. The trade-off is that conditions will be very dusty and there will be more tourist vehicles out on tracks. Rainy season, from November until May, transforms the landscape into a lush oasis, rich with migratory birds and frequent appearances from elephants, giraffes and zebras near water sources. Newborn animals will appear at the start of the year and, apart from at Easter, you can enjoy quieter tracks and camps during the off-peak season.