South Africa

South Africa Tour

Where Two Oceans Meet, Big Five Roam & City Culture Shines

Discover South Africa – a rainbow-hued world at Africa’s southern tip where Table Mountain frames a sparkling bay, whales breach along wild coasts, and lion prides stalk golden savannahs. From Cape Town’s design-forward neighbourhoods and the Winelands’ sunlit valleys to the rugged Drakensberg and vast Kruger, the country blends epic landscapes, wildlife spectacles, and a magnetic urban energy. Road-trip the Garden Route, taste world-class wines, ride vintage luxury rail, or track the Big Five at dawn – South Africa is a grand adventure with effortless style.

With Ocean6 Holidays’ curated South Africa packages, experience seamless safaris, chic stays, and insider-only coastal and culinary moments – crafted for comfort, conservation, and wow.

South Africa Tourism: A Quick Overview
Continent: Africa
Official Languages: 12 (incl. Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, English, SASL)
Dial Code: +27
Population: ~63 million
Currency: South African Rand (ZAR)
Time Zone: SAST (UTC+2)
Area: ~1,221,000 km²

Highlights of South Africa

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Big Five Safaris:

Kruger and private reserves (Sabi Sand, Timbavati) deliver close-up encounters with lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo.

Cape Town & the Cape Peninsula:

Table Mountain, Camps Bay sunsets, penguins at Boulders, and Chapman’s Peak’s dramatic coastal drive.

Garden Route Road Trip:

Lagoons, forests, beaches, and adventure hubs from Mossel Bay to Tsitsikamma.

Winelands & World-Class Dining:

Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, and Paarl pour award-winning wines paired with farm-to-table cuisine.

Heritage & Human Origins:

Robben Island’s living history and the Cradle of Humankind’s fossil-filled caves.

Mountains & Wild Coastlines:

Hike the Drakensberg amphitheater, surf Durban’s Golden Mile, or search for whales off Hermanus.

Cities of South Africa

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Cape Town

Design-savvy, ocean-ringed, and backdropped by Table Mountain. Explore the V&A Waterfront, Bo-Kaap’s colour-washed lanes, and hip food markets.

Johannesburg

Creative capital of galleries and street art; visit Constitution Hill, Maboneng, and the Apartheid Museum-then dine in buzzy Parkhurst.

Durban

Surf city with subtropical vibes, Indian Ocean beaches, and legendary curry on the Golden Mile.

Pretoria

Jacaranda-lined administrative capital with heritage architecture, embassies, and leafy cafés.

Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)

Friendly City gateway to the Eastern Cape, Addo Elephant National Park, and the end of the Garden Route.

Bloemfontein

Judicial hub and central stopover with museums, roses, and big-sky sunsets.

Attractions of South Africa

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Table Mountain & Cape Peninsula:

Cableway panoramas, Cape Point cliffs, and penguins at Boulders Beach.

Kruger National Park & Private Reserves:

Iconic game drives, night safaris, and luxury lodges with conservation at their core.

Robben Island (UNESCO):

Ferry across Table Bay to Mandela’s former prison-guided by former inmates.

Stellenbosch & Franschhoek:

Wine estates, cellar tours, and vineyard cycling amid mountain amphitheaters.

Drakensberg (uKhahlamba, UNESCO):

Basalt peaks, San rock art, and epic day hikes.

Garden Route & Tsitsikamma:

Suspension bridges, indigenous forests, canyons, and coastal trails.

Cradle of Humankind (UNESCO):

Fossil sites and interactive origins exhibits near Johannesburg.

Addo & the Eastern Cape:

Elephants by the hundred, malaria-free safaris, dunes, and wild beaches.

Shopping in South Africa

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Pick up Cape wines, diamonds (from reputable, certified retailers), tanzanite alternatives, beadwork, Zulu baskets, shweshwe textiles, leather goods, ceramics, and contemporary art. Browse Cape Town’s Watershed & Neighbourhoods Market, Joburg’s Rosebank Art & Craft Market, and Stellenbosch farm stalls.

Cuisine of South Africa

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A rich mosaic: braai culture (boerewors, chops, sosaties), Cape Malay curries, snoek on the coals, Durban bunny chow, bobotie, chakalaka with pap, biltong & droëwors. Sweet finishes include melktert and koeksisters. Sip Cape wines, MCC (local bubbly), rooibos tea, and small-batch gins.

Interesting Facts About South Africa

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Three Capitals:

Pretoria (administrative), Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial).

Two Oceans, One Country:

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Atlantic meets Indian along 2,700+ km of coastline.

Human Origins:

Cradle of Humankind holds some of the world’s richest hominin fossil finds.

Biodiversity Hotspot:

The Cape Floristic Region packs thousands of plant species into a compact corner.

World First:

1967: the first human heart transplant in Cape Town.

Sporting Stage:

Host of the 2010 FIFA World Cup; record-setting Springboks in rugby.

Location of South Africa

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Southern tip of Africa. Borders Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Eswatini; fully encloses Lesotho. Washed by the Atlantic (west) and Indian (east) Oceans; offshore Prince Edward Islands in the sub-Antarctic.

Best Time to Visit South Africa

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Year-round-with seasons shaping your experience.

Dry Winter for Safaris (May-September)

Weather:

Cool, dry Highveld; crisp, clear bushveld.

Experiences:

Best wildlife viewing in Kruger/private reserves; fewer mosquitoes; ideal for hiking in the Drakensberg.

Tips:

Warm layers for chilly mornings/evenings on game drives.

Sunny Cape Summer (November-March)

Weather:

Mediterranean in the southwest-hot, dry days; warm Indian Ocean along the east coast.

Experiences:

Beaches, Winelands lunches, Garden Route road trips, whale season peaks Aug-Oct (Hermanus).

Tips:

Peak festive season: reserve early for Cape Town/Winelands.

Shoulder Seasons (April & October)

Weather:

Gentle temps, fewer crowds.

Experiences:

Great value, vivid landscapes, flexible routing combining coast & bush.

How to Get to South Africa

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By Air

Fly into Johannesburg (O.R. Tambo, JNB), Cape Town (CPT), or Durban (DUR) with extensive global links. Easy domestic hops to safari gateways (Skukuza, Hoedspruit, Nelspruit) and the Garden Route (George).

By Road

Well-maintained highways connect major hubs; self-drive is popular (left-hand driving). Regional overland entries from Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Eswatini.

By Rail

Iconic luxury routes (Rovos Rail, The Blue Train) link Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Cape Town for slow-travel elegance.

Best Places & Experiences by Region

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Western Cape & Cape Peninsula

Do: Summit Table Mountain, coastal drives, penguin visits, Winelands tastings.
See: Bo-Kaap, Chapman’s Peak, Cape Point, Stellenbosch & Franschhoek estates.

Garden Route & Little Karoo

Do: Lagoon cruises, forest hikes, zip-lining, canoeing, whale watching (in season).
See: Knysna Heads, Tsitsikamma bridges, Oudtshoorn ostrich farms, Bloukrans Bridge.

Kruger & Private Reserves (Mpumalanga & Limpopo)

Do: Dawn & dusk game drives, bush walks, starry boma dinners.
See: Sabi Sand big cats, Blyde River Canyon, Panorama Route.

KwaZulu-Natal

Do: Warm-water beaches, surf, Zulu cultural experiences, Drakensberg hikes.
See: uKhahlamba-Drakensberg, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Durban’s Golden Mile.

Gauteng & Cradle of Humankind

Do: World-class museums, township tours, contemporary art circuits.
See: Apartheid Museum, Constitution Hill, Sterkfontein Caves.

Eastern & Northern/Western Cape Wilds

Do: Malaria-free family safaris, dune adventures, flower safaris in Namaqualand (spring).
See: Addo Elephant NP, West Coast wildflower carpets (Aug-Sep).

Suggested Experiences with Ocean6 Holidays

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Cape & Kruger Classic (8-10 Days):

Cape Town icons + private reserve safari (Sabi Sand/Timbavati) with seamless flights and lodge transfers.

Garden Route & Winelands Drive (7-9 Days):

Self-drive or chauffeured: Cape Town → Winelands → Hermanus (in season) → Knysna/Tsitsikamma.

Family Safari, Coast & Culture (9-12 Days):

Malaria-free Eastern Cape safari + Garden Route fun + Cape Town discovery.

Mountains, Parks & Indian Ocean (9-11 Days):

Drakensberg hikes, iSimangaliso wetlands, and warm-water beaches near Durban.

Luxury Rail & Vineyards (6-8 Days):

Rovos Rail/The Blue Train to Cape Town + curated vineyard stays and chef’s tables.

Practical Tips

Health & parks:

Some safari areas recommend malaria precautions-ask your doctor. SANParks/private reserves have gate rules; follow ranger guidance.

Safety smart:

Use reputable guides/transfers, keep valuables discreet, and favour well-located hotels-common-sense city travel.

Power & plugs:

230V; SA uses mainly Type M (and newer Type N) plugs-carry a universal adapter.

Drive happy:

Left-hand driving; good highways. Watch for wildlife/livestock on rural roads.

Pack light layers:

Neutral safari wear, sun hat, SPF; warmer layers for winter mornings and the Cape’s breezes.

Why South Africa with Ocean6 Holidays

We unlock the best seats in nature – top tracker-guides, prime wildlife areas, boutique city bases, and tastings at our favourite cellar doors. With conservation-minded partners, smooth routing, and 24/7 support, your days flow from lion sightings and vineyard lunches to cliff-edge sunsets and coastal strolls. Whether it’s Table Mountain at sunrise or leopard at last light, Ocean6 Holidays turns South Africa’s greatest hits into your greatest memories.

Ready for the Big Five and big views?
Explore our South Africa packages and let two oceans, wild parks, and world-class cities welcome you.

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