Table Mountain, winelands and big-game safaris in one road trip.
South Africa packs in an extraordinary range. Cape Town sits beneath Table Mountain, with Robben Island offshore and the Cape Winelands of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek a short drive away. The Garden Route runs along a coast of lagoons and forests, the Drakensberg offers serious hiking, and Kruger National Park is one of Africa's great safari destinations. Johannesburg and Soweto tell the country's modern story.
Roads are good, so self-drive trips are easy and rewarding. Food ranges from braai and bobotie to Durban's bunny chow, with excellent wine. Seasons vary by region: the Cape is best from October to April, while Kruger's dry winter from May to September is ideal for game viewing; whales gather off Hermanus from roughly July to November.
Best time to visit South Africa
February, March, April, September, October, November.
Places to visit in South Africa
Cape Town: A mountain-backed harbour city with Atlantic beaches, Cape Dutch history and the winelands on its doorstep.
Kruger National Park: One of Africa's largest game reserves, where lions, elephants and leopards roam bushveld you can explore by car.
Cape Winelands: Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl, with gabled Cape Dutch estates and some of the southern hemisphere's best wine.
Garden Route: A coastal road trip from Mossel Bay to Storms River through Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and Tsitsikamma.
Johannesburg: South Africa's economic capital, with the Apartheid Museum, Soweto's history and a creative scene in Maboneng.
Durban: A beach city on the Indian Ocean, with a long promenade, a strong Indian heritage and the famous bunny chow.
Drakensberg: South Africa's highest mountains, a UNESCO site of sheer escarpments, hiking trails and ancient San paintings.
Hermanus: A seaside town on Walker Bay known for southern right whales, which calve within sight of shore each winter and spring.
iSimangaliso Wetland Park: A UNESCO-listed coastal wilderness in KwaZulu-Natal, with an estuary full of hippos and beaches where turtles nest.
Essentials
Currency: South African Rand (ZAR)
Language: English widely used; Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa and others spoken
Plugs: Type C / M / N, 230 V
Driving: Left side
Time zone: UTC+2
Tipping: 10–15% in restaurants; tip petrol attendants and car guards
Getting around: A hire car is best; domestic flights save time on long distances
Entry: Check the official rules for your passport before booking