Areas, parks & places to visit in South Africa
Click below to read more detailed information, where you can stay, and holiday ideas visiting each area.
Addo Elephant Park
6 places to stay
Captivating close encounters with elephants are guaranteed at Addo Elephant National Park: a gentle and affordable Eastern Cape game experience.
Augrabies Falls
3 places to stay
Soulful solitude awaits amid the russet rocks, dramatic waterfalls and stunning gorge walks of Augrabies starkly beautiful, ancient landscape.
Cape Town
14 places to stay
Set against the spectacular backdrop of Table Mountain, Cape Town delivers on so many fronts that it’s a must for most visitors.
De Hoop Reserve
2 places to stay
De Hoop’s rugged coastline, famed for its whale-watching, is backed by towering sand dunes, antelope-rich fynbos and marked with terrific hiking trails.
Garden Route | Knysna
2 places to stay
Knysna is a small town notable for its lovely lagoon, and proximity to a number of reserves – including the spectacular Featherbed Reserve, and the impressive Knysna Forest.
Garden Route | Plettenberg
8 places to stay
Plettenberg Bay is a lovely seaside town in an area notable for its beaches and nature reserves.
Garden Route | Tsitsikamma
2 places to stay
Towering mountains, rushing rivers, deep ravines, indigenous forest and a rugged coastline: Tsitsikamma makes for wild and beautiful exploration.
Garden Route | Wilderness
2 places to stay
An aptly named place to soak up nature: meandering rivers, freshwater lakes, lush forest trails and a stunning beach.
Grootbos Reserve
2 places to stay
Ancient milkwood forests, flower-filled fynbos and superb whale-watching: Grootbos is a first-class wilderness reserve between Cape Town and the Garden Route.
Hermanus
6 places to stay
Taking centre stage on a beautiful, wild stretch of coastline, Hermanus is one of the world’s best places to watch whales from land.
Johannesburg
4 places to stay
Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo International Airport is the gateway for many travellers to southern Africa; we offer a handful hotels for overnight stops en route to other destinations.
Kariega
4 places to stay
The malaria-free Kariega Private Game Reserve is located 141 km, about a 90-minutes’ drive, east of Port Elizabeth – making it a viable add-on to a trip along the Garden Route.
Kgalagadi
14 places to stay
A huge, off-beat park of red Kalahari dunes and dry river valleys which reward self-drive enthusiasts who take their time.
Kwandwe
5 places to stay
A superb big-game finale to a Garden Route trip, Kwandwe’s a stylish safari stop with a true wilderness feel.
Little Karoo
3 places to stay
Northeast of South Africa’s Garden Route, over the Outeniqua Mountains, is Little Karoo – a dry and often flat area agricultural area.
Namaqualand
6 places to stay
The fynbos of Namaqualand is quiet for most of the year but burst into life during the flower season (Aug-Sept), while the Cedarberg Mountains offer great hiking year round.
Port Elizabeth
1 places to stay
Port Elizabeth is generally used at the beginning or end of a trip including the Garden Route. It is also the gateway to the Eastern Cape game reserves.
Samara
1 places to stay
Sweeping plains and rugged mountains surround this family-run homestead and Big Five reserve in the blonde Karoo grasslands.
Shamwari
3 places to stay
Although only 45 minutes’ drive from Port Elizabeth, you will find it set in lush countryside along the Bushmans River.
Swellendam
4 places to stay
Close to Bontebok National Park, Swellendam’s charming Cape Dutch architecture, friendly guesthouses and artistic community are a delight.
Winelands
7 places to stay
Fanning out into the hills around Cape Town, many of South Africa’s top vineyards welcome visitors to taste their wines.
Our top trips in South Africa
Here are 10 great South Africa trips to inspire you.
Cape Genet Self-drive Safari
20 days • 8 locations
CAPE TOWN AIRPORT TO CAPE TOWN AIRPORT
Enjoy fine-dining in Cape Town, whale-watching in Hermanus, and a range of walking and water-based activities throughout De Hoop’s Nature Reserve, the Klein Karoo and Plettenberg. This relaxed self-driven safari concludes with stays in The Winelands and Namaqualand.
US$2,890 - US$3,810 per person
Cape Grysbok Self-drive Safari
20 days • 8 locations
CAPE TOWN AIRPORT TO CAPE TOWN AIRPORT
Explore Cape Town, Hermanus, Franschhoek and Namaqualand, amongst other memorable destinations, during this leisurely self-driven safari. Fine dining, varied activities and impressively comfortable lodges, estates and country houses await.
US$3,810 - US$6,310 per person
Bontebok Self-drive Safari
12 days • 5 locations
CAPE TOWN AIRPORT TO PORT ELIZABETH AIRPORT
This varied and great-value self-drive trip visits Cape Town, the Winelands and diverse sections of the Garden Route, staying at great places with real local character. It’s ideal for active couples and families who want to explore the Cape’s stunning locations.
US$1,380 - US$1,690 per person
Waterbuck self-drive
12 days • 6 locations
CAPE TOWN AIRPORT TO PORT ELIZABETH AIRPORT
A classic Cape and Garden Route self-drive taken at a leisurely pace and staying in charming boutique hotels. Great food and wine paired with spectacular scenery and an exciting array of activities.
US$2,360 - US$2,940 per person
Cape Mountain Zebra Self-drive Safari
12 days • 4 locations
CAPE TOWN AIRPORT TO CAPE TOWN AIRPORT
Fine dining, luxurious accommodation and a wide of range of leisurely activities make this a superbly comfortable self-driven safari. Visit the cosmopolitan Cape Town, tranquil coastal retreats, stylish wine farms and spectacularly peaceful nature reserves.
US$3,580 - US$6,640 per person
Black Wildebeest Self-drive Safari
19 days • 10 locations
CAPE TOWN AIRPORT TO WINDHOEK AIRPORT
Journey from South Africa’s cosmopolitan Cape Town to central Namibia’s Okonjima Nature Reserve during this self-driven safari. The route passes through a stunning variety of landscapes, offering access to this beautiful continent’s rich diversity.
US$3,220 - US$3,700 per person
Ostrich Self-drive Safari
14 days • 9 locations
WINDHOEK AIRPORT TO WINDHOEK AIRPORT
Great value self-drive adventure through the epic desert landscapes of southern Namibia and South Africa’s Kalahari, visiting highlights such as Fish River Canyon, the ghost towns of Lüderitz and Sossusvlei’s dunes.
US$1,950 - US$2,760 per person
The Highlights of Africa
17 days • 7 locations
CAPE TOWN AIRPORT TO KIGALI AIRPORT
An epic adventure taking in some of Africa’s most incredible sights and wildlife experiences, from Cape Town to the Okavango Delta, Victoria Falls, the Maasai Mara and an encounter with mountain gorillas.
US$14,330 - US$18,200 per person
Leopard Safari
13 days • 4 locations
VICTORIA FALLS AIRPORT TO CAPE TOWN AIRPORT
Victoria Falls, Botswana and Cape Town – a classic southern African itinerary combining luxury, wilderness, safari and culture. We can't think of a better way to spend two weeks.
US$9,250 - US$13,080 per person
Kwandwe Self-drive Safari
3 days • 1 locations
PORT ELIZABETH AIRPORT TO PORT ELIZABETH AIRPORT
An elegantly stylish lodge that is well suited to families, Kwandwe offers a range of safari activities and the chance to sight all of the "Big 5" during exploration of the Eastern Cape.
US$2,450 - US$4,050 per person
South Africa holiday styles & special interests
From family adventures to romantic breaks, find ideas here for your perfect South Africa trip
