With its supermodel-like coastlines, extraordinary game reserves and long hot summers that begin just as the UK is plunged into darkness, it’s no surprise South Africa is consistently voted one of the top destinations for British holidaymakers. Come for ridiculously photogenic views, delicious (and very affordable) wine, long lazy lunches under the oak trees and the chance to spot the Big Five from your bedroom window.
Current travel restrictions and entry requirements
Travellers arriving in South Africa need to present one of the following: proof of vaccination; a recovery certificate; or a negative PCR test (taken within 72 hours of departure) or a negative lab-conducted Rapid Antigen test (taken within 24 hours of departure). Masks are no longer a requirement in public places.
Best time to go
Cape Town and the Garden Route have a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers (December to March) and cool, wet winters (June to September), while the rest of the country is relatively warm year round. February to April is unbeatable and made for lazy days on the beach: the Indian Ocean is wallow-ready after a summer of sun and Cape Town is gloriously wind-free. Up in the Kruger Park, you’ll hit rutting season – big cats in particular are thrillingly easy to spot when they’re playing the mating game.
Top regions and cities
Cape Town
Get your bearings by heading up Table Mountain early in the morning when the ubiquitous summer wind is least likely to blow you off your feet. If you’re feeling sporty, climb Platteklip Gorge, the oldest and fastest route, which will take you straight up in about three hours. Afterwards, bypass the crowded beaches of Camps Bay for pint-sized Bakhoeven, and half-pint-sized Beta, which boast wonderful views of Lion’s Head.
If you’ve ever received a postcard from Cape Town, chances are it will have been emblazoned with the jewel-coloured houses of Bo-Kaap – head there for lunch in one of the Cape Malay restaurants. Get up early one morning and wend your way along Chapmans Peak Drive to penguin-packed Boulders Beach, and don’t miss a wander down the Treetops Walkway in Kirstenbosch, which – with 10-foot plants reaching over the rails and baboons chattering in the distance – feels closer to the Rwandan rainforests than your typical botanical garden.
The winelands
Knock back more wine, this time in the shade of a historic Cape Dutch House. The exceptionally pretty, charm-heavy town of Franschhoek is set right in the heart…
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