South Africa Holidays

Sample South Africa Holidays

Luxury Cape Town, Winelands & Garden Route Holiday

Luxury Cape Town & Kruger Safari

Luxury Kruger & Mozambique Holiday

Cape Town, Winelands and Kruger

Cape Town & Garden Route Holiday

Durban & KwaZulu Natal Holiday

Cape Town, Winelands & Hermanus Holiday

Kruger Walking Safari & Beach Holiday in KwaZulu Natal

Kruger Park Walking Safari

Contact Mahlatini for your personalised holiday to South Africa

See more Safaris in South Africa

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South Africa Honeymoons

South Africa is a fabulous choice when it comes to picking your honeymoon destination, for further information visit our dedicated South Africa Honeymoon section. Combining South Africa with a second destination is quickly becoming a popular choice with Honeymooners choosing twin centres such as Botswana & South Africa, South Africa & Mauritius and South Africa & Seychelles.

Contact Mahlatini for your personalised holiday to South Africa

South Africa Family Holidays

The staff at Mahlatini has an in-depth knowledge when it comes to creating a wonderful family holiday, to find out more visit the South Africa Family Holiday Section. If you are drawn by safaris and want to venture further into the wilderness our visit our Namibia Family Holiday section.

Contact Mahlatini for your personalised holiday to South Africa

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Overview of South Africa

South Africa is one of the grandest attractions in the continent of Africa and is in high-demand due to the wide variation of activities, landscapes and vistas it has to offer. Over the last number of years South Africa’s internal transport system has improved greatly with the increase of good roads, domestic flights and a plethora of luxury travel facilities it has attracted a multitude of explorers. Although South Africa is much further ahead in economy and tourism than its neighbouring countries it easily offers access to the Africa bush, spectacular views of snow-capped mountains, tropical landscapes and lush vineyards without having to go too far from the sights and sounds the local towns or cities. Due to its location South Africa’s constant sunshine ensures that the tourism industry is not entirely seasonal which results in less overcrowding. This makes it an excellent choice for family holidays, honeymooners and explorers wishing to travel in the comfort of glorious sunshine.

Most people who travel to South Africa want to include a safari in their holiday. There are hundreds of regions offering various types of safaris in the country and we will help and advise you on the best area for you. The inclusion of Cape Town (and its surrounding areas such as the winelands and the Garden Route) is equally a desirable inclusion in most South Africa holiday itineraries. What is so great about South Africa is that you can include a safari, a city break and a beach holiday all in one holiday!

Accommodation and service in South Africa is known for being of a very high standard. If you want to spoil yourselves there is no shortage of luxury hotels and safari lodges, many of which are continually rated amongst the best in the world.

Mahlatini have a number of South Africans in their sales team with extensive knowledge on the country and its key attractions. Our personalised itineraries are designed using our expert knowledge and travel experience.

When to travel

There is never a bad time to travel to South Africa. The summer months run from September to May and are generally hot and sunny. During summer you may experience short afternoon showers after the heat of the day but these are quick and very pleasurable in cooling things down.

The winter months are only really June, July and August. Being slightly cooler by no means dismisses it as a holiday destination. The vast majority of the country experiences warm and dry winters. Temperatures are generally cool in the morning and evenings allowing for a comfortable night's sleep and fresh start. The day time temperatures can range from 18 degrees Celsius to 28 degrees, depending on the region.

The whole country can be visited during the summer months but there are certain regions we recommend more specifically for the winter months such as Durban and KZN and the Kruger Park. Cape Town and its surrounding regions can experience cool and wet winters but this usually doesn't deter people too much as the weather comes in coastal fronts, meaning this is not a continuous cycle. Also the whales are calving on the Cape coast during the winter months providing another highlight to your trip.

Speak to us about your specific interest and we will advise you on the best time of year to travel to the region which suits you best.

How to travel

All holidays will start in one of two cities, Johannesburg or Cape Town, both of which host the international airports, although a new international airport is currently being built in Durban.

Those who begin in Cape Town have a number of route options. One of the most popular itineraries in South Africa is taking in Cape Town, the Winelands and the Garden Route. For those wishing to tag a safari onto such a trip, the destinations which work best are the Eastern Cape safari region and the Kruger Park safari. Sometimes, particularly in the winter months, it is best to cut out the Garden Route and after a visit to Cape Town, fly to Durban to explore the beaches and game reserves of KwaZulu Natal. In these cases the departure airport would be Johannesburg which is linked to many domestic airports such as Port Elizabeth (Eastern Cape), Durban and the Kruger Mpumalanga Airport.

Those who begin in Johannesburg again have a number of travel options of offer. Sun City and its neighbouring game reserve, Pilanesberg is a 2 – 3 hour from the city and the malaria-free Big 5 game reserve Madikwe is also within an approximately 4 hour drive of Johannesburg. To access the Kruger from Johannesburg there are numerous flights to bordering airports as well as airstrips within the park itself. You can also drive to the Kruger area from the airport which would be anything from 5 to 8 hours. Durban is a mere 1 hour flight from Johannesburg and of course you may wish to begin your trip from Johannesburg and end in Cape Town, which is easily reached in a 2 hour flight.

Johannesburg is also a departure point for those wishing to visit other Southern African countries such as Zambia, Botswana, Mozambique, Malawi and Mauritius. The city of Johannesburg itself is often used as simply a stopover point between destinations however we do recommend that you stay a couple of days in the city to really explore one of the most economically successful cities in Africa. The city played a significant role in the Apartheid struggle and is now the centre of the emerging new South Africa. Why not take in a Soweto Township tour, visit the famous Apartheid Museum or shop until you drop at Nelson Mandela Square or Sandton City?

The combinations are endless and this is why we recommend that you speak to one of our South African born experts who will guide you on the best options for you.

Getting from place to place in the country is easy, safe and there are various transport options. Self drive in South Africa is particularly popular. Many customers report on how safe and easy it is to drive in South Africa. If you do not wish to drive we can easily organise road transfers where applicable. There are numerous domestic airlines operating between all the major tourist locations and light aircraft charter and helicopter flights are also easily arranged. In certain areas tourists can make use of public transport, but services may be limited and it is best to seek our advice on what services to avail of and where.

Quick Facts

Flights:

Flights from Europe toCape Town and Johannesburg take between 11 & 12 hours.

Vaccinations:

Malaria prophylactics are required in certain areas such as the Kruger and northern KwaZulu Natal. The rest of the country is malaria free.

When to travel:

South Africa is a year round destination with each season having its own advantages and highlights. Summer months run from Oct – May and the winter is short between June and Sept. Winters are generally warm and dry in most parts.

Visas:

Most Europeans and Americans do not require a visa but there are stipulations on the number of clear pages and the validity in your passport. Please chat to us regarding the latest information.

Weather:

Click here for weather information.