South Africa is above all the magic of the bush and the land of the Big Five where you can enjoy the safari of your dreams. Rhinos, elephants, leopards, lions and buffaloes are the 5 wild animals that every nature lover dreams of meeting and, being a little patient and persevering, you will see them all in the famous Kruger Park. But by following the instructions of a tourist guide in South Africa, your fascination for this country will go far beyond... You will discover the fascinating history of the Rainbow Nation, long under the Apartheid regime, going back in time to Soweto or Pretoria, without forgetting the ancestral traditions of Nelson Mandela's country between trances of Zulu wizards, and encounters with the Xhosa, Sotho and Swazi ethnic groups. A real change of scenery! Those who dream of beaches or idleness will go to Cape Town where they can also dive among the sharks and canoe among the whales. As for trekking fans, they will find their happiness in the Drakensberg mountains for more sporting activities. It's hard not to fall under the spell of South Africa, whatever your travel desires may be!
To know when to go to South Africa, you have to rely on the seasons, but the country is so big that the weather varies from region to region!
November, December, January, February, March: it is summer in South Africa and the best time to visit the beaches of Cape Town, the south, the Indian coast and the Atlantic coast. Very high heat in the Karoo and Kalahari. On the Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Kwazulu-Natal side, temperatures are tropical with storms in the late afternoon. The Drakensberg is often rainy at the end of the day, not ideal for hiking in the mountains. In Joburg, hot weather during the day, stormy at night
April, May, June: It's autumn in South Africa. Rainfall is decreasing and temperatures are rising in tropical regions (Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Kwazulu-Natal). The weather is ideal in the Karoo, it is often sunny in Cape Town and better in the Kalahari. It is also the right time to hike in the mountains of Lesotho and Swaziland. And if you go to South Africa between April and June, don't miss the whale season on the Overberg coast.
June, July, August: winter is here and tropical storms stop on Joburg, the cold settles in at night. The months of July-August in South Africa are perfect for observing animals in Mpumalanga, Kwazulu-Natal and Kruger reserves. Beautiful dry weather in Karoo and Drakensberg, but very cold at night, with snow-covered peaks. It's the wrong season to go to Cape Town where it rains a lot. Good temperature in the Kalahari on the other hand.
September, October: it's spring! The Namaqualand is flowery and the climate is temperate in Kwazulu-Natal. In Cape Town, on the Indian coast and in Pretoria it is the return of the sunny days as well as in the provinces of Mpumalanga and Gauteng. It is the ideal time for mountain hiking in Swaziland, Drakensberg and Lesotho, but the temperature drops at night.
In South Africa, in winter, the Eastern Plateau region around Johannesburg) enjoys sunny weather and an average temperature of about 20°C. But from October to April, late afternoons are stormy. Summers are hot and dry (about 25°C) in Cape Town province with fairly cold winters (5 to 17°C) and sometimes snow on the peaks. Along the southern coast of South Africa, the climate is temperate to tropical depending on the area.
South Africa is a destination accessible to all budgets with a wide range of accommodation (luxury lodges, hotels, bush campsites); comfort is in line with European standards. Note: Safaris are cheaper in South Africa than in Kenya or Botswana. ATMs are available everywhere, but it is better to pay in cash because of frequent credit card fraud. For the tip, not included in the bill, leave 10%. The currency of South Africa is the rand (ZAR).
No visas are required for stays of less than three months in South Africa. A 90-day residence permit will be issued on South African territory. The passport must contain two blank pages and be valid for 30 days after the expected date of departure from the country. Otherwise, passengers are turned back on arrival.
No vaccine is required to come to South Africa from a European country, but vaccines against yellow fever and typhoid are required for travellers from West or Central Africa. Vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus, polio (called DTP), which are boostered every ten years, and vaccines against hepatitis A and B, meningococcal meningitis are recommended. In case of a stay in the tropical bush, it is necessary to be vaccinated against typhoid fever and possibly rabies. In the rainy season in tropical regions, ticks can transmit Lyme disease, so put a repellent on your legs as a preventive measure before walking. Water is generally safe to drink in South Africa, but the country is currently facing a shortage of safe drinking water. Bring water bottles or disinfectants to purify the water.
Many tour operators offer tours in South Africa but, due to the large size of the country, you will not be able to discover it all at once. The proposed stays, lasting an average of 15 days, cover the main regions and themes: discovery of wildlife in Kruger Park, seaside resort in Cape Town or Durban, stay in Mandela's footsteps from Soweto to Robben Island... Good to know: Autotours are preferred and bus journeys can be quite long.
Discover our selection of travel agencies for this destinationYou will mainly travel to South Africa by plane. Johannesburg's OR Tambo Airport is the largest in Africa. Every day, many national and international flights take off and land there. To obtain attractive rates, it is essential to do so well in advance. Remember to buy your plane tickets six months before departure.
South Africa is served by many domestic flights but fares are rather high. On the other hand, boat transport is rather rare outside the maritime links Cape Town / Durban or Port Elizabeth / Durban. However, roads are generally good and well developed across the country. We therefore recommend that you rent a car or take a long-distance bus, which is rather cheap and serves most major cities.
Short stay in South Africa
From Johannesburg to Cape Town
To know when to go to South Africa, you have to rely on the seasons, but the country is so big that the weather varie...
Read more about it
In South Africa, in winter, the Eastern Plateau region around Johannesburg) enjoys sunny weather and an average tempe...
Read more about it
South Africa is a destination accessible to all budgets with a wide range of accommodation (luxury lodges Read more about it
No visas are required for stays of less than three months in South Africa. A 90-day residence permit will be issued o...
Read more about it
No vaccine is required to come to South Africa from a European country, but vaccines against yellow fever and ty...
Read more about it
You will mainly travel to South Africa by plane. Johannesburg's OR Tambo Airport is the largest in Africa. Every day,...
Read more about it
Many tour operators offer tours in South Africa but, due to the large size of the country, you will not be able to di...
Read more about it
South Africa is served by many domestic flights but fares are rather high. On the other hand, boat transport is rathe...
Read more about it
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