Beach and Safari family holidays

For families, looking for the exotic beach destinations, then Cape Town and the game parks also connect well with flights to the Indian Ocean islands of Mauritius.

The Seychelles and Zanzibar can also be connected to from South Africa, but the travelling logistics can be a little more demanding on younger family members.

Wildlife & Nature

South Africa is blessed with an abundance of flora and fauna, making it arguably one of the most naturally diverse and richest countries in the world.

One of the most famous game parks in the world, The Kruger National Park and it’s neighbouring Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve are home to some of the best Big 5 game viewing in the world with the best and most consistent Leopard viewing of anywhere in Southern Africa.

South Africa has been incredibly strong in it’s development of conservation policies and as a result some of the more recent game reserves in the North West Province, i.e. Madikwe and Waterberg region along with the Eastern Cape Reserves offer wonderful game viewing in a malaria free environment which is just perfect for families with younger children. Additional game parks in the warm KwaZulu-Natal area lead the way in protecting the endangered Rhino.

Apart from the wildlife on the land, the waters which surround the South African coastline teem with amazing marine life.

The largest migration, The Sardine Run, on the planet, takes place between May and July along the eastern coastline where millions of Sardine attract Dolphins, Whales, variety of species of sharks and sea birds every year.

Every year from around July time, the Southern Wright Whales, so named because they were the ‘right’ whale to hunt for their blubber and oil back in the dales of whale hunting, migrate to the southern and Eastern Cape shores for the calving and mating season.

The pick of the places to visit during this time will be Walker Bay (Hermanus and Gansbaai) and Plettenberg Bay with peal time being September and October.

Hermanus is regarded as one of the best places in the world to view the whales from the shore as the sea drops deeply off the rocky ledges and with some stunning coastline scenery and dedicated whale callers along the coastline path, you will get closer to these gentle deep water leviathans than you could ever imagine.

South Africa is well blessed with it’s floral kingdom too with the Cape’s Kirstenbosch and Harold Porter Botanical Gardens being regarded as areas which offer the greatest number of indigenous species found in one area anywhere in the world and regularly feature at the famous Chelsea Flower Show in London.

Culture & Heritage

South Africa is a great destination for those looking for some cultural experiences. From Cape Town you can visit the townships where you can visit a ‘Shabeen’ (local bar) or in Johannesburg, you can partake in tours of Soweto.

One of Cape Town’s most popular excursions is the scenic boat trip out to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela spent time in prison. Cape Town offers some interesting insight into Cape Dutch History as well as the Trek Boer monuments in Paarl and Pretoria.

The famous battlefields of KwaZulu-Natal offer an incredible insight and insight into the bravery of both the Zulu Warriors, the Boers and the British Soldiers who fought against each other at different periods of colonial history.

The most famous battles of Islandwana and Rorke’s Drift can be brought to life by incredibly passionate guides as you walk the very fields of battle where brave men fell fighting for their lives.

The Garden Route

South Africa's Garden Route is one of the most popular, and scenic routes in South Africa. The route is most commonly done by starting from Cape Town and ending in Port Elizabeth or at one of the Malaria Free Eastern Cape game reserves.

The drive between the two cities can be done in a day, but it's best done over 3-5 days so you can enjoy the various wonders and deviations along the way.

Many families and couples will visit Cape Town for 4/5 days, then head along the Garden Route for a further 5/6 days and end with a wonderful malaria free Eastern Cape Big Five Safari for 3/4 days before travelling home.

This is a wonderful way to explore the Cape and take in three of the main attractions when visiting South Africa.

If you fancy a slower paced trip it can also be easily enjoyed as a week long stay by setting up a base in one of the seaside towns along the way, with the likes of Plettenberg Bay, Knysna being the two most popular towns.

Safari in South Africa

The four most popular areas for safari in South Africa are the Kruger National Park region (includes the prime Sabi Sands Game Reserve), the’ Malaria Free’ Eastern Cape National Parks and private game reserves, the North West province’s ‘Malaria Free’ Madikwe Game Reserve and the Waterberg, and then the wonderfully diverse KwaZulu-Natal National Parks and Game Reserves which are found in the northern wetland region near to the coastline.

The safari experience in South Africa is perfect for those who wish to see the Big 5 (Buffalo, Elephant, Leopard, Lion & Rhino) and whom have only 3-4 days for this and who don’t wish to compromise on comfort.

The standard of accommodation is outstanding, amongst the most luxurious in Africa, but equally, accommodations for those on a shoe string budget are also well catered for.

Railway Journeys

The Blue Train and the Rovos Rail offer two contrasting and luxurious means to travel between Cape Town and Pretoria as well as other interesting journeys through the African heartland.

Zululand and the Midlands

This cultural rich region in KwaZulu-Natal offers you beautiful landscape scenery from the Drakensberg Mountains to the famous battlefields.

Small boutique lodges and hotels offer a more deeper experience and help you understand the history and appreciate the history and culture of this incredibly colourful region.

Johannesburg

Johannesburg is the major gateway to South Africa and tends to be your launch pad to other Southern African countries as well as to the islands in the Indian Ocean like Mauritius, Seychelles and Zanzibar.

Johannesburg has had a bad reputation in the past, but today it has modernised its transport system, new comfy guest houses and luxury boutique hotels have come on line and this is the shopping mecca of the country.

With many local places of interest to view and some of the best restaurants in the country on your doorstep, Johannesburg is waiting to be explored.

When linking safaris in South Africa and countries like Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe with the islands in the Indian Ocean you often need to overnight in between flights.

This should not be seen as a “dead night” any longer, it’s time to take advantage of this and go stay somewhere special, should the time allow.

Health & Safety

South Africa is a safe country for travelling if you follow the usual precautions and follow common sense. To see the latest travel advice we recommend the Foreign Office Travel Advisory website.

Bear in mind that the FCO advice does tend to err on the side of caution, but nevertheless is a good guide to health and safety considerations if taken within context. For current information, please refer to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website.

South Africa is a safe country to visit. As a global rule, never leave your valuables unattended in the vehicles and always maintain eye contact and a firm grip on cameras and shoulder bags.

In the major tourist areas, like any other country, there are pick-pockets whom operate so keep a lookout around you and never stay close to the road’s edge with a bag.

Keep any valuables home or if they do travel with you, keep them in a safe. If out and about with your camera, etc, try not to make yourself look like a target by showing your wealth and flashing any jewelry about the place.

Make sure you have travel insurance which covers the value of any personal items of real value. 

In the cities, it is fine to drink tap water but when out in rural areas or on safari, you should ask first and if in doubt drink bottled mineral water where the seal is not broken. This is safe and available everywhere.

Some minor stomach problems are always possible when travelling in exotic countries. In general, the biggest cause for upset tummy is dehydration, so please ensure you drink plenty of water each day. Up to 2 litres per person per day if the temperatures are in the 30’s or above.

Vaccinations

We aren't medical experts and prefer to leave medical advice to those more qualified. Some GP's will offer very good advice, but many will not be as up to date on travel health issues. The main vaccinations for travellers are usually available at GP surgeries.

We find MASTA Travel Clinic extremely good and very thorough and those looking at doing any amount of travelling in Southern Africa would do very well to contact the nearest MASTA clinic.

Bear in mind that many vaccinations need to be planned well in advance of travel.

As a general rule of thumb, anyone visiting South Africa should be up to date with their Hepatitis A and Typhoid jabs. If visiting a malaria area, we do recommend you take anti-malarial precautions.

South Africa is not a country which has Yellow Fever, however, should you be visiting any other neighbouring country or East African country where Yellow Fever is endemic, and then travel back to South Africa, even if only in transit, you will be required to show proof of you having a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate. Please check the Foreign Office for the latest requirements.

Tetanus and Rabies and Hepatitis B are recommended if you intend spending a prolonged period of time in the rural and wilderness areas where health and safety standards may not meet the standards you have at home.

Always keep your car at least half full with fuel, but if going to remote wilderness areas, it is best to keep as full a tank as possible

Keep your distance behind vehicles, especially on gravel roads in case of lose stones kicking up and damaging your windscreen.

Be aware of wildlife and pedestrians, especially on hard shoulders or when coming over a hill or around a blind corner.

It’s general custom for slower vehicles to pull over and drive inside the hard shoulder, letting the faster cars pass by on your right. This however is not the law and please only do this when you can see a clear bit of road ahead without any obstructions. Passing vehicles may put on their hazard lights as a means of saying ‘thank you’

The maximum speed limit on the motor ways is 120 kp/h and on gravel roads it’s 50kp/h. Please don’t break these as the speed fines are heavy.

Drink and Driving is a serious offence in South Africa. Please do not Drink and Drive and do not drive if you are over the limit. Drunk driving is the biggest cause of traffic accidents in South Africa and just because you are a visitor will not make you exempt from the full arm of the law.

If there is water in the road and you cannot see the bottom, don’t drive through it blindly, any damage caused the car would be your own responsibility.

Do not stop for anyone waving you down unless it is the police.

Refuelling of the vehicle can only be paid in cash, so ensure you have the cash to hand to pay for your fuel.

E-tolls, are electronic tolls and the charges for these will automatically be added to your card details given when collecting the car and signing for the fuel deposit. If E-tolls are not available, you should have cash to hand to pay for the toll road.

Always try and return your hire car with a full tank of fuel and take a photo of it in case you the hire car companies charges you for re-filling your car. If you hand your car to a person and don’t use the easier “drop keys” in a post box, then this can be visually inspected and signed off by the car hire representative.

Extra drivers, Tom-Toms/Sat Navs, Child Seats / Baby booster seats are not included in the car rental agreement and will need to be paid for by yourselves.

Child Seats and Baby booster seat regulations do not meet the same strict criteria as they do here in the UK. The sizes vary enormously according to demand and there may be times when what you are given a child seat that may be too small for your child or too big.

If in doubt and you plan a lot of travelling, it may be worth considering bringing your own seats where you know your children may feel most comfortable and secure.

Often combining unique rail and air safari’s through the heart of Africa, staying in beautifully reconditioned luxurious suites accompanied by the finest wines and dinning.

Where possible they like to use the age old steam engines for entrance and departure before converting to electric engines which make for a more comfortable and softer ride with less damage to the local environment.

Cape Town to Pretoria (approx. 48 hrs) is the most popular routing, however this is followed by Pretoria to Victoria Falls and then every now and then you have the epic 15 day rail journey which can take you from Cape Town to Dar es Salaam or visa versa, visiting countries of Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Tanzania along the way.

For the avid rail enthusiast, this should definitely be on your “most wanted” or bucket list!

What to Wear

South Africans are generally laid back when it comes to clothing so no need to haul out your best silks and diamonds when heading to South Africa.Here is some advice on what to wear in South Africa:

For the summers, bring clothes that are cool, light and comfortable because summer temperatures can get well into the 30 degree range in some areas.

Also bring an umbrella or raincoat during summer as this is when most of the country gets its rain. In areas like Gauteng and the North West Province, thundershowers are common. A light jacket or wrap is a good precaution. Don't forget a swimming costume (bathing suit).

The winters are generally mild, comparing favourably with European summers.  But there are some days when temperatures dive, especially in high-lying areas such as the Drakensberg, so be prepared with jerseys and jackets. Cape Town gets its rain during the winter season so its advisable to bring rain gear along.

Always bring a hat, sunglasses and sunblock as the sun can be strong even in the winter months.

Walking shoes are a good idea all year-round, with warm socks in the winter.

For game viewing, a couple of neutral-toned items will be useful, but there's no need to go overboard. A good pair of walking shoes is also advisable. Laudry is also often included when on safari so no need to pack too much!

For the evening, if you are dining at an upmarket restaurant or seeing a show, smart-casual attire is recommended.

Leave some room in your suitcase for South African clothing and holiday purchases, whether they be some local art work, wooden sculptures, jewelry. Do check your own country’s rules and regulations on what you can bring back to your country before you spend a fortune on some animal hide.

Medical Facilities

Medical facilities in South Africa are, in general, of a high standard, particularly private hospitals and clinics, as well as some of the large state hospitals in urban areas.

Many state-run hospitals with their subsidised facilities suffer from overcrowding and patients generally wait in long queus before being attended to.

Private hospitals and clinics in South Africa are of a high standard and offer specialist treatment by high-skilled specialists. It is advisable to take out comprehensive medical insurance before travelling to South Africa as private health care is expensive.

The high standard of doctor training in South Africa is well-known. South Africa's urban areas are well supplied with general and specialist practitioners, all registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa.  Many medical professionals require payment on consultation, and may offer discounts for immediate settlement.

South African pharmacists are unable to dispense Schedule 3 drugs and up without a prescription, so tourists on chronic medication who expect they'll run out during their stay, should come armed with the necessary doctor's prescription. 

The country has many other medical professionals such as dentists, physiotherapists, psychologists, biokineticists, podiatrists, as well as alternative healing practitioners such as homeopaths, acupuncturists and reflexologists.  Health shops abound, and are often staffed by knowledgeable people offering sound advice.

It should be noted that medical facilities in South Africa's rural areas are less sophisticated often only having facilities to deal with primary health care conditions.

Banking, Shopping and Office Hours

Banking hours in South Africa

08h30/09h00 - 15h30/16h00 Mon-Fri 08h00/09h00 - 11h00/11h30/12h00 Sat

Shopping hours in South Africa

09H00- 17h00/18h00 Mon-Fri  08h30/09h00 - 13h00 Sat (smaller centres) 09h00 - 17h00/18h00 Sat (urban areas) 10h00 -  15h00/16h00 Sun (urban areas)

Office hours in South Africa

08h30/09h00 - 17h00 Mon - Fri

Government department hours in South Africa 

08h30 - 16h40 Mon - Fri

Post Offices hours in South Africa

08h30 - 16h30 Mon - Fri 09h00 - 12h00 Sat

Public holidays

While supermarkets and bigger shopping malls stay open on public holidays from around 10h00 - 15h00 or 16h00, this is not the case with the corporate world which closes on public holidays.

Electricity

The South Africa electricity supply is 220/230 volts AC 50 HZ. Most plugs are round pinned 15 amp 3 prong or 5 amp 2 prong plugs.

Time Zone

The time in South Africa is +2hrs GMT