South Africa is a country of great natural and cultural diversity, five times the size of Great Britain, located on the southern tip of the African continent, bordered by Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique and fully encompassing the independent kingdom of Lesotho and most of Eswatini (Swaziland).
South Africa is flanked by the Atlantic Ocean, fuelled by the chilly Benguela current on the west and the warm Agulhas current of the Indian Ocean on the east. The mixing of these currents off the Cape of Good Hope causes eddies and upwelling of nutrients, leading to a richly productive marine ecosystem. On land, the varied landscapes and habitats, globally-renowned flora and fauna, fascinating distant and recent history, friendly populace, exceptional lodges, service levels and value for money make South Africa a world-class destination.
There is a bewildering choice of high quality wildlife reserves to choose from, all offering a subtly different experience, many containing Africa’s ‘Big Five’ (Leopard, Lion, Buffalo, Elephant and Rhinoceros – animals which are considered dangerous to approach on foot) with lodges from rustic to five star. Other attractions add great variety to a holiday, including beautiful Cape Town and surrounds, with the classic ‘Garden Route’, wildflowers and whale watching; the spectacular Drakensberg mountains for hiking, and historic Zulu Battlefields of KwaZulu-Natal; and the deserts of the Karoo and Kalahari. Although some areas are malarial zones, it is also entirely possible to arrange a malaria-free holiday to South Africa.
Remember!
We offer combination tours to South Africa & Madagascar for a mindblowing mix of wildlife worlds – with lemurs, wildlife walks and other-worldly adventure in Madagascar to the ‘Big Five’ and out-of-this-world safari lodges of South Africa! Please find some sample itineraries below and contact us for endless other possibilities!
Self-Driving in South Africa vs Chauffeured Tours
South African itineraries tend to lend themselves to self-drive arrangements since the roads and signage are good and this allows more flexibility and value for money. It can also be a great benefit for keen photographers. Self-drive safari is permitted in some areas of the Kruger National Park and other public reserves (or one can simply drive to the lodge and be taken out on dedicated safari vehicles with a qualified ranger). Hire cars are modern, usually with power-steering and air conditioning and British drivers will be pleased to learn that driving is on the left.
However, if you would prefer chauffeured transfers this can be arranged for most itineraries as well as scheduled and charter flight hops between locations. Some of our sample itineraries include a private driver, but please ask for details if you’d like to add the services of a driver to any itinerary.
