Global Escapes

South Africa

Leopards at dawn, vineyards by lunch, and a mountain-framed city at the tip of a continent. Safari and sophistication in one easy trip.

By the Global Escapes travel team · Updated

Best time to go
September to November, March to April
Trip length
10 to 14 days
From Atlanta
About 16 hours nonstop to Johannesburg or Cape Town
Time difference
6 hours ahead of Eastern (7 in winter)
Entry
U.S. passport, no visa for stays under 90 days
Currency
South African rand. Bring a Type M plug adapter

Why South Africa stays with people

Few places let you track a leopard through the bush one morning and sip Chenin Blanc beneath a mountain a day later. South Africa does both beautifully, and Atlanta is lucky enough to have nonstop flights.

A first trip usually pairs a few nights at a safari lodge in the Kruger area with Cape Town and the Winelands. Short flights link the two, and the time difference from Georgia is gentle, so you arrive ready for that first game drive.

Come back and there’s more to explore: whales off Hermanus, the lagoons and forests of the Garden Route, or the thunder of Victoria Falls just over the border.

Getting around the classic route

  • Johannesburg to the Sabi SandAbout 1 to 1.5 hours by small plane
  • Kruger area to Cape TownAbout 2.5 hours by air
  • Cape Town to FranschhoekAbout 1 hour by road
  • Cape Town to HermanusAbout 1.5 hours by road
  • Cape Town to the Garden RouteAbout 1 hour by air to George
  • Johannesburg to Victoria FallsUnder 2 hours by air
NamibiaBotswanaZimbabweMozambiqueLesothoCape TownWinelandsHermanusGarden RouteJohannesburgKruger & Sabi SandVictoria FallsZimbabwe and ZambiaIndian Ocean
Classic safari and Cape route Easy add-ons

When to go

Seasons here run opposite to ours, so Christmas falls in high summer. Safari is rewarding all year; the Cape is at its sunniest from October to April.

  1. JanCape summer, holiday buzz
  2. FebWarm, dry, harvest begins
  3. MarWine harvest, settled weather
  4. AprAutumn color, bush drying out
  5. MayDry season starts in Kruger
  6. JunCape rains, whales arrive
  7. JulCrisp bush mornings, great game
  8. AugWildflowers, whale season
  9. SepWhales peak, warm bush days
  10. OctPrime game viewing, Cape spring
  11. NovBaby animals, first rains
  12. DecLong beach days, holidays

Peak season Shoulder season Low season

Average temperatures and rainfall

Average daily high and low in °F, with average monthly rainfall in inches.

Spring

September to November. Our favorite time to pair the bush and the Cape. Game viewing is at its best before the rains, whales linger off Hermanus into November, and Cape Town warms up with long, bright evenings.

Summer

December to February. Hot, green and lively. Cape Town and the Garden Route are at their sunniest and busiest, so we book well ahead for the holidays. Afternoon storms roll through Kruger, and the bush is full of young animals.

Fall

March to May. Calm, warm days in the Cape and harvest season in the Winelands, with vines turning gold by April. In Kruger the rains ease off and the grass starts to thin, making animals easier to spot.

Winter

June to August. Dry, sunny days and cold mornings in the bush, when animals gather at water. The Cape sees most of its rain, which brings green hills, cozy wine-country fires, whales arriving and good value at hotels.

Where to go

The places our travelers love most, and what each one does best.

Cape Town

Table Mountain by cable car, penguins at Boulders Beach, the drive to Cape Point and a lively waterfront. One of the world’s most beautiful cities, with food to match.

Best for Scenery, food, a few unhurried days

The Cape Winelands

Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, under an hour from Cape Town, with Cape Dutch estates, mountain views and some of the country’s best restaurants.

Best for Wine lovers, couples, slow days

Hermanus

Southern right whales come close to shore from about June to November, often visible right from the cliff path. Peak sightings are September and October.

Best for Whale watching, coastal walks

The Garden Route

Lagoons, beaches and old forests between Mossel Bay and the Tsitsikamma, with Knysna and Plettenberg Bay as easy bases.

Best for Road trips, families, second-timers

Kruger National Park

Nearly 7,500 square miles of bushveld, home to lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffalo, with well-kept roads and restcamps.

Best for Big Five, classic safari

The Sabi Sand

A private reserve with no fences between it and Kruger. Intimate lodges, expert guides and trackers, and some of Africa’s most reliable leopard sightings.

Best for Luxury safari, photography

Malaria-free reserves

Big Five reserves in the Eastern Cape and Madikwe offer the full safari experience without malaria medication.

Best for Families with young children

Victoria Falls

One of the world’s great waterfalls, on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia, a short flight from Johannesburg. Sunset river cruises and helicopter flights are the highlights.

Best for An unforgettable add-on

In depth

Bush and Cape in one trip

The pairing that wins hearts: start in the bush, finish in the Cape. A small plane from Johannesburg lands you at your lodge’s airstrip in time for an afternoon drive. Three or four nights is the sweet spot, enough for a dozen drives and the patience that leopards reward.

Then a direct flight to Cape Town, where city, coast and wine country are all within an hour. Ending here means a softer landing after early safari mornings, with long lunches, sea views and time to unwind before the flight home.

We choose the lodge to match your pace, from family-friendly camps to private villas with their own vehicle and guide, and match the season to what you most want to see.

More on safari travel

Good to know

The small things that make a big difference once you land.

Check your passport pages

You’ll need two consecutive, completely blank visa pages, and a passport valid at least 30 days beyond your departure date. Airlines check this before boarding, so we confirm it early.

Malaria and health

Kruger and the Sabi Sand are in a malaria area. See your doctor or a travel clinic a few weeks before you go, or choose a malaria-free reserve if you prefer.

Pack soft and light

Small planes to safari lodges have strict luggage limits, usually around 44 pounds (20 kg) per person including carry-ons, in soft-sided bags. We can arrange to store extra luggage while you’re in the bush.

Layers for game drives

Even in warm months, dawn drives in an open vehicle can be chilly, and winter mornings dip into the low 40s. Lodges supply blankets; a fleece, hat and gloves help.

Traveling with children

South Africa has specific document rules for anyone under 18. Carrying each child’s birth certificate, plus a consent letter if a parent isn’t traveling, avoids delays at the border.

Tipping is customary

About 10 to 15 percent is usual in restaurants. At safari lodges, guides, trackers and staff are tipped separately, and we’ll share suggested amounts before you go.

Questions we hear a lot

Do U.S. citizens need a visa for South Africa?

No. U.S. citizens can visit for stays of less than 90 days without a visa. Your passport must be valid for at least 30 days after you leave South Africa and have two consecutive, completely blank visa pages. South Africa is rolling out a new electronic travel authorization, which U.S. citizens don’t currently need, so we check the latest rules before you go.

When is the best time to combine a safari with Cape Town?

September to November and March to April are the sweet spots. The bush is dry or drying out, so animals gather around water and are easier to find, and the Cape is warm and green without the December and January holiday crowds. Safari is good all year, though, so we plan around the dates that suit you.

Do we need malaria medication for Kruger?

Kruger and the Sabi Sand are in a malaria area, with the highest risk during the summer rains. Talk to your doctor or a travel clinic about prevention. If you’d rather avoid it altogether, there are excellent malaria-free reserves in the Eastern Cape and in Madikwe.

What’s the difference between Kruger and a private reserve?

Kruger National Park is vast and wonderful for self-guided drives. The private reserves along its western edge, like the Sabi Sand, share unfenced borders with the park, so the same animals roam freely. There, small groups go out in open vehicles with a guide and tracker, can drive off-road to follow a sighting, and head out after dark.

Can we add Victoria Falls?

Yes, and it’s an easy add-on. The falls sit on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia, under two hours by air from Johannesburg. They’re at their fullest from about February to May; by October and November the flow drops, and the Zambian side can run thin. Each country has its own entry rules, which we confirm for your passport.

Is South Africa a good fit for a family trip?

Very much so. Penguins on the beach, Table Mountain by cable car and a first lion sighting make for memories every age shares. Many safari lodges set minimum ages for game drives, and malaria-free reserves are a good fit for younger children. South Africa also has specific document rules for minors, so we confirm what to carry for each child.

Let’s plan your South Africa trip

Tell us when you’re thinking of going and who’s coming along. An advisor will take it from there.

Start planning Call 706.549.1164