-Practicalities and plus points<\/strong><\/p>\n Direct flights to Johannesburg and Cape Town from London (11-12 hours flying time).<\/p>\n Well-developed infrastructure allows a range of holiday combinations – different regions are reached using air, road and rail links.<\/p>\n Multi-country combinations are also possible\u00a0 – combine Cape Town with Victoria Falls; Kruger with Mauritius etc etc<\/p>\n Very little time change (GMT+2) so no jet lag.<\/p>\n Good value for money with a favourable exchange rate (at time of writing – \u00a31 to 23 ZAR)<\/p>\n Huge diversity of experiences – this makes South Africa ideal for tailor-made holidays based around your interests . Activities available including wildlife encounters, wineland tours, adventure activities, gourmet retreats, cultural and historical experiences, beach and\/or wilderness stays, among others.<\/p>\n Range of accommodation and touring options, from self-catering and self-drive to spas\/wellness and all-inclusive packages.<\/p>\n Strong offering for those seeking sophistication\/luxury.<\/p>\n The optimum time to visit the Eastern and Western Cape,\u00a0 including Cape Town,\u00a0 is October to April<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Wildlife viewing is available year-round although the optimum time,\u00a0 particularly in the Greater Kruger and in the parks\/reserves to the north is May to October. <\/strong>This is also an excellent time for the beaches of Mozambique and Mauritius.<\/p>\n October<\/strong> (and October half term holidays) is therefore a popular time to combine Kruger and Cape and so you should book in advance. October also offers the chance to see whales along the Cape coast.<\/p>\n -Where to go<\/strong><\/p>\n A holiday to South Africa can take many different forms depending on what your interests are. You can hike and bike in the Drakensberg mountains, visit the battlefields,\u00a0 enjoy a gourmet retreat in Constantia, wend your way along the Garden Route,\u00a0 or combine a slice of safari with the city.\u00a0 You can’t go wrong with a Kruger\/Cape combo – 4 nights in each is the basis for a fabulous holiday!<\/p>\n -Best regions for wildlife<\/strong><\/p>\n Wherever you are in South Africa, there are opportunities to see wildlife – the question is what sort of wildlife are you interested in seeing? There are too many areas to mention, from the coast and fynbos to the plains and mountains,\u00a0 but in summary, here are a few wildlife highlights:<\/p>\n For whales, fur seals, sharks, dolphins and African penguins (sometimes referred to as the ‘marine Big Five’) then the Cape Coast,<\/strong>\u00a0 especially between July and November when the Southern Right whales come to calve in Walker Bay,\u00a0 is a joy. The seaside town of Hermanus becomes a prime spot for shore-based whale watching while further east at Plettenberg you can head out in a boat in of search of multiple species. The famous ‘sardine run’ phenomenon takes place nearer Durban, May to July.<\/p>\n For safari it’s the northern region, accessed via the international gateway of Johannesburg which provides prime wildlife viewing opportunities. The vast Kruger<\/strong> National Park has a well-developed road network for self-drive, as well as rest-camp accommodation however it’s the exceptional privately owned game reserves including Sabi Sands, Thornybush and Timbavati where wildlife viewing takes on a new dimension with open vehicles, off roading,\u00a0 night driving and walking possible – fabulous!<\/p>\n Further north is Limpopo, which provides access to big-game destination: Mashatu. Mashatu is actually in Botswana’s Tuli Block and not within South Africa at all, but it’s a superb place to safari, rivalling the Greater Kruger.<\/p>\n For a malaria-free reserve offering a top-notch safari experience and the chance to see the ‘Big Five’, then Madikwe<\/strong> is a good choice, while further south, families and first-time visitors looking for a taste of safari in combination with Cape Town can enjoy a fine safari in the malaria-free Eastern Cape<\/strong> – reserves include Kwande, Shamwari and Pumba. Although this region does not feel quite as wild, having been reclaimed from farmland over the decades, the reserves have made a significant contribution to conservation of threatened species including rhino. Wildlife viewing is reliable, with many animals habituated to the vehicles.<\/p>\n Talking of rhino, in the east, you’ll find KwaZulu Natal’s famous reserves of Hluhluwe Imfolozi<\/strong> – among South Africa’s oldest protected areas and right at the forefront of rhino conservation. iSimangaliso Wetland Park and the private reserve of Phinda are also notable in this region.<\/p>\n The Kalahari is home to the largest privately owned game reserve in South Africa: Tswalu Kalahari<\/strong>. Conservation efforts at Tswalu have seen the study and successful reintroduction of dozens of species, making it an incredibly rewarding (and very exclusive) wildlife destination.<\/p>\n -Romance & luxury<\/strong><\/p>\n South Africa is wonderful for a honeymoon or luxury getaway – you can eat and drink like kings, stay in characterful boutique properties, explore one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and enjoy a superb range of activities from open-air concerts at wine estates, to the adventure of safari.<\/p>\n There are lots of wonderful cross-border combinations,\u00a0 with flights routing via Johannesburg and Cape Town , so you can mix up the thrill of a Kruger safari with the idyllic beaches of Mauritius or Mozambique, or enjoy the cosmopolitan ‘Mother City’ of Cape Town with the thunder of Victoria Falls.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/explorersagainstextinction.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/IMG_4919-300x225.jpg\")
-When to go<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/explorersagainstextinction.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/MMDSC_1808-300x199.jpg\")
Nitty Gritty<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/explorersagainstextinction.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/DeckandMainLodgepool_crop600x400-300x200.jpg\")
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-Families<\/strong><\/p>\n