South Africa Travel Guide

Table Mountain after the rain

With so much to choose from, it largely depends on your interests and amount of time you have available. Stays from a few days to two months are not uncommon.

I will restrict my suggestions to a stay of two weeks, and also differentiate between first timers and repeat visitors.

For First Timers:

I recommend you include Cape Town, the Winelands, the Garden Route, and a safari. The safari can be in the Greater Kruger or Madikwe.

For repeat visitors:

I would look at combining a safari in KwaZulu-Natal combined with the Drakensberg Mountains and/or the battlefields and the beautiful beaches and warm seas of the KwaZulu-Natal coast.

OR

A safari in the Waterberg or Pilanesberg combined with stays in the mountains of Mpumalanga and a safari in the Greater Kruger area.

OR

A safari in the Eastern Cape combined with the Karoo and Garden Route.

OR

A safari in the Western Cape combined with the West Coast, Augrabies, and Kgalagadi. This would be of particular interest in August/September during the flower season on the West Coast.

Other special places include Route 62, the Cederberg, the Eastern Cape Coast, the Natal Midlands, Nambiti, the Klein Karoo, northern Kruger, the Soutpansberg, and Mapungubwe.

I would recommend a minimum of ten days, but depending on your available time and budget, you could easily stay up to four weeks. South Africa is a great launching pad for extending your trip to the special countries around it.

Table Mountain after the rain

South Africa has two distinct climate zones, namely summer and winter rainfall areas. The climate in this country varies from the sub-tropical north and east to the dry and arid Karoo, Klein Karoo, Kalahari, temperate highlands, and the Mediterranean climate of the Western Cape.

The summer rainfall areas have rain between November and April in the form of thunderstorms, but some areas have periods of rainy/cloudy weather that can last for a week or more. Summer temperatures are generally high, but cooled somewhat by cloud cover. Winter temperatures on the high lying areas can go below 0°C, but in most places, days are sunny and warmer, particularly along eastern coastal regions. Snow is possible on the highest mountain areas, but this is sporadic.

In the winter rainfall area, rain falls between May and September. During this time, temperatures are mild to cold. The summer is hot and sunny.

With so many distinct climate zones, the above is a broad indication, and it can vary considerably depending on the area you are visiting.

Southern Kruger and lowveld climate chart

Cape Town and Western Cape coastal climate chart

Johannesburg and central plateau climate chart

Durban and KZN coast climate chart

Most countries require a visa to visit South Africa. Some nationalities can get a visa on arrival, but the majority of countries need to apply in the home country. Please check before travelling whether you require a visa or not.

With the exception of the far north-eastern part of South Africa and KwaZulu-Natal, where the risk of malaria is medium to high, South Africa is mostly malaria free. The malaria areas are more risky to visit in the wet summer months – November to April. Anti-malaria medication is recommended, and you should consult your doctor in this regard. To minimise the risk of contracting malaria, wear long trousers and cover your arms in the evening, and apply mosquito repellent.

Yellow fever vaccination is required if you are coming from an endemic country. The following vaccinations are recommended, but not compulsory:

• Hepatitis A & B;
• Typhoid; and

South Africa has a very well-developed road network, and getting around is relatively easy. While local means of transport are available everywhere, I will only include those modes of transport that are suitable and safe for tourists.

For the more budget conscious, most main centres are served by luxury buses. Car rental is available in most major cities and at all airports. Scheduled domestic flights between the major cities are frequent and reliable, and light aircraft transfers and charter flights to virtually any part of South Africa are available. Transfers to and from and in most of the tourist centres can include standard sedans or luxury vehicles. Ultra-luxury trains regularly link Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Durban. Metered taxis are available in the main cities, as is Uber and its competitor Bolt (formerly known as Taxify).

Elephant near Lukimbi

The Kruger National Park is the most famous of South Africa’s National Parks, and is just under 2 million hectares in size. It is divided into two very distinct zones, the northern section and the rest of the park, which are separated by a huge Mopani tree forest. The rest of the Kruger National Park can loosely be categorised into the central and southern sections.

When going on safari, the main purpose is to see and experience the amazing and unique wildlife on offer. A safari in the southern park of the park is, in my opinion, for the most part, more productive. This is as a result of the perennial Sabie and Crocodile rivers that flow through and along the border of this section. As this area is water scarce, it stands to reason that animals would prefer to be near water, particularly during the hotter and dryer periods of the year. This is the main reason that this part of the park is most productive.

When you move to the central parts of the park, it becomes hotter and dryer and rivers are seasonal. This area can be quite productive (for example the area around Satara Rest Camp), as there are numerous water holes and a handful of dams.

The northern part of the Kruger is quite different in that it starts to become more mountainous; the vegetation changes and the Mopani belt seems to act as a natural barrier that some species prefer not to cross. While the Big 5 can be seen here, it is more of a challenge, and safaris are not so much about chasing after the Big 5, but rather appreciating all species and enjoying the rugged scenery. This area is excellent for walking safaris, which is an exciting way to experience the African bush.

Besides the rest camps, The Kruger National Park has allocated some private concessions, and it is here that you can experience the luxury of a private lodge and the wildlife of the famous Kruger.

In my opinion, game viewing in the Kruger is more challenging than East Africa and other reserves in South Africa, as the bush can be thick – especially in summer – and the grasses high, making it difficult to spot game. It is a distinct advantage, when going on safari in the Kruger, to stay at the luxury lodges that do their game drives in high-riding 4×4 safari vehicles and have access to a larger road network than self-driving in the Kruger provides.

The Kruger is world-renown for large herds of game, which include buffalo, elephant, and impala. Wild Dog and Cheetah are also to be seen in the park, but they are more difficult to spot than elsewhere due to the vastness of the park and the relatively small road network.

One of the Big 5 in the Greater Kruger area

Adjacent to the Kruger National Park are private reserves that, for the most part, do not have fences between them and the Kruger National Park, allowing the animals to move freely in and out.

These private reserves provide some of the most beautiful safari lodges in the world, offer some of the best service levels in South Africa, have an outstanding level of guidance throughout, have a bigger game road network than the Kruger, and provide some of the world’s best safari experiences.

The Sabi Sands Game Reserve is the most famous of these reserves, particularly for its predators. It is almost a given that for a three-night stay, you will encounter all of the Big 5, some more than once. The reason for this is that the Sabie River runs through the reserve, attracting all manner of game, and it arguably has the most extensive road network in the country, allowing the visitor to get close to game. This, together with the high standard of guiding, is the reason that the Sabi Sands is so popular. I have noticed that the Sabi Sands, while excellent for predators, is not the best destination for large herds of buffalo and elephant, as well as abundant general game.

The Timbavati Private Game Reserve, to the north of the Sabi Sands, is less popular than the Sabi Sands, and as a consequence, has fewer lodges, allowing for a more private experience. It essentially provides the opportunity to see the same game as the Sabi Sands, as there are no fences separating them, or them and the Kruger. I have had some of my best sightings of the leopard in the reserve and have seen larger herds of buffalo than in the Sabi Sands, but this is most probably the luck of the draw.

Surrounding the Timbavati are the Manyeleti Game Reserve, Balule Nature Reserve, and The Klaserie Private Nature Reserve. It is impossible to tell where these reserves start and end, unless this is pointed out to you, as they all form parts of the whole, which includes the Sabi Sands and the Timbavati. These reserves are becoming more popular of late, as they offer great game viewing – but at an overall lower cost than the Sabi Sands – are less congested and are also superior for walking safaris.

Other private reserves in this area include the Thornybush Private Nature Reserve, Kapama Private Game Reserve, Karongwe Game Reserve, and a recent newcomer named the Blue Canyon Conservancy. These private reserves, while fenced, are large and offer excellent game viewing, including the Big 5. Some of my best safaris were experienced here, particularly the Thornybush and Kapama, which are more established and better stocked.

Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town

When you mention Cape Town, the first image that springs to mind, for most people, is the iconic Table Mountain. It is a must see in South Africa, as from the top of the mountain, it provides magnificent views of Cape Town, the blue Atlantic Ocean, and the rest of the mountain range, including the Twelve Apostles, and on a clear day, the mountains close to the Cape Peninsula. The mountain can be accessed by cable car, or for the more adventurous, by hiking up to the top, which is mildly challenging for the fit.

Cape Town is right on the Atlantic Ocean and offers some beautiful beaches, but be warned that the water is cold, as it comes straight from the Antarctic.

Cape Town is trendy. It has a wide variety of restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, and theatres all competing with each other to provide the tourist and cosmopolitan local with the most innovative, different, unique, and atmospheric options to spend their time.

The history of Cape Town is rich and varied, and this can be experienced when navigating its narrow roads, dating back to the colonial era; viewing its buildings; and visiting its historical sights (Robben Island, District Six, Castle, Company Gardens, etc.). One of the best and most exciting ways to visit all these sights is by taking the topless buses that offer four different routes throughout the city.

Another reason to visit Cape Town is for its fine food. It is the “foodie” capital of South Africa (this may be disputed), and in its countless restaurants, coffee shops, and eateries, you can enjoy cuisine with a local flavour, fusion cuisine, standard favourites, and the most exotic of dishes.

If you want to include nightlife in your trip, Cape Town is where you should be.

Cape Town is a “multi-purpose’’ destination, and offers something for virtually everyone, except maybe the peace and quiet of the African bush.

Along the Garden Route

The Garden Route is so named after the Cape Floristic Region, which it encompasses. One of six floral kingdoms in the world, it boasts over 9000 species of plant, of which about 70% are found nowhere else. Locally, it is referred to as “fynbos”. Declared by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve, this area is one of the biodiversity hotspots.

It is not quite clear where the Garden Route begins and ends, but as a rule of thumb, when travelling along the coast, it starts in Mossel Bay and ends in the Tsitsikamma. It encompasses a narrow band along the coast, but some consider parts of the Klein Karoo, also covered in Fynbos, as part of the Garden Route. This would add places like Oudtshoorn, de Rust, and Ladismith.

The Garden Route boasts some of the best beaches and coves on the southern Cape coast, the lake district of Wilderness to Knysna, lagoons, mountains with some spectacular mountain passes, and indigenous forests. The areas offer spectacular hikes, the best of which must be the Otter Trail.

The area, one of South Africa’s most beautiful, has something for everyone. With accommodation both in remote wilderness areas, in town, and on the coast, you are spoilt for choice

Activities include golf, bungee jumping, hiking, horse riding, kayaking, canoeing, black water tubing, boat trips, whale- and dolphin-watching, ostrich riding, meerkat tours, paragliding, birding, and surfing to name but a few.

I would recommend that you spend at least four days travelling along the Garden Route, but ten to fourteen days would not be too long, especially if you want to relax and soak up its beauty.

Montagu on Route 62

This is the alternative route from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth to the main highway that runs further south. It is by far more scenic, travelling through spectacular mountain passes, along the longest wine route in the world, through quaint towns and villages, and offers that off-the-beaten-track journey that restores the soul. While shorter in distance than the N2 (National Highway 2), it will take you longer, as you will be tempted to stop all along the route to experience the sights, sounds, and cuisine that is unique to this area.

Flowers displays in the West Coast National Park in spring

The West Coast of South Africa is most well-known for the spring flower displays during August and September. Quaint fishing villages like Paternoster, surfing hotspots like Eland’s Bay, kitesurfing on Langebaan Lagoon, and the fynbos and flower displays of the West Coast National Park are but a few highlights to be experienced when travelling this route. The home of Rooibos tea, the Darling wine route, and the Cederberg Mountains, the West Coast is easily accessible from Cape Town and finds itself amongst the “roads less travelled”, making it a relaxing and rejuvenating option.

Typical Northern Cape scene

The Northern Cape is the most sparsely populated and largest province of South Africa. It is dominated by the Kalahari Desert, but has South Africa’s longest river, the Orange River, running through it. Except for the narrow band along the river, it is mostly arid and hot and not suitable for agriculture.

The famous Namaqualand, with its incredible floral displays during August and September, can be found near Springbok. Other places of interest include Kimberley and the Big Hole, which was the centre of the diamond rush in the 1860s; Augrabies Falls; the Richtersveld National Park, which together with the Fish River Canyon in Namibia, form the Richtersveld -Ai -Ais Transfrontier Park and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, which it shares with Botswana. !Xaus Lodge, adjacent to the Kgalagadi National Park, is the only Dark Sky lodge in Africa and the best place to go stargazing. Also of interest is the massive astronomical observatory in Sutherland.

As it gets extremely hot in summer (up to 53°C), the area is best visited during other times of the year. The Augrabies Falls is often best between February and April, but the stark scenic beauty of the area can be enjoyed all-year-round, as it has so little rain, and days are sunny and warm to hot. As is typical for desert regions, the morning and nights can, at times, get very cold.

Wild Dogs in the Madikwe

Malaria free! This is one of its claims to fame. The Madikwe is one of conservation’s success stories. Originally a network of farms, the government started to rehabilitate the land, and have largely managed to restore the Madikwe Game Reserve to its original vegetation and beauty. Home to the Big 5, plus cheetah and wild dog, South Africa’s fifth-largest game reserve is one of the best safari destinations in South Africa and one of my favourites.

With a wide variety of luxury lodges to choose from, Madikwe offers comfort and superb game viewing. As no self-drivers are allowed, your safari will, unlike the Kruger National Park, be exclusive.

Over the years, more and more tourist lodges have been built, resulting in it being quite busy. The animal sightings are, however, well-managed by the guides, who try to steer clear of other vehicles for the most part to give you the best safari experience possible.

I have found that the variety and numbers of game, as well as the frequency of predator sightings, are some of the best in South Africa and allows the Madikwe to give an excellent overall safari experience.

Elephants on the road in the Pilanesberg

The Pilanesberg is a series of three rings of mountains, which were formed over eons by volcanic eruptions and the crater collapsing, until only these three rings of mountain remained. It is estimated that the volcanic mountain was over 7000 m high.

The whole mountain range with its valleys and hollow centre is now a game reserve with the Sun City hotel and entertainment complex tucked away in the south. The Pilanesberg Game Reserve is home to the Big 5. It is a popular wildlife destination for people from Gauteng, as it is only two hours away from Johannesburg and slightly less from Pretoria. As it is reasonably small, it can become quite congested, especially during weekends and holidays, as it does allow self-drivers.

The Game Reserve has a few luxury lodges, which are quite reasonable in price, and offer the tourist the luxury and service of any other private lodge in South Africa.

The Pilanesberg is perfect for a tourist who has very limited time and wants to taste the safari experience before moving on.

The Sun City resort complex and the famous Palace of the Lost City offers a modern take on the old African empires of the past. With a range of hotels, from 3- to 5-star, accommodation can be tailored to fit your budget. With nightly entertainment, a casino, a crocodile park, a water park, a myriad of restaurants, and two exceptional golf courses, Sun City offers a busy holiday for the whole family.

Marataba Reserve in the Waterberg

The name Waterberg is due to this mountain range being a major water catchment area. The mountains are the source of four main rivers and a myriad of smaller streams. A UNESCO biosphere reserve, it seeks to preserve the savannah biome, which boasts over 5500 species of plants, of which over 40% are endemic to South Africa.

The abundance of water in the area attracted wildlife, which were hunted and poached out over the years. The Welgevonden, the adjacent Marakele National Park and Marataba Game Reserve also tell of a conservation success story, similar to the Madikwe, where farms have been rehabilitated to natural bush and animals reintroduced.

As the populations are still growing and the land still recovering in some places, it is not yet one of South Africa’s prime safari destinations. Game numbers are good, but cannot compare with the likes of the Greater Kruger and Madikwe. This being said, it is one of the most spectacular settings in South Africa to enjoy a safari, as the mountain range with its cliffs, rivers, and general topography is unique and beautiful.

Lisbon Falls on the Panorama Route

The Panorama Route is so named due to the multitude of “panoramas” that you can experience when travelling along the route. These Panoramas include Blyde River Canyon (world’s third-largest Canyon), God’s Window, from where you can see large parts of the lowlands right to the Kruger National Park and views of the Sabie Valley. The route also offers beautiful waterfalls, namely Lisbon Falls (my favourite), Mac Mac Falls, Panorama Gorge Falls, Berlin Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Maria Shires Falls, Horses, Lone Creek Falls, Forest Falls, and Sabie Falls.

With spectacular mountain vistas all along the route, huge green forests, towns tucked away in the valleys, and wilderness retreats, the Panorama Route must be one of South Africa’s most beautiful. A mecca for hiking, this area offers short to multi-day hikes for all fitness levels.

I would suggest that if you have the time, you spend at least two whole days in the area, which will allow you to hit the highlights.

Drakensberg covered by mist

The Drakensberg in KwaZulu-Natal is subdivided into three sections, namely the southern, central, and northern berg (short for Drakensberg). The mountain range is South Africa’s highest with Mafadi being its highest point.

The range is the source of many rivers and streams of crystal-clear mountain water. Most of these flow eastwards and empty in the Indian Ocean.

This area is exceptional for walks, hiking, horse riding, trout fishing, golfing, mountain biking in the foothills, mountain climbing, hot air ballooning, and in its shadow, there is a great canopy tour.

The northern Drakensberg’s most impressive feature is the Amphitheatre, a buttress of sheer cliffs forming a semi-circle. The Tugela Falls tumbles about 950 m nearby and flows through the Royal Natal National Park, which encompasses these natural wonders.

The central Drakensberg is home to some of the highest peaks of the whole range, namely Cathkin Peak, Champagne Castle, Monks Cowl, and Giants Castle. Many walks and hikes will allow you to enjoy the fresh mountain air and magnificent views. You can also opt to visit some of the caves that house several hundred bushmen paintings.

Of consequence in the southern part of the Drakensberg is the Maloti-Drakensberg Park, a World Heritage Site, and Sani Pass. The Sani Pass offers the only road that crosses over the high Drakensberg Mountains. The Pass that enters Lesotho offers spectacular views and a pub at its summit.

Rhino in the Nambiti Private Game Reserve

There are two distinct areas in KwaZulu-Natal where you can enjoy a safari. The reserves in the Zululand/Maputaland area are characterised by sub-tropical, lush bush, and mild temperatures in the winter and hot temperatures in the summer. This area is also quite scenic, as it is quite mountainous, making the topography interesting. The Nambiti area is quite cold in winter and mild in summer and set in an area of rolling hills of savannah with clumps of trees.

Reserves to visit include, amongst others: Nambiti Private Game Reserve, Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park, Mkuze Falls Private Game Reserve, Manyoni Private Game Reserve, Thanda Safari, Phinda Private Game Reserve, and White Elephant Safari.

Thonga Beach lodge on the north KZN Coasthis coastline, which continues into Mozambique, is one of the most beautiful on the continent. Long, sandy beaches, big breakers, subtropical vegetation, and easy access characterise this part of South Africa. There are areas along the coast that are built-up and very commercial and areas that are off-the-beaten track, quiet, and offer the visitor the luxury of long, uncrowded walks on the beach.

The northern part of this coastline is one of the best places to encounter Loggerhead and Leatherback turtles coming up onto its sandy beaches to nest. The coast also boasts famous coral reefs like Aliwal Shoal, Protea Banks, 7-Mile Rreef, and Leadsman Shoal. Virtually every little bay has a reef, which is often great for snorkelling and scuba diving.

As the floor of the ocean drops quite quickly to deep water, deep-water fishing is a great way to spend some time during your vacation, and the fishing is good to very good.

Battle of Blood River

Parts of KwaZulu-Natal saw many battles between the Zulu tribe, the British, and the Boers. Some remarkable stories found their origin here, and with its beautiful scenery, make for a historically interesting and geographically scenic stay. The lodges in the area offer battlefield tours with experts that make the stories come alive and bring the past into the present for an hour or two. With the Drakensberg Mountains in the distance and the wildlife of the area adding an extra dimension to your stay, this is a great base to see and experience many of the activities and relax while surrounded by those things that make Africa unique.

Famous battle sites include Rorke’s Drift, Isandlwana, and Spioenkop. The area also has many memorials and a couple of museums.

Views of the Midlands Meander

This area is characterised by green, rolling hills, offering a very pastoral experience. This is horse and cattle country, but has become famous for its arts and crafts, cuisine, accommodation, conference venues, historical places of interest, wildlife, and opportunity for adventure activities. This is a great place to unwind after a safari, take in your surroundings, enjoy a spa treatment, and just relax.

The Midlands stretches from Hilton in the south to Mooi River in the north, from the foothills of the Drakensberg in the west and Karkloof in the east.

Hole-in-the-wall on the Eastern Cape Coast

The Eastern Cape is a place where very diverse ecosystems meet. In the north and west is the arid and dry Great Karoo. On the south-west coast is the temperate Tsitsikamma Forest. The southern coast is rugged with numerous secluded bays, and the north-eastern coast is sub-tropical, with long sandy beaches, and is surrounded by rolling hills, while the interior is mountainous. The Drakensberg mountain range has its southernmost point in the Eastern Cape.

The Eastern Cape is home to the Tsitsikamma Forest, the Addo National Park, the Amakhala, Sibuya, Kariega, Lalibela Game Reserves, Shamwai, Samara, Kwandwe, and Pumba Private Game Reserve, as well as a smattering of other reserves. Game viewing is very different to that of the Kruger Park, as the vegetation is low bush, and small trees make it easy to spot game. It also provides the opportunity to spot the smaller mammals, including the Aardvark, Aardwolf, African wildcat, caracal, serval, mongoose, pangolin, and porcupine to name a few. Most of the reserves have spectacular scenery with mountains, valleys, ravines, rivers, and savannah plains. Even if you do not experience a particularly productive game drive, on the day, the scenery provides you with enough to feast your eyes on.

Jeffreys Bay is known as one of the best surf spots in the world. Close by is St Francis Bay and Cape st Francis, where long sandy beaches are the playground of the rich and trendy. As you travel up the coast, you will encounter spots like Hole-in-the-Wall that help you understand why this area is called the Wild Coast. The Wild Coast is also the scene of the “hotel-hopping” Wild Coast walk, where each day takes you along the scenic coastline, on beach walks, through small rivers, and even a ferry river crossing, all the while enjoying the comfort of a dinner and bed at your hotel at the end of the day.

Set in the Great Karoo, the historical town of Graaff-Reinet offers history, quaint shops, excellent restaurants and coffee shops, and the incredible Valley of Desolation and the Camdeboo National Park. Not far away is Cradock, another town rich in history, which has on its doorstep the Mountain Zebra National Park, created to protect the Cape Mountain Zebra. Cities like Grahamstown, Port Alfred, Port Elizabeth, and East London each have their own attractions.

Valley of Desolation near Graaff-Reinet

The Karoo is the name given to the semi-desert region that spans parts of the Western, Eastern, and Northern Cape. It is thought to be the remnant of a great inland sea, and its many fossils seem to add credence to this theory. The area is characterised by mountains, large open plains, dry air, hot summers and cold winters, grasslands, low bushes, and small trees (Karoo bush), which get sparser as you move further north. The vegetation in the Karoo is unique, and used to support huge numbers of wildlife that lived in huge herds. Today, Karoo lamb is famous. While the Karoo has very few perennial rivers, it does possess lots of underground water.

The Karoo is divided into the Great Karoo and the Klein Karoo. The 400 000 km² Great Karoo cannot be precisely demarcated with the exception of its southern boundary, the Swartberg Mountain range. These mountains give way to large arid plains dotted with flat-topped hills, the Karoo Koppies. The Klein Karoo is well demarcated by the Swartberg Mountains in the north and the Langeberg and Outeniqua ranges in the south.

While it is 290 km in length, it is only 60 km at its widest point. Parts of the Klein Karoo receive quite a bit more rain than the Great Karoo. It is an area characterised by mountains, Karoo fynbos, remnants of volcanic eruptions, and the fault line that lies along the southern edge of the Swartberg Mountains. These are the reasons for the red cliffs of Calitzdorp/Oudtshoorn and the Cango Caves. The unofficial rock-climbing capital of Montagu and the ostrich capital of the world, Oudtshoorn, are but two of the quaint towns in the Klein Karoo.

Union Buildings in Pretoria

Gauteng is the economic hub of South Africa. Its two biggest cities are Johannesburg and Pretoria, but the whole province, South Africa’s smallest, is virtually all built up.

Johannesburg is distinct in many ways, but two of the least well-known are that it is the only major city in the world that does not have a major river flowing through it, and it is the largest man-made forest in the world. Johannesburg came into being during the Witwatersrand Gold rush, and from these humble beginnings, has grown to be the seat of business in South Africa and the wealthiest.

Rapid urbanisation is engulfing Johannesburg, which is struggling to keep up with the supply of services, housing, roads, and infrastructure. Millions of people from Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, and elsewhere in Africa have descended on Johannesburg in search of economic opportunities, creating more pressure on an already stretched infrastructure. The result is high crime rate, xenophobia, overcrowding, poverty, a degree of lawlessness, and a high unemployment rate.

Pretoria is South Africa’s legislative capital, and houses the Union Buildings, where the offices of the president are located. The Union Buildings, designed by Sir Herbert Baker, are impressive and offer expansive views on the city itself. Pretoria is experiencing the same challenges as Johannesburg, but to a lesser degree.

With over 22% of the population living in 1,5% of the area of South Africa, Gauteng is crowded and busy. It is a land of shopping malls, hotels, office blocks, and very upmarket suburbs juxtaposed by some of the poorest “locations” in the country.

The Overberg in the Western Cape

Sandwiched by the Hottentot Mountains just outside of Cape Town to the west, and the Garden Route to the east, this area that extends to the Atlantic and Indian Oceans in the south, also boasts the southernmost tip of Africa, Cape Agulhas. Mainly farmland, it produces huge quantities of wheat, other grains, and fruit.

Hermanus is known to be the site of the best land-based whale watching in the world, as the high cliffs afford excellent views of the impressive Walker Bay where Southern Right, Humpback, and Bryde’s whales come to give birth to their young. Gansbaai, now famous for its shark-cage diving, is reasonably close as well.

Oryx on Sanbona

A newcomer to the safari game in South Africa, the Western Cape, due to its very different vegetation, also offers a very different safari experience. The carrying capacity of the land is much less than the reserves in the northern part of South Africa, so large herds are not possible, and the populations have to be very well managed, so as not to stress the land. The vegetation, similar to the Eastern Cape, is less dense and lower, making it easier to spot game.

The reserves are geographically more exciting, with mountains, gorges, ravines, and rivers adding interest and variety. This, together with the fynbos, provide a beautiful environment to appreciate Africa’s wildlife. While some of the reserves have the Big 5, it is my opinion that the focus of the Western Cape reserves should centre around the smaller, lesser seen species that are more easily spotted in this environment.