South Africa is one of Africa's greatest safari destinations, rivalling even the famous safari parks of East Africa. There are more than 300 game and nature reserves in South Africa, encompassing a wide range of habitats, from the game-rich acacia savannah of the Kruger National Park to the red rolling sand dunes of the vast Kalahari Gemsbok. Bordering Kruger is Mpumalanga, home to many of South Africa's finest game reserves, such as Sabi Sands, Timbavati, Thornybush and Londolozi. These small, well-maintained private reserves are a defining feature of the South African safari circuit, and a contrast to the larger national parks and game reserves found in East Africa.

Some of South Africa's reserves are malaria-free, making them suitable destinations for a family safari. Choose from Madikwe Game Reserve, easily accessible from Johannesburg, or the private reserves of the Eastern Cape such as Kariega, Lalibela, Shamwari and Kwandwe. These reserves are a perfect add-on to the Garden Route and can easily be included in a self-drive South Africa holiday. All of these parks and reserves offer an excellent safari experience with top-class wildlife viewing and a range of accommodations to suit every budget.

South Africa's attractions as a safari destination are clear, but of course the country's great appeal is that it offers much more than safaris. The Garden Route and the Cape Winelands region between them offer a number of beautiful country and coastal retreats, while the Cedarberg and the Drakensberg ranges are a paradise for keen hikers.

A few days in Cape Town, with its stunning backdrop of beaches, mountains and wine valleys, is a must. There is much to see and take in here, so be sure to allow a few days and don't try to rush through! Take the cable car to the top of Table Mountain and enjoy the incredible views of the city and coast from its summit. On the slopes of Table Mountain are the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens with a wide array of indigenous flora, trees, birds and small mammals. To the south is the rugged beauty of the Cape Peninsula and Cape Point, and in the Bay you can visit Robben Island, now a World Heritage Site.

Cape Town's charming waterfront has a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere as well as South Africa's finest restaurants. Seafood is a speciality. From here you can also visit the fertile Winelands and a number of historic towns such as Paarl, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch, where you may spend a night or two enjoying gourmet food and some of the world’s best vintage wines.

A self drive holiday or guided tour from Cape Town along the Garden Route is particularly rewarding. Here you will find an idyllic coastline with a mosaic of lakes, lagoons and wooded valleys. Diced by river gorges and locked between the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma mountain ranges, this is one of Africa’s most scenic spots. Your first stop might be Hermanus, which offers exceptional whale-watching between July and December, followed by some time at Wilderness National Park taking in its patchwork landscape of lakes, rivers and fens, before continuing on to Knysna to see the mighty yellowwoods of Knysna Forest and the beautiful lagoon. Further on, Plettenberg Bay provides a wonderful location for a South African beach holiday, while Tsitsikamma National Park, at the end of the Garden Route, offers exciting canopy tours and luxury treetop retreats.

With a 3,000km coastline, South Africa offers excellent scuba diving and superb beaches. For the active traveller, there is trekking in the mountain regions of Drakensberg, Cedarberg and the Wild Coast. Whale watching by boat from July to December is also a highlight, while botanists will thoroughly enjoy a drive along the Garden Route or better yet a visit to Namaqualand when (during late August and early September) the hills and heath-lands burst into flower with displays of vibrant oranges, purples and yellows.

All of these South African regions are easily explored as part of a self-drive holiday. Alternatively, we can arrange a variety of guided tours to South Africa ranging from one to fourteen day explorations – ask us for details.

Contact us now to take advantage of our many South Africa special offers and book your tailor-made safari with Gane and Marshall.

SOUTH AFRICA HOLIDAYS AT A GLANCE

• The climate changes dramatically across South Africa. The Cape area enjoys a Mediterranean climate and may be visited year round, but is hottest December-March.

• The best game-viewing throughout South Africa is from June to October.

• Travel connections between South Africa and Tanzania/Kenya are easy.

• South Africa offers a number of malari-free game reserves, making it the perfect destination for a family safari.