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South Africa tours & holidays

Name: Best of South Africa
Brand: Trafalgar
Price: 7853 AUD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.2 (70 reviews)

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As the world leader in travel experiences since 1947, we connect you to the real South Africa in a way like no other. From the wild bushland to the powdery beaches ringed by two oceans, South Africa is a country of astonishing diversity. You can journey from the rugged Drakensberg Mountains, to the star-studded Kalahari dunes, and on to the vibrant cities of Cape Town and Johannesburg, the 'City of Gold'. When you visit South Africa with Trafalgar, we’ll venture on a private safari in Kruger National Park to see Africa’s Big Five and unique black-maned lions, and rise to the top of Table Mountain for sweeping views over Cape Town’s Atlantic Seaboard. Enjoy lunch in Africa's highest pub, sample the famous wine of the golden Cape Winelands, and drive the Cape Peninsula, one of the world’s most beautiful coastal roads. South Africa’s vibrant culture is equally diverse, and we’ll reveal the legacy of Mandela through the country’s excellent museums, and share a traditional meal in a Swazi Chief's village. Travel with us and unlock the infinite possibilities thanks to our exclusive Trafalgar Highlights.

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4.2

Best of South Africa

15 Days

3 Countries

13 Locations

15-Day South Africa Tour from Johannesburg to Cape Town

From

$7,853

Standard Price

$8,725

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Save up to $699

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4.2

Essence of South Africa

10 Days

1 Country

6 Locations

10-Day South Africa Tour from Cape Town to Johannesburg

From

$6,342

Standard Price

$6,925

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The best of South Africa unlocked for you

Experience South Africa differently. Enjoy one-of-a-kind experiences and uncover local secrets when our friends across the country open their doors to you. Here’s just a sample of the rich experiences you can expect.

5 million happy guests and counting

Overall Rating

4.6

OUT OF 5

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Trip rating is the overall quality of the itinerary and trip

4.6

OUT OF 5

111,202

40,051

8,934

2,904

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4.6

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Blooming bushes on a beach with view of Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa

South Africa at a glance

From the wild bushland to the powdery beaches ringed by two oceans, South Africa is a country of astonishing diversity. Join your expert Trafalgar Travel Director and journey from the Drakensberg Mountains and the starry Kalahari dunes, to a private safari in Kruger to see Africa’s Big Five.

Currency

South African rand

Capital City

Cape Town, Pretoria, Bloemfontein

Winter avg

29°C

Language

English, Afrikaans, Tsonga & others

Summer avg

18°C

Good morning

Time Zone

GMT+2

Good evening

"With gorgeous beaches, superb vineyards, starry deserts, soaring mountains, lively cities and national parks filled with wildlife, South Africa makes it hard to leave."

Travel Director

Our top 5 things to do in South Africa

We’ll show you what to do in South Africa, from searching for the Big Five in Kruger National Park, to ascending Table Mountain for breathtaking views over Cape Town.

Go on a private safari in Kruger National Park

Experience the wonders of Kruger on a private safari with Trafalgar. We’ll take you through one of the largest national parks in Africa, home to 135 mammal species including the iconic Big Five. See elephants chewing on mopane trees, wildebeest running through open savanna, and big cats lurking in the grass.

Take in the cosmopolitan spirit of Cape Town

From the slopes of Table Mountain to the rocky Atlantic shoreline, a tour of Cape Town is one of the best things to do in South Africa. Our Local Specialists will show you the sprawling City Bowl, the golden vineyards of the Cape Winelands, and the spectacular Cape Peninsula.

Enjoy the views of the Drakensberg Mountains

The Drakensberg Mountains are the highest peaks in South Africa, towering up to 3,482 metres. We’ll explore this UNESCO-listed Site, with magnificent views and rock art dating back several thousand years. You’ll also have the chance to join a 4x4 Sani Pass drive, for lunch at Africa's highest pub in Lesotho.

Connect with Swazi culture in a local Chief's village

We’ll travel to beautiful eSwatini, where your South Africa guide will show you around a Swazi Chief's village. You’ll see their traditional crimson dress, sample some local cuisine such as pap (cornmeal porridge) and meat and vegetable stew, and gain a deeper understanding of the community's way of life.

Go up the Table Mountain by Cable Car

Soaring 1,084 metres to form a flat-topped peak, Table Mountain is one of the most iconic South Africa attractions. We’ll take you to the top in a cableway, where you’ll discover bright Cape fynbos, the curious rock hyrax, and panoramic views of the City Bowl and Atlantic Seaboard.

Best museums in South Africa

Our South Africa travel experiences take you to the country’s superb museums, from the moving Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, to the vast historic collections of the Iziko South African Museum.

Cape Town

Iziko South African Museum

Founded in 1825 in the historic Company’s Gardens, the South African Museum houses extensive collections of natural history, zoology and archaeology. There are more than 1.5 million specimens in the museum, ranging from 700-million year old fossils, to stone tools made 120,000 years ago.

Johannesburg

Apartheid Museum

The Apartheid Museum commemorates the era of racial segregation in South America, providing a chilling insight into the apartheid system and sharing moving stories of the fight for democracy. You can easily spend a few hours here, taking in the wealth of information on this dark period.

Port Elizabeth

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum

Originally opened in 1956, this museum was renamed in 2002 in honour of Nelson Mandela. It houses a fantastic collection of South African art, along with international pieces. You can see artworks from the Eastern Cape, British art, Chinese textiles, Indian miniatures and international printmaking.

Best Food in South Africa

South Africa food is wonderfully diverse and our Local Specialists will show you all the best places to taste the classics, from dried biltong to warm biryani.

Biltong

As South Africa’s favourite snack, you’ll find biltong throughout the country, from markets to restaurants. Biltong is made from cured meat, usually beef and game, and is served in dried slices, spiced with herbs. In South Africa, game refers to the animals of the bush like ostrich, kudu, impala and wildebeest.

Biryani

South African biryani is a traditional dish originating from the Cape Malay culture. It’s made with lentils, meat like goat or chicken, vegetables like tomatoes and potatoes, and seasonings like garam masala, turmeric and chilli powder. It’s served with parboiled rice for a hearty meal.

Amasi

Amasi is a popular dairy snack in South Africa, made from unpasteurised cow's milk stored in a calabash container to allow it to ferment. The thick liquid that remains tastes like plain yoghurt and is traditionally served in a clay pot, or poured over pap porridge.

What to pack for South Africa

A man standing and packing suitcase next to a woman sitting on a bed

Pack for sustainable travel

Consider your environmental impact when you next take a trip and go single-use-plastic-free by packing a reusable water bottle, a steel straw, your own shopping bags and refillable toiletry bottles.

Binoculars

Bring your binoculars for wildlife spotting when we take you on a private safari through Kruger National Park, one of the best destinations for wildlife viewing in all of Africa.

Swimsuit

South Africa is known for its spectacular beaches, so pack a swimsuit if you’d like to take a dip in the Indian or Atlantic Oceans that border the country.

Adaptor plug

In South Africa, the standard voltage is 230 V and the power plugs and sockets are of type D, M and N. The standard frequency is 50 Hz.

Sunscreen & sunglasses

You’ll be much closer to the equator when you travel to South Africa, so you’ll need to protect your skin and eyes with strong sunscreen and UV protected sunglasses.

Versatile clothing

From the dusty savannah and sunny vineyards, to the chilly mountains and windy coastline, you’ll need a range of versatile clothing when you visit South Africa.

Other things to know before you go

Depending on your nationality, you'll need a valid passport and may also need visas to enter. Please check this on our Frequently Asked Questions page, well in advance of your trip departure date. Some countries also require passports to have 3-6 months left on them before the given expiry date, so be sure to double check this before booking your travels.