South Africa at a Glance: Best of Touring Special
09/05/2025
South Africa is a breathtaking destination, with fascinating cultural heritage, excellent food and wine, unforgettable wildlife viewing opportunities and mesmerising landscapes. It’s long been renowned as the perfect, indisputable choice for a safari, but the country has so much more to offer beyond this. With Hays Travel, you can book a range of exciting tours across this incredible country, read on for a glance into what South Africa has to offer…
WHERE TO GO FOR BEACHES
South Africa’s coastline stretches for nearly 2,000 miles, facing the Atlantic Ocean on the western side of the country, and the Indian Ocean on the east, meaning the country has no shortage of diverse beaches.
Surfers flock to Dolphin Beach on the Sunshine Coast, a wide and largely untouched expanse of sand and one of the world’s top surfing destinations. For wildlife-spotting head to Boulders Beach in Cape Town, home to a colony of around 3000 African penguins. Or, explore Sodwana Bay, near the Mozambique border, the perfect beach for diving and snorkelling as the warm waters teem with marine life, including sea turtles which lay their eggs on the beach and hatch between January to April.
Where to go on safari
Kruger National Park is the oldest and largest area of undisturbed natural bush in South Africa, boasting the widest variety of classic safari animals. The park offers ample opportunity for wildlife viewing, including lions, leopards, rhinos and buffalos. The Madikwe Game Reserve is the second largest wildlife reserve, and offers a landscape of rocky outcrops and open plains. It’s a popular choice for birdwatchers and ideal for a more traditional safari experience. The Eastern Cape is a great safari option for families with children, as unlike many other safari destinations, it is malaria-free and boasts great weather from October to March.
Where to sample excellent wine
Thanks to its excellent weather and landscape, South Africa is home to some of the world's best wines. The Franschhoek wine region offers a unique way to explore notable wine farms, via the Franschhoek Wine Tram, where you can hop on and off at various estates and enjoy scenic views around the beautiful valley. Or, head to Stellenbosch, boasting some of the oldest, most popular wine estates and picturesque vineyards, with 148 wineries to choose from, you’ll be spoilt for choice. The best time to see grapes on the vines is between October and January, before the harvest season, plus the weather is warmer.
Where to learn about history and culture
For those interested in history, South Africa should be top of your list to explore. In KwaZulu-Natal, northwest of Durban, visit the Battlefields Region to learn about the Zulus, one of Africa’s most prominent empires, who reigned between 1816 and 1897. Visit the Cradle of Humankind, a significant archeological site northwest of Pretoria, with world-class exhibitions and fascinating excavation sites. Or, head to the Mandela House Museum for insight into the beloved, anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela, who became South Africa’s first democratically elected president after 27 years in prison.
WHERE TO TRY FANTASTIC CUISINE
The food in South Africa is influenced by its colonial past, resulting in an array of tasty dishes full of exciting flavours and aromas.
It’s also now seen as one of the world’s most exciting destinations for foodies, with Cape Town, Franschhoek and Johannesburg all considered world-class, fine-dining destinations, home to numerous restaurants by renowned homegrown and international chefs. In Cape Town, visit the Neighbourgoods Market, every Saturday, to sample local produce from over 100 food stalls. Or, for those who love seafood, head to the culinary hotspot town of Knysna on the Garden Route to celebrate the annual 10-day Oyster Festival in early July.
EXPERT TIPS: MOLLY'S ADVENTURE
Molly from our York branch headed to South Africa for a multi-centre trip to Kruger and Cape Town last November.
"From admiring the views at Table Mountain to witnessing giraffes and zebras roaming right outside the luxury tents of my safari experience, it was a trip to remember. My highlight was doing the big swing at Graskop into the third biggest canyon in the world – scary but thrilling."
Molly’s top tip: "For a South Africa safari, make sure you are prepared for all weather conditions and pack a jumper, even in the 40 degree heat, the wind can be chilly whilst driving."
