From world-famous Big Five safaris and dramatic coastlines to vibrant cities and award-winning vineyards, South Africa is a country of breathtaking contrasts and unforgettable experiences, perfect for first-time travellers and seasoned adventurers alike.
Best month to go
When to Visit South Africa
With its rich mix of wildlife, beaches, vineyards, and vibrant cities, South Africa is a year-round destination.
The best time for wildlife safaris is May to October. For Big Five and whale watching, visit in September, with ideal conditions for both land and sea sightings.
December is the best month for a winter-sun holiday, with sunny, warm weather that makes it perfect for beaches, coastal towns, and Cape Town’s festive season.
April is ideal for Winelands tours and scenic drives along the Garden Route, with mild, pleasant weather and beautiful autumn colours in the vineyards.
South Africa is a country that offers enormous variety in terms of experience. From its stunning scenery and phenomenal wildlife, to its world-class cities and wine regions, there really is something for everyone here. It is a fantastic choice for first-time safari goers and seasoned travellers alike. It also has some excellent ‘Big Five’ malaria-free reserves, making it an amazing option for families too.
Angela HannahPartnerships Manager
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Real expertise doesn’t come from a few trips to Africa. All our specialists have either been guides, run the camps, or grown up and lived in Africa. That’s over 600 years of genuine safari experience.
From Kruger National Park to the country’s Eastern Cape Reserves, South Africa is the best destination to see the Big Five. Add cheetah, wild dog, and an incredible variety of plains game and birdlife, and you have some of the continent’s most rewarding safari viewing!
South Africa has extremely varied wildlife, making it popular with both first-time safari-goers and repeat visitors. The Kruger, Sabi Sands, Phinda, and Madikwe areas are famous for their Big Five residents, including lion, rhino, leopard, buffalo, and elephant. Meanwhile, at Timbavati, you might spot rare white lion. Predators include cheetah, hyena, aardwolf, and jackal, often best seen on night drives. In Tswalu, desert-adapted wildlife includes black-maned lion, aardvark, brown hyena, and bat-eared fox. Also featuring the Western Cape’s ‘Marine Big Five’, South Africa’s wildlife is amongst the most diverse on the continent.
South Africa has an extraordinary number of wildlife destinations, each with its own distinct character. There are plenty of places to see the Big Five, including Kruger, Sabi Sands, Madikwe, Marakele, Timbavati, and Phinda, some of which are malaria-free and ideal for families.
Sabi Sands is particularly renowned for its fantastic Big Five game viewing, with frequent leopard sightings among its main highlights. The nearby Timbavati feels wild and remote, home to large lion prides and the rare white lion. In the Kruger region, we favour private concessions that steer away from busier areas to offer greater exclusivity. For families, we recommend malaria-free reserves such as Madikwe and Marakele, where you’ll find panoramic views and exceptional wildlife. Phinda is unique, with seven ecosystems ranging from wetlands to dry sand forests. Finally, Tswalu Kalahari is home to unique desert-adapted species, including black-maned lion and rare finds such as aardvark and pangolin.
South Africa is an exceptional safari honeymoon destination. Combining incredible wildlife encounters with luxury stays, world-class wining and dining, and beautiful scenery, the country offers countless options for honeymooners. Our experts can guide you on where to go for the best experience!
Whether you’re looking for a Big Five safari, a city break, or relaxing spa treatments after your big day, South Africa’s honeymoon possibilities are endless. Romantic highlights include candle-lit dinners in the bush, sleep-outs beneath the stars, champagne breakfasts, and private game drives. Choose between small, intimate safari camps, boutique city hotels, exclusive-use villas, and luxury beach retreats. Whether you opt for a scenic coastal road trip along the Garden Route or game viewing in the wild spaces of the Greater Kruger, South Africa provides a stunning mix of luxury and adventure for an unforgettable honeymoon.
South Africa is one of Yellow Zebra’s favourite destinations for a family safari. Home to world-class safari, beautiful cities, and great beaches with activities for all ages, South Africa offers an unforgettable family holiday experience.
A top choice for those travelling with children, South Africa offers some excellent malaria-free reserves, such as Madikwe, Marakele, and Tswalu, so you’ll have total peace of mind without compromising on the Big Five experience. Accommodations are equally impressive, featuring a great selection of fenced lodges, interconnecting suites, and exclusive-use villas. Besides game drives, younger guests can enjoy guided nature walks, junior ranger programmes, and fun activities such as arts and crafts, cooking, and stargazing. Offering a well-organised domestic travel network and direct international flights, South Africa remains an accessible destination that removes the stress from family holidays while guaranteeing extraordinary wildlife encounters.
Just a short drive from Cape Town, the Cape Winelands are the perfect add-on for your South Africa safari. Picture rolling vineyards, world-famous wines, and farm-to-table dining – all paired with mountain views and charming boutique hotels. Enjoy wine tasting, fine dining, cycle tours, and more, in towns including Stellenbosch and Franschhoek.
This area is also home to some of the country’s most exclusive estates, where historic architecture meets highly acclaimed spas and award-winning restaurants. Besides its wineries, Stellenbosch attracts contemporary art enthusiasts, while the scenic Franschhoek mountains set the stage for panoramic hiking and cycling. In the village of Franschhoek, you’ll find independent boutiques, galleries, and artisanal food shops. Whether as a day trip or a few nights combined with Cape Town, the Winelands are an essential part of a comprehensive South African itinerary.
South Africa is one of the best places in Africa to enjoy high-end safaris without the high-end price tag. The luxury lodges, excellent guiding, and top-notch cuisine are often better value than comparable camps elsewhere in Safari Africa, meaning you can stretch your safari budget further.
There are so many different regions and accommodation options to choose from, we really are spoilt for choice when it comes to planning a South Africa holiday. A favourable exchange rate makes many luxurious products extremely good value, and when combined with some of the quieter reserves, a high-end safari is well within reach at a very fair price point. If you travel just outside peak season, you’ll also find good deals that help stretch your budget. Finally, Cape Town offers fantastic boutique hotels, allowing you to mix luxury brands with independent properties for a balanced itinerary that doesn’t compromise on quality.
South Africa is a country of incredible variety, from Kruger’s savannas and the wild coastlines of KwaZulu-Natal, to dramatic mountain ranges, indigenous fynbos biospheres, and golden beaches. Not forgetting vibrant cities like Cape Town! It’s ideal for a safari that blends gorgeous scenery, wild experiences, and city breaks.
We love the diversity that South Africa offers, as it provides such a great opportunity for creative itinerary planning. Within a short space of time, you can move between grassy plains full of game and forests, mountains, beaches, and flower-filled meadows. You’ll see valleys full of vineyards in the Cape Winelands and a range of stunning landscapes along the Garden Route. As far as cities go, Cape Town ranks among the most beautiful in the world, with its position overlooking the Atlantic coast, towered over by Table Mountain. It is a destination that truly offers something for everyone.
Yellow Zebra are genuine specialists; they know the African bush like the back of their hand.
Brian JackmanSafari expert for The Sunday Times, The Telegraph, Condé Nast, and the BBC
Londolozi Varty Camp is one of five properties located within the private Londolozi Reserve. At the time of writing, it’s the oldest and largest camp – and also one of the best-value options within the reserve by a long way. Named after the Varty family, who…
Mala Mala Camp is one of three privately owned properties within the Mala Mala Private Reserve in South Africa’s wildlife-dense Sabi Sands Game Reserve, bordering Kruger National Park. Guests can expect handsome accommodations, fusing contemporary style with…
Kirkman’s Kamp prides itself on a signature blend of natural luxury in combination with great guiding and superb service standards. Located in one of the best game viewing areas in the Sabi Sands, you simply cannot go wrong with Kirkmans. The accommodation is…
This property is amazing for travellers seeking a variety of activities, including private activities, and rarer wildlife! There are just nine authentic dwellings, making for a really exclusive experience. Tswalu the Motse, together with sister camp Tarkuni,…
Singita Boulders Lodge is one of the thirteen properties listed in the world-renowned Singita collection, which spans, among other areas, the Serengeti, Kruger National Park, and Zimbabwe’s Gonarezhou. With a name that means Place of Miracles, Singita is…
An elevated hillside lodge in the south-west of Phinda Private Game Reserve, &Beyond Phinda Mountain Lodge is the ultimate family-friendly safari destination, delivering high-end accommodation and endless activities to keep the kids entertained! With superb…
Walkers Plains is a safari lodge built and run by the Walker family, whose love and knowledge of the area have culminated in this wonderful new camp. It was previously their home and has only recently had rooms added and been opened up to the international…
Lebombo and its sister lodge Sweni are two of our favourite lodges in South Africa. Both are excellent, but if we had to choose one, we would probably opt for Lebombo; the decor is a little brighter and it is in a more dramatic setting than Sweni.
Ngala Tented Camp has recently undergone an extensive refurbishment, making this already wonderful camp one of the finest properties in South Africa. Owned by &Beyond, which is among the premier safari operators on the continent, this is a high-end luxury…
This is an exquisite safari offering from the MORE Collection, situated in a beautiful and remote area of South Africa, well away from the crowds. The luxurious lodge is great for all visitors, but especially for families with its four enormous family suites…
The lodge lies on a gentle slope of rolling hills and overlooks the Madikwe plains. It is split into three smaller lodges that are only a few minutes walk apart – Lelapa with twelve suites, Dithaba with four, and the more exclusive Kopano which also has…
Four Rosmead is privately owned and run. Originally constructed as a private house in 1903, its conversion into a guesthouse was very successful – and it’s certainly a favourite at Yellow Zebra! Today it offers deluxe rooms and superb service. Accommodation…
Babylonstoren is privately owned and run. Its known history begins in 1692, when it was granted to burgher Pieter van der Byl by the Governor of the Cape. About a decade ago it was restored to its current condition by Karen Roos, formerly a magazine editor,…
Londolozi Founders Camp is family owned and run. Its name honours everyone who has helped establish the Londolozi Reserve, from the area’s beginnings in 1926 until the present day. The camp has been awarded a Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor!…
Phinda Forest Lodge is operated by &Beyond. This company runs high-quality properties across Safari Africa and many other locations, all the while caring for the local peoples and wildlife. Service standards are superb – Forest Lodge has been awarded a…
Ellerman House is privately owned and run. A handsome Edwardian mansion built in 1915, it’s without doubt one of the finest hotels in Cape Town – and with a price tag to match! However, we think it’s worth the cost if you’re looking for something really…
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