South Africa Vacation

A South Africa vacation is like no other. The country's diverse landscape of beaches, rock formations, snow-capped mountains, lush forests, dry desert, and rolling plateaus provides vacationers a choice of tropical and sub-tropical climates and an array of attractions. Vacations in South Africa are popular due to the climate and variety of things to do within each region. For its size, the country is easy for visitors planning a self-guided South Africa vacation to travel.

Vacations in can include a litany of activities—game safaris, golfing, tours, hiking, skiing, snowboarding, sightseeing, flower tours, wine tours, casinos, scuba diving, fishing, canoeing, fly-fishing, and horseback riding. South Africa trips can also include visiting local attractions such as the Port Elizabeth Oceanarium, Lion Park in the Gauteng Province, Johannesburg Zoo and Planetarium, World of Birds Sanctuary and Monkey Park in Houtbay, Boulders Beach penguin colony in Cape Town, and the Ngwenya Glass factory in Muldersdrift, along with historical museums, parks, and gardens.

When planning South Africa trips, self-guided or escorted safaris that include multiple activities are a good way to see all that South Africa has to offer. The many regions of the country provide different types of opportunities. The Western and Eastern Cape regions include the coastlines bordered by the Indian and Atlantic oceans. Visitors planning a South Africa vacation at the beach should consider the areas of Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, East London, and Durban, depending on what type of atmosphere they're looking for; for instance, the ultra chic Clifton Beach, located in Cape Town, caters to jetsetters and trendsetters.

Many tours can be scenic activities to add to your itinerary, including the tours of the vineyards and wine cellars along the Constantia, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl, and Wellington Wine Routes. The Garden Route is also worth considering if scenic vistas are one of your interests, as it's a good area for hiking and tours. Vacations in South Africa along the Garden Route area of the Western Cape offer access to beaches that are less crowded and have miles of sand for walking or horseback riding. At Walker Bay in Hermanus, visitors can watch for Southern Right Whales from June through December.

A popular plan for vacation to South Africa includes observing and photographing wildlife in its natural habitat. Expert staff provides guided tours through the game reserves and parks to observe the animals. Guided walking tours, horseback-riding tours, open vehicle tours, and evening tours can make South Africa trips memorable and are available at parks and game reserves around the country, such as Kruger National Park, Timbavati Game Reserve, and Kgalagadi National Park.

Vacationers who enjoy a bit of gambling will want to plan a vacation to South Africa that centers on Johannesburg, where the Gold Reef and Montecasino provide plenty of gaming action with slots, poker, baccarat, blackjack, and roulette. Johannesburg has plenty of other attractions, including the Top of Africa observation deck at the Carlton Centre, Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens, Transvaal Snake Park, and, in nearby Pretoria, the Hartebeespoort Dam Snake and Animal Park.

Options for accommodations during trips to South Africa include hostels, bed and breakfasts, guesthouses, moderately priced hotels, luxury resorts, lodges, and chalets. Transportation throughout the country is available by rental car, Greyhound bus, escorted coach tours, charter flights between airports, and by train. The ease of finding hotels and getting around the country means that visitors to South Africa can spend the majority of their time deciding which attractions and activities will help them create their perfect vacation.