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sawubona south africa destination guide

You can have it all in South Africa, whether you prefer the mountains, beaches or bushveld. All your South Africa vacation essentials will be taken care of by us, while you create your dream South Africa trip as you choose from our optional experiences. Big fan of hiking? We’ll take you to the top of Table Mountain. Love wine tasting? We know all the best spots. Can’t wait to see the wildlife? We’ll take you on special guided walks to spot elephants, hippos and more. Whatever you go for, you’ll discover the best of South Africa, but always your way.

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our favourite ways to see south africa

10 Day Trip

3 Cities in

1 Country

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Wonders of the Western Cape

Prices from $1,895 pp

Best price for South Africa

Prices from $1,895 pp

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Visiting

  1. South Africa

    Cape Town Hermanus Knysna

9 Day Trip

3 Cities in

2 Countries

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Icons of Southern Africa

Prices from $3,025 pp

Best price for Zimbabwe

Prices from $3,025 pp

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Visiting

  1. South Africa

    Cape Town Johannesburg

  2. Zimbabwe

    Victoria Falls

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essential south africa bucket list items by us

What to do in South Africa? Let us count the ways! There are endless South Africa highlights, from spotting the Big 5 on safari, to exploring the mountains and beaches on a trip to Cape Town.

Learn about the history of Cape Town

Kickstart your Cape Town tour with your friendly Travel Director leading the charge on a sightseeing adventure. You’ll soon feel like you’re part of history yourself as you hear rich stories about the lush Company Gardens and the rainbow-colored houses of Bo-Kaap, and even get a dose of ancient history at the 17th-century Castle of Good Hope.
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Safari through Pilanesberg National Park

Dreams will come true as we take you on a thrilling game drive to spot lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, buffalo and more in the bushveld of Pilanesberg. You’ll feel like you’re in a real-life movie as we explore the wild landscapes in our 4x4 vehicle. All eyes will be peeled as the sun sets and the animals begin to emerge - this is South Africa sightseeing at its very best.
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Explore Johannesburg

Johannesburg is a feast for the senses and we’ll help you get your bearings with a sightseeing tour, before you explore your way.  Whether you get a history lesson at Soweto, South Africa’s oldest township with a dark past, or discover humanity’s origin story in the Sterkfontein Caves, we’re sure you’ll be fascinated by this incredible city.
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south africa tailored by you

Enjoy a tailor made South Africa vacation with our range of Optional Experiences. Choose from adventures like following the Garden Route for wine tasting in Hermanus and a safari in the Garden Route Game Reserve.

Garden Route Game Reserve

Just 4 hours' drive from Cape Town, the Garden Route is one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in South Africa. It winds its way for some 200 kilometres via the pretty towns of Mossel Bay, Knysna & others, and culminating in the Tsitsikamma Forest - a fairyland of giant trees, ferns and birdlife. With such variety, it’s not surprising that the nature of the Garden Route offers spectacular game viewing.
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Irina Gorskaia
Costsaver team member

Enjoy a sunset cruise in Knysna

Knysna (it's pronounced 'Naaisnah') is a town that sits on the edge of a lagoon, surrounded by two mountains known as the Knysna Heads. We spent most of the day exploring this beautiful area, with a guided walk through the lush forests, then a relaxing sunset dinner cruise onboard a traditional paddle steamer. Sailing along the peaceful waters of the lagoon was the perfect end to a wonderful day.
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Katie Birtles
happy Get Going past guest

Wine tasting in Hermanus

We got to know our inner wine connoisseur when we stopped at Hermanus, a seaside town known for whale watching and, of course, excellent wine. We visited a world-class vineyard in the famous Hemel-en-Aarde (Heaven-and-Earth) Valley... and it really did seem like we tasted heaven and earth!
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Catherine Atton
Costsaver team member

what to eat & drink in south africa

Grilled sausages, rich sandwiches and hearty stews… it seems like South African food was made for comfort and we’ll show you where to find all the best eats.

Boerewors

The name comes from a mix of Afrikaans and Dutch words - boer (farmer) and wors (sausage) - and this traditional South African sausage is made with a mix of minced lamb, beef or pork. Flavoured with spices and grilled on the barbecue, they don’t get much better than this.
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Bunny chow

If you’re keen to try some South African street food, you can’t miss out on this beloved sandwich. It’s made using a hollowed-out loaf of bread filled with a spicy curry and you can find it at street stalls all over the country. If you really fall in love with bunny chow, you can even buy it by the loaf.
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Bobotie

Bobotie has got to be South Africa’s most iconic dish and you can’t leave the country without savouring a slice. It’s something like a South African version of moussaka, made from curried mincemeat, raisins, pine nuts and herbs, topped with an egg and milk mixture and baked until golden.
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when is best to visit south africa

12 months of the year, there's no bad time to visit. Whether you want to go on safari in the bushveld, explore the lush vineyards, or swim in the tropical coast, here are our favourite times to visit South Africa.

Best time to go on a South Africa safari

Head to South Africa during the dry season of May to September, when temperatures are cooler and there’s better wildlife spotting as the animals congregate around the shrinking waterholes and rivers.
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Best time to explore the Garden Route

The best time to drive the awe-inspiring road from Cape Town to Hermanus to Knysna is the summer, spring and autumn seasons from September to May for sunny beaches, whale spotting and blooming vineyards.
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Best time to discover South Africa’s beaches

The beaches of South Africa are best on the Western Cape from October to May for the warmest weather and peak wildlife watching like penguins in summer and whales in spring.
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packing tips for south africa

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Swimsuit

Don’t forget to pack your swimsuit if you’ve been dreaming of splashing around in either the Indian or Atlantic Oceans - both can be found in South Africa!

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Sunscreen & sunglasses

South Africa is very close to the equator so make sure you protect your skin and eyes with UV-protected sunglasses and SPF30 sunscreen or higher.

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Camera & extra SD card

From the lush Cape Winelands, to the views from Table Mountain, to the Big 5 wildlife of the national parks… South Africa is filled with gorgeous photo ops and you’ll need extra memory to capture it all.

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how to travel responsibly in south africa

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Learn about South Africa’s past

It’s important to travel with an understanding of South Africa’s history and the complexities of its past. The Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg and the District Six Museum in Cape Town are both excellent experiences to learn more about past wars and present reconciliation.

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Support the national parks and game reserves

Many of South Africa’s national parks and reserves suffer at the hands of illegal poaching. By visiting these natural parks and seeing animals in the wild, your entry supports vital conservation and anti-poaching initiatives.

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Learn the language

Although many people speak English in South Africa, there are eleven official languages, with Zulu being the most common. It’s worth learning a few words in Afrikaans and you’ll get extra appreciation for offering a greeting in the relevant tribal language.

your africa, your way

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