Often described as a world in one country, South Africa certainly is big enough to cover all bases: from snowy mountains to dusty deserts; cosmopolitan cities to charming little 'dorps'; and from beautiful beaches to wildlife-rich game reserves.
South Africa is the best of both worlds: it is Africa with its beautiful scenery, glorious weather and relaxed attitude, which manifests itself in the people who are friendly and easy-going; it also has a modern infrastructure making it an easy country to visit with plenty to see and do and plenty of ways to get around.
With a vast network of excellent roads, South Africa is road trip country. Domestic flights are also dirt cheap if you're not into the whole mixtape, padkos, back roads, one-horse town meander and want to get straight to the action.
- Cape Town: to the backdrop of Table Mountain, Cape Town's white beaches and café culture, world-class restaurants, working harbour, urban nature reserves and vineyards have earned this African city a season ticket to all the "World's Favourite City" polls.
- Kruger National Park: featuring great diversity, exceptional resource management and some of the finest safari lodges in the world, the Kruger Park is the grand-daddy of many game reserves in South Africa.
- Garden Route: packed with an assortment of attractions from family beaches, charming seaside towns, forests and fynbos and the Karoo hinterland, the Garden Route is made for relaxing holidays.
- Garden Route Safari: at the eastern end of the Garden Route are a clutch of genuine, big five game reserves in pristine wilderness areas offering excellent lodges, first-rate guides and the cherry on top: malaria-free safaris.
- Cape Winelands: if the game reserves are the eastern bookend of the Garden Route, the Winelands are the western bookend. And what a bookend with charming country towns, beautiful nature reserves and of course the ever-so-picturesque vineyards.
South Africa has many many more attractions and if you want to explore beyond the highlights: Malaria-free big five safaris in Madikwe and Pilanesberg; Sun City; The Namaqualand Flowers; the Drakensberg Mountains; Phinda Game Reserve and KwaZulu-Natal; the West Coast; Richtersveld Nature Reserve and many more.
An hour's drive from Cape Town, the Cape Winelands is an area of outstanding beauty with charming country towns, vast mountain ranges, fynbos nature reserves and of course the always-picturesque vineyards and some mighty fine wines for the tasting.
There is something soothing about row upon row of grapevines be they in winter green or summer russet. It may be their rhythm and sense of order; the shape of the land enhanced or the calming effect of lines converging in the distance. In any case, time slows down in Cape wine country and that's all the more to enjoy your time here.
Cape Town is one of the world's favourite holiday destinations. With pristine beaches, a buzzing café culture, great restaurants, a working harbour, unique nature reserves, popular landmarks and suburban vineyards there is much to enjoy.
If you plan to visit South Africa, chances are you've got Cape Town at the top of your list of places to go. And well you might, the second largest city in South Africa is easily reached from all over the world and the perfect place to start your South African holiday.
