Our Destinations
With its wild beauty and untamed landscapes, South Africa often feels less like the tip of a continent, more like the ends of the Earth. This is a place where hungry lions stalk their prey against desert dunes, where two of our greatest oceans meet and where jagged peaks reach for the sky. It’s also a place where you can kick back with a bottle of wine and a steak for the price of a Tube fare and where hospitality is combined with infectious joie de vivre.
We love it here: the drama of its landscapes, the thrill of its coastline and the spirit of its people.
Perfect for: wildlife-lovers, oenophiles, safari-goers, families, foodies, nature-enthusiasts.
January is a lovely time to visit South Africa. The Western Cape, including Cape Town and the Garden Route, enjoys warm, dry temperatures, averaging between 25-28 degrees Celsius. Elsewhere, you will find warm temperatures throughout the country. The Kwazulu-Natal and Mpumalanga regions, which include Johannesburg, Durban, The Drakensberg and Kruger National Park, may have rainstorms and a higher level of rainfall.
Weather continues to be excellent throughout the Western Cape, with warm, dry weather. The warm temperature continues in Kwazulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, with a slight reduction in rainfall although there is still a high likelihood of showers.
Temperatures in the Western Cape are starting to fall, although they remain warm and average around the mid 20’s which makes it a pleasant time to visit. The rainfall levels are reducing further in the Greater Kruger area, and the rainfall over the past few months will leave game reserves with flowing rivers, replenished watering holes and thick vegetation.
Temperatures will fall slightly throughout April, and the country remains relatively dry throughout. Rain in the Greater Kruger area have reduced to the occasional shower. Temperatures across the country range from an average of 20 degrees Celsius in the Drakensberg to 30 degrees Celsius in the Kruger National Park. Temperatures in the Western Cape will be in the early to mid 20’s, and visitors may want a light layer for crisp mornings and evenings.
Temperatures continue to fall, and evenings will likely be cooler. Temperatures in the Western Cape will be between 18 and 22 degrees Celsius. The country remains dry throughout, although the likelihood of showers in Cape Town will rise.
June is the official start of ‘winter’ in South Africa, and while temperatures rarely fall below 15 degrees Celsius, visitors can expect cooler temperatures and some areas will require warm layers, particularly in the morning and evening. Rainfall in Cape Town and the Winelands will increase, and visitors should expect some showers.
Winter continues, with cooler temperatures and showers throughout the Western Cape. July is also the start of whale watching seasons along the coastline between Hermanus and Plettenberg Bay, as they migrate to warmer waters for calving season. The weather around the Kruger National Park and Eastern Cape remains relatively warm, with temperatures in the mid-twenties, and dry.
The whale-watching season continues, and the wildflowers begin to bloom along the Western Cape. Temperatures remain cool across the Winelands and Cape Town, averaging around 17 degrees Celsius. The rainfall level in the area is starting to reduce, although showers are still likely. The Greater Kruger area remains dry and mild, with pleasantly warm temperatures during the day, and cooler mornings and evenings.
Spring arrives in South Africa, and temperatures begin to warm. Both whale-watching and wildflower seasons continue in the West Coast, and it is a fantastic time to visit game reserves with high chances of seeing wildlife and their young. There is low rainfall throughout the country.
Temperatures continue to climb, and the weather remains warm and dry throughout the country. Whale-watching seasons continue, and while the wildflower bloom is drawing to a close there will still be a variety of colourful flowers. October is a fantastic month to visit South Africa and a particularly good time to combine several regions within the country.
Whale-watching season draws to a close along the coast. Temperatures continue to increase across the country, climbing to the mid twenties in the Cape. The northern regions of South Africa begin to see higher rainfall, with visitors likely to see daily thunderstorms in the afternoon which will clear any humidity.
December is a very popular time to visit South Africa, with warm temperatures throughout the country. Rainfall continues in the northern regions of the country, with showers and rainstorms likely in the Greater Kruger area.
Wildlife
South African wildlife is synonymous with one place: the Kruger. 20,000 kilometres of immaculate national park, this is one of the largest game reserves in Africa, parts of which have been a protected area since Queen Victoria was on the throne.
There is so much life here it’s hard to know where to start. With 147 species, you’ve got the highest concentration of large mammals on the African continent, over 500 species of bird, 3,000 Nile crocodiles and even its very own shark species: the Zambezi.
Lodges of all styles and varying degrees of luxury are scattered throughout the park and tours on foot, horseback, plane and car are available. We love getting out in a Jeep and touring the park, counting up what we see and swapping stories over a well-earnt – and well-named – Lion Lager at the end of the day. For options on lodges and tours, give us a call – there’s nothing we’d like more than to reminisce on some of our own adventures as we plan yours.
Cities
A country at the end of a vast continent needs a city befitting that status: in Cape Town, South Africa has just that. A uniquely beautiful place framed by the iconic Table Mountain, we simply can’t get enough of Cape Town. Climb the mountain by morning, explore the fascinating – and haunting – history of Robben Island at lunch, take in a Penguin Colony during the afternoon and say a sailor’s prayer as the waves crash against the Cape of Good Hope as the sun dips beneath the horizon. What a place – and that’s just day 1.
Aside from its most famous city, explore the beating heart of the country in ever-vibrant Johannesburg, the beaches and laid-back vibes of Durban and the handsomeness – and sinister history – of Pretoria.
Whatever it is you’re looking for in an urban break, South Africa has the answer. The cities teem with almost as much life as the national parks and an infectious spirit of life is everywhere to be found. Strap in and enjoy the ride.
Ocean
If one place rivals the abundance of wildlife across South Africa’s land, it’s South Africa’s seas. To the east, the Agulhas current shifts warm Indian Ocean water towards the corner of the continent and the result is a spectacular diversity of life and reefs. Dive at Sodwana Bay for a visual overload of colours, species, subspecies, and more – it really does have to be seen to be believed.
To the west, it’s the Benguela system that rules the roost, drawing cool, nutrient-rich water from the depths and bringing it to the surface. Again, life is the result, with the most abundant mainland seal colonies on Earth, penguins, shoals of quite literally millions of fish, endemic penguins, seabirds and, of course, sharks.
There are almost as many ways to enjoy South Africa’s oceans as there are species within them: boat tours, diving, snorkelling, kayaking, shark-spotting, yacht-chartering. We could go on. Or, if that all sounds a little too strenuous, how about parking up at a beach and watching the waves crash with drink in hand?
Wine
With over a billion litres of wine produced annually, it’s no surprise that South Africa is an oenophile’s paradise. Covering almost 150,000 hectares of the Western Cape – the province within easy striking distance of Cape Town – the country’s winelands host a gorgeous selection of vineyards in blissful, mountain-framed surroundings.
At Love To Explore, our two favourites are the world-famous Stellenbosch region, as well as the equally lovely Franschhoek. We still dream about them on rainy days in the office. Vergelegen in Stellenbosch has been making wine for over three centuries and the plushness of the house and gardens makes for an upmarket experience. For a more laid-back wine tour, give Spier Hotel and Wine Farm a go: there are some lovely reds, as well as a selection of less wine-based activities for all the family to enjoy. Think outdoor cinema, Segway tours, bird of prey displays.
We would never tell our clients what they have to do. We can only strongly advise. When it comes to the Franschhoek Wine Tram, that advice is as strong as it gets. This is a truly wonderful way to see this lush, mountainous wine region, the service offering a hop-on hop-off experience at a large number of vineyards and walking spots. The atmosphere is lovely, too, increasingly so throughout the day as customers indulge in the myriad cellar tours available. And, when you’re done, simply roll back to where you started.
Arathusa
Set in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve, overlooking a thriving watering hole, Arathusa offers fantastic wildlife viewing. The lodge itself provides spacious, modern suites and a number of welcoming lounge areas which are designed to showcase the beautiful location. Arathusa is a personal favourite among the Love To Explore team, in part due to the fantastic wildlife sightings experienced while staying. These included multiple sightings of Cape hunting dogs and a two-week-old rhino alongside the Big 5.
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