{"id":5278,"date":"2017-10-12T14:02:32","date_gmt":"2017-10-12T14:02:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/?p=5278"},"modified":"2025-06-13T10:47:23","modified_gmt":"2025-06-13T10:47:23","slug":"planning-a-trip-to-south-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/planning-a-trip-to-south-africa","title":{"rendered":"15 reasons to visit South Africa right now"},"content":{"rendered":"

Planning a trip to South Africa<\/a>? If you are, congratulations! If you\u2019re not, you should be \u2013 and here are 15 of the best reasons why\u2026<\/p>\n

\"Planning<\/a><\/p>\n

1. The sun is shining!<\/h2>\n

We\u2019re not sure that a South African<\/a> winter would stand up against the nose-tingling temperatures of a Northern Hemisphere cold spell. But nonetheless, after winter is over in SA, and in Cape Town<\/a>, there\u2019s six months of wall to wall sunshine, blue skies, and Vitamin D to look forward to.<\/p>\n

\"Planning<\/a><\/p>\n

2. It\u2019s whale watching season<\/h2>\n

From June to November, South Africa\u2019s<\/a> southern Overberg<\/a> coastline sees the return of the majestic Southern right whales<\/a> to calve and nurse their young. It\u2019s a special experience, and the area, with its off-the-beaten-track wineries and the pretty town of Hermanus<\/a>, is a top-notch destination at any time of year.<\/p>\n

\"Planning<\/a><\/p>\n

3. Cape Town<\/h2>\n

This teeny tiny paragraph most definitely isn\u2019t enough space to extoll the virtues of Cape Town<\/a>, but trust us. It\u2019s mind-bogglingly beautiful, there are mountains and beaches, award-winning restaurants<\/a> and cafes, wine, penguins, boutique hotels<\/a>, and excellent shops<\/a>, museums and galleries. If you\u2019re planning a trip to South Africa<\/a>, add Cape Town to your itinerary now.<\/p>\n

\"Planning<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

4.\u00a0You can sleep under the stars<\/h2>\n

Book the Malori Sleep Out Deck at Motse Lodge<\/a>\u00a0in the Tswalu Kalahari<\/a>\u00a0and spend an alfresco night in the heart of the bush. There really is nothing better in life than sleeping under a star-spangled sky, listening to the snuffling wildlife below.<\/p>\n

\"Planning<\/a><\/p>\n

5. The hiking is excellent<\/h2>\n

If walking is your thing, head to the misty Drakensberg Mountains<\/a> in KwaZulu Natal<\/a>, and hike along forested trails and up craggy peaks. On the western side, the Cederberg Mountains<\/a>\u00a0are beautiful, mysterious, and coated in ancient San Bushmen rock paintings.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Planning<\/a><\/p>\n

6. The restaurants<\/h2>\n

From exquisite, Michelin-starred eateries, to braai <\/em>shacks in the remotest of villages, and more coffee houses than you shake a stick at, South Africa has it all in the way of mouth-poppingly tasty cuisine<\/a>. The Test Kitchen in Cape Town has even made it onto the World\u2019s 50 Best Restaurants list.<\/p>\n

\"Planning<\/p>\n

7.\u00a0You can spot the Big Five<\/h2>\n

Planning a trip to South Africa<\/a> will probably involve a safari, and the Kruger National Park<\/a>\u00a0isn\u2019t just famous in South Africa \u2013 it\u2019s probably one of the world\u2019s most well-known parks. Visit and you\u2019ll see lions at dawn, elephant at breakfast, and rhino at sundowners. And that\u2019s just day one.<\/p>\n

\n
\"South\"South<\/figure>
South Africa<\/span>
Design your own trip<\/div>\n Choose a destination, pick your properties and we'll do the rest<\/span>\n
Design a trip<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div><\/a><\/div>\n

\"Planning<\/a><\/p>\n

8. The Zeitz MOCAA<\/h2>\n

South Africa\u2019s<\/a> art scene has truly up and come with the architecturally awe-inspiring\u00a0\u00a0Zeitz MOCAA<\/a> in Cape Town<\/a>. The converted grain tower houses no less than nine floors of contemporary arty treasures, and the swanky hotel, The Silo<\/a>, is the cherry on top.<\/p>\n

\"Planning<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

9. The accommodation is unbeatable<\/h2>\n

It doesn\u2019t matter where you stay in South Africa<\/a>, you\u2019ll be blown away by the quality of the hotels and the hospitality you\u2019ll receive. Top of our list are The Cape Cadogan<\/a>\u00a0in Cape Town, the Peech Hotel<\/a>\u00a0in Johannesburg, Emily Moon River Lodge<\/a>\u00a0just outside Plettenberg, and Birkenhead House<\/a>\u00a0in Hermanus<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Planning<\/a><\/p>\n

9. The history is fascinating<\/h2>\n

South Africa<\/a> has a long and varied history that many overlook. Visit the Hector Pietersen Memorial and the Apartheid Museum<\/a> in Johannesburg<\/a>\u00a0to brush up on your knowledge, and in Cape Town<\/a> a trip to Robben Island<\/a> is a poignant experience, as is the District Six Museum<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Planning<\/a><\/p>\n

10.\u00a0The beaches are beautiful<\/h2>\n

Whether you\u2019re looking for the ultimate tanning spot, or to swim in a bay that no-one else knows about, South Africa has some of the world\u2019s best beaches<\/a>. The long stretch of sand at the quaint fishing village of Paternoster<\/a>\u00a0is dotted with chilled-out crayfish restaurants and is one of our favourites.<\/p>\n

\"Planning<\/a><\/p>\n

11. You can get your adrenaline going<\/h2>\n

South Africa is something of an adventure destination \u2013 you just have to know where to look. Conquer the world\u2019s highest bungee at Bloukrans Bridge on the Garden Route<\/a>, or dive with sharks<\/a>\u00a0in False Bay. If that sounds too heart-pumpingly scary, Cape Town<\/a> offers paragliding<\/a>\u00a0and kite-surfing<\/a>\u00a0experiences that are hard to beat.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Planning<\/a><\/p>\n

12. Wine, wine, wine<\/h2>\n

The Cape Winelands<\/a>\u00a0aren\u2019t just magnificently picturesque, they\u2019re also home to some of the world\u2019s most delicious grapes in over 200 vineyards. Try South African<\/a> special Pinotage, a fruity red-blend, or MCC, the country\u2019s very own, perfectly delicious bubbly.<\/p>\n

\"Planning<\/a><\/p>\n

14.\u00a0You can take the kids<\/h2>\n

It might be a long flight, but South Africa<\/a> is brilliant for kids. There\u2019s no time difference, so no grumpy little ones; there are hundreds of activities all over the country, from beach-combing to penguin-hunting, to keep them entertained; and you can safari, malaria-free, in the fabulous Madikwe Game Reserve<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Planning<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

15.\u00a0It\u2019s got some of the best scenery in the world<\/h2>\n

Where do we start? Most people know about the Garden Route<\/a>, a craggy coastal drive through the country\u2019s most iconic landscapes. For an off-the-beaten-track version, try the rugged, windswept plains of the Wild Coast<\/a>, or the Cederberg Mountains for dramatic rock creations<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Wizard\"Wizard<\/figure>
Not sure where to go?<\/div>\n Answer a few simple questions to get instant trip recommendations<\/span>\n
Start the wizard<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The country that truly has it all<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":5311,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[173,176],"tags":[844,52,3985,3553,3851,134,1239,3765,2549,3850,3845,776,3848,1344,536,2546,2548,3314,3297,3852,139,537,160,3753,3843,3844,3302,3015,3781,3538,3584,3847,1519,3552,2850,3849,87,93,3846,922,3237,2270,1575,1312,3285],"class_list":["post-5278","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-safari","category-top-10s","tag-beach","tag-big-five","tag-big-five-safari","tag-birkenhead-house","tag-bloukrans-bridge","tag-cape-town","tag-cape-winelands","tag-cederberg-mountains","tag-culture","tag-district-six-museum","tag-drakensberg-mountains","tag-elephant","tag-emily-moon-river-lodge","tag-family","tag-garden-route","tag-hermanus","tag-hiking","tag-johannesburg","tag-june","tag-kite-surfing","tag-kruger","tag-kruger-national-park","tag-kwazulu-natal","tag-madikwe-game-reserve","tag-malori-sleep-out-deck","tag-motse-lodge","tag-november","tag-off-the-beaten-track","tag-overberg","tag-paragliding","tag-paternoster","tag-peech-hotel","tag-planning-guides","tag-plettenberg-bay","tag-rhino","tag-robben-island","tag-safari","tag-south-africa","tag-test-kitchen","tag-the-silo","tag-tswalu-kalahari","tag-when-to-go","tag-wild-coast","tag-wildlife","tag-zeitz-mocaa"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n15 reasons you should plan a trip to South Africa right now<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Planning a trip to South Africa? 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If you\u2019re not, you should be \u2013 and here are 15 of the best reasons why\u2026\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/planning-a-trip-to-south-africa\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Timbuktu\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/timbuktutravel\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2017-10-12T14:02:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-06-13T10:47:23+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/timbuktutravel.imgix.net\/2017\/10\/Cape-town-beach-b-2.jpg?fm=pjpg&ixlib=php-3.3.1\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1440\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"960\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Katie Jacholke\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@timbuktu_travel\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@timbuktu_travel\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Katie Jacholke\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/blog\\\/planning-a-trip-to-south-africa#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/blog\\\/planning-a-trip-to-south-africa\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Katie Jacholke\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/cd85523c29f813c05c03532d439e22c9\"},\"headline\":\"15 reasons to visit South Africa right now\",\"datePublished\":\"2017-10-12T14:02:32+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-06-13T10:47:23+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/blog\\\/planning-a-trip-to-south-africa\"},\"wordCount\":918,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/blog\\\/planning-a-trip-to-south-africa#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/cdn-cgi\\\/image\\\/quality=50,format=auto\\\/https:\\\/\\\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\\\/2017\\\/10\\\/Cape-town-beach-b-2.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"beach\",\"Big Five\",\"Big Five Safari\",\"Birkenhead House\",\"Bloukrans Bridge\",\"cape town\",\"Cape winelands\",\"Cederberg Mountains\",\"culture\",\"District Six Museum\",\"Drakensberg Mountains\",\"elephant\",\"Emily Moon River Lodge\",\"family\",\"Garden Route\",\"hermanus\",\"hiking\",\"Johannesburg\",\"June\",\"kite-surfing\",\"kruger\",\"Kruger National Park\",\"kwaZulu Natal\",\"Madikwe Game Reserve\",\"Malori Sleep Out Deck\",\"Motse Lodge\",\"November\",\"off the beaten track\",\"Overberg\",\"paragliding\",\"Paternoster\",\"Peech Hotel\",\"planning guides\",\"Plettenberg Bay\",\"Rhino\",\"Robben Island\",\"Safari\",\"South Africa\",\"Test Kitchen\",\"The Silo\",\"Tswalu Kalahari\",\"When to go\",\"Wild Coast\",\"wildlife\",\"Zeitz MOCAA\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Safari\",\"Top 10s\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/blog\\\/planning-a-trip-to-south-africa\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/blog\\\/planning-a-trip-to-south-africa\",\"name\":\"15 reasons you should plan a trip to South Africa right now\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/blog\\\/planning-a-trip-to-south-africa#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/blog\\\/planning-a-trip-to-south-africa#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/cdn-cgi\\\/image\\\/quality=50,format=auto\\\/https:\\\/\\\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\\\/2017\\\/10\\\/Cape-town-beach-b-2.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2017-10-12T14:02:32+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-06-13T10:47:23+00:00\",\"description\":\"Planning a trip to South Africa? 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