South Africa Tourism

Explore the beautiful land of South Africa

Quick Information

See Map
Best time to visit
Mar - Oct
Ideal Duration
6-7 Days
Visa
On Arrival
Starting from
Rs. 1
  • Ideal For Family
  • Ideal for friends
  • Adventure Activities

Tourism in South Africa

South Africa is one of the world's major tourist destinations, attracting a large number of tourists from around the globe.

It offers tourists a wide range of options from picturesque natural landscapes and diverse cultural heritage to game reserves and highly regarded wines. Some of the most renowned tourist attractions include Kruger National Park, the beaches of the KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape provinces, and the major cities of Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg. 

From thrilling safaris to vibrant cities and stunning coastlines, South Africa Tourism offers everything to travellers. This guide covers everything, including how to plan your trip, what to see, permits, visas, travel safety, getting around, food, accommodation, culture, festivals, and more.

South Africa Tourism: A Brief Overview

 Capital Cities  Pretoria, Cape Town, Bloemfontein, Johannesburg  Language  11 official languages, including English  Currency  South African Rand (ZAR)  Famous Tourist Attractions  Kruger National Park, Cape Town, Garden Route, Durban, Johannesburg  Best time to visit  May to September (dry, cooler season)  Visa Requirements Visa-free for many countries, check before travel Popular Activities Game drives, hiking, whale watching, and cultural tours

Why Visit South Africa?

Here are top reasons to visit South Africa and make your trip unforgettable.

Natural Wonders

Kruger National Park: One of Africa’s largest game reserves, home to the Big Five — lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo.

Table Mountain: Flat-topped mountain with stunning views over Cape Town.

Boulders Beach: Famous for its colony of African penguins.

Garden Route: Scenic coastal drive with beaches, forests, and charming towns.

Cango Caves: Impressive limestone caves near Oudtshoorn.

Cultural Experiences

Cape Town: A multicultural city rich in history, art, and food.

Johannesburg: Discover the city’s past at the Apartheid Museum and Soweto.

Durban: A coastal city with African, Indian, and colonial influences.

Wildlife

South Africa is a top destination for wildlife lovers.

Big Five Safaris: See lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffalo at Kruger or Addo Elephant Park.

Marine Life: Spot whales, dolphins, seals, and penguins along the coast, especially near Hermanus and Cape Town.

Bird Watching: Home to over 800 bird species, from colourful bee-eaters to rare raptors.

Many parks offer self-drive safaris, guided tours, and luxury lodges. It’s a must-do experience and a highlight of any visit.

Culture & Festivals of South Africa

South Africa is often referred to as the "Rainbow Nation" due to its diverse mix of cultures, languages, and traditions. The country is home to 11 official languages, and every region has something unique to offer—from Zulu dances to Cape Dutch architecture. South African culture is unique due to its diverse people, traditional villages, music, and Zulu dance, as well as guided tours to the townships. 

 Festivals  Highlights  Cape Town Carnival  Colourful parades, music, and dance in the streets of Cape Town attract local talents.  National Arts Festival  The most significant art festival features theatre, music, dance, and visual art from across the country.  Joy of Jazz Festival  Jazz artists host music from around the world, attracting music lovers.  Zulu Reed Dance  Young women in rural areas celebrate purity and culture with singing and dancing  Stellenbosch Wine Festival Enjoy wine tastings, local food, and live music in the Cape Winelands.

Best Time to Visit

Summer (November–February): Warm weather with a temperature between 22°C to 33°C, ideal for beach holidays and safaris.

Winter (June–August): Cooler temperatures between 19°/8°C, perfect for exploring cities and hiking.

How to Get There

Flights: Direct international flights are available to major cities like Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Trains: Luxury trains, such as the Blue Train, offer scenic journeys across the country.

Road Trips: Renting a car is a popular way to explore, especially along the Garden Route.

How to Get Around

Public Transport: Limited in some areas; it's advisable to use reputable taxi services or rideshare apps.

Car Hire: Widely available; ensure you're comfortable with driving on the left side of the road.

Accommodation Options

Accommodation Options: South Africa offers a wide range of places to stay, from budget hotels to luxury ones, especially in major cities. For a more personal touch, guesthouses and B&Bs are popular, often set in beautiful, scenic locations. If you want a truly immersive wildlife experience, safari lodges within or near game reserves are the perfect choice.

Famous Cuisine

South African cuisine reflects a blend of indigenous, Dutch, and British influences. Be sure to try local dishes like bobotie, a spiced minced meat bake, and bunny chow, which is curry served in a hollowed-out bread loaf. The country is also famous for its wine, with notable wine regions around Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. There are plenty of great places to enjoy authentic meals throughout the country.  Some famous eateries include The Test Kitchen and Pot Luck Club in Cape Town, Marble Restaurant in Johannesburg, and La Colombe also in Cape Town, all known for excellent food and unique dining experiences.

Tip: Tap water is generally safe to drink in most urban areas.

Visa Requirements for South Africa

Most international travellers need a tourist visa to enter South Africa.

Visa-free entry is available for citizens of selected countries (usually for up to 30 or 90 days).

E-visa and online application systems are now available for some nationalities.

Tourists need a valid passport (at least 30 days after their departure date) and two blank pages in it.

Permits & Entry Fees

Always check with the official South African Department of Home Affairs or the local embassy for the latest visa guidelines.

Tourists don’t need any special permits to visit general tourist areas in South Africa. 

However, entry permits or tickets are required for national parks, marine reserves, and heritage sites.

Essential Tips

Be cautious in unfamiliar areas, especially at night.

Keep valuables out of sight and avoid displaying expensive items.

Pack layers; temperatures can vary widely.

Sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses are a must.

Include any personal medications and a basic first aid kit.

South Africa offers a rich tapestry of experiences, from its diverse landscapes to its vibrant cultures. Whether an adventure seeker, a history enthusiast, or someone looking to relax, this country has something special waiting for every tourist.

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South Africa Packages Reviews

Read on to find out why our customers love us!

Guru's 10 days trip to South Africa

The trip was well organized and the local drivers and guide allocated for our trip were very professional. The coordination by Travel triangle was flawless and had a great user experience. I will recommend to all my friends to utilize the services

Guru Bangalore

S's 5 days trip to South Africa

The team at TravelLykke have been very professional in their approach right through. They have been very patient and understanding of the requirements and accommodative to all kinds of doubts and queries and options too. Fairly transparent in the dealings and have a good set of on-ground contacts in S Africa who too have been professional and on time without delays and exceptions. A suggestion: there were some legs where we were informed we need to take Uber (to & fro Robben Island & Table Top Mountain). For the kind of spends done by us (Rs 3 Lakhs +) overall, it would have been helpful if these too could have been accommodated in the package. It is the nuisance value of having to book, wait etc. Also more minute detailing of the Full day Cape Peninsula tour could have been share earlier - we got it on landing from the local guide and it was very educative. Why not share this ahead of time? Some travel agencies give a backpack or travel kit (the amount of Rs 3 Lakhs is HUGE) with your branding. In this case it is singularly absent. Wonder why? We stayed in 3 hotels - Emerald Guest house in Johannesburg (Rating Poor to Good only); Kruger Park Adventure Lodge ( Excellent); Holiday Inn Express at Cape Town (Excellent).

S Raj Delhi

Mayankmaki's 9 days trip to South Africa

The trip was very well organised and all our requirements were met. We had issues due to flight delays and we were late for one tour, our travel planner Mrs Prerna was very helpful and proactive to adjust the tours to accommodate everything. From last minute hotel booking to providing rental car , she was quick to respond and also regular reminders before trips to ensure smooth communication between us and South African operators. Would surely recommend their services The views with clouds sliding in all around the mountains and ocean at the cape point during the cape peninsula tour.

Mayankmaki Mumbai

Chinthabinoy's 4 days trip to South Africa

We had an amazing time at SA. Prerna ( Offbeat trippers) arranged everything as per our request.

Chinthabinoy

Rajani's 7 days trip to South Africa

We had an amazing trip to South Africa. We would like to thank Mr. Inderjit from Flyocity for planning our itinerary and being available for resolving all queries. We had no problems in a foreign country.

Rajani Damani Guwahati

Jennifer's 11 days trip to South Africa

Plan your destinations efficiently arranged a wonderful trip to South Africa and Seychelles.We had in total 12 days travel itinerary. Accommodation, food, intercity transfers,sight seeing were well arranged. No blunders at all. Highly recommend their services for these destinations. Well planned by Sandeep.

Jennifer B Mumbai

Aniruddha's 9 days trip to South Africa

We had an amazing trip to South Africa. It is a beautiful country to visit with very hospitable people around. Everything went well without any hiccups. The hotels, cab drivers and other details were well planned by Nikhil from Besten/MK Holidays, special thanks to him. Some elements which can be improved were the visits planned during our stay at Knysna as they were quite some distance away from our hotel. Will definitely recommend Travel Triangle to others for planning their trips.

Aniruddha Jasu Ashburn

Sonaleeka's 6 days trip to South Africa

Its good ..but i did not had same experience as travel factory they used to provide us our day activity one day ahead.but hear besten tour everything is clumsy and messy every time we have to call our agent to get the details through out the tour.and some othe place we have to pay from our pocket even after paying for the pacakge. We had a very bad experience with besten tour.Half of things which promised not taked care by the vendor.We paid extra from our pocket for some of the tickets (activity) even after paying the complete amont..vendor promised he will pay us back..but we are still chasing behind him.This is the worst experience I ever had...I will never reccomend any one neither nor besten tour..learn something from travel factory

Sonaleeka Dash Bangalore

Rajesh's 11 days trip to South Africa

Was a unique experience in the game safari and capetown. Sandeep was extremely help and was always reachable. Thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience.

Rajesh Kazankodath Pune

Yanshuk's 8 days trip to South Africa

everything went very well as planned. hotels were awesome their locations, clean, services & all (except soho hotel in sun city. service was not goodas well as room was not as per expectation). overall trip was awesome. A big thanks to our travel agent Mr. Inderjit (flyocity trip planners pvt. ltd.) & travel triangle....

Yanshuk Sharma New delhi

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FAQ's of South Africa

Read on to find out why our customers love us!

 

South Africa is renowned for its tourism, boasting a picturesque natural landscape and game reserves, a diverse cultural heritage, and highly regarded wines that appeal to both domestic and international tourists.

 

While many areas are safe, it's essential to stay informed about local conditions and exercise caution, especially in unfamiliar places.

 

The South African rand (ZAR) is the currency of South Africa, issued by the South African Reserve Bank. It contains the symbol R.

 

Gold Coins, Diamonds, Beer, Xhosa Shweshwe Fabric, Beadwork, Biltong, Zulu Shield, etc, are some of the souvenirs to purchase when in South Africa.

 

Yes! Kruger National Park and other reserves, such as Addo and Pilanesberg, are great places to see lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffalo.

Yes, but check with your provider about international roaming charges. Alternatively, consider purchasing a local SIM card.

Tourism in South Africa

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