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    • Africa
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    South Africa Tours & Trips

    South Africa Tours
    View of Cape Town in South Africa with Beaches and Table Mountain
    Download South Africa Key Facts

    See the stunning sights and safari sensations of South Africa in one of the planet's premier gap year destinations. The country is bursting with amazing things to do and is a must-see for any intrepid explorer! Take in the dizzy heights of Table Mountain, the gorgeous glories of the Garden Route, go safari-crazy in the African bush or visit the ostriches in Oudtshoorn. Get your pulse racing with a bungee jump or swim with the great white shark...Try an adventure package for the complete thrill-seeking experience. Our South Africa trips are the holy grail for any animal lover; volunteer on an amazing range of conservation projects and get up close and personal with mischievous monkeys or charismatic cheetahs. Discover this country’s addictive magic on our South Africa tours and you'll be hooked in no time!

    Read more in our South Africa Travel Guide.

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     Download South Africa Key Facts

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    South Africa Facts

    Capital City

    Cape Town

    Currency

    South African Rand (ZAR)

    Language

    English

    Dialling Code

    +27

    Plug Type

    Type N
    Download South Africa Key Facts

    South Africa Highlights

    Old blue car parked in front of bright pink and lime green houses with bannisters and wooden doors, Cape Town

    Cape Town

    Where better to begin your journey around the “Rainbow Nation”? Centred around the formidable Table Mountain and sweeping coast, Cape Town is packed with vibrant scenery. Between the glistening waterfront, the colourful street of Bo-Kaap, a tree canopy and wildlife hotspots just outside the city, there are countless activities you can plan here.

    Safari 4WD vehicle on road for game drive, surrounded by lush wildlife outside park, taken from vehicle, South Africa

    Kruger National Park

    Kruger National Park is a fascinating destination for those interested in wildlife and archaeology alike. South Africa’s biggest and oldest national park is an experience unlike any other, from the big game sightings to the countless rock artefacts dating back to prehistoric mankind. Discover it all on an epic safari drive.

    Emerald forest with sundrenched hills above, a tree with pale wood covers the right side, Garden Route South Africa

    Garden Route

    The Garden Route whisks you through dramatic scenery - featuring ancient forests, steep mountain passes, curved coastlines and the country’s finest beaches. Its name comes after the lush vegetation you encounter on this epic journey into the wild. The Garden Route is a nature paradise; no wonder it is the most famous road trip on the continent!

    Sunrise over a broad curved mountain top with rocky cliffs and lilac grey clouds in the blue sky, Table Mountain South Africa

    Table Mountain - Cape Town

    Cape Town’s defining feature is none other than Table Mountain: a steep hill with a flat top as if it were made for overlooking the city. Table Mountain’s vistas are spectacular as you can admire Cape Town from every angle. And as a national park by itself, it’s no surprise that Table Mountain is one of the world’s new seven natural wonders.

    Lioness lying on dry grass next to tree in the shade, Big 5 Animals South Africa

    The "Big 5" Animals

    South Africa is a premier destination for game drives and there is a good chance of spotting all the Big 5 animals! These are lions, leopards, elephants, rhinoceros and African buffalo. South Africa is also home to record-breakers like the world’s biggest land mammal (the African elephant), reptile (the leatherback sea turtle) and bird (the ostrich)!

    Beautiful emerald vineyard rows with hills and blue mountain in the distance on a cloudy day, Stellenbosch South Africa

    Stellenbosch - Garden Route

    Escape to the sun-drenched valley of Stellenbosch, where you will discover rows of vineyards each more glamorous than the next. Soak up the enchanting scenery with a glass in hand as you get well-acquainted with all the flavour varieties. Don’t leave Braai traditions behind, because for the world’s best barbecues, South Africa comes out on top!

    Two penguin's holding hands and forming heart shape on rock with penguin shadows in the distance, Boulders Beach South Africa

    Boulders Beach

    Animal lovers cannot miss out on this next highlight. Boulders Beach is already beautiful with its pristine white sand, gentle waters and secluded location. But it’s the penguins (also known as Jackass penguins) who call this bay home that makes it a South Africa essential. Just smile and wave, boys!

    Emerald vista with curved rocks clad with jungle landscape and intersected by wide winding river, Panorama Route South Africa

    Three Rondavels - Panorama Route

    The Panorama Route is packed with scenic vistas, and the Three Rondavels just may be our favourite. Named after its twin boulders that resemble traditional huts, the striking Blyde River Canyon is one of South Africa’s best-kept secrets. The jungle-clad, epic boulders with a winding river in the distance are a view to remember.

    South Africa Travel Advice

    Row of vibrant huts to the left on white sand beach with pale blue sky and people in the distance, Cape Town

    Climate & Weather

    South Africa’s climate is split between Mediterranean weather near Cape Town and subtropical weather elsewhere. Located south of the equator, its winter falls from May to September, and its wetter summer months from October to April. South Africa has fairly dry weather overall with sunny days and colder nights.

    July and August are the coldest months with average temperatures in Cape Town at around 17℃; meanwhile, January and February is when South Africa is at its hottest, with an average of 26℃. The east coast is relatively warmer throughout the year, with a difference of about 4℃.

    Beautiful leopard sitting and facing the left on a sunny grassland, South Africa

    Best Time to Visit

    For cooler weather and game drives, the best time to visit South Africa is from May to September. If you want to go whale-watching, the ideal time to visit is from July to November. Peak season in South Africa is from November to March because of the Christmas and Easter breaks; the weather is hot and dry at this time of year in the Cape area, while Kruger National Park sees a few tropical rainstorms.

    Vintage blue car parked in front of row of brightly painted houses, green, pink, yellow, orange and blue on a sunny day

    Customs & Culture

    South Africa has 11 official languages (the most in the world), so that should give you a good idea of how diverse the culture is! This fascinating country is nicknamed the “Rainbow Nation” after its melting pot of unique cultures. Generally speaking, South African culture is friendly and less punctual than the UK, so things move at a more leisurely pace here. Tipping around 10 percent here is customary, and if someone is trying to get your attention, they’re more likely to make a hissing noise than shout.

    Red and blue british passports

    Passports & Visas

    Entry requirements and visa regulations are different for every destination and your purpose of travel. We recommend staying updated on the latest official information before you go travelling. Your passport should be undamaged and have enough blank pages for stamps and visas. Many countries require your passport to have at least 6 months of validity beyond the date of entry.

    For more information and resources regarding entry requirements, check out our Visa Advice page.

    Mini penguin colony on granite rock with rock tower in distance at sunset, Cape Town

    Health & Safety

    At Gap 360, your safety and well-being are our top priorities. From the moment your trip is confirmed until you arrive back home, you'll have access to a 24/7 emergency contact number for any urgent issues. For anything non-urgent, our friendly team is also available during office hours to help.

    We strongly recommend checking the FCDO travel advice for South Africa, as it's regularly updated with the latest safety and travel information and you can even sign up for email alerts to stay informed of any changes. In addition, you can check the FCDO general travel advice for British nationals abroad.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Long layers are recommended to keep your skin protected from the sun, wind and any insects. Neutral and earthy colours like browns, khakis and greys are best to blend into the natural environment as much as possible, but try to avoid camouflage clothing as this is reserved for the military. You will want to wear closed-toed shoes like comfortable hiking shoes or even gaiters. Hats will protect you from sunburn, while a warm fleece on hand is good for early morning and evening/night safaris. Many of our South Africa group tours have safaris and game drives included!

    South Africa is a dream destination for safaris and game drives. Expect to find penguins, crocodiles, humpback whales and giraffes - and that’s without mentioning the legendary Big 5 animals: the African elephant, lions, leopards, rhinoceros and buffalos!

    South Africa is nicknamed the “Rainbow Nation”, and its food options are just as colourful. Seafood and steaks are what South Africa is most famous for, and nobody holds a barbecue - aka, Braai - better than these guys do! Taste a combination of African, Asian and European flavours in Cape Town, try curried bunny chow served in a bread bowl (it’s not really rabbit, it’s beef or beans) and fill up on Padkos road food for drives along the South African coast. Don’t forget to try the wine while you’re here; you can even plan a visit to some of South Africa’s finest vineyards as part of the Garden Route.

    Flights from London to South Africa usually take 11 hours and 30 minutes direct.

    South Africa’s government is divided into three branches, and so there are three cities to represent each one. South Africa’s three capitals are Cape Town (legislative), Pretoria (administrative) and Bloemfontein (judicial).

    At Gap 360, our biggest priority is ensuring that travellers feel safe and supported on their adventures abroad. Before your departure on our South Africa trips, you will have access to our health and safety information with advice for your travels and country fact-files for South Africa. You’ll also have access to a 24/7 emergency support number, operated by our UK-based team, to assist you while you're travelling. We always encourage travellers to do their own research before visiting a destination, or if you have any questions, we are just a message or phone call away.

    South Africa Trip Reviews

    4.5
    Rating
    211
    Reviews

    Sian Smith

    Fantastic!

    Jenni Potter

    Exhilarating, exciting and full of new experiences

    Hannah Maris

    Staff are very helpful. Flight team are amazing and very friendly. Everyone keeps in regular contact with you which makes you feel more at ease about travelling. The trip was the most amazing experience - I did not want to leave.…

    Rebecca Sawyer

    Informative, helpful and reassuring

    Laura Sheldon

    Very good. Very humbling and enjoying trip which I will remember forever

    Guillermo

    The scenery was increadible

    Emily Furlong

    So helpful, always happy to help and always so kind

    Karen Thomas

    It was a pleasure to get to know and work with the guides and rangers and to take the opportunity to learn a lot more about the environment and animals. Very much enjoyed the game drives but also the hard work of fencing and…

    Anonymous

    Our tour guide Leizel was very friendly and made the tour very enjoyable. Had a great 12 days in South Africa

    Victoria O'Flaherty

    Unforgettable trip! You won't regret it!

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