South Africa

For any first-time traveller to South Africa, the sheer size and opportunity offered by this stunning country can be daunting. Luckily, while there may seem like so much to cram into holidays in South Africa, it’s a great excuse to keep coming back time and again. And trust us, you won’t need persuading!

South Africa holidays simply have to involve a safari and there’s no better place than the spectacular Kruger National Park, located along the Mozambique border. Not only is it the country’s oldest National Park, but is also home to vast numbers of the ‘big five’, along with hundreds of other mammals and birds, from eagles to aardwolves.

On the opposite side, the Western Cape is the place for beach holidays in South Africa. The white sands of Camps Bay Beach draw big crowds, while Llandudno Beach is a quieter alternative. Grotto Beach is a lovely spot for watching Southern Right whales in their natural habitat.

Boulders Beach, a short drive from Cape Town is a great beach spot, but you’ll have to fight the locals for space. And by locals, we mean the cute little colony of penguins who have made Boulders Beach their home.

With so many beautiful beaches in such close proximity to Cape Town, it seems rude not to make the city one of your stops. The views from Table Mountain alone make the visit worthwhile. The energetic traveller can hike up to the summit, while there’s also a cable car for those who don’t fancy the walk.

Once you’ve done that, you can reward yourself with a visit to one of the region’s vineyards!

Adventurous holiday-makers will want to head to Orange River, near the border with Namibia. Here, you can hire a local guide (or go solo if you’re really daring) and kayak down the river which, while in some places is nice and calm for novices, also has white-knuckle sections too for the more experienced to tackle.