South Africa Geography & Maps | South Africa Vacation (2024)

FAQs

What's the best time to visit South Africa? ›

Where is this? The best time to visit South Africa is from May to September, as the cooler winter months in the northern regions bring superb conditions for viewing big game. It can be rainy from November to February, but this is the best time to travel for birding, and temperatures remain warm at 22°C to 33°C.

South Africa is a beautiful country to travel to as long as you remain vigilant. The crime rate is high, and incidents including petty theft, armed robberies and carjacking are common. Protests and political demonstrations can also become violent.

The entitlement is 21 consecutive days annual leave on full remuneration, in respect of each annual leave cycle, and if an employee works a five-day week then this is equal to 15 working days, or if the employee works a six-day week then it is equal to 18 working days.

To prove this, data taken from October 2022 suggests that South Africa is 45% cheaper to live in than the United Kingdom. However, it is important to remember that the cost of living varies from city to city, with Cape Town and Johannesburg being the most expensive.

The rainy season for most of the country is in the summer which is November through to March. In in the Western Cape rainsfall comes in the winter which is May to August and in most of the Eastern Cape, it is distributed evenly throughout the year.

Crime and violence are serious issues across South Africa, including murder, rape, assault, food and drink spiking, robbery and carjacking. South Africa experiences more crime during its rolling blackouts (load-shedding). Be particularly alert in major city centres and township areas and when travelling after dark.

General safety in Cape Town

Tourist crime is relatively low, and as long as you exercise caution, use common sense, and stick to the tourist-approved neighbourhoods, you should have little problems with safety in Cape Town.

Although you should strictly avoid being in or around the dimly-lit low areas of Joburg that are prone to petty thefts and muggings, in case you find yourself in one such neighbourhood, acting smart and not nervous and lost is your best bet.

What food is South Africa known for? ›

Being home to iconic mountain ranges, stunning natural wonders, thrilling landscapes and ocean vistas, Cape Town offers no shortage of adventures. Known as the adventure capital of South Africa, the lifestyle of locals and visitors alike centres around the outdoors and an active lifestyle.

Johannesburg offers more when it comes to game reserves and inner city entertainment, whereas Cape Town offers wondrous coastal walks and mountain treks that are impossible to experience anywhere else.

The best price we found for a return flight to South Africa is ₹ 32,947. This is an estimate based on information collected from different airlines and travel providers over the last 4 days and is subject to change and availability.

With four or five days in the city – ideally a week – you can see all the major sights (Cape Town's notoriously fickle weather permitting), pick the perfect restaurant (book a few weeks ahead for big-name fine dining joints) and get a feel for the city's general joie de vivre.

The best time to visit South Africa on safari is widely considered to be May to September. This is when the east of the country - where the main safari parks such as Kruger National Park are located - experiences its dry season. With less vegetation, wildlife watching opportunities are greatly improved.

The South African winter from June to August brings lower prices (except for safaris) and smaller crowds. This is the rainy season in Cape Town and the Western Cape, but there's still plenty of sunshine around.

February. Summer in South Africa continues in February, which is usually the hottest month of the year with daytime temperatures reaching the mid-80s F. Typical daytime weather patterns are very similar to those in January, so travelers should still be prepared for afternoon rainfall while on safari.

January: nice and hot month. February: the hottest month of the year. March: the last hot and relatively dry month. April: temperature cools down and the rain level increases.