SOUTH AFRICA Luxury South Africa Safari Tours South Africa Safaris If you are looking for a variety of exciting things to do on your Luxury South Africa safari tours, South Africa truly is a world in one country with so much on offer it will be difficult to include everything here! It is the perfect choice for the African safari traveler on so many levels. Mountains, deserts, seascapes, and bushveld offer visitors some of the most spectacular and breathtaking scenery anywhere on the continent, and tourists from every corner of the globe arrive in South Africa every day to experience these wonders. Visitors can escape on a genuine South African Safari to wild and remote parks like the world renowned Kruger National Park and Sabi Sands which includes Kapama Game Reserve, Manyeleti, Thornybush, Timbavati and Makuleke and a short flight later, find themselves enjoying the luxuries afforded by modern cities and world-class hotels like Cape Town, the Cape Winelands and Johannesburg, known for their warm hospitality and superb accommodations and world class cuisine. For those of you looking for an adrenaline filled safari adventure, try shark cage diving in Gansbaai just outside Cape Town for a once in a lifetime experience. Take a look at our “Things to do in Cape Town and Surrounds” for more. Or if Malaria is a concern, why not craft your South African dream safari tour to include the Eastern Cape and/or the Madikwe Game Reserve, both great African safari destinations and are both malaria free areas so taking precautions against malaria (medications) will not be necessary. There are superb luxury game lodges in both areas with an abundance of wildlife for great game viewing. Throw yourself in a hammock overlooking the ocean and let the world and the whales pass you by – ah – bliss! Spend a few days of your unique custom styled safari vacation lazing on one of the many pristine beaches in luxury off the beaten track resorts in Hermanus and all along the garden route. Visit Hermanus & Grootbos for spectacular whale watching or keep on driving up the Garden Route visiting Oudtshoorn the Ostrich Capital of South Africa and the world famous Cango Caves, Knysna – THE oyster capital of South Africa and then on to Plettenberg Bay – also renowned for great whale watching excursions as well as dolphin watching and just off the coast and a huge colony of Cape fur seals on the Robberg Nature Reserve. Take squiz at “Things to do on the Garden Route” for more on these areas. Go further East past Durban through Umhlanga Rocks and you will arrive at the Elephant Coast in KwaZulu Natal. On your South African safari learn about Zulu history and Zulu culture and visit the coastal iSimangaliso (Greater St Lucia) Wetland Park World Heritage Site due east of pivotal landmarks in Zulu history. The Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Reserve, well known for its involvement in saving the white rhinoceros species from extinction. For more look at “Things to do in KwaZulu Natal”. If desert is your thing then include something different and unusual in your South African safari itinerary – the Southern Kalahari. The rich red sand landscape and sparse vegetation makes for fantastic photographic opportunities. Who knows – you may even get to view cute little Meerkats up close and personal which will probably be the highlight of your southern Kalahari safari adventure! South Africa has an invigorating climate with seasons reversed from the Northern hemisphere, and offers visitors cool winters and pleasantly warm to hot summers. From a historical point of view, the country enjoys a rich and varied heritage. Visitors can trace the origins of man, or relive the country’s pioneering history and the Great Trek. Marvel at the discovery of diamonds and gold in South Africa, or reflect on the conflicts of various wars. In addition to its past, history is still made every day in the areas of human rights and political change. With so much happening all around us, South Africa truly is a “World in one Country.” Whether you are on a budget or would like a scheduled safari tour, Karell can assist with the planning from A to Z. Why Safari in South Africa? Thinking of going on a safari tour in South Africa? You have made a great choice if you have decided to safari vacation in South Africa. South Africa has it all – the diverse landscape of South Africa offers deserts, mountains, forests, wetlands and sprawling savannas. You can combine your African safari adventure with shark-diving in Gansbaai, bungy jumping off the tallest commercial bungy jump in the world at Bloukrans bridge in the Tsitsikama Forest on the Garden route, ascend Table mountain by cable car or if you are feeling energetic, hiking up, in Cape Town, wine-tasting in the Cape Winelands, a helicopter ride over the Blyde River Canyon in Mpumulanga and so much more. No trip to South Africa would be complete without a safari! After all that’s what we are known for amongst other things – animals, animals, animals! Some of the top South African safari areas are: The Kruger National Park as well as the adjacent Sabi Sands, Timbavati, Thornybush, Manyeleti and Kapama Game Reserves, Hluhluwe and iSimangaliso/St. Lucia wetlands in Kwa-Zulu Natal, Eastern Cape province (MALARIA FREE) , Madikwe in the Northwest province of Mpumulanga (MALARIA FREE), Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park on the border of Botswana and South Africa. So why not call now to get started, call one of our Africa safari specialists to start planning your very own Dream African Safari vacation to South Africa and/or any of our other destinations within Southern and East Africa. We will customize your African Safari with your specific interests and budget in mind so that your Africa safari dream tour is unique to you and you alone! Top Reasons to Visit South Africa • Cape Town Table Mountain & the Winelands • The Drakensberg • Robben Island • The Battlefields in Natal • The Heart of Cape Town museum where Dr. • The Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg Christiaan Barnard performed the 1st heart • Fabulous food – everywhere transplant • Art galleries • African penguins at Boulders Beach • SOWETO – South West Township • Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens • Liliesleaf in Rivonia • Great White shark cage diving in Gansbaai • Braamfontein Urban Renewal • Surfing in J-Bay aka Jeffrey’s Bay • The Sterkfontein Caves – The Cradle of • The Garden Route Mankind • Whale watching • Rovos Rail • Kayaking • The Blue Train • White water rafting • Safari Safari Safari • Bungy jumping Best time to go to South Africa Safari in South Africa is a year-round activity however the seasons determine the best times to view game as well as pricing. Optimal game viewing in most game areas and therefore the “Peak Season”, also known as the dry season, is during the South African winter which runs June through August. The grasses are low and animals tend to gather around the permanent water holes and therefore are easier to view. (no guarantees of course!). The mornings and evenings can be very cold but the days are usually warm and sunny and dry. The summers (October through March), also known as the wet season, are rainy and hot. Due to the rains, the grasses are long and game-viewing can more challenging however the bush is lush and green and is a beautiful backdrop for game viewing. Bugs are also aplenty and therefore prophylaxis for malaria would be an absolute must in malarial areas. You may also want to consider what it would be like to be on an open game vehicle during a torrential downpour! If you do not like being wet, this time of year may not be for you. Remember as well, that the seasons determine the costs of accommodations too so bear this in mind when you are planing your dates. Peak = higher prices. Cape Town and the Western Cape experience winter rains June through August. In Kwa-Zulu Natal the weather is glorious during the winter time (June through August) – no humidity. Sunshine all year and rains during the summer (November through January) which are hot and humid. Cape Town and Winelands Tours Cape Town – Known as South Africa’s “Mother City”, beautiful Cape Town lies on the southwestern tip of the African continent. Its historical significance dates as far back as the 15th century, having played a crucial role in the booming spice route to and from Asia. Cape Town would also go on to play a central role in the struggle against apartheid as Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and other freedom fighters were imprisoned on Robben Island. Today Cape Town has emerged as one of Africa’s most vibrant and beautiful cities, boasting scenery sure to astound even the most seasoned traveler. Magnificent views of the Atlantic Ocean are set against Cape Town’s hallmark Table Mountain, a truly unique feat of geology. Be sure to make the journey by cable car, or hiking trail for the more adventurous, to the flat summit of Table Mountain and take in rare and dramatic views of the city. Cape Town’s rich culture leaves no shortage of world-class hotels, restaurants, and shopping. The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront offers a vast array of shops sure to keep you busy. Cape Town also serves as a great base for day trips into the surrounding Winelands where you’ll have a chance to visit some of South Africa’s premiere world famous wine estates. Winelands – Nestled in the Western Cape, the Cape Winelands is the largest wine-producing region in South Africa and can be divided into six main wine regions, each offering their own unique wine route: Constantia, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl, Robertson and Wellington.