A little more
South Africa.
A lot less roaming.

Travelling to South Africa: what to know before you go

South Africa combines big-game safaris, a dramatic coastline where two oceans meet, world-class wine country and cities with a complex, compelling history. It rewards road-trippers, wildlife lovers and food and wine travellers alike, and it is large enough that most visitors pick two or three regions rather than trying to see it all.

Where to go

• Cape Town and Table Mountain. The flat-topped mountain rises straight behind the city; take the cable car or hike up via Platteklip Gorge.
• Kruger National Park. One of Africa's largest game reserves, with all of the 'Big Five' and a good road network that makes self-drive safaris possible.
• Cape Winelands. Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl sit among mountains about an hour from Cape Town, with Cape Dutch farmhouses and wine estates producing Chenin Blanc and Pinotage, a grape bred in South Africa.
• Garden Route. A coastal drive roughly between Mossel Bay and the Storms River, passing lagoons, forests and beaches.

Best time to visit

South Africa is a year-round destination, but timing depends on the region. Cape Town and the Western Cape have dry, warm summers (November to March) and wet, cooler winters.

Staying online in South Africa

Mobile coverage is good in cities, towns and along the main highways, with 4G widely available and 5G in parts of the larger cities. In national parks, the Karoo, the Drakensberg and other remote areas, signal can be weak or absent for long stretches, so download offline maps first. Power cuts, known locally as load-shedding, have at times affected mobile masts and Wi-Fi; check the current situation before you travel. Wi-Fi is common in hotels, lodges and cafés, though often slower in the bush. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.