South Africa is often referred to as a world in one country and it certainly deserves this title.
There are very few places on earth which offer such a diversity of landscapes, cultures, wildlife and activities. Whether it is safaris or cities, beaches or winelands, surfing or skiing that you are looking for, look no further, you can find it all here. At Tailormade Africa we are absolutely convinced that the key to a successful trip is in the small details. Let us assist you in tailoring a South Africa holiday safari to your wishes, budget and time.
South Africa Holidays FAQs
When you hear the word ‘safari’, we have no doubt that lots of visions will come to mind. The wide-open savannahs of Kenya and Tanzania perhaps. Lions, leopards, giraffes and zebras – definitely. Well, what makes South Africa different?
First of all, South Africa as a country has so much to offer, not just the amazing nature reserves. Cape Town has for the seventh year in a row been voted the ‘Best City in the World’ by The Telegraph Travel Awards. Combine this with a visit to the prestigious wine region and a safari in one of the many private game reserves the country has to offer and you’ll have one of the most amazing two week trips of your life.
South Africa has some gorgeous and well-loved National Parks supported by the government, including the Kruger which is one of the most famous in the world. That said, they are easily accessible and can be overwhelmingly busy which is why we have hand-picked some of the more exclusive parks and private reserves which can offer our clients a more ‘private’ way to experience the rich game that South Africa has to offer. The places we work with have a limit to the number of visitors allowed at any given game sighting, minimising the impact on the creatures that call these reserves their home. The owners of these reserves are tasked with managing the game, ensuring their populations are always at their best balance and have anti-poaching at their core.
The question we would ask you back is, ‘what for’? We design all of our trips to match your wants and needs and there is so much choice in South Africa, you’ve come to the right place to find out which the best is for you! Do you want malaria-free? We’ve got you covered. Fancy ticking off the Big Five? No problem! ‘Best place to go walking…’ – easy peasy. Want to sleep out under the African sky? Sorted!
As a first timer, or even as a true safari aficionado, South Africa is such a rich destination for safari and one we think you simply can’t do in one go (unless you’re willing to spend a few months there and we would gladly help!). We’ve organised honeymoons in the Sabi Sands, followed by their family trip a few years later in the Eastern Cape or in the stunning Madikwe where they haven’t had to think about malaria.
South Africa is an amazing all-round destination, and who better to help you pin-point the best way to enjoy it than specialists who live and breathe the destination? Of course everyone wants something different though – and as the country itself is so vast and has so many different ecosystems, it can be useful to understand the seasons to make sure you get what is best for you. As the country is in the southern hemisphere, it enjoys the opposite seasons to those of us who live in the north. We would therefore love to share our month-by-month guide with you to give you some help, but do remember: we are only at the end of a phone call if you want us to break it down for you!
In truth, a jolly good safari cannot be done on a low budget. Well, it can be – but you’d be sharing an overlander truck with a lot of fun chaps and certainly wouldn’t have the privacy that we like to cater for! Don’t get us wrong – we’ve done that. We have all of us lived and breathed Africa, to the point where half of our team actually live there!
One of the things we believe in is the opportunity to experience the South African bush at its best. That means less crowds, and more intimate game experiences. The lodges and reserves that we support each have a passion for conservation, sustainability and a dedication to the people they employ and work with, and that is the kind of experience we want you to have on your trip of a lifetime. The lodges are small, personal and give you the opportunity to get to know your hosts and learn about the environment that you have arrived into. This doesn’t come without a cost, but that said, we aren’t in the business of spending money for the sake of it!
It all depends on when you’re going, but you don’t want to forget your camera, that’s for sure. Everywhere you go will have electricity so you don’t have to worry about running out of batteries, just make sure you have enough storage as we’re sure you’ll be taking more photos than you expect! The plugs are different to home though and are unusual to the rest of the world with three large round points, so well worth having an adaptor handy. You can pick one up easily from the airport so don’t worry if you forget one before you leave.
Now that’s a good question! South Africa is arguably the best country in Africa to travel to in order to avoid malarial areas, particularly if you want to go on safari. We are huge supporters of the Sanbona Private Game Reserve which is not too far away from Cape Town and totally malaria free. We also love the Eastern Cape, where there are some really fantastic high-end private game reserves worth visiting which are very conservation focused – many offering a big five experience.
CHOOSE FROM EIGHTDIVERSE AREAS
South Africa is not only diverse in area, but has been famously referred to as the rainbow nation because it is made up of so many diverse cultures and religions.
Cape Town
Resting at the confluence of the Indian and Atlantic oceans, sandwiched between the slopes of the iconic Table Mountain and the glistening sapphire waters of Table Bay, the exceptionally scenic city of Cape Town is in a class of its own. Eastern Cape
Home to the Addo Elephant Reserve, an expanse of around 180,000 hectares with around 450 Elephants, the greatest density of elephant per hectare in Africa. The Garden Route
Running roughly from the town of George to Port Elizabeth, the Garden Route is one of the most scenic driving routes in the world with mountains, forests and sleepy, pretty towns to explore. Johannesburg
Johannesburg is one of Africa’s biggest and most vibrant cities. It is the economic capital of Africa and the gateway to Southern Africa. Although not as famous as other South African destinations, there is plenty to do in Johannesburg and nearby Pretoria. Kruger National Park
One of the great wildlife destinations, the Kruger region is home to a staggering wealth of wildlife in over 2 million hectares, dedicated to conservation. KwaZulu Natal
Unspoiled Indian Ocean beaches, vast mountain ranges, coral reefs, golf courses, craft shops, spice markets, big five game, whale watching and the history of the battlefields, KwaZulu Natal has it all. Western Cape Wildlife
This area close to Cape Town and the Winelands is home to a wide variety of wildlife experiences. From the best Big Five safari experiences at Sanbona Game Reserve to spectacular whale watching at Hermanus. The Western Cape offers it all. The Winelands
Resting at the foot of the Boland Mountains, the Cape Winelands is renowned for producing some of the world’s finest wines. The breathtakingly beautiful landscape boasts incredible mountain scenery and numerous luxury wine farms laden with vineyards stretching across lush fertile valleys. Our Top South Africa Hotels & Lodges
Babylonstoren is one of the oldest Cape Dutch farms. It has a fruit and vegetable garden of beauty and diversity, unique accommodation, fine food and a sense of wellbeing. Dating back to 1692 ... Read more
The Silo Hotel has been built in the grain elevator portion of the historic grain silo complex occupying six floors above Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA) which houses Africa’s largest collection of contemporary African art ... Read more
Learn about the marine life, fynbos and pristine environment of the unusual reserve. Eat dinner on the beach with the sand between your toes and the region's finest wines on the table. Experience some of the world's best ... Read more
One&Only Cape Town is the ultimate curator of discovery, from active adventures, to mindful moments and exclusive, tailored experiences. Through an unrivalled kids programme, magical destination spa ... Read more
Standing proud on Umhlanga’s beachfront, directly on the beach and overlooking the Indian Ocean, the 86-room Oyster Box, is one of South Africa’s best-loved hotels. Renowned for generous hospitality ... Read more
South Africa Safari Special Offers
Why Tailormade Africa?
South Africa Safari Holiday Experts
Clyde & Rob are two of the most knowledgeable experts on South Africa safaris in the world and have travelled extensively to most of South Africa's National Parks, camps and lodges.
South Africa Wildlife Specialists
With our well established, strong personal relationships with all of our ground operators, National Park Authorities and Conservation Management teams in South Africa, we are always kept up to date on the most recent information of wildlife & conservation projects, ensuring you get to see wildlife viewings like never before.
Bespoke South Africa Safaris
With Tailormade Africa, no two safari holiday itineraries are ever the same. The combination of our in-depth knowledge of the country and taking the time to get to know all of our clients' travel personalities ensures truly bespoke itineraries and a trip specifically tailored to you.
Experience South Africa Safaris
Safaris in South Africa
In terms of safaris, the Kruger region is an area which stands head and shoulders above the rest. We tend to prefer the private Sabi Sand and Timbavati reserves which adjoin the national park. The big 5 game viewing here is the most consistent you will find anywhere, with leopard and rhinoceros sightings being especially phenomenal. South Africa is also the only country which offers non-malarial reserves. Coupled with the stable political situation and easy style of safari, this makes it the best family destination in Africa.
Cape Town
Voted as one of the top cities in the world to visit, Cape Town is Africa’s most beautiful city and also its food and wine capital. With Table Mountain straddling it on one side and the Atlantic Ocean stretching out on the other, it creates a very special presence. With so much to see and do, most visitors will allow for at least 4 nights here. The Winelands towns of Franschhoek, Stellenbosch and Paarl are a mere hour’s drive from here and offer more incredible food, wine and spectacular mountain scenery. Slightly further on down the coast lies the town of Hermanus, which also deserves a mention for its whale watching between June – November.
Luxury Safaris & Hotels
To add to its appeal, South Africa's lodges and hotels here are the most luxurious in Africa. The standard of food, hospitality and service are truly world class. In addition, the country can be enjoyed throughout the year and the weak exchange rate makes it very affordable most of the time. What’s not to love!
Book Your South Africa Safari Holiday Today!
At Tailormade Africa we are absolutely convinced that the key to a successful trip is in the small details. In combination with your own travel personalities, quirks and nuances, likes and dislikes, the planning of your safari is only truly possible if we, your South Africa specialists, understand who you are. Please contact us or if you prefer, do drop us an email or call to have an informal chat. This will save you a lot of time and possible confusion and will immediately assist us in being able to completely tailor a South Africa holiday safari to your wishes, budget and time
