Welcome to South Africa

Every country in the world displays some diversity, but South Africa, stretching from the hippos in the Limpopo River to the penguins waddling on the Cape, takes some beating. It befits its position at the southern end of the world’s most epic continent, with more types of terrain than photographers can shake their zoom lens at. There’s the deserted Kalahari, Namakwa’s springtime symphony of wildflowers, iconic... Read More

Top experiences in South Africa

Recent articles

Craft beer rising: finding an inner city pint in South Africa

Sipping a chilled glass of chenin blanc at a whitewashed winery backed by rolling mountains – it’s a quintessential South African travel experience. But in recent years, beer has started to give wine a run for its money.

Pints of local ale don’t always come paired with an idyllic view, but they do come with something more befitting craft beer’s cool image – the chance to explore up-and-coming neighbourhoods in the most bustling cities of South Africa.
Lucy Corne
Lonely Planet Writer

The allure and attractions of St Helena

It’s hard to think of an isolated speck of land more synonymous with inaccessibility than St Helena. After all, this seemingly lost island in the middle of the South Atlantic was chosen as the place of Napoleon’s final exile. But there is so much more here for the traveller – hike past soaring crags and through alpine meadows, take to the seas by boat, or explore historic villages, chatting with welcoming Saints (locals) at each passing.

The island of St Helena: 1200 miles from Africa, 1800 miles from South America. Image by Darren Robb / Getty Images
Michael Arkus
Lonely Planet Writer
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Travel guides

Starting at $21.99

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South Africa adventures

$2199 Nature & wildlife

Southern Africa Encompassed

When it comes to raw, in-your-face wildness, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe are incredible – and from the vantage of our rugged overland adventure vehicle (OAV), even more spectacular. Witness traditional dancing, explore the Okavango Delta with a game walk and bush camping, track rhinos on foot in Zimbabwe’s Matobo National Park, and capture the Big Five (with your camera, of course) in South Africa’s Kruger National Park. Camping will keep you close to the incomparable scenery. This quick tour isn't simply a taste of Africa; it's a full-course meal – with seconds.
$987.23 Small group tours

4-Day Kruger National Park Safari Tour from Johannesburg: Panoramic Route and Game Reserves

Explore the spectacular Mpumalanga region of South Africa on this 4-day guided tour, including Kruger National Park. Enjoy a scenic drive by air-conditioned vehicle along the Panoramic Route from Johannesburg and visit Elephant Whispers, an interactive sanctuary. See endangered white rhinos as well as lions, giraffes and buffalo on several safari drives through the national park and Mthethomusha Game Reserve. You’ll view more than 200 rock paintings by the San people. It’s a great option for any wildlife enthusiast!
$809.16 Small group tours

4-Day Kruger National Park Safari Tour from Johannesburg: Game Drives and Wilderness Walks

Explore magnificent Kruger National Park on a 4-day safari tour from Johannesburg! Evoking the excitement of early safari days when explorers would head out on foot, your tour includes several walks around the park’s famous wilderness trails with a knowledgeable ranger guide at your side. See lions, rhinos and other animals roaming freely around their natural habitats, and then see them up close during Big Five game drives. Your tour includes three nights of lodge accommodation in the Balule region of the Kruger National Park.
$14.18 Sightseeing tours

City Sightseeing Johannesburg Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

Explore the sights of Johannesburg aboard a double-decker bus on a City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off tour! See and learn about top Johannesburg attractions including Constitution Hill, Ghandi Square, the Apartheid Museum and Gold Reef City Theme Park. Sightsee at your own pace by hopping on and off as many times as you like at any of the 12 stops around the city.
$462.27 Small group tours

6-Day Garden Route and Addo South African Adventure from Cape Town

Experience the road trip of a lifetime along South Africa's stunning Garden Route. Visit incredible locations such as the Cape Agulhas, ride a canoe in the Wilderness National Park, enjoy a craft beer and local wine tasting, hike in the Tsitsikamma National Park, relax in South Africa's amazing beaches and participate in a real safari at the Addo Elephant National Park.
$430.93 Small group tours

5-Day Garden Route and Addo Adventure from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth

Experience the road trip of a lifetime along South Africa's stunning Garden Route. Visit incredible locations such as the Cape Agulhas, ride a canoe in the Wilderness National Park, enjoy a craft beer and local wine tasting, hike in the Tsitsikamma National Park, relax on South Africa's amazing beaches and participate in a real safari at the Addo Elephant National Park. Tour is one way from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth.
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