South Africa Travel Guide

Plan your dream holiday to the rainbow nation of South Africa with the help of our handy travel guide resources. Discover the best time to visit and top attractions you should visit, and find out what visas you'll need to get there. You can find out all about currency, vaccinations, internet access and more in our Top Travel Tips and if you still need help deciding whether to pick an overland camping or lodge-accommodated safari then we have detailed guides to both. For the ultimate safari adventure, use our comprehensive guide to Africa's Big 5 and where to find them or refer to our quick guide to Africa's wildlife and when best to find them.

Stellenbosch-And-Garden-Route-Itinerary-2-Lodge-And-Hotel-Safaris-Africa

Best Places to Visit

From cosmopolitan cities to scenic vineyards and national parks

Best Time to Visit menu image

Best Time to Visit

Time your holiday with the seasons and discover what they mean for wildlife spotting

Currency

Top Travel Tips

All the information you'll need before you travel including health advice

Visas

Tourist Visas

Visa requirements for South Africa and info on travelling with children

00000-overlanding-under-the-stars

About Overland Safaris

What to expect of an overland camping safari with details on tents, trucks and more

Lodge-Safaris-Africa

About Lodge Safaris

What to expect of lodge-accommodated safaris with details on vehicles and guides

Botswana-Tab

Safari Wildlife Guide

Where to see Africa's most popular wildlife and the best time to do so

Herd of Elephants- Africa Overland Safaris - Africa Lodge Safaris - Africa Tours - On The Go Tours

Spotting Africa's Big 5

Our guide to the best places to see the Big 5 of lion, rhino, elephant, buffalo & leopard

Safari truck with savannah landscape

Malaria-Free Safaris

Recommendations for a malaria-free safari adventure in South Africa

Plan your trip to similar destinations!

Get to know South Africa

Recommended Reading

  • Long Walk to Freedom
    by Nelson Mandela
  • Tomorrow is Another Country
    by Allister Sparks
  • Disgrace
    by JM Coetzee
Did you know...?

Facts about South Africa

  • Table Mountain has over 1,500 species of plants, more than the entire United Kingdom.
  • South Africa is home to the second highest waterfall in the world, Tugela Falls where the water tumbles down 2,789 feet.
  • The oldest remains of modern humans, over 100,000 years old, were found in Klasies River Cave in the Eastern Cape.

South Africa Travel Advice for Canadian Travellers

The safety of our travellers is of prime importance and we closely monitor current travel advice on South Africa. We recommend that you check the latest travel updates from the Canadian Government Advisory when planning your trip.

Flying to South Africa from Canada:

South Africa is roughly a 20-24 hour flight from Canada depending on whether you depart from the east or west coast. Our tours will either start and end in Cape Town or Johannesburg so which airport you will need to fly in and out of will depend on your chosen tour. From Toronto to Johannesburg one of the fastest flight routes is with Delta via Atlanta though KLM via Amsterdam is another reasonable option. From Vancouver the majority of airlines require two transit stops though British Airways is one of the quicker options with just one transit stop in London en route. If flying to Cape Town there are one-stop flights available but these tend to be considerably more expensive than the marginally longer two-stop options. KLM is a good choice from Vancouver and Toronto.

Useful Online Resources:

The official South Africa Tourist Organisation site.