South Africa Travel Blog

South Africa tips from 10+ trips

South Africa is one of my favourite countries. After more than 10 trips, I still discover new places in my heart country every year. Here you will find my best travel tips, highlights and experiences, all experienced first-hand and explored by rental car.

Ideal for first-timers who want to follow in my footsteps, or for anyone (like me) who has been before and wants to come back.

Katrin Lehr, Gründerin Reiseblog viel-unterwegs.de
Katrin Lehr

08.11.2026

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Leopard lying on cracked ground during a safari in South Africa

Contents

Contents

  1. Overview
  2. Map
  3. Weather
  4. Top destinations
  5. Travel guides
  6. Cities
  7. Provinces
  8. Itineraries
  9. National parks
  10. Private game reserves
  11. Podcast
  12. Travel tips

South Africa at a glance

South Africa: Facts & Figures

Best time to travel
March to May, September to November
depends on the region
Capital
Pretoria
seat of government
Population
approx. 64 million
Currency
Rand (ZAR)
approx. 20 ZAR = €1
Entry requirements
Passport
visa-free for up to 90 days (EU, UK, US)
Language
English
12 official languages
Time difference
UTC+2, no daylight saving
UK +1 to 2 h, New York +6 to 7 h
Electricity
Type M/N, 230 V
adapter needed (also from the UK and US)

Safari, Cape Town and the Garden Route: South Africa is one of my favourite countries

South Africa is the best-known and most visited destination in Africa, and for good reason. The tourist infrastructure is excellent, especially if you are new to Africa, and the country offers an incredible variety: beautiful beaches, impressive landscapes and fascinating wildlife.

I have always travelled independently by rental car (sometimes on my own), and here I show you both the well-known highlights and places off the beaten track.

Don't feel like reading? Head over to Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube. There you can listen to our South Africa podcast episode (in German).

After more than 10 trips to South Africa and self-drive road trips in every season, I have gathered a lot of experience and share all of it here, so your trip will be a great one too:

  • Tips for popular routes: From the Garden Route to the Winelands and the Panorama Route, the Whale Coast, Route 62 and Kruger National Park.
  • Lesser-known places and hidden gems in South Africa: My personal favourites you should not miss.
  • The best places to stay: Handpicked from all my trips to South Africa.
  • Safaris and wildlife watching: The best places, the most beautiful national parks and the ideal time of year for great wildlife encounters.

My favourite places in South Africa:

Cape Town Kruger National Park Drakensberg Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park Blyde River Canyon Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park Stellenbosch De Hoop Nature Reserve

Katrin Lehr

Katrin Lehr

South Africa expert · travel blogger since 2013

Hi, I'm Katrin. I've been travelling since 2013, to 69 countries so far, and I write down everything I've experienced and tried myself. Honest, independent and organised so you can plan your trip without endless searching.

  • 10+ trips to South Africa
  • New places discovered every year
  • Self-drive trips by rental car

South Africa map

Best time to visit South Africa

The ideal time for your South Africa trip depends on the kind of trip and the activities you have in mind.

In general, this is my recommendation:

The best time for a South Africa road trip is spring and autumn: March to May and September to November.

Temperatures are pleasantly mild across the whole country then, ideal for a road trip.

Many Europeans escape winter at home and travel from December to February to enjoy the summer. This is when it is warmest, with long days and lots of sunshine. It is the high season.

For safaris, June to August is better. It is drier then, so you have the best chances of seeing animals, as they gather around the waterholes. I also like the rainy season, though, because everything is green and the animals have their young.

See everything about the best time to visit South Africa

Best time to visit Kruger National Park

Best time to visit the Garden Route

LegendBest time to visitGood time to visitLess suitable time

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Best time to visitJan: goodFeb: goodMar: best time to visitApr: best time to visitMay: best time to visitJun: goodJul: goodAug: goodSep: best time to visitOct: best time to visitNov: best time to visitDec: good
Road tripJan: less suitableFeb: less suitableMar: best time to visitApr: best time to visitMay: best time to visitJun: less suitableJul: less suitableAug: less suitableSep: best time to visitOct: best time to visitNov: best time to visitDec: less suitable
SafariJan: goodFeb: goodMar: best time to visitApr: best time to visitMay: best time to visitJun: best time to visitJul: best time to visitAug: best time to visitSep: less suitableOct: less suitableNov: less suitableDec: good
HikingJan: less suitableFeb: less suitableMar: goodApr: best time to visitMay: best time to visitJun: goodJul: goodAug: goodSep: best time to visitOct: best time to visitNov: less suitableDec: less suitable
Sun & beachJan: best time to visitFeb: best time to visitMar: best time to visitApr: goodMay: less suitableJun: less suitableJul: less suitableAug: less suitableSep: less suitableOct: less suitableNov: goodDec: good
Cape Town & Garden RouteJan: best time to visitFeb: best time to visitMar: best time to visitApr: goodMay: goodJun: less suitableJul: less suitableAug: less suitableSep: less suitableOct: goodNov: goodDec: good
Wine regionJan: goodFeb: best time to visitMar: best time to visitApr: best time to visitMay: goodJun: less suitableJul: less suitableAug: less suitableSep: less suitableOct: less suitableNov: less suitableDec: good
Whale watchingJan: less suitableFeb: less suitableMar: less suitableApr: less suitableMay: less suitableJun: goodJul: best time to visitAug: best time to visitSep: best time to visitOct: best time to visitNov: goodDec: less suitable
Fewer touristsJan: less suitableFeb: less suitableMar: goodApr: goodMay: best time to visitJun: goodJul: goodAug: goodSep: goodOct: best time to visitNov: best time to visitDec: less suitable

South Africa climate table

Temperature:below 10 °C10–16 °C17–23 °C24–29 °C30 °C and above

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Day °C262624222017161718212324
Night °C171716141211101011131516
Rainy days325571211118655
Sun h/day13121110988910121213

Rainy days = days with at least 1 mm of rain. Average 2016–2025 · Data: Open-Meteo (ERA5 reanalysis)

All South Africa travel guides

Top destinations in South Africa

Popular cities in South Africa

Show all 20 cities and regions

Provinces I have visited in South Africa

South Africa is divided into nine provinces. I have visited all of them except North West and the capital Pretoria.

Western Cape Northern Cape Eastern Cape KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa itineraries (1 to 4 weeks)

Show all 12 itineraries

National parks & reserves

My recommendations for private game reserves

Tips for safari & wildlife

South Africa podcast episode

If you don’t feel like reading, here is our podcast episode (in German, also on all other platforms):

How to plan your trip to South Africa

Many people feel overwhelmed when planning a South Africa road trip: too many options, too diverse a country. That’s why I have summarised the most important things here.

Is South Africa worth visiting?

11 years ago I fell for South Africa as a destination. Since then I have been back at least once a year. Why? There are plenty of reasons.

First of all, South Africa is just one overnight flight away from Germany. In the European winter there is no time difference. No jet lag. From the UK it is only 1 to 2 hours, depending on the season.

Then it is summer in South Africa when it is winter at home in Europe. Perfect for escaping the grey everyday routine.

And what fascinates me most: the wildlife. I love spending hours in the car or on foot in the savannah. No matter which region. Of course, there are many more reasons for a South Africa road trip:

Want to book a trip? G Adventures offers group tours and day tours, which we can recommend if you don’t want to travel alone. We can’t replace a travel agency. We only write about our own experience and share recommendations here.

Entry requirements for South Africa

All Europeans can stay in South Africa visa-free for up to 90 days. On arrival you get a visitor’s permit as a stamp in your passport. Make sure the date is correct.

Travelling from the US or the UK? You don’t need a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days either. Your passport must be valid for at least 30 days after you leave South Africa and needs at least 2 blank pages. The US State Department asks for 2 consecutive empty visa pages per entry. Check the current rules before you go:

Getting to and around South Africa

Booking flights

To find flights, I use Google Flights and KAYAK. I use these flight search engines to get an overview. Check carefully whether luggage is included in the price.

You can find domestic flights on these search engines too. Check the airlines CemAir, Airlink, FlySafair and FlySAA South African Airways.

Getting around by rental car

A rental car makes sense in South Africa, as many places to visit are hard to reach by public transport.

Costs vary depending on the type of vehicle and the rental period.

To rent a car, you need a valid driving licence (often an international one as well), a credit card in the driver’s name, and you usually have to be at least 21 years old.

Remember that South Africa drives on the left, and always keep valuables in the boot.

Renting a car? Here's how I do it

I usually search on Discover Cars or Booking.com Cars and compare prices with Sunny Cars, my favourite and, according to tests, the cheapest in South Africa.

Tips for booking a rental car Can you rent a car without a credit card?

Where to stay in South Africa

From boutique hotels to rustic rondavels, there are lots of options. I usually book my accommodation in advance, especially in remote areas and the most popular national parks.

In national parks I like to stay in the official rest camps of the South African national parks authority SANParks. I book the rest on booking.com and Airbnb.

Looking for a hotel?

I usually find my hotels on Booking.com or Expedia.

Search on Booking.com Search on Expedia

Safety in South Africa

You are probably wondering how dangerous a trip to South Africa is?

As everywhere in South Africa, don’t leave valuables visible in the car, don’t walk through unfamiliar areas at night, and ask at your accommodation for current advice.

I felt safe on my trips in the Eastern Cape, but I always stayed alert. Because I keep getting emails and comments on articles about safety in South Africa, I wrote this article:

South Africa route planning

Money & payment

In South Africa you pay with the rand (ZAR). Paying by credit card is common, and you can get cash from many international ATMs. Card payment now works almost everywhere, even at the gates of the national parks. You only rarely need cash, for example for tips or at remote petrol stations.

Tipping: Give the petrol attendant at the petrol station and the car guards a small tip in cash. At hotels you can usually tip by card too.

Best travel credit card for South Africa

In 2026, the best free credit cards for travel (for German residents) are the TF Bank Mastercard Gold, the DKB debit card (with account) and the Revolut Mastercard. Wherever you're from, take at least 2 cards without foreign transaction fees, so you can almost always withdraw cash and pay for free abroad.

Best credit card for South Africa Currency in South Africa

Beste Reisezeit Südafrika: Klima, Monate & Erfahrung

Südafrika ist eines der wenigen Länder, die ich zu jeder Jahreszeit bereist habe. Nach über 10 Reisen kenne ich die Unterschiede zwischen Sommer und Winter, zwischen Westkap und Kruger-Nationalpark genau, und weiß, wie stark sich die beste Reisezeit je nach Region und Vorhaben unterscheidet. Hier findest du meine Erfahrungen zu Klima, Regenzeit und optimalen Reisemonaten für jede Region, von Kapstadt über die Garden Route bis zum Kruger-Nationalpark. Ideal, wenn du deine Reise gerade planst und wissen willst, wann sich welches Ziel am meisten lohnt.

Best time to visit

Wann ist die beste Reisezeit für die Garden Route?

Best time to visit

Die ideale Reisezeit für den Kruger-Nationalpark, das berühmteste Wildschutzgebiet Südafrikas

Trip planning

Mietwagen Südafrika: 11 Tipps zum Mietwagen in Südafrika (Kosten, Maut, Tanken)

Packing lists

Safari Packliste: Ausrüstung, Rucksack & Must-Haves für Afrika

Travel hacks: How to find cheap flights (+ best search engines)

Travel tips

Telefonieren & Internet in Südafrika: Meine Erfahrungen mit SIM-Karten und Anbietern

Travel costs

Südafrika Urlaub: Wie teuer ist eine Reise wirklich? Alle Kosten im Überblick

Trip planning

Einreisebestimmungen für Südafrika: Visum, Impfungen und Zoll

Safety

Sicherheit in Südafrika: Wie gefährlich Südafrika wirklich ist

Safety

Alleine nach Südafrika reisen: Erfahrungen beim Roadtrip als alleinreisende Frau

Trip planning

Die Wild Card für Südafrikas Nationalparks kaufen – ab wann lohnt sich ein Kauf?

Travel tips

Autofahren in Südafrika: Tipps, Maut, Mietwagen & Erfahrungen

Travel costs

Reiseführer Südafrika: Das sind meine Empfehlungen!

Trip planning

Erfahrung: Südafrika mit Baby, die besten Tipps für Sicherheit, Kosten und Unterkünfte

Inspiration

23 Gründe, warum Südafrika eine Reise wert ist

Travel tips

Load Shedding Südafrika: Aktuelle Lage & Tipps

Travel costs

Währung in Südafrika: Alles, was du über den Rand (ZAR) wissen musst

Katrin Lehr, Gründerin Reiseblog viel-unterwegs.de

Still have questions about South Africa?

Hi, I'm Katrin and I have been to South Africa more than 10 times. I don't have the time to offer free travel advice, but these offers let me help you personally. More about me

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Katrin with a cheesesteak outside Angelo's Pizzeria in Philadelphia

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