Why Travel to South Africa?

South Africa: A World in One Country
South Africa is a country so unique and diverse, in terms of its people, geography, fauna, and flora, that you could spend a very long time exploring it without ever feeling like you’ve seen all there is to see.
Witness the ‘African Renaissance’ in Cape Town & Johannesburg
The cultural melting pots of Gauteng and Cape Town are great entry points to the Rainbow Nation and we have a number of short tours with city stays which are an ideal introduction to the African urban experience.
Check out Johannesburg, take a township tour of Soweto, see Liliesleaf farm, the scene of the Rivonia Raid where Nelson Mandela was captured, or take in the Apartheid museum in the city center. Learn about the genesis of Apartheid under Dutch and British rule, and the hardwon struggle for freedom that followed, contrasted by the cultural cacophony of 21stcentury urban South Africa.
If Gauteng doesn’t take your fancy, head straight for cosmopolitan Cape Town – recline on the beach at Clifton, Llandudno, or St James, hike or take the cable car up Table Mountain, explore the fynbos kingdom, a family of plants unique to the Western Cape at Kirstenbosch botanical gardens, or see them in their natural environment complete with ostriches and baboons at Cape Point.
Cape Town Activities, shopping, dancing, adrenalin sports, and some good eating to boot!
Sample world-class shopping in the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, or explore the bohemian restaurants, live music venues, and arts and craft stores in Kalk Bay. Go clubbing in the city center or do something adventurous like learning to surf at Muizenburg or paragliding o Lions Head down to world-famous Camps Bay Beach below. Cycle along with one of the world’s most dramatic pieces of tarmac – tracing the sheer cli faces of Chapmans Peak Drive, which stretches from Noordhoek to Hout Bay winding its way above the surging Atlantic 300 meters below, or try out the singletrack with the mountain bikers at Tokai Forest.
Or head out on a Big 5 Cape Town safari nearby. We guarantee you will not be bored in Cape Town.
Cape Winelands – go on an empty stomach!
Immediately to the north of Cape Town on the outskirts of town lies the culinary and viticultural paradise that is the Cape Winelands. Franschhoek, Paarl, and Stellenbosch are dotted with world-class wine estates and restaurants which are not to be missed, not to mention the unique Cape Dutch architecture and dramatic mountainous landscape.
The Western Cape’s Garden Route – it’s not all watering cans and compost
To the east lies the Garden Route, a stretch of pristine coastline 1000 kilometers long, starting beyond the Cape Whale Route that hosts the whale spotting mecca of Hermanus and the shark diving capital of Gansbaai. From George to Knysna, and Wilderness, through the indigenous Tsitsikamma forest and on to a surfers’ paradise, the world-class point break at Supertubes and Jereys Bay, through Port Elizabeth and ending more or less at Port Alfred at the Eastern Cape end. Here Grahamstown, South Africa’s cultural capital and home to the National Arts Festival in July, is only a stone’s throw away, not to mention the world’s best malaria-free Big 5 game viewing at Shamwari, Kariega, and Addo Elephant National Park. A self-drive tour or Overland tour through this part of the world is always going to be an unforgettable experience.
Kruger National Park Safaris
If it’s a safari you are after, you can do no better than head for the Kruger National Park in the northwest of the country. The options there are endless and we have another dedicated page where we have broken down what is possible for travelers in this part of the world.
Kwa-Zulu Natal – mountains, beaches, gumboots, and curry
In Kwa-Zulu Natal Province you will find a subtropical climate, the home of the Zulu Kingdom, and in Durban, a strong Indian community that brings with it more cultural diversity and a culinary feast for the gastronomic tourist, not to mention the sensory banquet in the form of the weekend bazaars with their spices and Indian fabrics.
Incredible beaches lie to both the north and south of Durban with great surfing and best of all, warm water for bathing. Schools of dolphins swimming close to shore are not an uncommon sight in this part of the world.
Skiing in Africa – only in the Drakensberg
Further inland is the mountain Kingdom of Lesotho and the fabled Drakensberg mountain region, full of dramatic snow-capped peaks. If you’re here in winter and you want to tell your mates you went skiing in Africa, this is the place to do it.
Contact African Budget Safaris for help with choosing and planning the best South Africa safari for you, or to design your own private custom safari in South Africa.
Why Travel to Cape Town?
Cape Town is a scenic gem. It is a versatile and cosmopolitan destination with plenty to oer travelers and local visitors alike. Nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts are especially spoilt for choice given Cape Town’s magnificent location – scattered along the rugged coastline between impressive mountains, fynbos, and forests.
Short Cape Town Tour Packages
Our short city getaways oer tours to Cape Town’s top attractions – the Cape Peninsula, Cape Winelands, the Cape Whale Route, and Big Five Safaris near Cape Town. These are budget-friendly Cape Town Tours that include guesthouse and lodge accommodation that oers excellent value for money.
Most of our short Cape Town packages spend time in the city itself to give you a taste of the culture and history of South Africa’s oldest European-founded settlement.
Long Cape Town Tours & Overland Safaris
The Cape to Cairo journey is legendary and Cape Town remains the starting or ending point of many an epic trip through Africa. Cape to Vic Falls, Cape to Nairobi, Cape to Kruger, the list goes on… the mother city is a favorite destination on longer Africa Overland routes.
We feature about 115 Budget African Safaris that include Cape Town – a wide range of tour types and styles. Options include Overlanding Africa safaris to or from Cape Town, camping trips, lodge tours, exclusive small group packages, family holidays, shark cage diving adventures, and many more. For help sifting through the millions of Cape Town travel options – contact one of our travel fanatics (all living in Cape Town)!
Why Travel to Johannesburg?
Visit the dynamic city of Johannesburg on one of our short city tours or as part of a longer African Safari, combining a host of top travel destinations.
Highlights and Attractions on Johannesburg Tours include:
Soweto Township Tours & Cultural Excursions
Attractions near Johannesburg:
Johannesburg & Kruger Park Safaris
Johannesburg serves as the major travel hub for safaris to South Africa’s premier game park, Kruger National Park; as well as several top Private Game Reserves in the area.
The extensive variety of Kruger Safaris, starting and ending in Johannesburg, range from camping and treehouse accommodation to luxury lodge safaris.
Some of our budget safaris combine game viewing in Kruger Park with Soweto Township Tours in Johannesburg – an excellent mix of unique cultural and wildlife experiences in South Africa.
Johannesburg to Sabi Sand Game Reserve
Sabi Sand, one of South Africa’s top game reserves, is a 65 000 hectare private reserve within Greater Kruger National Park, sharing a 50 km unfenced boundary with Kruger National Park.
The Sabi Sand Reserve generally oers upmarket safari accommodation for an exclusive safari experience, but we oer some aordable tour packages with lodge accommodation in the Sabi Sand Reserve or camping at an Exclusive Tented Camp bordering the reserve.
The Sabi Sand Safaris start and end in Johannesburg and include the scenic Panorama Route. There are also tours from Johannesburg that combine Kruger Park and Sabi Sand Reserve, as well as other top private game reserves in and around Greater Kruger.
African Safaris visiting Johannesburg
Johannesburg is often included in Southern African Safaris to:
Popular African Safari Destinations combined with Johannesburg:
A Kruger overland safari shares the accommodation characteristics of the camping safaris above, with transportation taken care of by Overland truck. A Kruger overland safari is a more team-orientated
Apartheaid Museum Gold Reef City Maropeng, Cradle of Mankind Elephant Sanctuary Lion Park Endangered Wildlife Centre
Pilanesburg Game Reserve Sun City & the Lost City Pretoria & Cullinan Diamond Mine Panorama Route
Natal & the Drakenberg Mountains in South Africa South Africa’s Garden Route and Cape Town Tours Lesotho & Swaziland Tours
Trekking Gorillas in Uganda Tanzania and Zanzibar Island Tours
experience.
If you enjoy traveling in a youthful group and are ready to help out with meals, tents and so forth, as well as forge new friendships whilst on the road, this is the type of Kruger Park safari for you.
Kruger Park Luxury Tented Safaris
If camping out under the night sky sounds romantic but you’d rather not rough it, a luxury tented safari may be the ticket for your trip to the Kruger National Park. These are usually based in one of the Kruger’s private game reserves. Tents are usually semi-permanent structures erected on a platform raised above the ground. This aords better game viewing and also helps not to disturb the surrounding bush and animal activity.
Kruger Park Exclusive Lodge Safaris
The Kruger is dotted with private concessions and reserves, each with their own game rangers and lodges. These oer a more intimate and hospitality-focused experience for the traveler in search of something apart from the often large and occasionally busy rest camps.
Kruger Park Fly-in Safaris
The transfer from Johannesburg to the Kruger National Park by road can take anything from six to eight hours. If you would prefer to zip across that gap in one hour and dive straight into the game viewing experience, a Kruger Park Fly-in Safari is the one to go for.
Game Viewing Drives on Kruger Park Safaris
No matter what type of accommodation or safari package you choose, all Kruger Park Safaris are centered around game viewing in this Big Five territory teeming with African wildlife. A typical day on safari in Kruger and the private game reserves in the area starts with an early morning game drive. Early mornings are when many of the wild animals are at their most active so this is an excellent time for sighting wildlife and also for avoiding the midday heat.
Game drives in Kruger Park are generally conducted in open 4×4 safari vehicles although if visitors prefer closed vehicles can be arranged. The afternoon game drives in Kruger Park typically last between three and four hours sometimes running into the evening. The game viewing drives on our Kruger Safaris are conducted by trained and professional safari guides who are knowledgeable about the habitats and wildlife found in this vast game park.
Bush Walks in Kruger Park
Many of the Kruger Safaris, especially the longer packages, include morning bush walks with an armed safari guide. These exhilarating bush walks give you the chance to encounter the flora and fauna up close and appreciate the smaller inhabitants of Kruger Park. On bush walks you also get to track animal movements and identify wildlife activity with your experienced guide. Kruger is home to numerous predators which is why the safari guides are armed to ensure your safety. The bush walks are usually optional but are highly recommended as an excellent way to get a real feel for the African bush and its fascinating wildlife.