Johannesburg

South Africa is one of Africa’s great wildlife destinations. Vast Kruger National Park has an abundance of animals and is one of the continent's iconic attractions. For outdoor adventure, the Blyde River Canyon is the third largest on the planet, and jagged peaks of the Drakensberg mountains punch into the sky. Cape Town hums with an urban beat, and is fringed by white-sandy beaches.

• Excellent and easily accessible wildlife viewing
• Self-drive, package or custom safaris for any budget
• A wide variety of habitats and scenery
• Excellent service and a well-run tourist industry
• Good infrastructure and shops
• Less wilderness appeal and fenced parks
• Popular parks can get crowded
• High crime rate in cities

The Dry season (May to September) is the best time to visit most of South Africa’s parks, including Kruger. The weather is great, the animals stay near to waterholes and rivers, and to top it all off, it’s the low season. In the Wet season (October to April), the land is lush but animals tend to disperse more and some parks tend to be busy during the December school holidays.

O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg is the air transport hub of southern Africa. Onward, travel is mostly by car. Because of excellent roads and facilities in South Africa, some people choose the self-drive option. In most other cases, your local tour operator will arrange pick-up from the airport and further transportation as part of your tour package. Other international airports are located in Cape Town and Durban, but few flights from Europe or America fly directly to either destination.

South Africa is generally a safe country to visit, in our opinion. All the more so if your visit is primarily an organized safari or tour. More than 10 million tourists visit South Africa every year, and most visits are trouble-free. South Africa does have, however, a high level of both petty and violent crime. Most crime is committed in big cities, such as Johannesburg and Durban but issues can usually be avoided by following basic safety precautions.

Dry season –May to September – winter: There is virtually no rainfall during the whole winter and humidity is very low. The Western Cape has winter rainfall and will be cold and wet. Since this isn't a wildlife area, it won't be included in the rest of the descriptions.

May – This month brings the end of summer. Temperatures are relatively cool, typically 10°C/50°F in the morning and 26°C/79°F in the afternoon.

June, July & August – Morning game drives in open vehicles will be cold, so it's advisable to pack warm winter clothing. The average morning temperature is 6°C/42°F. Afternoons will be pleasant with temperatures around 23-25°C/73-77°F.

September – The heat gradually builds to about 28°C/82°F in the afternoons, and the first rains bring relief from very dry conditions. Mornings are pleasant as well, around 12°C/53°F.

The summer rains are usually afternoon storms, and it can be uncomfortably hot on the Indian Ocean coast, with temperatures up to 30°C/86°F and high humidity. At this time, it is unbearably hot in the Kalahari Desert area. October & November – It gets warmer and starts to rain more often, mostly in the afternoons. Temperatures are between 15°C/59°F in the morning and 28°C/82°F in the afternoon.

December, January &February – These are the wettest months, characterized by torrential downpours in the afternoon. Afternoon temperatures are around 29°C/84°F and the humidity is high.

March & April – Rainfall will decrease, and it slowly gets cooler. This continues in April, which has lovely, clear weather. The nights get a bit colder but are still pleasant at about 15°C/59°F. Daytime temperatures are around 28°C/82°F and humidity drops in April.

Passport, Visa & Other Entry Requirements Entry requirements can change, so please contact your local South African embassy to verify the information below is current. A passport is required for all foreign visitors and has to be valid for at least six months All foreign visitors will need to carry a return or onward ticket Citizens from most countries do not require a visa and will get a 90-days entry permit on arrival If you have minors traveling with you, accompanied by only one or no biological parents, additional documents may be required. Contact your local embassy or check on the official website for more information.

South African Rand