Western Cape

Make your entrance to Africa by means the most spectacularly beautiful of all South Africa's provinces! The very southern tip of the African continent, the Western Cape has everything any traveler could imagine: golden beaches, soaring mountain ranges, verdant forests, baking deserts and clear, fresh lakes and rivers. The Cape Peninsula, the Cape of Good Hope, has the modern, cosmopolitan city of Cape Town, surrounded by natural wonders like Table Mountain and the absolutely unique Fynbos floral kingdom - a floral kingdom so diverse that the number of species on Table Mountain alone outnumbers the species of the entire United Kingdom! Further inland, a stone's throw from the peninsula, you'll find the picturesque towns of Paarl and Stellenbosch and their world class, centuries old vineyards.

Climate

The Western Cape enjoys hot summers and mild winters, with winter rainfall.

Attractions

The eastern coast, on the Indian Ocean, has rainforests of towering trees found nowhere else on earth, and a rugged shoreline of unspoilt sandy beaches and world class holiday destinations like Knysna. The arid west coast is sparsely populated except for the fishing towns that harvest the cold Atlantic waters, teeming with life. The Karoo desert regions are by no means featureless. Many quaint communities dot the landscape, and on the shimmering horizons ancient rock formations loom, with the mighty Cango Caves just outside the ostrich-farming town of Oudtshoorn.

1. 15 On Orange Hotel, Cape Town
2. Crystal Towers Hotel, Cape Town
3. Rosenhof Country House, Oudtshoorn
4. The Andros Boutique Hotel, Cape Town
5. Rijk's Country House, Tulbagh
6. Mosselberg on Grotto Beach, Hermanus

Eastern Cape

Eastern Cape’s diverse landscapes range from the desulate Great Karoo to the lush forests of the Wild Coast and the Keiskamma Valley. You’ll find the mountains of the Southern Drakensberg and the fertile Langkloof, sandy beaches and even the only snow slopes in Africa, and the birthplace of Nelson Mandela – all in the diverse Eastern Cape. The Eastern Cape offers you beaches where you can surf the world’s biggest waves, widespread hills in a breathtaking landscape, spectacular wildlife and sea life viewing, and warm, small-town hospitality.

Climate

The Eastern Cape has a year-round holiday climate, though it does vary considerably throughout the year. There are hot summers and moderate winters along the coast, while the northern regions are must couler.

Attractions

As well as a place of great scenic beauty, the Eastern Cape also offers you spectacular wildlife viewing with the Addo Elephant park just 73km from Port Elizabeth. You can visit the Nelson Mandela Museum in Qunu, and the Grahamstown Festival takes place annually in the university town, drawing visitors from all over the globe.

1. Hacklewood Hill Country House, Port Elizabeth
2. Pumba Private Game Reserve, Walmer
3. The Sands @ St. Francis, St. Francis Bay

Gauteng

Gauteng (a Sotho word for the Place of Gold) may be the smallest province in South Africa, but it is the most densely populated. Gauteng is home to Johannesburg, Pretoria in Tshwane and Soweto, as well as the Crocodile Ramble and the Magalies Meander tourist routes. It is the intersection of African and global trade – a cosmopolitan and multicultural mix of people. Perhaps best known for big business, Gauteng is also a place of entertainment, shopping and culture.

Climate

The breathtaking Highveld of Gauteng is said to be one of the world’s best climates. With warm and wind-free days in summer, and crisp, clear days in winter, it’s not hard to see why. Summers can produce spectacular Highveld thunderstorms, and winters are mild, though snow does fall rarely. High summer is October to March, and winter is June to August.

Attractions

Johannesburg is a pulsing, cosmopolitan multi-cultural mix, and one of the cultural highlights of South Africa. Explore South Africa’s rich heritage at a diverse range of attractions, from the Apartheid Museum to the Cradle of Mankind, to Newtown Cultural Precinct. You can take in a Township Tour, and game parks are only a short drive away. Johannesburg has a vibrant mix of restaurants, bars and nightclubs, and some of the best shopping that Africa has to offer.

1. Melrose Arch Hotel, Johannesburg
2. Mount Grace House & Spa, Magaliesburg

Kwa Zulu Natal

KwaZulu-Natal, on the shores of the warm Indian Ocean, is a varied region of subtropical coastline, savannah and the towering Drakensberg Mountains. Known as the Kingdom of the Zulu, KwaZulu-Natal is in fact a cosmopolitan mix of African, Indian, and European cultures. The focal point of this mix of ethnicities is the bustling city of Durban, South Africa's busiest port, and one of the ten largest on Earth. Be sure to visit Grey Street for a sample of this fascinating brew.

Climate

Known as a province where you can experience an eternal summer, KwaZulu-Natal has a tropical climate with generous rainfall in the summer months. It can get very hot and humid along the coastline in the Christmas holiday season, although temperatures are milder inland.

Attractions

Durban is the hub of KwaZulu-Natal’s business and industry, but with luxury hotels along the beachfront, Durban is often referred to as South Africa’s Miami. Some of South Africa’s best beaches are found along this coastline, with world famous names such as Umhlanga Rocks, Balito, Shaka’s Rock and Margate all offering safe swimming and fantastic surfing possibilities.

1. The Audacia Manor, Durban
2. Makaranga Garden Lodge, Durban
3. Endless Horizons Boutique Hotel

Namibia

Famous for the spectacular Etosha National Park and Game Reserve and the vast shifting sand dunes of the Namib Desert, Namibia is a country known for its warm hospitality.  Namibia offers you diverse wildlife viewing, from the inland Etosha Pan (a dried out saline lake) supporting a large and varied wildlife on its plains, to the Walvis Bay Lagoon, one of the most important wetland areas on the African coastline. You can spot whales, dolphins and flamingoes from the Protea Hotel Pelican Bay, overlooking the Walvis Bay Lagoon. Enjoy true Namibian hospitality in the land where the ocean meets the desert.

1. The Burning Shore, Swakopmund

Kenya

Kenya’s capital city has risen in a single century from a brackish uninhabited swampland to a thriving modern capital. When railway construction workers reached this area in 1899, they set up a basic camp and supply depot, simply called ‘Mile 327’. The local Maasai called this highland swamp Ewaso Nai’beri – the place of cold water. The camp became a rustic village, and then a shanty town, which by 1907 was the capital of all of British East Africa. It was soon an important centre for the colony and a mecca for adventurers, hunters and travellers from all over the world. Modern Nairobi is still the safari capital of the Africa, but the modern world has quickly caught up with the city. A frontier town no more, Nairobi has become one of Africa’s largest, and most interesting cities. Nairobi is a city that never seems to sleep. The entire town has a boundless energy, and is thriving place where all of human life can be found. This is a place of great contrasts where race, tribe and origin all become facets of a unique Nairobi character.

1. Tribe-The Village Market Hotel, Nairobi