Destinations / South Africa >>

We can't put it better than Alan Paton - South Africa is "lovely beyond the describing of it".

South Africa has got everything the discerning traveller could want: from empty white beaches that stretch the eyes to a winelands region up there with best the Old World has to offer; from the towering Drakensberg mountains to a brutal but fascinating history culminating in the miracle of the Rainbow Nation; from world-class dining to raw nature that will take your breath away including big game safari and it’s own floral kingdom; from the haunting wilderness of the Kalahari Desert to a rich culture of tradition and hospitality.

If Africa is The Dark Continent, South Africa is the light at the end of the tunnel. For tourists, this is ‘Africa-lite’ – a world-class road infrastructure, hospitality catering to the exacting needs of the super-rich as well as the backpacker and golf courses that compare favourably with some of the best in the world. During an afternoon at Cape Town's waterfront you could be forgiven for thinking you were in the most beautiful European City you’d never heard of.

But this is Africa. A real country with real issues. Crime is the one all tourists know about and those that still come often allow it to dictate their holiday, hopping from well-trodden resort to over-priced hotel. This is to travel with your eyes shut but your wallet wide open.

The best of South Africa can be seen from the back road rather than the highway. It is found in the rural towns and remote beaches. It is the conversation with the owners of your boutique hotel. It is the safari where you sleep in a camp that is actually in the bush, acutely aware you are not at the top of the food chain. This is where you’ll find the memories that will survive the flight home.

This is such a varied and vast country, that, regardless of how long you have, you will always know there is more to see. We’ve been here five years and are still exploring, still finding new places and experiences that we’d recommend to our closest friends. In fact, at Satpack Travel, we suggest you don’t try and do too much in a short period of time. Most tourists under-estimate the distances involved and end up never unpacking or actually getting to know a place.

The key is to travel smart and tackle it in bite-sized chunks. Depending upon what gets you going: from bird watching to golf; from beaches to culture, contact us to create a tailored itinerary and start looking forward to your next of many trips to South Africa.

To see all the areas of South Africa that we provide overviews of, including our favourite places (on- and off-the-beaten track), have a look at our sitemap or click on our interactive map.