In your opinion, what is the ideal vacation break? Perhaps its spending quality time with family and friends exploring new territories. Maybe you would like to try out new exciting activities such as horse riding, game viewing, and hiking or you simply want to meet interesting people. Would you rather have lazy lunches while soaking up the beautiful surroundings along the sandy beach? Well, in this country you can actually have it all. Below are the top reasons why the best time to visit South Africa is now:
1. The beaches
Cape Town has some of the most serene urban beaches in the world. They include the fashionable Camps Bay beach strip (located close to the city), Boulders Beach (the most visited and the only place in the entire world where you get a chance to see African Penguins), KwaZulu- Natal coast, and the Garden Route coastline.
2. Wine and Dine in The Most Superb Way
A visit to Cape town is incomplete if you do not make time to visit the gorgeous estates and sample the award-winning wines. You can sample the wines on the vine-covered patios or in cool cellars and enjoy the sumptuous world-class cuisines in the restaurants. When you visit the eastern seaboard, you can indulge in gourmet meals at the getaway blossoming hillside of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.
While Franschhoek is considered the oldest foodie destination of South Africa, Cape Town – one of the best places to visit in Africa – and Johannesburg seem to be catching up rather fast. The latter are popular hubs for great coffee, craft beer, inspiring restaurants, and exciting markets. The restaurants blend the local flavors with international cuisine, with great hospitality.
And then there’s Stellenbosch, famous for its wineries. A must-visit for all the wine aficionados out there.
3. Go on Safari
For the popular Big 5 safari destination, you should consider visiting the Kruger National Park. Even so, the country still has a wide selection of marvelous game parks as well as private reserves. Enjoy time with family at the Madikwe Private Reserve or combine your game experience by visiting Addo Elephant Park and enjoy a memorable beach holiday in the Eastern Cape.
The fact that South Africa has a varied terrain essentially means you can spot the desert-adapted dwellers including the anteaters or pangolin in Tswalu located in the Kalahari. Thereafter, you can search the heavily populated leopard area in the southern Kruger region before you can seek out the elusive porcupines and bat-eared foxes in the Eastern Cape.
4. Friendly People and Culture
Most visitors to South Africa have keenly noted that the residents love to smile and they are friendly as well. The truth is that South Africans love to meet people and will passionately recommend to visitors pleasant things to do and places to visit. The country comprises of many cultures, meaning you’re more likely to hear many distinct accents when they speak English. What’s more, you’ll notice lots of different faces as well as the rich flavor fusion of their cuisine.
5. The Abundance of Activities
With so much sunshine, sea, rivers, and mountains, the residents treat their country as a huge playground considering there is plenty of activities to engage in here. Enjoy the outdoors hiking to the highest point of the Table Mountain, watch whales in their glory at the Hermanus, enjoy horse riding in the Drakensberg mountains, paraglide over the beaches of Cape Town, go on a cycling tour through Cape Winelands, and explore the amazing forest canopy of the Garden Route. There is never a dull moment in South Africa.
6. Perfectly Suits Any Type of Tourist
It is rather easy to discover family-run lodges or cozy guesthouses that offer holiday pampering at a considerably affordable cost thus enabling you to get value for your money. Furthermore, eating out here is extremely affordable, meaning you can enjoy sumptuous meals and the local vintage with no hint of an unreasonably high bill.
Besides being great value for your money, the safari experience is often an all-inclusive package, thereby enabling you to know precisely what you can expect to get upfront. You may ask a Safari expert from the region to tailor-make for you an itinerary (all-inclusive) within your budget.
7. South Africa Is Family Friendly throughout the Year
The fact that South Africa boasts of numerous child-friendly accommodation options and family holiday destinations means your children will certainly love the holiday experience. The Garden Route and Cape Town are particularly popular with families that enjoy beach breaks. However, if you fancy going on a safari with your family, the Madikwe and Pilanesberg come highly recommended.
If you plan to bring your kids on a safari tour, it is advisable that you request your appointed Safari guide to identify a lodge geared for children. Note that most have shorter safari game drives, play areas (with nannies), and incredible junior rangers’ programs. The longer safari game drives are really not suitable for the little ones, but going for nature walks in the company of trained guides who can teach them something about different bird species, blooms, and bugs can be a truly exciting experience for kids.
South Africa’s Visa Requirements
In a similar way to what we witness in other eVisa application procedures adopted by other regions, travelers need to be in possession of a passport, debit or credit card, and email address to apply for the South African eVisa.
Once the new eVisa system is launched, additional requirements will be updated and shared in the public domain to correctly inform applicants about the necessary requirements. Once the new eVisa application system is put in place, the government and immigration authorities will find it easier to keep and maintain a better, more efficient record system of foreign visitors.
However, when it comes to the current South Africa visa requirements for US citizens, visitors from America can visit visa-free for a maximum stay of 90 days. However, for an extended stay or longer visit, American citizens will be required to apply for the visa. However, before you proceed to apply for a South African visa, it is important that you consult about the different types, especially if you’re from other countries and make sure the information you provide is accurate and you have a valid passport. If you’re an American and you need further information, it is advisable that you contact a South African Embassy near you for clarification.
