South Africa Holidays

The food, the beaches, the culture. Everything about South Africa screams excitement and we’re loving it. Whether you’re after a day out spotting leopards or want to explore the big cities like Cape Town or Johannesburg, it’s a country that doesn’t disappoint.

Highlights of your Holidays to South Africa 2026

• Beaches with a view - Cape Town's coastline stretches from the white-sand stunners at Clifton and Camps Bay to the surfer-friendly waves at Muizenberg, all backed by mountains that make every photo look retouched

• Big Five on your doorstep - You can be on safari watching lions, elephants and rhinos within two hours of Cape Town, no internal flights required

• Food that punches above - Two restaurants in the World's 50 Best (FYN and La Colombe), plus street food markets, wine estates and braai culture that'll have you planning your next trip before this one's over

• Wine country - The Cape Winelands (Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl) produce world-class wines at prices that'd make a Burgundy sommelier weep

• Your money goes further - The Rand is brilliantly kind to the pound and euro, so fine dining, spa treatments and even luxury hotels feel like proper bargains

• Table Mountain - One of the New7Wonders of Nature, with a cable car to the top and views that make you understand why people move here

Good to Know

• ☀️ Weather - Cape Town's summer runs December to February with temperatures hitting 26-28°C and barely a cloud in sight. Winter (June to August) is milder at 18-19°C with some rain, but still plenty of sunshine between the showers.

• 💷 Money - South African Rand (ZAR). A sit-down lunch runs £7-£10 / €8-€12, a beer is £2-£3 / €2.50-€3.50, and a coffee is about £1.50 / €1.80. Fine dining at a World's 50 Best restaurant costs a fraction of what you'd pay in London or Dublin.

• 🐧 Fun Fact - Boulders Beach in Simon's Town is home to a colony of around 2,500 African penguins. You can swim alongside them (yes, really) or just watch them waddle about on the rocks from the boardwalk. They've been here since 1983 and they're not going anywhere.

South Africa is perfect for you if...

• You've always wanted to see the Big Five but you also want proper beaches, world-class food and a city that feels like a holiday in itself

• You're the type who books a wine tasting "for the culture" but secretly just loves drinking good wine in beautiful places

• You want a long-haul holiday where the exchange rate makes you feel like a millionaire (a steak dinner for two with wine, under £30 / €35)

• You've want a long-haul beach holiday for winter warmth but with a completely different flavour

• You want the kiddos to actually learn something on holiday (penguins, safaris, marine life) without it feeling like a school trip

Where to Stay

Cape Town is the base for a South Africa holiday, and it has genuinely distinct neighbourhoods that suit different types of travellers. All of the areas below are walkable, well-connected and have their own personality.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Families

• Sea Point has a long promenade perfect for morning walks and evening strolls with the kids, public pools, and plenty of family-friendly restaurants along the strip

• Waterfront puts you right next to the V&A Waterfront with its aquarium, boat trips, and enough restaurants and shops to keep everyone happy on a rainy day

💑 Couples

• Camps Bay is the postcard. White sand, Twelve Apostles mountain backdrop, sundowner bars right on the beach. The place to be if you want to feel fancy without trying too hard

• Constantia is Cape Town's wine country, leafy and peaceful, with wine estates, fine dining and a pace that feels a world away from the beachfront buzz

🎉 Groups

• City Bowl is where the action is. Long Street and Bree Street run through the middle with bars, clubs, restaurants and live music, and Table Mountain is right there as the backdrop

• Newlands is a great base for groups who want to mix it up, close to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, the rugby and cricket grounds, and the Southern Suburbs' restaurant scene

We'll Let You In On A Lil' Beach-cret...

With a coastline stretching to more than 2,500km in length, South Africa has its fair share of beaches. Don’t be fooled into thinking they're all the same though, with the East Coast bordering the warm Indian Ocean and the West being met with the Atlantic.

• Golden Mile - a popular and beautiful stretch of shore great for sunbathing and surfing.

• Muizenberg Beach - nestled within False Bay on the west coast this is deffo one to visit, holding a blue-flag award and featuring the famous colourful beach huts.

• Boulders Beach - further along the coast in Simon’s Town is this absolute gem that lives up to its name with large boulders between the white sand, oh, and it's home to the adorable African Penguins - just incase you needed more reason to visit.

• Llandudno Beach - don't get confused by the name, we aren't zipping you back to North Wales for this one - it's a secluded cove beach perfect for photo ops. Make sure you bring a picnic, it's a lil secluded, but that just means it's even more tranquil.

• Clifton Beaches - we're giving you four for one with these swanky shorelines, we're talking white sands, blue waters and lush cliffs to stop that pesky wind blowing your towels - take your pick of the litter, or make a return trip and try all four!

• Bloubergstrand Beach - if you're down in Cape Town and are looking for your next fix of sand and sea, then make sure you've got this spot on your radar, it's low-key known for it's excellent windsurfing and kite surfing conditions and it has stun views of Table Mountain - what's not to love?

🏨 Hotels

Cape Town's hotel scene covers everything from heritage five-stars in leafy gardens to boutique bolt-holes in the City Bowl and beachfront properties where you can hear the waves from your pillow. See all South Africa hotels or browse our top picks below...

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What are the best family hotels in South Africa?

• President Hotel. Right on the Sea Point promenade with a big pool, family suites and easy access to the beaches and Waterfront. The kind of hotel where the kids can burn off energy on the promenade while you watch from the terrace.

• Lagoon Beach. Beachfront in Milnerton with a sheltered lagoon that's perfect for younger kids who aren't ready for the Atlantic waves. The sunsets over Table Mountain from here are absurdly good.

• Southern Sun Cape Town Waterfront. A short walk from the V&A Waterfront, which means the Two Oceans Aquarium, boat trips and enough ice cream shops to keep the peace are all on your doorstep.

💑 What are the best hotels in South Africa for couples?

• The Bay Hotel. On Camps Bay beach with the Twelve Apostles mountains as the backdrop. Sundowners by the pool here are the definition of "this is the life."

• Spier Hotel. A wine estate in Stellenbosch with vineyards, an eagle sanctuary and a Segway tour through the grounds. Couples who like their romance with a side of adventure will love this.

• Waterfront Village. Self-catering apartments right inside the V&A Waterfront. Cook breakfast on the balcony overlooking the marina, then step out to the restaurants and shops below.

✨ What are the best luxury hotels in South Africa?

• Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel. "The Nellie" has been Cape Town's grandest address since 1899. Pink walls, manicured gardens, afternoon tea that's an event in itself. If you're going to do luxury in Cape Town, this is where you do it.

• The Table Bay Hotel. Five-star on the V&A Waterfront with Table Mountain filling the windows. The lobby alone makes you feel like you've arrived somewhere special.

• The Commodore. Another five-star on the Waterfront, slightly quieter than The Table Bay, with a rooftop pool and views across the harbour to Robben Island.

🎉 What are the best hotels in South Africa for groups?

• DoubleTree by Hilton Cape Town. Big, central, reliable. Multiple room types, a pool, and close enough to Long Street that you can walk back after a night out without spending a fortune on taxis.

• Garden Court Victoria Junction Hotel. In the De Waterkant neighbourhood near the Waterfront, with a pool and bar that become the group meeting point by day two.

• President Hotel. Works brilliantly for groups as well as families. Multiple restaurants, a big pool, and the Sea Point strip on your doorstep for evening options.

💰 What are the best value hotels in South Africa?

• Strand Tower. Four-star in the City Centre with rooftop views of Table Mountain. Proper quality at a price that leaves plenty of budget for wine tastings and restaurant dinners.

• Hippo Boutique Hotel. Boutique charm in the City Bowl without the boutique price tag. Walking distance to the restaurants and bars on Bree Street and Kloof Street.

• Holiday Inn Express Cape Town City Centre. Does exactly what you need it to: clean, central, affordable. More money left over for the experiences that make a South Africa holiday special.

👉 All hotels in South Africa

Local Lingo

South Africa has 12 official languages (yes, twelve), but English is widely spoken everywhere tourists go. In Cape Town you'll hear a lot of Afrikaans and Xhosa, and picking up a few words in either goes down brilliantly with the locals. The Xhosa click sounds are famously tricky, but have a go anyway.

• Howzit, HOW-zit, Hello / How's it going (South African English, used everywhere)

• Dankie, DAHN-kee, Thank you (Afrikaans)

• Asseblief, AH-suh-bleef, Please (Afrikaans)

• Lekker, LEK-er, Great / tasty / lovely (Afrikaans, used for everything good)

• Braai, BRY (rhymes with "eye"), Barbecue (Afrikaans, but it's a national institution)

• Molo, MOH-loh, Hello (Xhosa, with a soft click on the "l")

• Enkosi, en-KOH-see, Thank you (Xhosa)

• Sawubona, sah-woo-BOH-nah, Hello / I see you (isiZulu, used across South Africa)

• Eish, AY-sh, Wow / Oh no / expression of surprise (used across all languages, the Swiss Army knife of South African exclamations)

South Africa Holidays 2026/2027 - Travel Guide

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What are the best things to do on a South Africa family holiday?

• Boulders Beach penguins - The penguin colony at Simon's Town is one of those experiences kids talk about for years. A boardwalk runs above the colony for easy viewing, and the adjacent beach lets you swim alongside them.

• Two Oceans Aquarium - Right on the V&A Waterfront, with touch pools, shark exhibits and an underwater tunnel. Budget a good half-day here, especially with younger kids.

• Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens - A picnic on the lawns with Table Mountain rising behind you. The Tree Canopy Walkway (nicknamed "the Boomslang") gives an elevated view through the treetops that even reluctant walkers will love.

• Aquila Private Game Reserve - A Big Five safari reserve about two hours from Cape Town. Full-day trips include a game drive, lunch and the genuine thrill of spotting lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards and rhinos without an internal flight.

• Muizenberg surf lessons - The beach with the colourful huts has gentle, warm-water waves perfect for first-timers. Multiple surf schools along the beachfront cater specifically to kids and beginners.

💑 What are the best things to do for couples on a South Africa holiday?

• Cape Winelands tasting tour - Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl are all within an hour of Cape Town. Book a guided tour and spend the day tasting world-class wines in settings that range from rustic farmsteads to grand Cape Dutch estates.

• Sunset at Signal Hill - Drive or hike up to Signal Hill as the sun goes down over the Atlantic. Bring a blanket, a bottle of local wine and someone you like. The views of the Twelve Apostles and Camps Bay from up here are unreal.

• Spa day at a wine estate - Several Constantia and Stellenbosch estates offer spa treatments paired with wine tastings. Treatments cost a fraction of what you'd pay at home, so go for the full works.

• Chapman's Peak Drive - One of the most scenic coastal drives in the world, carved into the cliff face between Hout Bay and Noordhoek. Stop at the viewing points, take too many photos, and detour to Noordhoek for lunch at a farm cafe.

• Robben Island - The ferry from the V&A Waterfront takes you to the island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years. Tours are led by former political prisoners, and it's one of the most moving experiences you'll have anywhere.

🎉 What are the top things to do for groups on a South Africa holiday?

• Long Street and Bree Street crawl - Cape Town's two main going-out streets run parallel through the City Bowl. Long Street has the clubs, live music and late-night energy; Bree Street has the cocktail bars, wine bars and restaurants. Start on Bree, end on Long.

• Shark cage diving - Gansbaai, about two hours from Cape Town, is one of the best places in the world to cage dive with great white sharks. The boat ride out is half the fun, and the adrenaline lasts all week.

• Table Mountain hike - Skip the cable car and hike up via Platteklip Gorge (about 2-3 hours, steep but doable). The sense of achievement at the top is worth every sweaty step, and you can take the cable car back down.

• V&A Waterfront food market - The Watershed and Oranjezicht City Farm Market are both at the Waterfront. Get a group table, split up, and come back with the best things you can find. Cape Malay curries, biltong, fresh oysters, craft beer.

• Zip-lining at Cape Canopy Tour - About 90 minutes from Cape Town in the Hottentots Holland Mountains. Thirteen slides through indigenous forest canopy, with views of waterfalls and mountains. Brilliant group activity.

More Destinations

• Cape Town - South Africa's headline city and the base for most South Africa holidays. Table Mountain, Camps Bay, the V&A Waterfront, wine country on your doorstep, and the kind of restaurant scene that serious foodies fly halfway round the world for.

• Thailand - If South Africa's mix of beaches, culture and incredible food appeals but you fancy a different continent, Thailand delivers the same triple-threat at similar long-haul prices. Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Samui, and temples around every corner.

• Maldives - For couples who want the most ridiculously beautiful beach holiday money can buy. Overwater villas, turquoise lagoons and an all-inclusive scene that takes the thinking out of it entirely.

• Barbados - The Caribbean island that does everything well: beaches that look computer-generated, rum tours, street food, cricket, and a nightlife scene that properly goes off on the south coast.

• Dubai - Winter sun with shopping, skyscrapers and beaches. A completely different flavour to South Africa but the same "your money goes further" appeal if you book smart, plus direct flights from both the UK and Ireland.