South Africa Holidays

Table Mountain, penguins on the beach, world-class wine on the doorstep and a sunset over the Atlantic to finish the day. Holidays to South Africa pack more into one holiday than seems fair, and Cape Town is where it all starts.

Highlights of your Holidays to South Africa 2026 and 2027

• 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 - FYN, La Colombe and Salsify all feature on the World's 50 Best extended list, 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 for your South Africa holidays

• ☀️ 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. Even a meal at an excellent restaurant only 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, which started with just two pairs in 1982. You can swim at the beach right next to them or watch them waddle about from the boardwalk.

A holiday in South Africa is perfect for you if...

• You've always wanted to see the Big Five (animals not personality traits) 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 on your South African holidays

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.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Where should families stay in South Africa?

• 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

💑 Where should couples stay in South Africa?

• 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

🎉 Where should groups stay in South Africa?

• 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

South African Beaches: We'll Let You In On A Lil' Beach-cret...

Beach holidays in South Africa come in two temperatures: the Atlantic side of Cape Town is gorgeous and bracing, and False Bay on the other side of the peninsula is a few degrees warmer. Either way, few African beach holidays come with a mountain backdrop like this.

• Camps Bay - the headline beach, a long curve of white sand backed by the Twelve Apostles, with sundowner bars right across the road.

• Clifton Beaches - four sheltered coves separated by granite boulders that keep the wind off your towel. Fourth Beach is the family one, with a Blue Flag.

• Muizenberg - on False Bay, with gentle surf for beginners, warmer water and the famous rainbow-painted beach huts. A Blue Flag beach in summer.

• Boulders Beach - in Simon's Town, with sheltered coves right next to the penguin colony. Look, but don't touch: they have sharp beaks.

• Llandudno - a secluded cove surrounded by huge granite boulders, with no shops and no fuss. Bring a picnic and stay for the sunset.

• Bloubergstrand - north of the city, with the classic postcard view of Table Mountain across the bay and some of the best kitesurfing conditions around.

🏨 What are the top hotels for your South Africa holiday?

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 for a South Africa holiday?

• 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 a couples' holiday?

• 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.

• Radisson Collection Hotel, Waterfront Cape Town. Right on the water at Mouille Point with a full-service spa, an outdoor pool and a free shuttle to the shops, with the Waterfront's restaurants a short hop away.

✨ What are the best luxury hotels for South Africa holidays?

• 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.

🎉 Which South Africa hotels are best for a group holiday?

• DoubleTree by Hilton Cape Town. Big and reliable, with plenty of room types for a mixed group and a pool for lazy afternoons between days out.

• 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.

💰 Which hotels are best for cheap holidays to 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 and 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 beach right next to it lets you swim within sight of 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, and the guided tour of the prison is 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 is about two hours from Cape Town, and the cage dives there now come face to face with bronze whaler and sevengill sharks, with the odd great white if you're lucky. 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, with a run of slides through indigenous forest canopy and 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.