The South African Guide

Destinations

In-depth, honest guides to destinations, written from first-hand experience.

Elephants walking through dry savanna grassland with hills in the background, South Africa
Featured

Eastern Cape Malaria-Free Safari: Addo, Shamwari, Kwandwe and More

South Africa's best malaria-free safari region. Addo, Shamwari, Kwandwe, Pumba, Kariega; Big 5 without pills. Entry fees and lodge prices.
Vineyard rows in Franschhoek with the Franschhoek Mountains rising behind the valley
destinations

Franschhoek: Cape Winelands Culinary Capital

Wine Tram, world-class restaurants, Huguenot heritage, and mountain-backed estates — your complete guide to Franschhoek, the Cape Winelands' culinary capital.

Golden sandstone hills of the Free State Eastern Highlands at dusk, Golden Gate Highlands National Park, South Africa
destinations

Free State Province - Golden Gate, Clarens, and the Heartland of South Africa

Free State travel guide: Golden Gate Highlands National Park, Clarens arts village, Vredefort Dome, and the flat highveld between Johannesburg and Durban.

Aerial view of Hermanus coastline with rocky shores and the Whale Coast mountains
destinations

Hermanus: South Africa's Whale-Watching Capital

Southern right whales, cliff-top walks, and Hemel-en-Aarde wine — everything you need to plan a trip to Hermanus on the Western Cape's Whale Coast.

Two giraffes blocking a dirt road in Kruger National Park, South Africa
destinations

Kruger National Park Self-Drive Safari: The Complete Guide

Kruger self-drive safari: entry fees (ZAR 440/adult 2026), best gates, rest camps, speed limits, Big Five tips, and overnight vs day-visit options.

Lone tree in the Limpopo bushveld at dusk with flat-topped mountains in the background, near Hoedspruit, South Africa
destinations

Limpopo Province - South Africa's Far North Travel Guide

Limpopo travel guide: Mapungubwe UNESCO site, Waterberg Biosphere, Venda villages, Phalaborwa gateway to Kruger, hot springs, and Modjadji cycad forest.

Elephant standing in tall dry grass at Pilanesberg National Park, North West province, South Africa
destinations

North West Province - Pilanesberg, Sun City, Madikwe and More

North West province guide: Pilanesberg game reserve (malaria-free Big Five), Sun City resort, Madikwe, and what to do between Joburg and Botswana.

Ostrich under a thatched shelter at an ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn, Klein Karoo
destinations

Oudtshoorn: Cango Caves, Ostriches, and the Route 62 Gateway

Cango Caves, ostrich farms, Swartberg Pass, and meerkat sunrise tours — your complete guide to Oudtshoorn in the Klein Karoo on South Africa's Route 62.

Calm waters of Lake St Lucia surrounded by reeds, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
destinations

iSimangaliso Wetland Park: South Africa's UNESCO Wilderness on the KZN Coast

iSimangaliso Wetland Park guide covering whale watching, leatherback turtle tours, Sodwana Bay diving, hippo cruises, and where to stay near St Lucia.

Male lion walking across dry golden grass in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa
destinations

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: The Ultimate Guide to South Africa's Kalahari Safari

Plan your Kgalagadi safari — black-maned lions, red sand dunes, best rest camps, 4x4 requirements, and how this 38,000 km² Kalahari park compares to Kruger.

Pack of African wild dogs in the South African bush - Madikwe Game Reserve
destinations

Madikwe Game Reserve: Wild Dogs, Big 5, and No Malaria

Madikwe Game Reserve guide - Big 5 plus wild dogs, named lodges with prices, how to get there from Johannesburg, best time, and conservation fees.

Elephant herd walking down a dirt road in a malaria-free South African game reserve
destinations

Malaria-Free Safari South Africa: Best Reserves and Lodges

The best malaria-free safaris in South Africa — Madikwe, Pilanesberg, Addo, Shamwari, and Welgevonden compared. Big 5 viewing with no prophylaxis required.

White rhinos and calf crossing a dirt track in the KwaZulu-Natal bushveld, South Africa
destinations

KwaZulu-Natal Travel Guide - Coast, Safari, and Mountains

KwaZulu-Natal highlights: warm beaches at uMhlanga, hippos at iSimangaliso, Drakensberg hiking, Hluhluwe safari, and the Durban Indian Quarter.

Aerial view of Cape Town with DHL Stadium, the Atlantic Ocean, and Table Mountain rising behind the city, South Africa
destinations

Cape Town vs Johannesburg - Scenery, Safety and Cost Compared

Cape Town wins on scenery and beaches; Joburg on urban energy and Kruger access; costs, safety, weather and vibe compared for 2026.

Vineyard rows at Stellenbosch with Hottentots Holland Mountains, Western Cape, South Africa
destinations

Stellenbosch: South Africa's Wine Capital & University Town

Historic Cape Dutch architecture, world-class wine estates, and mountain-framed hiking - the complete guide to Stellenbosch with prices and where to stay.

Hikers picking their way along rocky cliffs above the Wild Coast shoreline, Eastern Cape, South Africa
destinations

Wild Coast and Coffee Bay - The Complete Travel Guide

Plan a Wild Coast trip covering Coffee Bay, Hole in the Wall, Bulungula, Port St Johns, the coastal hiking trail, and Xhosa homestay experiences.

African elephants gathered at a waterhole in Addo Elephant National Park
destinations

Addo Elephant National Park: South Africa's Malaria-Free Big 5 Safari

Addo Elephant National Park: entry fees, self-drive vs guided options, lodges per budget, and directions from Port Elizabeth or the Garden Route.

The high basalt cliffs of the Drakensberg escarpment rising above green foothills, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
destinations

The Drakensberg - Where to Stay, Key Areas, and How to Get There

Plan a Drakensberg trip - Royal Natal, Cathedral Peak, Giant's Castle and Sani Pass compared, plus named lodges, entry fees, and transport from Durban.

Stormy waves and coastal cliffs at the Knysna Heads, Garden Route, South Africa
destinations

Knysna Travel Guide - The Heads, Lagoon, Oysters, and Where to Stay

Knysna travel guide: the Heads viewpoint, Featherbed Nature Reserve, Knysna Lagoon, oysters, forests, and where to stay on the Garden Route.

Person silhouetted in rocky sea cave at Robberg Peninsula, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa
destinations

Plettenberg Bay Travel Guide - Beaches, Robberg, and Whale Watching

Plettenberg Bay travel guide: Robberg Nature Reserve walk, whale and dolphin watching, best beaches, where to stay, and what to do in and around Plett.

Two young boys playing on a Soweto township street, Johannesburg, South Africa
destinations

Things to Do in Soweto - Vilakazi Street, Hector Pieterson and Shebeen Culture

Soweto guide: Vilakazi Street, Hector Pieterson Museum, Regina Mundi Church, Orlando Towers, and how to book a guided tour from Johannesburg.

Forest waterfall cascading through indigenous forest in Tsitsikamma National Park, South Africa
destinations

Tsitsikamma National Park - Storms River, Hiking, and the Otter Trail

Tsitsikamma National Park guide: Storms River Mouth suspension bridge, the Otter Trail, Bloukrans bungee, entry fees, accommodation, and how to get there.

The Knysna Heads - two sandstone cliffs framing the ocean entrance to the Knysna Lagoon
destinations

The Garden Route - Complete Driving Guide from Mossel Bay to Storms River

The Garden Route: 300 km along South Africa's southern coast. Best stops from Mossel Bay to Storms River, how long to spend, and where to stay.

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