South Africa

Why choose South Africa?

South Africa is one of our most popular destinations and perfect for tailor-made safari holidays and honeymoons. It is huge and diverse with a great climate and offers the perfect combination and blend of culture, safari, beach and adventure.

South Africa has it all, from Cape Town, Table Mountain and the magnificent Drakensbergs, to Kruger National Park and Kwa-ZuluNatal. This country has a deep history with its Zulu battlefields and apartheid legacy; a vibrant culture, abundant wildlife and magnificent landscapes; the hospitality and guiding are second to none; food and wine are locally grown to satisfy the most discerning palates; there is an adventure to be found on both land and sea.

The wonderful climate, especially between December and April, draws people to Cape Province where one can enjoy the famous Cape Town attractions of Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch Gardens and Robben Island. Hire a car and self-drive around The Winelands in Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek and enjoy the warm hospitality, food and wine, then travel on to the beaches and activities along the Garden Route. Or take one of the many walking tours in areas as diverse as the Kruger or Drakensbergs.

A Sample Of What You Can Experience

South Africa Family Holidays

South Africa is a vast country; a treasure chest of cultures, animals and unforgettable scenery; mountains, sea, rivers, wilderness and beaches all offering a seemingly endless choice of ‘things to do’.

South Africa is a brilliant country to explore with your family. Self-drive is a viable option and accommodation and catering is top quality for both luxury and B&B’s which are extremely comfortable and affordable, with adventure activities for all ages on offer.

Hike up the lofty Drakensberg Mountains in Kwa-Zulu Natal searching for caves and Sani Bush paintings; experience game drives in Hluhuluwe Imfolozi National Park, or go on a wilderness trail, walking in the bush, sleeping under the stars. Try tubing on the rivers of the Eastern Cape or white water rafting on the Tugela River or down the Blyde River Canyon before going on a guided ‘Taste of the Bush’ safari in the Kruger National Park.

SOMETHING FOR ALL AGES

There are non malarial areas suitable for younger children where you can see the Big 5 on safari, and for the more adventurous, go off the beaten track on a walking trail. Or try Sea Kayaking, overnighting on an island in the West Coast National Park or exploring the tidal rivers with their ancient fishing nets in Kosi Bay.

The dramatic coastlines washed by the Atlantic and Indian oceans lend themselves to adventure activities; swim with sharks, watch whales cavorting, catch a big fish or surf in Plettenberg Bay, not forgetting the canopy tours and bungee jumping near Storms River. You will need a rest when you come home!

We can make recommendations and put together an itinerary tailored to the sort of experience for which you are looking. Our inside knowledge will help your holiday run smoothly and keep the whole family happy!

Combine a safari in the Kruger Park with fascinating battlefield tours in Kwa-Zulu Natal, the Kingdom of the Zulus. Take a riding safari in the astonishingly beautiful Waterberg reserve. Make your accommodation part of your family African Adventure. From luxury safari lodges to mobile tented camps & unique guesthouses with special ‘twists’ and ‘surprises’. There is something to enthrall ‘kids’ of all ages!

South Africa Riding Safaris

There are some top quality riding destinations all around South Africa suitable for novice and experienced riders enabling guests to enjoy their sport, riding deep into the wilder, less-visited areas of this beautiful country on a brilliant adventure. Whether staying in 5 star wilderness lodges or the more basic (but VERY exciting) tented camps, you will enjoy well trained horses, professional guides, magnificent scenery and mouth-watering home cooked meals; a holiday to remember!

In some locations non-riders can also be looked after with many activities on offer as well as riding: guided safaris and walking safaris, fishing, hiking, white water rafting, game drives, abseiling, quad biking, cultural visits, Battlefield Tours and more.

DD Kingscote, Travel Africa’s Founder & MD, being an experienced rider herself, is perfectly placed to give good, sound advice on riding safaris and excursions and to recommend suitable riding for you, your family or companions. DD can also suggest riding safaris that will best fit in with your holiday itinerary. It really is very important to choose the right riding safari in South Africa for you. Feel free to contact us to chat through the options and help you make the best choice for your holiday and African experience.

HORIZON HORSEBACK ADVENTURES & SAFARIS

Ideal for Experienced & Novice Riders | Ideal for Families

Based in the astonishingly beautiful malaria-free Waterberg Biosphere reserve, within a four hour drive of Johannesburg, Horizon Horseback offers one of the most varied and exciting horse riding holidays in South Africa and have been in operation for over 25 years. It is renowned for its relaxed atmosphere and ability to make guests feel completely at home; singles, groups, families (including cultural, historical and environmental activities for NON-RIDERS) are all superbly catered for. The emphasis is on horses and horsemanship. With a herd of over 80 much-loved horses Horizon can cater for all levels of rider; it is also flexible, friendly and so accommodating that you cannot fail to enjoy your time here.

The Horizon Adventures ranch has horses to suit beginners and competent riders with some ponies. A plethora of children friendly fun activities (also enjoyed by adults) are on offer; Western games, polocrosse, cattle mustering, swimming with the horses, lessons and tailor-made rides out. To top everything, the absence of dangerous game means you can all enjoy the unimaginable thrill of becoming part of a herd of zebra or giraffe that you can only experience in Africa.

‘WAIT A LITTLE’ HORSE SAFARIS

For Experienced Riders

‘Wait a Little’ Horse Safaris is excellently run and professionally guided by Philip and Gerti Kusseler in 30,000ha of privately managed reserves close to South Africa’s famous Kruger National Park, riding in one of the most beautiful wilderness regions in Africa. The region is intersected by many rivers which support an impressive population of flora and fauna; it is home to a wide variety of wildlife including elephant, rhino, lion, leopard, buffalo, cheetah, and wild dog.

Only small groups and experienced riders are catered for and safaris run to set dates throughout the year. Accommodation is in several camps equipped with luxury, double-bedded canvas tents on platforms, hot and cold outside showers and “loos with a view” over looking the Makhutswe River. There are several safaris available with itineraries that are fairly flexible including:

• Big Five Safari
• Big 5 Camp Safari
• Garonga Ride
• Fit For Safari

ANT’S HILL & ANT’S NEST

Ideal for Experienced & Novice Riders | Ideal for Families, malaria-free, friendly & relaxed.

Situated in the malaria free Waterberg area this privately owned concession offers the choice of staying at Ant’s Hill, a thatched bush house with breathtaking views across the Waterberg, Ant’s Nest; just six luxurious en-suite rooms surrounded by gardens and a swimming pool in the classic colonial house, with a Kenyan twist, or Ant’s Bush camp all owned by Ant and Tessa Baber.

Both private bush homes and the camp offer friendly, relaxed hospitality and are fantastic for families, catering for children of all ages, allowing parents to enjoy “time off” whilst the brilliant babysitters entertain the young. The accommodation is cosy, colonial, classic, friendly and comfortable in a game paradise you will never forget.

From here you can take daily rides into the beautiful and diverse natural bush cantering along open sandy tracks taking you up onto high ridges with spectacular vistas, searching for game on the way. Often you can get so close to the game that the experience remains unforgettable. The pace can be as fast or relaxed as the riders would like and there are horses that cater for all abilities.

OUT IN AFRICA ENCOUNTERS

For Experienced Riders

Combine a mobile horseback safari with local community interaction including cattle herding, dance and local food experience on Out In Africa’s “inner-safari” program. Or experience an adrenaline packed horseback safari up close to Africa’s animals in tune with nature and the untouched surrounding. The riding is varied, sometimes quietly walking, stalking big game and sometimes galloping alongside giraffe on well trained and responsive horses.

The Kondowe Ride – Nights are spent in the comfort of the lodge and riding is conducted on the reserve where we are based and is home to a variety of general game such as Giraffe, Wildebeest and Zebra amongst others.

The Greater Kruger Ride – A mobile safari through the African bush, where guests can explore different habitats and encounter a wide array of animals along the way, including some of the Big 5. On this ride, we combine nights in lodges with nights in selected areas in the bush where a mobile tented camp is set up along the route.

South Africa Adventure Holidays

South Africa is a country of immense diversity and each of its nine provinces, although unique in their own right, represents a different feature of South Africa with varied environments to cater for a wide range of adventure activities.

Home to some of Africa’s biggest and best national parks, South Africa is the ideal destination for an unforgettable safari holiday. Experience the ‘Big Five’ amongst spectacular scenery with expert guides and accommodation options to suit you. We can accommodate all safari styles from walking and riding safaris to 4×4 tours, staying in anything from simple campsites to luxury lodges.

Cape Town and the Cape Region offer a host of adventure activities for all ages. From the beautiful scenic hike up Table Mountain to free flight paragliding from Lions Head to a sunset boat cruise on the Waterfront, your adventure can be as mild or as wild as you like.

South Africa also offers some of the wildest and best organised adventure water sports in the world from shark cage diving around Cape Town to whale watching in Hermanus.

BATTLEFIELD TOURS

The Battlefield tours are a MUST for anyone visiting the province of KwaZulu-Natal. A visit to the famous sites from the Zulu Wars, including Fugitives’ Drift and Rorke’s Drift, the scene where 12 Victoria Crosses were earned in one night, is highly recommended. By listening to the brilliantly detailed stories, told on the actual site by raconteurs of note, one can gain a fascinating insight and perspective into what helped fashion the South Africa of today. Nothing can prepare you for the intensity of emotions felt as the battlefield tales unravel; you will feel you have lived through each one.

Outposts Travel Africa can organise fully guided, small group, personal tours in KwaZulu Natal showing and explaining the happenings of yester-year at battle sites and cultural venues. From single day trips to national tours, we can tailor-make a battlefield tour to your requirements. Please contact us to find out more.

FUGITIVES’ DRIFT

Take an opportunity to stay at the award winning Fugitives’ Drift Lodge, the home of Nicky and the late David Rattray; join the flagship tours to Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift that are led by registered tour guides Rob Caskie and his team. These superb storytellers make the history of that day come alive offering some unique Zulu perspectives.

Similar to the Anglo Zulu wars, one can best learn on site about the 2nd Anglo-Boer War (1899 – 1902) and its history with the Battle of Spoinkop being the focal point. We would highly recommend staying at Three Tree Hill Lodge which offers the perfect location to base yourself for exploring the major Anglo-Boer War Battlefields in KwaZulu Natal and the Northern Drakensberg Mountains, a world heritage site.

SOUTH AFRICA ACCOMMODATION

ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA

There is so much variety and choice available in South Africa from luxury safari lodges to mobile tented bush camps; boutique hotels to unique guesthouses & homestays. We have recommendations to suit all budgets and your ‘appetite for adventure’.

At Outposts Travel Africa we continually seek out those special places where you will find a warm welcome, great hosts and guides, a friendly atmosphere, attention to detail, good food and set in stunning secluded locations and natural surroundings in keeping with the country.

Whether you’re looking for a lodge or hotel steeped in history, oozing character from a bygone age, seeking relaxed, barefoot luxury on a palm-fringed beach, an authentic bush camp to experience ‘the real Africa’ or something suitable for all the family with an added ‘twist’ or ‘surprise’ then look no further!

HOTELS & GUESTHOUSES

We do not often recommend hotels as we prefer to suggest the more personal touch offered by owner run Guest Houses, but in somewhere like Cape Town they can be the best option. We tend to use a select handful such as the small boutique DerwentHouse, located in one of Cape Town’s most vibrant districts where we know the owner Carol Judge who, with the help of her entire staff, is welcoming, tremendously helpful and will make everything run like clockwork.

In the winelands you will find delightful guest houses such as Lekkerwijn (literally delicious wine!) and a particular favourite, La Petite Ferme, which offers superb guest suites, cellar tours and a fine-dining restaurant using local produce in creative dishes with a global twist.

We would highly recommend a Farmhouse stay when visiting the Winelands. Babylonstoren, one of the oldest Cape Dutch farms, comes complete with its own fruit and vegetable garden offering fine food and a sense of wellbeing. Bartholomeus Klip Farmhouse is an exclusive country lodge based on a large farm and nature reserve just over an hour’s drive from Cape Town.

SAFARI LODGES

Suited to families, honeymooners, couples and friends alike, you will find Safari Lodges intimate, ingenious, natural, camouflaged, yet comfortable and elegant. Take a charter and fly off the beaten track to find these lodges. Experience the astonishing views, sunsets, atmosphere, game experiences, and cultural exchanges.

Each one is different and exciting, offering a chance to get really close to nature and the wilderness. Listen to the haunting cry of the fish eagle and the veld grass whispering with the roaming of lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo, cheetah, giraffe, zebra and numerous antelope.

PRIVATE BUSH HOMES AND BEACH ACCOMMODATION

If you feel that, with a busy itinerary, there is nothing like a few days at “your own place” why not consider taking a private home? They are usually situated somewhere beautiful, are VERY comfortable, often with private swimming pools and large gardens. A private guide and a vehicle (depending on the location) and most activities are included and the staff that run the house are there to look after you.

South Africa is a great beach and seaside destination with miles and miles of beautiful white sandy beaches; rustic fishing villages and bays with penguins or as a launch for whale watching or watersports.

BATTLEFIELD TOURS ACCOMMODATION

Fugitives Drift Lodge & Guest House – The spectacular Fugitives Drift property, a 5000 acre Natural Heritage Site, overlooks both Isandlwana and Rorkes Drift. Developed by our friends David and Nicky Rattray, Fugitives Drift embodies their deep love of South Africa, its people and its unique history. The Lodge & Guest House offer spacious, luxury en-suite cottages with private verandahs and broad views over the plains flanking the Buffalo River Gorge both with swimming pools, set in colourful well established gardens, home to innumerable bird species. Other activities include walks, horse rides through the reserve to view abundant wildlife and fishing on the 20km frontage on the Buffalo River.

Three Tree Hill Lodge at Spioenkop – Against the magnificent backdrop of the Drakensberg mountains, overlooking the secluded Mfazimnyama Valley of the Spioenkop Game Reserve, with its free-range rhinos and in the lee of the famous hill, Spioenkop, lies Three Tree Hill lodge – a great location for families. This Eco-friendly (Green Leaf Environmental Award) family-run lodge, is now run by Simon and Cheryl Blackburn, both highly experienced safari guides. Other activities include horse riding trails, birding, expertly guided bush walks to track white rhino, guided hiking in the Drakensberg Mountains, San rock art viewings, mountain biking or just relax by the pool.