Planning a holiday is essential, and you’ll need to do so in advance in South Africa. South Africans love to travel and explore, so the good destinations get booked well in advance of the holiday times, and the peak holidays may be crowded at the popular sites. Seeing and enjoying this beautiful country will bring you experiences that will last a lifetime. Jump on board!

When Will You Travel?

For those with school-going children, go here for a printable school calendar! HOWEVER you must check with your school for exact dates. Public and private schools often differ in their holiday schedules.

Since 1994, South Africa has adopted new structures in so many ways, and one of them is incorporation of new holidays. Here is a list of some holidays that you’ll uniquely celebrate here. We will discuss these further in our monthly emails or on our Facebook Group!

Unique South African Holidays

21 March - Human Rights Day, remembering the Sharpeville Massacre
27 April - Freedom Day, remembering the first democratic elections in 1994
16 June - Youth Day, remembering the Soweto Uprising of 1976
9 August - National Women’s Day, a day thousands of women in 1956 marched to petition the extension of pass laws to women
24 September - Heritage Day
16 December - Day of Reconciliation, previously Dingane’s Day, this is a re-appropriation of the rememberance of the Battle of Blood River, which was traditionally celebrated by Afrikaners as a day of victory against Dingane’s Zulu army. For more, visit the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria.

Where Would You Like To Go?

South Africa is divided into nine provinces, Gauteng (Johannesburg’s province) is located just above the middle. South Africa has seven different terrestrial biomes, or types of dominant vegetation, which can influence your choice of holiday. Do you want a beach holiday with whale watching? Mountain holiday? Wine and art scene holiday? Or a desert adventure to see the Namaqualand daisies of the Succulent Karoo?

For a full description of all the different provinces, the different vegetation, climate, and tourism highlights of each area,
please see the post Provinces of South Africa.

Especially if you live here, it is pretty simple to organize your own holiday, but there are loads of local tour guides available to help visitors and locals alike. Sometimes opting to pay a bit extra for a guide is welcome when you have limited time to see things, have no time to look for the best deals, are trying to organize a group of visitors, or are unsure about your safety precautions. Local guides are more than welcome to show you around, even for a city tour where you already live!

Looking for Accommodation?

MT Beds

Bush Breaks

Budget Getaways

Portfolio Collection (for more upmarket guesthouses and accommodation)

South African National Parks

Booking.com

LekkeSlaap (opt for English if you don’t speak Afrikaans!)

But That’s Not All!

Swaziland and Lesotho: Two landlocked countries in South Africa, Lesotho offers mountainous adventures while Swaziland is known for its glass-making industry and game reserves. The Sani pass in Lesotho is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been, but be sure to be in a 4x4 car.

Victoria Falls: Considered to be one of the main energy centres of the world, it’s been said that you haven’t been to Africa unless you’ve been to “Vic” Falls.

Madagascar: A bit more off the beaten track, Madagascar’s tourism infrastructure is largely underdeveloped, but there are resorts at places like Nosy Be and also some more rustic accommodation options for those looking for more of an adventure.

Mozambique: The roads from Johannesburg all the way up to Vilanculos is tarred and easy to navigate on a self-drive holiday. It’s best to have a 4x4 if you intend on exploring more rural areas. Otherwise you can fly to Pemba, Inhambane, and Maputo, depending on where you want to go. Popular tourist destinations are Maputo, Tofo, Vilanculos, Ponto Do Ouro, Ponta Malongane and luxury resorts all the way along the coast.

Namibia: Namibia is largely a desert, which means either renting your own 4x4 and taking a drive or joining a tour group on a desert safari. There are a number of luxury and budget accommodations available. The towns along the coast are also popular tourist destinations, fro example, Swakopmund.

Zanzibar: An island destination just off the coast of Tanzania, you can fly direct to Zanzibar from Joburg, and there are affordable package options available that include flights.

Mauritius: A hub for commerce and resort holidays, Mauritius is a popular luxury getaway destination for South Africans, especially for honeymoons.

Seychelles: An archipelago with islands of varying sizes, the Seychelles are also another luxury getaway destination for South Africans.