South Africa If You Like

Drop-Dead Luxury

Not into roughing it? No problem. Our favorite luxe properties will tempt you to defect from the real world and live like kings and queens.

Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve, Western Cape. This Relais & Châteaux lodge is one of South Africa’s gems. Set in a phenomenal, otherworldly mountain landscape, it offers beautiful views of nature, wildlife, and birdlife, as well as proximity to the country’s finest collections of Bushman rock art found in the mountains.

Lion Sands, Sabi Sands Reserve. Family-owned and family-operated for more than 80 years, the camp, which sits across the Sabi River from Kruger National Park, guarantees awesome animal sightings from just about every vantage point, including your plush king-size bed. Your every need will be catered to from the moment you arrive.

One&Only Cape Town. In the heart of the V&A Waterfront, the hotel’s large rooms, swimming pool, name-brand restaurants, and view of Table Mountain remain part of this experience.

Rovos Rail, Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban. Some travelers just can't bear to stay put when on a journey. For them, Rovos Rail's plush cars are the best way to stay pampered while on the move.

Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, Northern Cape. Big skies, superb accommodation, wonderful wildlife, and miles from anyone else—this, plus the fact that it’s owned by the Oppenheimers, distinguishes it from most other game lodges. Unique belongs here, the largest private game reserve in South Africa.

Rubbing Shoulders with Locals

South Africa's rich cultural offerings run from the rhythms of Soweto to the jazz riffs of Cape Town's clubs. Crafts, drama, and dance combine to form the rich cultural mosaic of South Africa, where native beats mingle with European traditions. Step out like a local, or visit some locals and soak it in.

Cape Town Stadium. For a soccer or rugby match or even a music concert, this is one of the country's best places to meet South Africans. In fact, any of the country’s stadiums built for the FIFA 2010 World Cup are excellent.

Jazz Tours, Cape Town. Join like-eared aficionados for a tour that will show you the roots of jazz and expose you to some local ear candy.

Jazzart Dance Theatre, Cape Town. The country's oldest modern dance company has a range of programs and teaches in disadvantaged communities.

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, Cape Town. The 1,304 acres feature indigenous southern African plants that captivate even the locals. Come for lawn picnics in the shadow of Table Mountain, and stay to listen to the Winter Concert Series.

Market Theatre, Johannesburg. With its rich legacy, this is one of the country's renowned venues, and showcases new works. During the era of apartheid it was one of South Africa's only venues where all races could watch together.

Sisal Cooperative, Madikwe. Learn how locals turn sisal fiber into acid-free paper used for colorful gift tags and cards in this workshop adjacent to a mill.

The Beach

South Africa's coastline stretches from tiny towns to desolate windswept acres, and most beach lovers can find exactly what they're after, be it a private cove or an endless stretch of sand.

Boulders Beach, Simon's Town, Cape Peninsula. The sparkling coves ringed by dramatic boulders are also home to a colony of seriously threatened African penguins. Share your spot in the sand with these curious creatures; it’s quite unique.

Camps Bay, Cape Town. A broad Atlantic beach backed by looming Table Mountain and a street full of umbrella-shaded cafés is the perfect place to watch a sunset or take a stroll. But it's a bit too cold for swimming.

Lookout Beach, Plettenberg Bay. Washed away (literally) a few years ago, it’s back. South Africa’s ultimate playtime beach has perfect bodysurfing waves, with dolphins often joining in, not to mention the most awesome, mountain-fringed setting.

Rocktail Bay, KwaZulu-Natal. If you're in the mood for pristine beaches, surf fishing, snorkeling, or sunbathing, then coming to the lodge nestled on the Maputaland Coastal Reserve that will surely be the perfect beach getaway after your safari.

St. James, Cape Town. Just south of Kalk Bay's shops, St. James's colorful changing cabanas are photo icons. The gentle surf and tidal pool on False Bay are perfect for kids.

Second Beach, Port St Johns, Eastern Cape. Probably the country’s most picture-perfect subtropical beach, fringed by bush and hills, this is for the adventurous—but it’s so very worth it.

Getting Out of the Vehicle

Game drives are thrilling and often action packed, but sometimes, particularly if you are a second-time visitor to Africa and have ticked off your Big Five, you’ll be interested in the more interactive aspect of safari, getting up close and personal with the African bush and its inhabitants. Here are some of the best ways to really get down to nature.

Elephant Safaris. Whether people should ride elephants is the subject of debate, but if you prefer your wildlife a bit more tame, visit the Addo Elephant Sanctuary, where you'll meet some trained African elephants available for short rides, walks, petting, and feeding.

Rhino Tracking. Seeing a rhino on foot is quite a different experience from viewing one from a jeep. Depending on your level of interest, you can organize a walking safari within a special area of Kruger for several hours or several days. Along the way, the guide will point out interesting grasses and smaller animals.

Stargazing Safaris. Ask if your lodge has a guide trained in astronomy for a night safari of the Southern Hemisphere's sky. The west is best, but Sutherland in the Northern Cape may be a highlight.

Turtle-Watching. From St. Lucia to Kosi Bay, join a safari to look for loggerhead and leatherback turtles laying their eggs for a few months starting in October.

Walking Safaris. For some, feeling the grass on their legs and hearing the rustle under their feet is the best way to experience the land. Amble with trained guides for several hours to gain a new perspective on creatures large and small—you may spot the "little five" up close in many locations throughout the country.

Kid-Friendly Destinations

More and more families want their kids to share in their safari experience, and more lodges are catering to kids with programs designed especially for them. Always find out in advance which camps welcome kids, as some still won't allow children under 12. You can try for one of the malaria-free reserves to avoid the added worry of antimalarial medication, although that will restrict your options.

Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp, Kruger National Park. This is a government-operated camp, so there are no children’s programs. However, kids can explore in safety at this attractive, fenced camp, which has a great pool and curio shop. Get them to walk around the camp's perimeter and spot game.

Jaci's Lodges, Madikwe. This could well be the original lodge to have made an art of child-friendly safaris (after 9/11, because of the slump in global travel, many lodges started inviting children). Jaci van Heterem celebrates children with jungle drives for the littlest adventurers and family drives for Mom and Dad, too.

Pafuri Camp, Kruger National Park. This lovely camp in Kruger's far north has a superb children's program and special family accommodations that give everybody privacy. It's close to Crooks Corner, where baddies-on-the-run used to hide.

Phinda Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal. Staff are dedicated to entertaining children at this excellent game lodge. The kids even get to make pizzas in the kitchen.

Sanbona Wildlife Reserve. Great for families, Gondwana Lodge inside the reserve is dedicated to children. It's the sort of place where children yelping at dinner isn’t frowned upon. There's a wonderful playroom, and it's excellent for younger kids.

Game-Viewing at Smaller Reserves

Kruger Park may well be the granddaddy of game-viewing in South Africa, but smaller reserves attract visitors seeking boutique accommodations, a special sense of place, or a particular type of game.

Kwandwe Private Game Reserve. Excellent, especially for nocturnal wildlife, this reserve is close to the Fish River Valley near Grahamstown. Clean, modern lines take the place of animal skins and trophies in the lodge.

MalaMala, Mpumalanga. Retaining that genuine bushveld feel of bygone days, MalaMala, which adjoins Kruger National Park, is the largest privately owned Big Five game area in South Africa. The animal-viewing is unbeatable, probably because it was the first of the lodges in the Sabi Sands, and animals have learned historical familiarity.

Mattanu Private Game Reserve, Northern Cape. This small reserve—once a farm—was established in the early 1990s to breed rare and endangered antelope species from Zimbabwe. It has offered accommodations since 2006.

Phinda Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal. Seven ecosystems, superb, varied accommodations, and a wide variety of wildlife draw animal lovers to this luxurious retreat, which offers everything from glass-enclosed suites in the forest to a family lodge with a private butler and chef.