Vacation & Adventure

Summer's can be hot, but that's when most activities occur, and there will always be something fun to do. During December, many South Africans from Transvaal or Gauteng travel to the coastal regions of the Cape and KwaZulu/Natal for the big summer holiday. The roads will be very busy during this time, but if you want to get away from all the people, this will be a good time to visit some of the inland cities, since most people will be away on vacation.

Things to do:

Summer means heat. Heat means water. Best places to be are somewhere near water. This can be near the coast, a dam, a lake, a river or just the back yard swimming pool. If you don't mind the hordes of vacationers during December, you can go to places like Margate in Natal, Pletternburg Bay in the Eastern Cape, Hermanus in the Eastern Cape or the Strand in the Western Cape. Sun City near Rustenburg in North West Province is a great inland gambling/gaming/entertainment resort with "The Valley of the Waves" providing a good substitute for those of us who can't make it down to the coast. You're gonna love it or hate it, but Sun City is a MUST see place! Summer is also Cricket time in South Africa. So get into the spirit of things and go watch a cricket game or two. Summer is also when many International bands tour in SA, and you might even be lucky enough to see your favorite group performing. Last but not least, let's not forget the Braaivleis (BBQ).

This period is about from mid-April to May. Temperatures will be much milder, but it won't be as cold as in mid winter. This is a good time for people who want to avoid extreme temperatures, because it's not to cold, nor to hot. April also has a school holiday period, so during that time many tourist attractions might be crowded by vacationers and school children.

Things to do:

If you book early enough, this would be a good time to visit the Kruger National Park. While in the area of the Kruger National Park, you could also visit the beautiful Mpumalanga area, with all it's waterfalls, hiking trails, Game reserves and attractions like Burkes Luck and Pelgrims Rus (which is an old gold miners town restored as a Museum) it's an outdoors persons' paradise. Many people say that April is also the best time of year to visit Natal, because the weather is still hot enough to enjoy the beach and it isn't cloudy all the time.

For many Europeans who want to avoid the summer heat, the winter will sound like a better time to visit, because temperatures aren't too low, although it can get pretty cold for short periods, with snow even blocking some major roads in the mountains. You might want to visit one of the ski resorts during that time. But, winter is also VERY dull, and unattractive, because the air in the inland region is so very dry, veld fires destroys almost all the grass, leaving large black burnt areas for large parts of the country. This smoke as well as the smoke from fires of people trying to keep them warm also pollute the air, and on most winter mornings the major cities' air will be filled with smog. However this is a good time to visit the game parks in Mpumalanga, such as the Kruger National Park South Africa or other private game farms in the area, because it's not as hot as in the summer. The Western Cape region is a winter rainfall region so during winter you can expect rain all the time, if you're in the Cape. This is also not good since it can rain for several weeks non stop, and you will miss out on many of the great out doors activities this area has to offer.

Things to do:

Winter is Rugby time and South Africans take much pride in their Rugby. (We're not Rugby World Cup Champs for nothing) Like I said before, visiting the country for its scenery during winter is not recommended. The Cape is wet, Transvaal is dry and cold, Free State is freezing. But it's also a good time to visit the Kruger National Park, if you don't mind all the veld fires.

Spring has very unpredictable weather. Some cold fronts may still sweep over the country until mid October, bringing in cold Arctic air and heavy winds. August is known for its strong winds, which is only good if you're into flying kites or wind surfing. On the other hand, spring is also very beautiful - just like in most other places around the world. This is when Pretoria (the Jacaranda City) is turned purple by all the thousands of Jacaranda trees. A real sight to see!

Things to do:

The bare and dry Namakwaland desert is transformed in a flower carpet just after winter, by millions of flowers springing up all over the country side. Hundreds of tourist visit this spectacular site every year, so be sure to book in advance if you want to see this.

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 Kruger National Park South Africa
A must see place if you ever plan to visit South-Africa. The Kruger National Park is SA's largest National park and has a huge amount of game and wild life. You can book accommodation in the park through this site.

South African Weather Bureau
Going on vacation in South Africa and want to check out what the weather is going to be like? Get all the most up to date weather info in South Africa right here.

South African National Parks Board
The National parks board are the people who control all the national parks in SA. See all the most beautiful spots to visit.

Internet Southern Africa Accommodation Comprehensive database of Southern African hotels, guest houses, lodges, country houses, private reserves and bed and breakfast establishments. Confirmed accommodation and car-hire booking through the Marco Polo Reservation System.

The South African Wine Express A selection of the best South African wine is now available from the SA Wine Express with door-to-door delivery. Includes comments for each wine type by John Platter--author of the definitive SA Wine Guide.

Info Africa - Your guide to South Africa Offers a *huge* database of hotels, motels, guesthouses, travel services and things to see and do in South Africa. Don't miss this one.