Sarah Foster discovers why South Africa has been described as ‘a world in one country’.
Blessed with reliable sunshine, countryside that is dramatic, exotic and gentle by turns, plus a couple of thousand miles of beach, South Africa, the ‘Rainbow Nation’, may feel worlds away. But for British travellers it has one great advantage over other long-haul destinations – no jet-lag. There is only one hour difference between our countries in summer (two hours when we revert to GMT).
Safari – this single Swahili word sums up many people’s dream holiday – and South Africa is the place to be, whether you want to get close to the classic big game species – including the ‘Big Five’, elephant, rhinoceros, lion, leopard and buffalo – or to discover some of the lesser known animals which typify different regions. Game viewing is best between April and October.
Aardvark Safaris has lots of great ideas for holidays in South Africa, including an impressive range of family-friendly safaris. Among its eye-catching packages is a trip combining whale-watching in Hermanus, observing meerkat colonies in the Kalahari Desert, and ‘Big Five’ game-viewing at a family-run safari lodge in Madikwe. All are malaria-free areas.
The tour runs from July to November, to coincide with the Southern Right Whale calving season: for three nights at each of the three locations, it costs from £14,777 for a family with two children, including flights, transfers and full-board accommodation (families with under-10s sharing a room can make considerable savings on this rate). As all its holidays are custom-made, pricing is flexible.
The Kruger National Park boasts the widest range of animals of all South Africa’s parks, and is also one of the best places in the world for bird-watching.
Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve, adjoining the Kruger, has a lodge overlooking a watering hole – perfect for spotting hundreds of birds. Their new offer, valid until the end of September, includes three nights in the all-suite luxury of Bush Lodge costing R10,560 (around £900) per person. Child rates are R3,600 (£292) for six to 13s and R2,100 (£170) for under-sixes. This price covers flights from Johannesburg to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, transfers, all meals and twice-daily safaris. International flights cost extra. The offer is valid for two or more people travelling together.
Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve (for information visit: www.sabisabi.com). This package can be booked through most UK tour operators and travel agents.
Wilderness Safaris’ new camp, Pafuri, in the Kruger National Park, opened last month. To mark the occasion, Rainbow Tours is offering four nights for the price of three on departures up to the end of August.
The camp lies between the Limpopo and the Luvuvhu Rivers. It is also in the Makuleke concession of the Kruger, restored to the Makuleke people following their eviction from the land in the 1960s when the park was created. Rather than move back there, the Makuleke chose to work with Wilderness Safaris to develop the area for tourism. There are 20 tented rooms with en-suite facilities, including six family rooms. All are shaded and raised on decks. Guests dine beneath majestic ebony trees and can cool off in the swimming pool. Activities include safaris, game-drives, night-drives, birding walks and guided mountain-biking tours.
A week combining Pafuri with stays at three Kruger Park rest-camps costs from £1,365 per person (sharing). This includes flights and transfers, car-hire, park fees, one night each in Skukuza Camp, Oliphants Camp and Mopani Camp, and four nights’ full-board at Pafuri.
Rainbow Tours (020 7226 1004; or visit: www.rainbowtours.co.uk).