Fika Travel

South Africa is blessed with a diverse selection of activities to tickle your senses. See a sunset across the ocean from one of the seven wonders of the world, breath in the beautiful landscapes from mountain peaks to coastal curves, wake up to the sounds of the wildlife on a safari experience, taste the delicacies from various cultures and top chefs, or feel the Ubuntu of the community by visiting a local community or Zulu village- South Africa really ticks all the boxes.

In the summer months between December and March, picturesque Cape Town will call you to its beaches, the harvest of the vineyards will promise top cultivar wines after February.

The cold, winter months of May-October will offer the best game-viewing opportunities throughout the country (many malaria-free).

The milder climates along the Garden Route, Wild Coast and Kwa-Zulu Natal Midlands are still inviting after May with many visitors enjoying coastal trails, natural wonders and river adventures.

The extreme temperatures of the Northern Cape, and the beautiful Karoo, often mean snowfall during the winter, calling visitors and locals alike inland to ski and head to the mountains to enjoy the snow. Johannesburg is a good all year round destination and warrants visits to its markets, theatres, artist hubs, gardens, museums and nightlife hotspots.

Botswana has a landscape defined by the Kalahari Desert and the Okavango Delta, which becomes a lush animal habitat during the seasonal floods. The massive Central Kalahari Game Reserve, with its fossilized river valleys and undulating grasslands, is home to numerous animals including giraffes, cheetahs, hyenas and wild dogs.

The dry winter season with its moderate temperatures are the best time for safari-goers to visit Chobe, the Okavango Delta and Moremi (the most popular parks). The worst weather comes in October and November when it’s very hot; and January and February when the wet season is at its peak. July to October is peak season and Chobe might feel crowded.

Mozambique is dotted with popular beaches like Tofo, as well as offshore marine parks. In the Quirimbas Archipelago, a 250km stretch of coral islands, mangrove-covered Ibo Island has colonial-era ruins surviving from a period of Portuguese rule. The Bazaruto Archipelago has reefs which protect rare marine life including dugongs.

The wet summer season runs from October to March whilst the dry winter season is from April to September. The dry season is best if you’re searching for cooler temperatures and least amount of rain. Game viewing is best in August and September when wildlife will gather around waterholes and rivers. January and February welcome cyclone season in the south, so best skip the Bazaruto Archipelago during this time.