South Africa
Whether we call it “The Rainbow Nation” or more recently “The World’s Rugby Champions” South Africa is a unique gem of the African continent.
From the beautiful and vibey Cape Town with its wine valley and its BIG FIVE game reserves, to the urban and historical Johannesburg. The Southernmost country of Africa, it is known for its diversity of experiences and for the pure delight of its visitors.
South Africa never disappoints, it surprises you!
Cape Town
Cape Town, also called “The Mother City” by the locals, has been described many times as one of the world’s most beautiful cities. This is where The Black Sheep Agency decided to settle as we couldn’t agree more. 😊
The cosmopolitan city attracts all kinds of travelers from families with children, honeymooners to adventurers and solo travelers.
Cape Town has a rich culture as well as many attractions that you should simply not miss. When arriving in Cape Town, the first thing you are likely to notice is the iconic Table Mountain which is one of the New 7th Wonders of Nature. Visiting the colourful neighbourhood of Bo-Kaap has a its rich and multicultural history, is a must. Cape Town has some of the world’s most beautiful beaches such as Clifton or Camps Bay. Don’t forget the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront where you’ll get your souvenirs or a delicious dinner in one of the numerous restaurants overlooking the harbour.
Cape Town is the perfect destination for those who like to call themselves epicurean, the food and wine experience is on another level. It has it all, from the trendy local food markets to the world-class restaurants but also some of the world’s best fine-dining restaurants.
Let’s not forget about the Peninsula where you can go on a road trip around the Atlantic Coast and the scenic Chapman’s Peak Drive, encounter the African penguins, feed a seal in the fishing village of Hout Bay and even surf on Muizenberg’s waves.
Johannesburg
Joburg, Jozy … Johannesburg is such an exciting and fascinating city. The modern, affluent and the historical neighborhoods meet and symbolize the evolution of the country.
Here you can experience the markets and street arts in the trendy hipster Maboneng, treat yourself with some shopping in Sandton City with its high-end boutiques and learn more about South Africa’s history at the Apartheid Museum or Constitution Hill. The City of Gold is the home of South Africa’s largest township, Soweto. A walking or bicycling tour around this area and meeting the locals around a braai is one of the best ways to understand what the country went through.
Safari experience
Visiting South Africa wouldn’t be complete without experiencing a safari.
The country, famed for its BIG Five and its diversity of game reserves and national parks has an abundance of wildlife, spottable on a 4×4 vehicle as well as on foot or even by horse riding.
The variety of safari accommodation allow travelers with all kinds of budgets to be pleased, from top notch luxury lodges, campsites in national parks, to numerous mid-range places.
Staying in a lodge in a game reserve is a great experience. It allows you to focus on the remoteness and the promise of an unforgettable safari. Your only concern will be to know which animal you can tick off your bucket list that you spot during your two-daily guided-game drive.
For those with a tighter budget or who are a bit more adventurous, driving around the national park is your best option. There a multitude of campsites are available.
We all know about Kruger NP, but some less-famous reserves such as Madikwe or Hluhluwe are worth the visit, offering different landscapes and sceneries.
Winelands
It might surprise you (or not!) but France has some serious competitors in South Africa in terms of wine!
Only 1h outside of Cape Town, you will find beautiful wine valleys producing excellent wines. Through visiting the different wine farms, you will get a glimpse into their production and vineyard. The region of Paarl, Franschhoek, Stellenbosch or Elgin houses various wine estates, where you can enjoy spending time strolling around the vineyards before sitting down for affordable wine tastings and some rustic but chic open-air picnics.
Currency
South African Rand
When to go
South Africa is a wide and diverse country so it’s difficult to tell when it’s best to visit. It really depends on what the visitors would like to see.
The dry winter months of May to October are the best to go on safari in the north of the country, but also to spot the Southern Right Whales on the Garden Route.
To enjoy Cape Town and the Garden Route, the summer months are the best, between November and April.
What Else
The country of Nelson Mandela has so much more to offer like the Garden Route, ideal for a road trip starting from Cape Town along the coast where you can spot the Southern Right Whales. Then there is Kwazulu-Natal with its incredible game reserves and the battlefields. But also, a few less frequented places like the Drakensberg Mountain and its kilometers of escarpments, ideal for our dear hikers or our two enclaved countries, Lesotho and the Kingdom of eSwatini.