South Africa Savings:
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South Africa Cape & Kruger Safari: Visit Cape Town, the Winelands and Kruger area for less than $3300 per person.
Cape Town Highlights: Cultural tours, wine tasting, and the Cape Peninsula from $2199 per person.
South Africa's Highlights: Madikwe Game Reserve, Kruger area Sabi Sand Game Reserve and cultural tours for under $3500 per person.
More safaris to South Africa under $3,500. |
Les Listwa and his family enjoyed a safari to Mashatu in Botswana and Mala Mala in South Africa, where they saw rhino up close and took some amazing video footage - see above-right to watch the videos!
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South Africa Weather
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South Africa is a large country with many different climate zones. Temperatures and rainfall can vary greatly from Cape Town to the Kruger areas.
South Africa's seasons are opposite from ours in North America. September, October and November are spring in South Africa with pleasant temperatures and little rainfall. December, January and February are summer months with warm daytime highs and plenty of sunshine but the interior of the country (wildlife viewing areas) receives summer rainfall in the form of afternoon thundershowers. March, April and May are Fall in South Africa with pleasant daytime temperatures, cool mornings and evenings and excellent wildlife viewing. June, July and August are winter months and weather can be rainy and cool in Cape Town, but pleasant and dry on safari.
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Airfares to South Africa:
We've seen some incredible airfare deals to South Africa recently - travel in 2009 to take advantage of cheap flights:
Denver - Cape Town in November: $1381 per person
SFO - Johannesburg in October: $1473 per person
Atlanta - Johannesburg in December: $1258 per person
JFK-Johannesburg in October:
$1125 per person
Denver - Johannesburg in October: $1340 per person
Washington Dulles - Cape Town in October: $1240 per person
Chicago - Johannesburg in October: $1235 per person
Call 1-866-778-1089 for more details on these flights and other routes.
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September 2009
Greetings!
When you think about South Africa, what comes to mind? Apartheid? Nelson Mandela? Kruger National Park? Cape Town? Wine? World Cup 2010?
Certainly these are all renowned and important elements of modern South Africa, b ut there is much more to this well-rounded country which make it an ideal destination for both first-time visitors and safari veterans. To the above list, we'd add the Sabi Sand, Phinda, and Madikwe reserves (photo of wild dog at Madikwe); the Garden Route; fine cuisine; world-class golfing; whale watching trips, sharks and the sardine run; and beautiful coastline. And this Fall, there are fantastic opportunities to see the best of South Africa at very reasonable prices, due to inexpensive flights, great safari specials and favorable exchange rates.
In this edition of Safari News, you'll find lots of great travel tips to South Africa, special events including the World Cup 2010, great safari video clips from the Listwa family, along with special offers for Fall 2009 and beyond. As always, please don't hesitate to call us for more information or to give us your suggestions.
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Wildlife Videos From South Africa!
Africa Adventure client Les Listwa and his family recently returned from a safari in South Africa and said, "It was as if we were part of a National Geographic special, only we were not watching it on TV but right there!" Les uploaded his safari videos to You Tube.
Click on the links to see leopards fighting while hyenas nip at their heels, wild dogs and wildebeest posturing, elephants coming close and rhinos on the move.
Videos by and courtesy of Les Listwa
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See the Big 5 in Kruger's Sabi Sand
 One of our favorite wildlife experiences in South Africa is a safari in the exclusive Sabi Sand Game Reserve adjacent to the Kruger National Park. Sabi Sand is located near the southwestern corner of the world-famous Kruger National Park. The reserve is more than 160,000 acres and shares an unfenced border with Kruger Park so the wildlife is free to roam.
The Sabi Sand Game Reserve boasts some of the best Big 5 game viewing in South Africa and arguably the world, and is particularly renown for its close-range leopard sightings. The Sabi Sand is comprised of many private game reserves all home to luxury lodges and camps - including Londolozi, Singita, Ulusaba and Mala Mala.
For more information on Sabi Sand and itineraries that include safaris in this area, click here.
Photo courtesy Londolozi Private Game Reserve.
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Upcoming Festivals in South Africa
 There's something fun about blending in with the locals while on an overseas trip, and attending events and festivals is a great way to live like a local! Plan on a diversion from your safari to get a taste of local culture. Visit South Africa on safari this year, or extend your adventure to Cape Town. Upcoming events include the Hermanus Whale Festival, Franschhoek Uncorked and the Spring Flower Festival at Kirstenbosch. Read our blog for more events in South Africa.
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South Africa's Famous Wines - Find Them at Home
South Africa has been making wine since the 1600s when the founder of Cape Town produced the first South African wine in 1659.  For much of the 20th century South African wines were relatively
unknown to the world--Apartheid-era boycotts added to the market
isolation. Finally after Apartheid ended, the world began to discover
South Africa's wines. Wine regions within easy access of Cape Town include: Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franschhoek and Constantia. All of our Cape Town visits include a full-day, private winelands tour. Many South African wines are now available in the United States at retailers like BevMo, wine shops and by mail order (from the US) with retailers such as Cape of Good Hope Wine Co. Some of the most popular labels that you may taste on your wine tour, and are available in the US, include: Boekenhoutskloof in Franschhoek and Fairview Wines in Paarl (of the famous Goats do Roam label). For those traveling to Cape Town in October, be sure to visit our blog for details on the Franschhoek Uncorked Wine Festival.
Photo courtesy SA-Venues.com
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World Cup 2010 in South Africa
South Africa is the host of the 2010 World Cup, June 11-July 11. Nine cities around South Africa will host games, including Cape Town, Jo'burg and Durban.
A total of 200 teams have entered the race for one of the 31 places at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. The preliminary phase, which began in August 2007, is now in full swing, with only the Host Nation guaranteed a spot in the games.
Learn more about the World Cup in South Africa and watch (and learn!) the famous Diski Dance. Read more on Self-drive Safaris, Guided Safaris and World Cup and Safari trips.
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