What is the best way to travel to South Africa?

South Africa is a long journey and most people travel to the southern tip of Africa by plane. It is also quite a large country and most people prefer to fly low-cost local airplanes between larger cities and rent a car to travel between different points of interest. The most stress-free way to travel in South Africa is to join a tour group or pre-planned tour that takes care of all the travel arrangements for you.

How many days are enough for South Africa?

We suggest you spend at least 10 days in South Africa but if you can spare 14 or even 21 days, you will find more than enough to keep you busy. For more information, check out our guide on how many days to spend in South Africa .

Is vacationing in South Africa safe?

South Africa has a reputation as a dangerous country with many thefts and burglaries. Tourists should stay vigilant and avoid potentially dangerous areas. With the right precautions, you can enjoy an incident-free and memorable holiday in South Africa.

How much does it cost to tour South Africa?

There are several tour packages to suit your budget for a holiday in South Africa. A basic safari tour can be as little as USD 800 while a luxury honeymoon holiday could go all the way up to USD 5000. Most tours range between USD 2000 and USD 3000 for tours that cover a few of South Africa’s main attractions.

What is the best month to go to South Africa?

September is widely considered the best time to visit South Africa . Springtime is blissful down south with near-perfect weather all around the country.

Explore Southern Africa

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Booking Type Instant booking
duration 18 days
tour type Group Request as private
age requirement 15-99 yrs
max group size 22
guiding method Fully guided
Tour Code BM-3655
Footprint Carbonneutral CO₂ emissions resulting from all trips on Bookmundi will be offset via investments in carbon reduction projects.
Operated in English

Starts Johannesburg, South Africa
Ends Johannesburg, South Africa

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HIGHLIGHTS Download trip notes

Track rhinos on foot with an expert local guide in Matobo National Park and support local conservation efforts with a visit to Khama Rhino Sanctuary.
Immerse yourself in the ancient culture of the Venda people during a village homestay in South Africa's Limpopo province.
Camping on a remote island in the heart of the Okavango wilderness is an experience you’ll never forget. As the sun sets and night falls, the sounds of Africa come alive.
Explore the magnificent Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, some of the largest salt flats in the world. These mind-bending plains make for some magical photography.
Marvel at the unforgettable views of Blyde River Canyon. This spectacular gorge is up there with the world's largest and is probably the greenest of the lot.

Starting and ending in Johannesburg, the "Explore Southern Africa" trip is a guided road tour that takes 18 days. You will be touring through Nata, Khama Rhino Sanctuary, Moremi Gorge and 9 other destinations in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. "Explore Southern Africa" is a group trip which will include accommodation, transport, meals and others. Please check the package includes section for more details.

Discover southern Africa's waterways and national parks – plus the wildlife that call them home – on this 18-day adventure. Canoe down the lush waterways of the Okavango Delta, watch hippos wallowing along the shores of the Chobe River, safari in the vast parks of Hwange, Kruger and Matobo and sleep under the stars in campsites, a bush camp on the Delta, and a village homestay. Join Intrepid on an adventure through southern Africa’s most beautiful landscapes in search of elephants, lions, rhinos, warthogs and leopards.

ITINERARY Expand All

Day 1: Johannesburg
Day 2: Khama Rhino Sanctuary
Day 3: Maun
Day 4: Okavango Delta
Day 5: Okavango Delta
Day 6: Maun
Day 7: Nata
Day 8: Chobe National Park
Day 9: Victoria Falls
Day 10: Victoria Falls
Day 11: Hwange National Park
Day 12: Matobo National Park
Day 13: Matobo National Park
Day 14: Tshipise
Day 15: Makushu Village
Day 16: Kruger National Park
Day 17: Kruger National Park
Day 18: Johannesburg

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Accommodation

Camping (with facilities) (12 nights), Bush camp (no facilities) (2 nights), Homestay (2 nights), Hotel (1 night)

Meals

16 Breakfasts, 11 Lunches, 14 Dinners

Transport

Overland vehicle , Open safari vehicle , Mokoro

Guide

An expert tour leader

Included Activities

Khama Rhino Sanctuary - Sunset Game Drive Open Vehicle
Okavango Delta - Mokoro safari
Okavango Delta - Sunrise Walk
Okavango Delta - Mokoro safari
Nata - Makgadikgadi Salt Pans 4x4 Excursion
Chobe National Park - River Cruise
Victoria Falls - Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust Visit
Hwange National Park - Guided 4x4 Game Drive
Hwange - Painted Dog Conservation visit
Matobo National Park - Rhino Tracking
Matobo National Park - San Rock Paintings
Makushu Homestay - Beading, Cooking or Dancing
Kruger National Park - Overland Vehicle Game drive
Kruger National Park - Night Game Drive
Panorama Route - Bourke's Luck Potholes

WHAT'S EXCLUDED

Any international flights to/from Johannesburg are not included in this price. We always recommend that you arrive 1 day prior to your tour starting date.
Travel insurance is not included in this Explore Southern Africa tour. Travel insurance is mandatory to buy. We recommend purchasing it from World Nomads.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS

5 - Excellent

Based on 1 review

Piyumi Balasooriya Lekamlage
From Australia
On Sep 07 2019

5 - Excellent

Amazing trip

I had an amazing time. Highlights were Kruger national park and the Delta and the nighlty camp fires under the stars. It was a well planned trip mainly due to our tour leader Thabang, Lizzie our cook and Vincent our driver. There... Read more

REQUEST A PRIVATE, CUSTOMIZABLE DEPARTURE By design, this is a group tour. You can however request a private, customized version of this tour for yourself or your private group of people. Private departures are usually more expensive, but come with these benefits:

Personal Itinerary can be tweaked and customized.
Protected Travel within your own bubble.
Professional Access our Travel Specialists' insider knowledge.
Privacy Enjoy a tour focused solely on you or your travel group.

Request a private and/or personalized departure To design a private tour, we'll ask you some more information in the following steps.

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GOOD TO KNOW Download trip notes

CANCELLATION

No additional cancellation fees apply for this Explore Southern Africa tour. You can cancel the tour up to 58 days prior departure and avoid paying the full amount, but your deposit paid is non-refundable. No refund applies for cancellations within 57 days of departure.

Payment

For any tour departures within 04 August 2023, full payment is required. For tours that depart later than 04 August 2023, a deposit is required to confirm this tour, and the remaining balance will be charged 57 days before trip departure.

Travel Insurance

Explore Southern Africa tour requires that you have adequate and valid travel insurance covering medical and personal accidents, including repatriation costs and emergency evacuation. We recommend using World Nomads' travel insurance.

Visa

For this Explore Southern Africa tour getting the required visa(s) is the responsibility for each individual traveller, as visa requirements vary depending on your nationality. We recommend to check with your local embassies representing the countries that you are traveling to, as part of this itinerary.

Is this trip right for you

This is an overland trip. That means you’ll be travelling with a group in a purpose-built vehicle, visiting remote communities, setting up your own tent, occasionally roughing it in the bush with no facilities, and getting the best possible views of the Big Five. For more info on this style of travel, see our Africa overland page https://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/africa/overland
The African wild comes alive at sunrise, so there will be some early starts on this trip. The thrill of spotting your first lion or rhino will be well worth any loss of sleep!
Please note that this is a combination trip – two or more smaller trips linked together to make a longer adventure. That means your group composition may change in Victoria Falls.

COVID VACCINATION POLICY

Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 is no longer mandatory on departures after 1st January 2023. Nonetheless, all travellers are strongly advised to be vaccinated as a safety measure to protect themselves and others on the tour. This policy excludes all Polar trips and select adventure cruises, where testing and vaccination are required.

Also, proof of vaccination may still be required at specific entry points or by the airlines. Therefore, please make sure to check all the travel requirements carefully before travelling.

COVID-19 Safety Measures

This trip incorporates the following COVID-19 measures:

This tour has received the World Travel and Tourism Council’s Safe Travels stamp, which provides travellers with assurance that COVID-19 health and hygiene global standardised protocols have been adopted.
Hygiene and safety guidelines will be followed to ensure your well being is looked after during travels.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Find answers to the most frequently asked questions about this tour.

What is the best way to travel to South Africa?

South Africa is a long journey and most people travel to the southern tip of Africa by plane. It is also quite a large country and most people prefer to fly low-cost local airplanes between larger cities and rent a car to travel between different points of interest. The most stress-free way to travel in South Africa is to join a tour group or pre-planned tour that takes care of all the travel arrangements for you.

1 2
How many days are enough for South Africa?

We suggest you spend at least 10 days in South Africa but if you can spare 14 or even 21 days, you will find more than enough to keep you busy. For more information, check out our guide on how many days to spend in South Africa.

0 3
Is vacationing in South Africa safe?

South Africa has a reputation as a dangerous country with many thefts and burglaries. Tourists should stay vigilant and avoid potentially dangerous areas. With the right precautions, you can enjoy an incident-free and memorable holiday in South Africa.

0 3
How much does it cost to tour South Africa?

There are several tour packages to suit your budget for a holiday in South Africa. A basic safari tour can be as little as USD 800 while a luxury honeymoon holiday could go all the way up to USD 5000. Most tours range between USD 2000 and USD 3000 for tours that cover a few of South Africa’s main attractions.

0 4
What is the best month to go to South Africa?

September is widely considered the best time to visit South Africa. Springtime is blissful down south with near-perfect weather all around the country.

0 4

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