South Africa Safaris & Tours in 2026

If you’re travelling to South Africa with a passport from the UK, Canada, the US, and most EU countries, you do not require a visa and will receive 90 days upon arrival. Other countries though will need a visa, which may need to be applied for beforehand. There are various different kinds of visa, and keep in mind though that things often change, so double-check on the [Republic of South Africa’s website](https://www.gov.za) before you fly.

Generally speaking, the best time to visit South Africa is between May and October when the cooler weather brings the best game viewing opportunities at the country’s national parks. The summer (November to February) brings the best weather, and if you’re looking to go whale watching, then you’ll need to head here during July to September.

South Africa is a year-round destination, and as it’s so large, the weather changes depending where you are in the country. In general though, December to the end of March is summer, when temperatures reach an average of 24-30°C (75.2-86°C) and can sometimes go even higher. In the Western Cape and Cape Town where it has more of a Mediterranean climate, the majority of the rainfall tends to fall between the months of June to September — in the rest of the country, it’s from November to March. Much of the interior of the country is at higher elevation, which lowers temperatures significantly — expect lows of around 4°C (39.2°F) at night.

There’s a tipping culture in South Africa, and the usual ballpark figure is around 10% for good service. If the service is exceptional, then go for 15-20% instead.

Even though it’s not the best or fastest internet access in the world, there are loads of places you can access Wi-Fi — particularly in the Western Cape and Cape Town. In rural areas such as national parks, it may be much slower so be prepared.

Most ATM machines in South Africa accept Mastercard and Visa debit cards and don't charge a local ATM fee. There are ATMs everywhere here, even in small rural towns, so you needn’t worry about running out of cash here.

South Africa is famous for being Africa’s most friendly LGBTQ+ destination, and it remains the only country in Africa to allow same-sex marriage. Cape Town is probably the epicentre of LGBTQ+ culture here, and there’s a whole host of bars, restaurants and clubs catering to LGBTQ+ people. Be aware though that in certain areas of the country, it’s much more conservative.

There are eleven official languages in South Africa — English, Afrikaans, Xhosa and Zulu are the most widely spoken — but there are countless other languages spoken here too including Venda, Tswana and Sesotho.

It really depends where you are with regards to the safety of drinking tap water here. In larger cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg, the water is generally safe to drink. However, in rural areas, you should stick to bottled water.

South Africa has high levels of crime, and you do need to have your wits about you here — particularly at night. Always take an Uber or similar if you’re looking to go out when darkness falls, and don’t flash your valuables at any point. Avoid inner-city trains, and be particularly careful on walking trails where you can be targeted by robbers. Be aware that there are sharks, snakes, and other dangerous animals here, so take heed of local warnings, and be prepared for significant weather changes throughout the day. Most visits here are safe — it just pays to be vigilant just in case.