Holiday apartments, airbnb and homes in South Africa

When it comes to adventure, you could do far worse than a trip to South Africa, with its iconic mountainous landscape, craggy coastlines and memorable safari trips, which offer the ‘Big Five' in wildlife (elephants, lions, rhinos, leopards and buffalos). Boasting so many natural assets, it is easy to see why so many visitors choose to indulge in the unspoilt wonders of this land. If you are more interested in exploring an urban jungle, then this country is still the place for you, as the colourful streets of Cape Town and Johannesburg are a vibrant maze of murals, historically rich architecture and striking structures which mean there is something for every type of visitor. Reserve accommodation in South Africa, which is as unique as the country it stands in, then wake up feeling recharged and ready to go in a bedroom with a view of this beautiful kingdom.

When to visit

The best time to visit South Africa in the ‘dry season' between May to October, when you are almost guaranteed sun during the day, though the nights can get chilly, so remember to pack a jacket, even when visiting in the summer. The dry season is the best for beach days and safari trips, though the city's can get busier when summer holidaymakers descend upon their attractions, so don't wait until last minute and remember to book accommodation and attractions in advance when planning to visit in July and August particularly.

How to get there

Located in the southmost tip of the continent of Africa, and boarded by the Southern Atlantic and the Indian Ocean, the most efficient way of reaching South Africa from the UK by air. The quickest direct flight is from London Heathrow to Johannesburg and takes just under 11 hours, so if you want to travel from another UK airport, or to another part of South Africa, then you will need to stopover en-route to your final destination. Flights leaving from Manchester, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Birmingham change at airports such as Amsterdam, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Doha and Abu Dhabi, depending on the airline, and usually take between 14 to 21 hours, however some layover times can still exceed this. To break up the journey and make the most of your layover, it could be a good idea to stay over a few nights and explore a new city before you even make it to your main holiday. Browse a selection of holiday apartments in Dubai where you can recharge and arrive in South Africa feeling rejuvenated and ready for adventure.

South African food and culture tips

In South Africa, there is less emphasis on the ‘food' and more on the people you share it with, which is why there is the saying of 'breaking the braai (bread) is spoken up and down the country. Therefore, there is no better place on the planet to choose a self-catering holiday rental than in South Africa, where you don't need a kitchen, as eating out as a group of friends is rooted deep in the culture. When it does come down to the actual food, however, you are not going to be disappointed, as restaurants and cafes serve up their twist on many Dutch, British, German and French dishes, because of its undeniable colonial influence. Begin with Biltong, a tasty selection of meat which is seasoned and dried to create a South African food staple. Another favourite is ‘Bobotie' which is a hearty Cape Malay dish, with supposedly the best cooked from Karibu, a traditional South African restaurant in Cape Town. For those with a sweeter tooth, be sure not to pass up the fried ball of doughy goodness known as vetkoek, whose fillings typically include spiced mince or apricot jam. With a global reputation for (arguably) being home to the best wine in the world, the South African drinking culture is primarily based upon its home-grown produce. For an unforgettable way of sampling the creme-de-la-creme of the country's goods, secure a traditional house with a garden in the verdant region Caledon, and visit the Bouchard Finlayson Winery, which is among the most exquisite winery's in the country.

Sun glazed beaches where three oceans meet

With 3000 kilometres of salty sun-drenched coastline, it may be unsurprising that South Africa is boarded by three oceans, primarily the Indian, but also the South Atlantic and the Southern Ocean. Choose a beachfront holiday villa with a pool on the shores of the Cape of Good Hope, which is a picturesque setting where the oceanic water remains unspoilt along its rugged coastline. With a seaside, comes a harbour, and Cape Town's harbour is one of the busiest trading ports in the world, while also being the boarding point for Robben Island, home to the prison where Nelson Mandela was held in the nineteen sixties. With so many historic attractions on the shores of a beautiful emerald ocean, a holiday villa in Cape Town is the ideal place to begin when looking for accommodation in South Africa. Another favourite destination among beach bathers, sun-chasers and surfers are Durban, which is the ideal destination to secure a reasonably priced holiday rental or a room in a youth hostel, where you can find something to suit your craving for an underwater adventure. Hit up the Golden Mile, or get your adrenaline pumping by having a go at the many water sports in the region, including diving with sharks, if you are into that sort of thing. For a more relaxing trip to this organic land, choose a luxury holiday rental in Hermanus, and wake up in a bedroom with a view of Grotto Beach and Walker Bay, where you might even spot some whales over your morning coffee.

Adventure in South Africa

For an adventure-filled holiday, South Africa surpasses any other destination on the planet, whatever your interest or ability. When you reserve a holiday apartment in Cape Town, you are only a short hop from the iconic Table Mountain National Park, where you can gaze upon the sublime beauty of Table Mountain, the most recognisable landmark in South Africa, which is the ultimate destination for outdoor adventure. Activities around this park include hiking or biking to Lion's Head or abseiling from the summit, or for a slower-paced taste of Table, ride on the cable car or try some yoga on the mountain, which isn't something you can do every day. Adventure is not limited to this mountainous region, as choosing a property absolutely anywhere in this natural wonderland will guarantee you are never too far from something to get your heart racing. Secure a cosy chalet in Oudtshoorn, then travel to the Cango Caves, where you can take on a standard or ‘adventure tour' where you crawl through the best-known cave in the country.

Urban jungles continuing beyond the safari's

It is impossible to leave South Africa without going on safari, and the most famous of these safaris takes place in Kruger National Park, one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries in the world. Secure a holiday cottage or a lodge with room for parking in the Limpopo province to enjoy the stunning landscape and animals on your doorstep, then hit the roads where you will come across the big five animals which make up an authentic African safari. You can never get bored of being on safari, but after a day of adventure, you are going to want to carry on enjoying the electric South African spirit right on into the night. Thankfully for you, South Africa has its fair share of cities which are a vibrant metropolis, whose colours rival that of a sun-drenched safari… almost! Choose an apartment in Johannesburg, the largest city in South Africa, and learn more about the rocky history of this land in the Apartheid Museum and Constitution Hill. When looking for a city escape, you don't stop at Johannesburg, however, as Port Elizabeth offers the best of a city and beach break, rolled into one destination. Thanks to Port Elizabeth's Nelson Mandela University, the area has a vibrant nightlife scene, meaning you won't want to return rental until the sun comes up over the Indian Ocean.