Luxury South Africa Holidays

Overview

Travel Gems

Travel Planning
Our Travel Consultants can advise on, arrange and pre-book many things to enhance your holiday. This includes everything from spa reservations and dinner reservations, to a range of special experiences available in our featured resorts that you may not know about. 

Afternoon Tea
Enjoy the legendary Afternoon Tea at Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel, one of the oldest hotels in Cape Town, which has become a tradition and offers the opportunity to relax in sophisticated surroundings indoors or outside, whilst savouring finger sandwiches, sweet treats - including a South African milk tart - and the hotel's signature blend of tea.

Whisky
If you're a whisky connoisseur, Cape Grace has the largest collection of whisky available in the southern hemisphere at its bar.

Wine Route
Look out for the official wine route logo for cellar tours and lunches in shaded gardens or restaurants, where you can sample the wine of your choice.

Rovos Rail
Travel in style from Cape Town to Pretoria (or vice versa) on the world-famous Rovos Rail train; view the magnificent scenery from the opulent carriages that rekindle the golden age of travel.

Climate

With seasons reversed, this is an ideal destination to visit during our winter months - summer in South Africa - with temperatures at their highest between December and February. However, you may visit at any time of the year and enjoy a pleasant climate with plenty of sunshine, although do be prepared for frequent rain showers from June to August. The ideal time for a safari is during the South African winter when from May to August the grass is short and the game is easily spotted. In the summer, the rain encourages lush vegetation, making the animals more difficult to see. Cape Town enjoys a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and cold, wet winters. November, December, January, February and March enjoy the lowest average monthly rainfall. The long sunny days and late sunsets make these the best months of the year to take a ride on the cable-car and spend time exploring Table Mountain.

The following grid features averages from Cape Town, the legislative capital of South Africa. Of course, the climate changes depending on where in the country you visit. Ask your Luxury Travel Specialists for more information on the areas that you are staying in, or check out the dedicated Destination Guides for each region.

Flight Information

Flight Information
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic direct from London Heathrow to Cape Town and Johannesburg. South African Airways from London Heathrow to Johannesburg.
Via Dubai with Emirates from London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle and Glasgow.
Onward connecting flights with South African Airways and Comair to Durban and Port Elizabeth. South African Express and Comair to George. South African Express to Richards Bay. Airlink to Kruger Mpumalanga.

Flight Time
From London Heathrow to Cape Town: 11 hours, 25 minutes.
London Heathrow to Johannesburg: 10 hours, 50 minutes.
Onward connecting flights from Johannesburg to Durban: 1 hour, 10 minutes.
From Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth: 1 hour, 40 minutes.
From Johannesburg to George: 1 hour, 50 minutes.
From Johannesburg to Richards Bay: 1 hour, 15 minutes.
From Johannesburg to Kruger Mpumalanga: 50 minutes.

Documentation

Travelling With Children or Without an Adult

Children travelling without both parents should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. Please contact the relevant Embassy for the county you are travelling to for further information.

Visa and Advance Passenger Information

All passengers must ensure they have a valid, acceptable passport, any required visa and any other documentation for both the final destination and any stop-off points en route. Please make sure that Advance Passenger Information is submitted in advance to travel for all destinations. Failure to hold correct documentation or submitting incorrect details with Advance Passenger Information or Visa applications may result in refusal of carriage or entry into a country. Please check with the relevant Embassy regarding visa requirements well in advance of your travel date. Charges may apply for some visas.

Health

Health facilities, hygiene and disease risks vary worldwide and you should take health advice about your specific needs from your general practitioner or a specialist clinic as early as possible before travel. Those planning to become pregnant should discuss their travel plans with their healthcare provider to assess their risk of infection with Zika. For information about Zika, other mosquito-borne diseases (such as Dengue fever and Chikungunya), Lyme Disease (caused by tick bites), and to receive advice on mosquito bite avoidance measures, please visit Insect and tick bite avoidance. In addition, we highly recommend that you seek specialist advice from your doctor and, where recommended, obtain vaccinations or tablets for protection against, for example: Malaria, Hepatitis A, Polio and Typhoid. In some cases, treatments for Malaria should begin well in advance of travel. Travellers may also be required to show Yellow Fever Certificates on arrival in certain destinations i.e, some African countries. Please note that you are strongly advised against scuba-diving for 24 hours before travelling by air. We would also like to draw your attention to the risk of DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) and recommend that you consult with your doctor before travelling. Visit the FCDO website and select your destination country for the very latest travel advice: Foreign Travel Advice. Additional sources of information include: Public Health England, The National Travel Health And Network Centre, Foreign And Commonwealth Office and your General Practitioner or a specialised clinic.