South Africa

What to Pack for South Africa: Packing List for September

Pack layers for South Africa in September rather than winter clothes. Cape Town averages 19°C/66°F by day and 9°C/48°F at night, so a windproof jacket, a fleece and long trousers cover the Western Cape at the end of winter.

15-Day South Africa Itinerary: Cape Town and the Garden Route

Our exact 15-day South Africa itinerary: a loop from Cape Town along the whale coast and Route 62 to a Garden Route safari and back, with where we stayed, what went wrong and 2026 park fees.

4 Days in Cape Town: A Day-by-Day Itinerary With 2026 Prices

A day-by-day 4-day Cape Town itinerary covering the V&A Waterfront, Bo-Kaap, Kirstenbosch, Table Mountain, Robben Island and the Cape Peninsula, with what every paid attraction costs in 2026.

Review of Shamwari Game Reserve South Africa: is it worth it?

A review of two days spent at Long Lee Manor at Shamwari Game Reserve, a Big Five, malaria-free, award-winning game reserve in the Eastern Cape near Port Elizabeth. Find out which animals we spotted, what the rooms cost and what it's like to pee in the bush. Yes, really.

Cape Town to Cape Point: A Complete Self-Drive Guide

Cape Point sits inside Table Mountain National Park, so a SANParks conservation fee and the Flying Dutchman Funicular are priced separately. This guide covers both current fees plus the self-drive route from Cape Town.

Whale Watching in South Africa: Season, Spots and Boat Trips

South Africa's whale season runs from June to December and peaks September to November, so a summer trip will not find southern rights. Here is where to watch from land and water, from Simon's Town to Hermanus, Robberg and Keurboomstrand.

Robben Island Tour from Cape Town: Tickets, Times and Review

Robben Island tours are run only by the Robben Island Museum, leave from the V&A Waterfront and cost R600 for a non-South African adult in 2026. Here are the ferry times, the weather rules and an honest review of the tour.

Table Mountain, Cape Town: Tickets, Hours and Hiking Routes

Table Mountain, not Table Top Mountain, is Cape Town's flat-topped landmark, reached by rotating cable car or on foot up Platteklip Gorge. Here are the 2026 fares, the seasonal cableway hours, the walks on the plateau and how to get to the lower station.

Boulders Beach or Betty’s Bay: South Africa’s Penguin Colonies

Boulders Beach at Simon's Town and Stony Point at Betty's Bay are South Africa's two visitable African penguin colonies. Here are the 2026 entry fees, opening hours, the cashless rule that caught us out and when the moult changes what you see.