Black Rhino Game Lodge

South Africa Safari & Beach

South Africa, Mauritius

A seamless South Africa and Mauritius holiday.

Romantic Safari + 2 more + 3 more

from £4,450 pp

Classic South Africa

Family Classic + 3 more + 3 more

A classic South African holiday, with a few lesser-visited surprises.

17 days

from £3,655 pp

The Best of South Africa

Romantic Classic + 3 more + 3 more

Cape Town, wine & wildlife: South Africa's highlights over 11 days.

11 days

from £3,225 pp

A South African Fortnight

A two-week classic adventure through the best of South Africa.

Classic Safari + 1 more + 2 more

from £3,595 pp

Kruger, Canyons & Cape

The perfect South African summer holiday.

Safari Wildlife & Nature + 2 more + 3 more

from £3,995 pp

Unexplored South Africa

Leave the tourist trail behind and experience a different South Africa.

Wildlife & Nature Luxury + 2 more + 3 more

from £9,350 pp

Quirky excursions

View all excursions in South Africa

Maboneng Precinct

Maboneng Precinct is part of the Johannesburg CBD and until recently would have been considered a no-go area by most people. The CBD suffered real urban decay as businesses moved out and squatters moved in, buildings were badly neglected and crime was a major issue. Now, in Maboneng, a local entrepreneur has started to reverse that trend and revitalise the CBD in the way that modern urban redevelopment has transformed east London and parts of Berlin. Artists have been invited to create huge murals on the side of buildings, edgy clothing boutiques have taken up residence, there are vibrant food markets and bars, and workshops and office space for start-up businesses. There's a socially responsible element too, with flats being set aside for those who can't find accommodation elsewhere (because deposits are too high or they have no bank account, or similar problems). As you walk around Maboneng guided by a local resident, you'll get a sense of a cool, vibrant district with a real sense of hope and optimism. It's best to try and be here over a weekend as this is when the food markets, cafés and bars are at their most lively.

Constitution Hill

Constitution Hill is a former prison and military fort, now a Constitutional Court, which endorses the rights of all citizens and also a living museum that tells the story of South Africa’s journey to democracy. You might think of Robben Island when it comes to infamous incarcerations, however, Constitution Hill in fact imprisoned a vast number of world-renowned men and women, such as Nelson Mandela. Mahatma Gandhi, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and Fatima Meer. The prison also confined tens of thousands of ordinary people during its 100-year history: men and women of all races, creeds, ages and political agendas; the indigenous and the immigrant; the everyman and the elite. As such, the history of every South African lives here and you get to hear their stories.

The Cradle of Humankind

Northwest of Johannesburg lies an area of limestone hills, The Cradle of Humankind, riddled with caves with concealed entrances that over time trapped many animals and early hominid species; the caves proved perfect at not only trapping them, but also preserving their bones as fossils and it’s through these fossils that we’ve been able to trace the development from our common ancestor with the apes through to Homo Sapiens. A huge proportion of all early hominid fossils excavated are in this area, hence its UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. The main visitor centre at Maropeng isn’t amazing, but does give a bit of an overview of the development of hominid species, and why this region is so important to that understanding. Of much more interest is Sterkfontein Cave. “Mrs Ples” and “Little Foot”, two of the most famous fossils (along with over a third of all early hominid fossil discoveries to-date), were found here and it’s the site of the longest continuously running fossil excavations in the world. Exploring the caves with a guide is interesting both from an anthropological point of view, and simply because the caverns, pools, stalactites and stalagmites are beautiful to see. The tour takes around an hour, there are quite a few steps to climb and one or two narrow, low pinch-points to squeeze through.

The Voortrekker Monument

The Voortrekker Monument was built in 1938 to symbolize the unity of the Afrikaner people, descended from those early pioneers who set out to settle the interior of South Africa, and establish a state in keeping with their religious views. The monument is a vast, imposing edifice, a huge brick Cenotaph surrounded by a wall bearing the frieze of 64 Great Trek wagons. These symbolize the 64 wagons at the Battle of Blood River, a pivotal event in early Afrikaner history when a small raiding party of Voortrekkers held of an assault by several thousand Zulu troops. This event gave the Voortrekkers the idea that their enterprise was favoured by God, and is why it was the inspiration for the monument. There are also murals depicting scenes from the Great Trek and a museum: it’s an important place to visit to understand the origin and role the Voortrekkers and their Afrikaner descendants have played in South African history.