Sheraton Pretoria

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

Safari Wildlife & Nature + 1 more + 2 more

Waterfalls to Waterfront

South Africa, Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls, Kruger & Cape Town.

11 days

from £4,950 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

South African Grand Tour

Safari Wildlife & Nature + 3 more + 3 more

Three weeks, one unforgettable road trip across South Africa’s greatest highlights.

21 days

from £4,295 pp

Kruger, Canyons & Cape

Safari Wildlife & Nature + 2 more + 3 more

The perfect South African summer holiday.

14 days

from £3,995 pp

Unexplored South Africa

Wildlife & Nature Luxury + 2 more + 3 more

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

14 days

from £9,350 pp

Quirky excursions

View all excursions in South Africa

The Apartheid Museum

The Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg is recognised as being one of the very best explanations and illustrations of what apartheid was, and what it meant to be classed as anything other than “white” under this system. This official policy, which segregated the population by race and upheld minority white rule, whilst oppressing the non-whites and denying them their basic human rights (including the right to vote), lasted until 1994, and the museum examines the reasons behind the creation of apartheid, how it was imposed and enforced, and the events that ultimately led to the arrival of full democracy and the election of the apartheid regime’s most famous prisoner, Nelson Mandela, as President. It’s a very well thought out museum and tackles a harrowing subject in a sensitive and informative manner.

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.

Soweto Cycling Tour

Any tour of Soweto is not a township tour in the traditional sense, as Soweto is much more a (relatively affluent) suburb these days than an informal settlement. The houses are permanent, well-constructed and well-tended and there is a thriving community and growing economy here. So your tour of Soweto is much more about the culture and history of the place, and there is plenty of that to see. One of the defining places in the struggle against apartheid, Soweto boasts the only street in the world home to two Nobel Laureates: Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a key part of the cycle tour. You'll also visit the Hector Pieterson Memorial, where you learn about the 1976 Soweto Uprising. But the tour is also forward looking, with stops outside the highly decorative residence of famous opera singer Abigail Khubeka, and looking out over the Orlando Pirates football stadium, site of the Opening Ceremony for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. By cycling rather than taking a car, you interact much more with Soweto and her people, who are always ready to exchange greetings and have a chat. There's also the chance to sample traditional street food, which is much tasty than you might at first imagine! The tour concludes where you began, at Lebo's Backpackers, a Soweto institution where Lebo has been welcoming international visitors since 1999; you bid farewell to your guide and fellow cyclists with a calabash of traditional beer.

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.