South Africa covers more ground than a single trip usually allows: Cape Town and the wine regions in the southwest, the Garden Route along the southern coast, Kruger park in the northeast, and Johannesburg with the Cradle of Humankind nearby.
The guides on this page cover South Africa as a whole. Seasons are reversed from Europe — Cape Town is at its best from November to March, while Kruger's dry winter from May to September concentrates wildlife around waterholes and offers easier viewing. Distances are large and domestic flights common. Crime rates vary sharply by area, and local guidance on specific neighbourhoods is more useful than country-level generalisation.