South Africa - Tours
Tours by www.tailormadeholidays.co.uk
South Africa
South Africa has been hailed as a World In One Country. It does indeed possess some of the most awesome scenery, diverse wildlife and the richest mixes of culture found in Africa today. Setting standards for conservation, South Africa's national parks in the Mpumalanga and coastal areas offer visitors the chance to experience phenomenal wildlife and contrasting scenery. Weather it's a leopard scouting for an impala or a turtle laying hundreds of eggs on a deserted beach in Kwa Zulu Natal, there are many memorable exoperiences to be had. South Africa is also a country bursting with charm, sophistication and history. Just stroll down the golden beaches of Camps Bay or Clifton or relax on a vineyards verandah sipping crisp Chardonnay and enjoying a delicious meal.
South Africa is a holiday destination for all!!
South Africa's weather & climate
A subtropical location, moderated by ocean on three sides of the country and the altitude of the interior plateau, account for the warm temperate conditions so typical of South Africa - and so popular with its foreign visitors.
South Africa is famous for its sunshine. It's a relatively dry country, with an average annual rainfall of about 464mm (compared to a world average of about 860mm). While the Western Cape gets most of its rainfall in winter, the rest of the country is generally a summer-rainfall region. At the same time, temperatures in South Africa tend to be lower than in other countries at similar latitutes - such as Australia - due mainly to greater elevation above sea level.
On the interior plateau the altitude - Johannesburg lies at 1 694 metres - keeps the average summer temperatures below 30 degrees Celsius. In winter, for the same reason, night-time temperatures can drop to freezing point, in some places lower. South Africa's coastal regions are therefore warmest in winter. There is, however, a striking contrast between temperatures on the country's east and west coasts, due respectively to the warm Agulhas and cold Benguela Currents that sweep the coastlines. Being in the southern hemisphere, our seasons stand in opposition to those of Europe and North America, so, yes - we spend Christmas on the beach.
Summer
Over much of South Africa, summer (mid-October to mid-February) is characterised by hot, sunny weather - often with afternoon thunderstorms that clear quickly, leaving a warm, earthy, uniquely African smell in the air. The Western Cape, with its Mediterranean climate, is the exception, getting its rain in winter.
Autumn
Autumn (fall) in South Africa (mid-February to April) offers in some ways the best weather. Very little rain falls over the whole country, and it is warm but not too hot, getting colder as the season progresses. In Cape Town, autumn is fantastic, with hot sunny days and warm, balmy nights which many people spend at outdoor cafés.
Winter
Winter in South Africa (May to July) is characterised in the higher-lying areas of the interior plateau by dry, sunny, crisp days and cold nights. So it's a good idea to bring warm clothes. The hot, humid KwaZulu-Natal coast, as well as the Lowveld (lower-lying areas) of Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces, offer fantastic winter weather with sunny, warmish days and virtually no wind or rain. The Western Cape gets most of its rain in winter, with quite a few days of cloudy, rainy weather. However, these are always interspersed with wonderful days to rival the best of a British summer. The high mountains of the Cape and the Drakensberg in KwaZulu-Natal usually get snow in winter.
Spring
Nowhere in South Africa is spring (August to mid-October) more spectacular than in the Cape provinces. Here the grey winter is forgotten as thousands of small, otherwise insignificant plants cover the plains in an iridescent carpet of flowers. The journey to see the flowers of the Namaqualand in the Western and Northern Cape is an annual pilgrimage for many South Africans.
Best time of the year to travel?
That depends on what you want to do. The flowers are obviously best in August and September. The best time for game viewing is late spring (September and October). The southern right whales hang around off our coasts from about mid-June to the end of October.
The diving is best in most of the country outside of summer (ie, from April through September), and so is the surfing - but that certainly doesn't limit either activity to those times. River rafting is better in the Cape at the end of winter, and in KwaZulu-Natal in the height of summer (late November to mid-February). In Mpumalanga and Limpopo, it's less time-dependent.
The "shoulder" seasons - spring and autumn - are best for hiking, as summer can be hot over most of the country. In the Drakensberg, summer thunderstorms are dangerous, while there is a good chance of snow in winter. In the Cape, the winters are wet, so hiking can be a bit hardcore.
If you're a birder, the palaeoarctic migrants arrive around November and the intra-African migrants usually by mid-October. Of course, if you want to lounge around on the beaches, mid-summer is the best time - though everyone else will be there too. And - big bonus - the beaches of northern KwaZulu-Natal are warm and sunny even in midwinter.
All the following tours can be found at http://www.tailormadeholidays.co.uk/
Cape Town - Child Friendly
Cape Town and Winelands - Luxury Safari
Cape Town / Winelands / Garden Route - Budget Friendly
Dinaka Horseback Safari
Garden Route / Cape Town / Winelands / Non Malarial Safari
Golf and Game - Cape Town • Winelands • Garden Route • Drakensburg • Luxury Safari
Luxury Safari (South Africa) and Beach (Mozambique)
Natal & Safari
Safari & Mauritius
South Africa Budget - Cape Town / Winelands / Garden Route / Safari / Drakensburg
South Africa Ranger Course
Soweto Township and Cape Town Tours
The Blue Train Zimbali Golfers/Non Golfers Breakaway
The Dune Adventure - Railway Journey
The Good Hope Adventure - Railway Journey
The Southern Cross Adventure - Railway Journey
Turtles and Trails Safari
5 day Bushveld Safari
18 day Overland Explorer Johannesburg to Cape Town
Posted by Click Car Hire, South Africa
South Africa
South Africa has been hailed as a World In One Country. It does indeed possess some of the most awesome scenery, diverse wildlife and the richest mixes of culture found in Africa today. Setting standards for conservation, South Africa's national parks in the Mpumalanga and coastal areas offer visitors the chance to experience phenomenal wildlife and contrasting scenery. Weather it's a leopard scouting for an impala or a turtle laying hundreds of eggs on a deserted beach in Kwa Zulu Natal, there are many memorable exoperiences to be had. South Africa is also a country bursting with charm, sophistication and history. Just stroll down the golden beaches of Camps Bay or Clifton or relax on a vineyards verandah sipping crisp Chardonnay and enjoying a delicious meal.
South Africa is a holiday destination for all!!
South Africa's weather & climate
A subtropical location, moderated by ocean on three sides of the country and the altitude of the interior plateau, account for the warm temperate conditions so typical of South Africa - and so popular with its foreign visitors.
South Africa is famous for its sunshine. It's a relatively dry country, with an average annual rainfall of about 464mm (compared to a world average of about 860mm). While the Western Cape gets most of its rainfall in winter, the rest of the country is generally a summer-rainfall region. At the same time, temperatures in South Africa tend to be lower than in other countries at similar latitutes - such as Australia - due mainly to greater elevation above sea level.
On the interior plateau the altitude - Johannesburg lies at 1 694 metres - keeps the average summer temperatures below 30 degrees Celsius. In winter, for the same reason, night-time temperatures can drop to freezing point, in some places lower. South Africa's coastal regions are therefore warmest in winter. There is, however, a striking contrast between temperatures on the country's east and west coasts, due respectively to the warm Agulhas and cold Benguela Currents that sweep the coastlines. Being in the southern hemisphere, our seasons stand in opposition to those of Europe and North America, so, yes - we spend Christmas on the beach.
Summer
Over much of South Africa, summer (mid-October to mid-February) is characterised by hot, sunny weather - often with afternoon thunderstorms that clear quickly, leaving a warm, earthy, uniquely African smell in the air. The Western Cape, with its Mediterranean climate, is the exception, getting its rain in winter.
Autumn
Autumn (fall) in South Africa (mid-February to April) offers in some ways the best weather. Very little rain falls over the whole country, and it is warm but not too hot, getting colder as the season progresses. In Cape Town, autumn is fantastic, with hot sunny days and warm, balmy nights which many people spend at outdoor cafés.
Winter
Winter in South Africa (May to July) is characterised in the higher-lying areas of the interior plateau by dry, sunny, crisp days and cold nights. So it's a good idea to bring warm clothes. The hot, humid KwaZulu-Natal coast, as well as the Lowveld (lower-lying areas) of Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces, offer fantastic winter weather with sunny, warmish days and virtually no wind or rain. The Western Cape gets most of its rain in winter, with quite a few days of cloudy, rainy weather. However, these are always interspersed with wonderful days to rival the best of a British summer. The high mountains of the Cape and the Drakensberg in KwaZulu-Natal usually get snow in winter.
Spring
Nowhere in South Africa is spring (August to mid-October) more spectacular than in the Cape provinces. Here the grey winter is forgotten as thousands of small, otherwise insignificant plants cover the plains in an iridescent carpet of flowers. The journey to see the flowers of the Namaqualand in the Western and Northern Cape is an annual pilgrimage for many South Africans.
Best time of the year to travel?
That depends on what you want to do. The flowers are obviously best in August and September. The best time for game viewing is late spring (September and October). The southern right whales hang around off our coasts from about mid-June to the end of October.
The diving is best in most of the country outside of summer (ie, from April through September), and so is the surfing - but that certainly doesn't limit either activity to those times. River rafting is better in the Cape at the end of winter, and in KwaZulu-Natal in the height of summer (late November to mid-February). In Mpumalanga and Limpopo, it's less time-dependent.
The "shoulder" seasons - spring and autumn - are best for hiking, as summer can be hot over most of the country. In the Drakensberg, summer thunderstorms are dangerous, while there is a good chance of snow in winter. In the Cape, the winters are wet, so hiking can be a bit hardcore.
If you're a birder, the palaeoarctic migrants arrive around November and the intra-African migrants usually by mid-October. Of course, if you want to lounge around on the beaches, mid-summer is the best time - though everyone else will be there too. And - big bonus - the beaches of northern KwaZulu-Natal are warm and sunny even in midwinter.
All the following tours can be found at http://www.tailormadeholidays.co.uk/
Cape Town - Child Friendly
Cape Town and Winelands - Luxury Safari
Cape Town / Winelands / Garden Route - Budget Friendly
Dinaka Horseback Safari
Garden Route / Cape Town / Winelands / Non Malarial Safari
Golf and Game - Cape Town • Winelands • Garden Route • Drakensburg • Luxury Safari
Luxury Safari (South Africa) and Beach (Mozambique)
Natal & Safari
Safari & Mauritius
South Africa Budget - Cape Town / Winelands / Garden Route / Safari / Drakensburg
South Africa Ranger Course
Soweto Township and Cape Town Tours
The Blue Train Zimbali Golfers/Non Golfers Breakaway
The Dune Adventure - Railway Journey
The Good Hope Adventure - Railway Journey
The Southern Cross Adventure - Railway Journey
Turtles and Trails Safari
5 day Bushveld Safari
18 day Overland Explorer Johannesburg to Cape Town
Posted by Click Car Hire, South Africa
