Awe-inspiring wildlife, world-class wineries and incredible lodges
Few countries offer as much as South Africa. This is a country of untouched veld and remarkable game reserves, of dramatic mountains and surf-beaten coastlines. It’s the setting for the journey of a lifetime.
South African safaris promise more than just the famous Big Five. Head to the stunning Cape coast to spot whales before venturing into the bush to see lions stretch lazily beneath trees while eagles soar overhead and rhino, buffalo and elephants graze nearby. Spend your nights in a luxurious tented camp, have a private game reserve all to yourself or watch the sun set over the wild beaches of KwaZulu-Natal.
In the country’s cities, opportunities to learn more about South Africa’s rich and diverse heritage abound, as do excellent guides and myriad opportunities to appreciate South African art and culture.
Our team of safari and South Africa experts, many themselves from South Africa, are here to help you create a completely bespoke itinerary based on your interests. Thanks to our personal experience, we can recommend the most luxurious places to stay and most memorable activities, while our Cape Town-based concierges can arrange tables at the best restaurants before you get here.
Highlights
Get up close to lions and leopards on a luxury safari in the Sabi Sands or the Kruger
Taste fine vintages touring the best vineyards in the Winelands
Spot cetaceans on the Whale Coast and take in the incredible views of Cape Town
Discover the country’s cities and culture in the company of handpicked local guides.
Spend a magical night sleeping under the stars in a private reserve in the Kalahari Desert
Hike through striking landscapes and pristine wilderness in the Limpopo
Jody van Merode
Senior Travel Designer
Why do I love South Africa so much? Apart from the fact that I called it home for a number of years, I think it’s also the friendliest, most beautiful and diverse country in Africa. Where else can you enjoy international food and wine pairing one day, and a safari in Big Five territory the next?
Jody van Merode
Senior Travel Designer
Luxury accommodation in South Africa
Why book with Jacada?
Safari expertise
Our experts bring decades of first-hand expertise. They’ve lived and travelled across Africa and are regularly on the ground reviewing the most exclusive hotels, camps and experiences. You’ll also have the support of a personal concierge, based in region.
Unforgettable guides
We handpick the most knowledgeable guides, who bring each destination to life with care and passion. They’re chosen for their ability to provide unrivalled insight into the region’s wildlife, wineries and landscapes as well as a genuine, memorable experience.
Positive impact
By travelling with us, you directly support a range of initiatives spanning wildlife conservation to community engagement. Our luxury trips are designed to prioritise experiences that are positive for you and the places you visit.
Trip inspiration
Where to go
Cape Town
Vibrant and beautiful, Cape Town is an essential stop on any South Africa trip. Table Mountain dominates the skyline and offers exciting outdoor pursuits while the streets below are full of history, culture and buzzing bars and restaurants.
Discover moreSabi Sands
A private reserve spanning 600,000 hectares and boarding the game-rich Kruger Park means safari experiences here are exclusive and full of wildlife. A place of leopards and wild dogs, luxury lodges and endless savannahs.
Discover moreThe Kruger
A world famous national park, and for good reason. The wildlife in the Kruger is abundant, the big five reside here in large numbers. The park is home to many luxurious lodges for a once-in-a-lifetime safari experience.
Discover moreThe Winelands
Pretty towns and villages punctuate the green rolling hills of South Africa’s Wine Region. Home to fantastic wine, restaurants and plenty of outdoor activities that make the most of the stunning landscapes.
Discover moreLuxury Rail Travel
Luxury trains cut through dramatic landscapes, enjoyed from the comfort of stylish carriages. Any journey through South Africa will be a beautiful one and taking the journey by train delivers a wonderful sense of calm or romance.
Discover moreThe Kalahari
The Kalahari showcases the massive diversity of the country's landscapes. Unique desert species roam the arid plains, waiting for the rains to bring dry land to life with a flurry of desert flowers.
Discover moreThe Whale Coast
On the Atlantic shoreline of the western cape there’s a beautiful collection of bays, towns and villages. Whale watching boat trips can be arranged to spot southern right whales and evenings are spent in fine restaurants and stylish hotels.
Discover moreMadikwe
Madikwe, in the northwest corner, boarding Botswana and the Kalahari desert is a hidden gem for safari-goers. A great spot for families with little children as there’s no malaria-free area.
Discover moreLimpopo Province
Known as ‘The Great North’ Limpopo is characterised by majestic scenery, ancient landscapes and millions of hectares of protected land. There are numerous outdoor activities including some of the best horse riding safaris in the country.
Discover moreThe Garden Route
The Garden Route is a place of magnificent natural beauty. The coastline is made up of small bays, beaches and quaint towns. In the distance rolling, green hills and forestland runs down to meet the coast, laden with marine life.
Discover morePhinda
Phinda is a private reserve offering exclusivity, conservation-lead hospitality and exciting wildlife encounters. A varied collection of habitats attracts plenty of wildlife and with its proximity to the coast, beach and bush combine perfectly.
Discover moreThe Elephant Coast
Just below Mozambique the Elephant Coast boasts some of the best beaches in South Africa. Highlights include the UNESCO wetlands of Lake St Lucia, the coral reefs of Sodwana Bay and Kosi Bay with it’s sea turtle residents.
Discover moreDrakensberg Mountains
The Drakensberg mountains are an epic and exciting place to visit. Huge tabletops, massive ranges, ancient san rock-art sites and crashing waterfalls can be explored on hikes, exhilarating zip lines and expedition horse rides.
Discover moreThe Western Cape Mountains
The Cape Mountains span the northern and southern capes, taking in the Cederberg mountains and most of the Karoo plateau. A perfect place for jaw-dropping road trips on the famous route 62 and all just a convenient distance from Cape Town.
Discover moreThe Battlefields
One of South Africa’s historically significant regions, a must-stop destination for any historian. Famous for outstanding expert guides who bring the stories to life as you wander the fields.
Discover moreDurban
A subtropical climate, beautiful beaches and laid back atmosphere makes Durban a great city to spend time in. It also holds plenty of cultural and political importance as the capital of the KwaZulu Natal region.
Discover moreMeet your Africa experts
When to visit
Cape Town and along the Garden Route are great to visit any time of year, but early summer when the winds drops are particularly pleasant. If you’re visiting for safari, the dry winter months are often considered the best but the wetter summer months bring full waterholes, lush bushveld and lots of newborn animals.
Wildflowers
August - September
Safari
May - October
Cape Town
October - April
Winelands
February - March
South Africa Travel Guides
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Plan your safari trip to South Africa
Whatever you want from your adventure in South Africa, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.
Everything about our trip to South Africa arranged by Jacada Travel was exceptional. Jody Van Merode, Senior Tavel Designer, listened to our wants and needs and put together a perfect trip that was within our stated budget. She was great to work with! Jody and our assigned concierge, Betty Gatwiri, communicated with us frequently before our trip about what to…
Jacada was great. The knowledgeable people at Jacada - James, Betty, Wade to name the ones we were in touch with - plus all the people who were there meeting us at planes, picking us up at hotels -- on time. While the sights and sounds in the bush were amazing, the hospitality at Lion Sands River Lodge and Thornybush…
We recently returned from a trip to South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Zambia booked through Jacada Travel. From the initial stages of planning through to following up with us at the end of our vacation, Jacada went above and beyond our expectations with personalized service. Jamie and Eugenia, our travel designer and concierge respectively, took our ideas and preferences and ran…
My husband and I recently traveled to South Africa and we utilized Jacada travel services. Jody Van Merode planned the perfect trip for us- we spoke over the phone and she put together an itinerary that would best match what we wanted to see, our interests and our budget! We visited two very different game reserves - each beautiful in…
The trip was perfect from start to finish which I completely attribute to the communication with James and Eugenia. I really felt as if our needs were anticipated and our style of travel understood. They truly picked the best accommodations and made transfers between easy. I've never had such a seamless and well-organized travel experience. It is so worth it…
Plan with peace of mind
When you book a trip in today’s world there’s a lot to think about. But with the right advice and expert planning, you can do it with confidence.
If you book to travel with us but your plans are impacted by circumstances you can’t control, we’ll change your reservation or cancel your booking for a full credit towards future travel.