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South Africa is one of the most beautiful countries we have visited during our travel assignments across the world spanning over 30 years. Often referred to as the Rainbow Nation, South Africa is a perfect holiday destination, specially for tourists from the Middle East, with an incredible topography that is littered with gems of natural splendor and exciting tourist attractions. The Western Cape, for instance, offers beaches, lush winelands around Stellenbosch and Paarl, craggy cliffs at the Cape of Good Hope, forest and lagoons along the Garden Route, and the city of Cape Town, beneath flat-topped Table Mountain.
While on holiday to South Africa, tourists from the Middle East can find everything here – from the majestic coastal scenery around Cape Town to one of Africa’s most famous safari destinations, the world-famous Kruger National Park.
Weather is the opposite for travellers from the Middle East to South Africa – when it is summers in the GCC, it is winter time in South Africa – thereby making South Africa a perfect getaway during the harsh summer months in the Middle East. Little wonder then that South Africa has emerged as a popular tourist destination for travelers from the Middle East.
Plan your trip to South Africa from the Middle East with us. Here’s a concise guide to help travellers from the Middle East make the most of their South African holiday:
VISA REQUIREMENTS
Visa requirements for South Africa vary from country to country. Prior to departure, always check with the nearest South African embassy or consulate what documents you need for travel to South Africa.
Visitors from visa exempt countries – which includes the USA, Canada, most of Europe, and some Latin American and African countries – do not require a visa for visiting the Republic of South Africa for ninety (90) days or less. Citizens of other countries need to apply for a visa.
You need a passport valid for a minimum period of 30 days from the date of exit from South Africa. Your passport should have at least two blank pages when you present it at immigration to enter or leave South Africa.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
For tourists from the Middle East, we recommend to travel in summer months in the Middle East (May-October) to have the best chance of reasonable winter in both the North (Kruger Park) and South (Cape Town). Thats is also a good time to visit Cape Town to view the whales.
Climate, however, varies within South Africa from region to region. Winters in Cape Town are often wet affairs, this is the best time to spot whales in front of the coast, with numbers at their peak in September.
HOW TO GET THERE
South Africa is very well connected to the Middle East via its three main international airports located in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. In addition, it has many smaller airports, served by domestic airlines – Port Elizabeth and Nelspruit being the popular ones with tourists because of their proximity to the Garden Route and the Kruger National Park respectively.
In case you want to travel across South Africa, it’s advisable to either arrive in Johannesburg and depart from Cape Town, or vice versa. Many airlines offer multi-city tickets at almost the same price for a round-trip ticket.
Emirates has been serving South Africa since 1995, proudly connecting close to 20 million travellers to and from South Africa and Dubai and beyond to its global network, firmly establishing the airline as a long-term partner of South African aviation, tourism, and trade. Today, the airline currently serves South Africa with 26 weekly flights, including double daily services to Johannesburg, daily services to Cape Town and five weekly flights to Durban. Customers can also access popular regional destinations across South Africa via the airline’s codeshare agreements with South African Airways and Airlink, and interline agreements with FlySafair and Cemair.
GETTING AROUND
Due to convenience and security reasons, we suggest you rent a car for travelling around South Africa. It is by far the most convenient and cheapest way of getting around the country. South Africa’s road infrastructure is excellent and driving conditions are not very different from those in the Middle East. Most international car hire companies are operational in South Africa. A small car can be rented for around 500 ZAR (US$32) per day.
You can also use the rail network in South Africa to travel. Rail companies like Bleu Train and Rovos Rail run luxury trains to various popular tourist destinations and also offer luxurious cabins as well as five-star onboard cuisine. The famous Blue Train, for example, runs from Pretoria to Cape Town (cost: approximately 38,000 ZAR [US$2,400] for a luxury double berth) takes a few days and includes wine, cigars, great food, and comfortable compartments.
Lastly, domestic flights are another excellent option for traveling from city to another when on holiday in South Africa. Domestic tickets are often quite cheap and can be booked online.
WHAT TO DO, SEE IN SOUTH AFRICA:
We highly recommend doing the Garden Route while on holiday in South Africa. It is one of the most beautiful trips we have embarked on during 30 years of traveling the globe. The Garden Route is a 300-kilometer-long coastal route that runs around the country’s southern coast, starting in Storms River in the Eastern Cape province and ending in Mossel Bay in the Western Cape province. One of the top scenic drives in South Africa, the Garden Route offers a little of everything: spectacular scenery, fascinating wildlife, and adrenaline-fueled adventure. As you drive through the famous Garden Route, you’ll travel across quaint little towns like Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Mossel Bay, Great Brak River, Little Brak River, Wilderness, Sedgefield and Nature’s Valley. We recommended that you spend between three and 14 days on a self-drive tour through the Garden Route.
Kruger National Park, in northeastern South Africa, is one of Africa’s largest game reserves. Its high density of wild animals includes the Big 5: lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalos. Hundreds of other mammals make their home here, as do diverse bird species such as vultures, eagles and storks.
Cape Town is the most popular destination in South Africa — and for good reason. It’s a vibrant, multicultural city with lively bars, delicious food, great weather, lots of nature and hiking nearby. In addition to the city’s amazing beaches, the waterfront is bursting with things to do as well.
The Drakensberg region near the east coast is home to the highest mountain range in the country, with rugged, green peaks, sandstone cliffs, and deep valleys. There are lots of trails, ranging from casual walks to strenuous climbs and plenty of options for both day hikes and multi-day hikes.
Part of the Table Mountain National Park and a short drive from Cape Town, the Boulders Penguin Colony is home to several thousand African penguins. (Fun fact: they’re also known as jackass penguins, because the noises they make sound like a donkey braying.)
South Africa’s climate is perfect for grape growing and the country produces award-winning white, red, and sparkling wines. The wine industry here dates back to the seventeenth century and there are hundreds of wineries to be found (and sampled of course). In the Cape Winelands region not far from Cape Town, Stellenbosch has over 150 wineries in a very small area while a bit further away, Franschhoek not only has over 50 vineyards but also some of South Africa’s best restaurants. You can do a wine tour that will take you to several different or you can stay in one for a night or two (many have guest accommodations).
A frequent stop on the way to or from Kruger, Blyde River Canyon is the third largest canyon in the world. It’s particularly lush and green compared to the Grand Canyon and also has extremely deep, sheer cliffs. There are numerous natural rock formations and other natural features in this UNESCO-listed reserve, including Pinnacle Rock, God’s Window, and Bourke’s Luck Potholes. You can also find ancient rock art in the Echo Caves.
South Africa is generally considered to be one of the best places in the world to go whale watching. If you’re visiting between June and November you’ll have an excellent chance of spotting Southern right whales, Bryde’s whales, and orcas. The town of Hermanus, located 120km southeast of Cape Town, is the base for many of the best whale-watching companies in the country.
SUGGESTED ITINERARIES
For travelers from the Middle East planning a holiday in South Africa, we suggest you a two-week itinerary. However, if you have more time and want to travel at a more leisurely pace you can also consider the options below:
Day 1: Johannesburg
Day 2: Blyde River Canyon and continue to Hoedspruit
Day 4-5: Safari in the Game Reserve
Day 6-8: Safari in the Sabi Sands Reserve
Day 9: Plane transfer to Port Elizabeth
Day 10-13: Garden Route
Day 14-17: Cape Town & surrounding areas
Day 18: Return flight from Johannesburg
In case you want a longer holiday, you cal also drive from the Kruger National Park all the way to Port Elizabeth via Swaziland, KwaZulu Natal, the Drakensbergen.
