Ask someone planning their first South African holiday where they’re going and there’s a good chance you’ll hear two names: Cape Town and Kruger. And we understand why. Cape Town is one of the world’s great cities. Kruger offers some of the finest wildlife experiences anywhere in Africa. But here’s the problem. If that’s all you see, you’ve barely scratched the surface. South Africa has nine provinces, thousands of kilometres of coastline, enormous mountain ranges, deserts, forests, tiny towns, subtropical beaches and wildlife reserves that many international visitors have never heard of. And heading into Tourism Month this September, South Africa is making a concerted effort to encourage travellers to discover more of it. The Department of Tourism’s message this year is essentially simple: Get off the familiar route. The government has called for provinces and cities to develop and promote experiences beyond South Africa’s traditional tourism corridors, while Limpopo has been selected as the
Something exciting is happening in South African tourism. More people are coming. Between January and June 2026, South Africa welcomed 5,584,473 international tourists — 12.3% more than during the same period in 2025. Overseas arrivals grew by 5.6%, while arrivals from elsewhere in Africa increased by 14.3%. (South African Tourism) So, why are travellers increasingly looking towards the southern tip of Africa for their next big holiday? Perhaps the rest of the world is discovering something South Africans have known for a very long time: South Africa gives you an extraordinary amount of holiday in one country. You Don’t Have to Choose Between Safari and Everything Else For many first-time visitors, the dream of travelling to Africa begins with safari. And South Africa certainly delivers. Picture an early morning game drive as the sun begins to appear over the bush. You round a corner and find elephants crossing the road ahead of you. Later, perhaps