Top Reasons to Visit South Africa in December

With the European winter fast approaching, you can be forgiven for not wanting to embrace the cold weather. Our winter months (December to February) correspond to South Africa’s summer season; and with sunny spells, clear blue skies, and a multitude of activities and events to take part in, it’s the perfect place to take your winter break. Here are some of our best reasons to visit South Africa in December:

Bask at the Beach

Gordon’s Bay

South Africa has many beautiful beaches. Find your perfect spot to relax at Gordon’s Bay in Cape Town, or enjoy a swim at Blue Horizon Bay in Port Elizabeth. Wherever you choose, you’ll be guaranteed spectacular weather, warm oceans, and beautiful surroundings. South African summers can get pretty hot though, with temperatures reaching up to 40C, so be sure to bring enough sunscreen!

Christmas Safaris

Spending Christmas on Safari is a magical experience. South Africa has a plethora of nature reserves, including the famous Kruger National Park, all of which give you the chance to see the Big Five: elephant, lion, cape buffalo, leopard, rhino. This wildly photogenic country is rich in flora and fauna too, with much of it being endemic to the area, meaning that it can’t be found anywhere else in the world.

Zulu Village

To add something extra special to your safari experience, visit a Zulu village. There, you can learn about traditional tribal history and culture, which will give you a different perspective on South Africa as a country filled with rich heritage and diverse people.

Wine Tasting

South Africa has some of the best vineyards in the world. The rolling hills of the Cape Winelands (near Cape Town) offer excellent wine tasting experiences in grand estates. As well as top quality wines, these estates also offer local olives, cheeses and chocolate to try. Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl are the most famous wine producing areas and they are situated within easy reach of one another.

Winelands

For more information on where to go for the best wine tasting experiences, check out our guide to South Africa’s Wine Country.

World Heritage Sites

South Africa is home to eight World Heritage Sites which trace this country’s diverse culture and remarkable history. Robben Island is infamously known for Nelson Mandela’s 18 year incarceration. The prison has since been transformed into a museum where you can learn about the history of the island and the prison’s role in the apartheid from former prisoners who are now trained museum guides.

Robben Island

The Cradle of Humankind is an archaeological site about 50 km from Johannesburg. It contains a series of limestone caves in which skeleton fossils dating back 2.3 million years were discovered. These findings were historically significant because not only are they some of the oldest human remains ever found, they also help to tell the history of humanity.

The Cradle of Humankind

Book Your Winter Break Today

If you’re thinking of escaping the chilly European winter by visiting South Africa in December, give Somak a call today on 020 8423 3000. Our holiday experts will help you book the perfect winter break, tailored to your every need.