South Africa is not a single destination, and the more you go, the more you want to go back.
It’s a collection of dramatically different journeys, all easily connected and endlessly rewarding for travellers keen to look beyond the expected, whether on a budget or not.
Bernie Whelan of Travel Counsellors, a travel agency, knows this first-hand. She travels the world for work but returns to South Africa for pleasure time and time again.
It’s also a place she knows many Irish holidaymakers feel equally attached to. “It’s hugely popular with the Irish market, and not just because of the rugby connection,” she laughs.
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“I first went there 24 years ago after my brother and his wife went on [their] honeymoon and recommended it, and I’ve been back numerous times since. I’d go again in the morning if I could because it’s absolutely gorgeous and the people are so warm.”
But it isn’t just the variety of landscapes and experiences that attracts Irish holiday makers, she says, it’s the fact that it allows for a variety of bank balances too.
It is eminently possible to visit South Africa on a modest budget, says Whelan. For most people, the most popular entry point is Cape Town.
From there it’s very easy to take a trip inland to enjoy a safari, and to make the most of the Garden Route, a scenic 300km stretch featuring everything from lush forests and dramatic coastlines to stunning beaches and nature reserves. For no more than the cost of good footwear, you can enjoy hiking in Tsitsikamma National Park and exploring the Robberg Nature Reserve, a Unesco World Heritage Site.
The Cango Caves, a stunning series of limestone chambers and tunnels in the Swartberg Mountains, are the country’s largest show cave system. Overground you can enjoy a high adrenaline, low-cost thrill at the Bloukrans Bridge bungee jump.
“The great thing about going to South Africa on a budget is how great value it is to begin with,” says Whelan. “A really good bottle of locally sourced wine in a restaurant will only set you back €8. A mid-priced restaurant meal would only be around €30, for three courses. Spa treatments, like a facial for which we would pay €180 here, will cost you maybe €40. The value is unreal.”
That goes for safaris too, the majority of which are booked at an all-inclusive rate, so you don’t have to spend once you arrive.
“You can also eat fantastically, and really affordably, at food markets like the V&A in Cape Town, enjoying beautiful surroundings,” she adds. Table Mountain is a must do in the city and can be reached cheaply on the cable car.
No trip to this region would be complete without a visit to the Cape Winelands, a one hour’s drive from Cape Town, taking in historic wine regions such as Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl. You can save money by taking the famous Franschhoek Wine Tram, hopping on and off for wine tastings at vineyards.
You can also see so much of South Africa’s famous marine life from shore, she adds, with hop-on, hop-off buses that stop to watch whales from the cliffs at Hermanus, and penguins at Boulders Beach. “You can take a public catamaran cruise at sunset, which has a lovely party vibe, or just enjoy the beach at Camps Bay,” she says.
Not everyone wants to go on safari but may still love getting out in the wild, which is why the country’s nature reserves are such a great, and cheap, option, she says.
That includes De Hoop Nature Reserve, three hours from Cape Town, near the country’s southern tip. “It’s beautiful,” she says, “a wonderful spot for nature and hiking, and all free.
“Or opt for a safari that won’t break the bank somewhere like Botlierskop, near Mossel Bay on the Western Cape, which features tented lodges and where you’ll still see the big five.”
Exploring cities such as Johannesburg and Cape Town is a great option too. Whelan advises clients to travel between the two by train, a 1,600 kms journey that takes two nights from Pretoria to Cape Town. For this the cheaper rail option, though still swish, is the Blue Train. You can also fly between the two cities in two hours which is the most budget-friendly option.
Another destination growing in popularity is KwaZulu-Natal, a province on the east coast of and home to Durban. “It is just beautiful, and right on the Indian Ocean, with golden beaches,” says Whelan, who recommends Rhino Ridge, a stunning but competitively priced safari park while there. “It was just mind-blowingly beautiful.”
Opportunity to indulge
If you can afford it, push the boat out at every turn and enjoy the premium experiences South Africa has to offer. One of Whelan’s favourite luxury experiences is high tea at the famous Mount Nelson Hotel, beloved of rock stars and celebrities. Though considered expensive, it will set you back just €35 per person. The country’s top fine dining menus, on the other hand, cost about €50 per person, she adds.
After that, enjoy the dramatic views from Table Mountain by private helicopter, from about €200 per person.
This time around, take a private winelands tour too. “These are wonderful and take you to boutique estates that aren’t open to everyone, the kind that give you curated tastings and a gourmet lunch,” says Whelan.
Get close and personal to all that sea life on a fully crewed private yacht, an exclusive way to explore. “You can hire one for around €530, which, if you were doing it in Mallorca, would easily cost you €2,000.”
“Or just hire a private car with a private driver for a tailored itinerary,” she says, “which will just make everything that bit more special.”
Safari in style at luxury game reserves such as Shamwari, in the Eastern Cape. Or opt for the Aquila Private Game Reserve, a two-hour drive from Cape Town, set in the pristine Southern Karoo.
Those looking to really push the boat out, in a train, will opt to take the trip from Pretoria to Cape Town on Rovos Rail. “It’s more old worlde than the Blue Train, with an almost Orient Express-type vibe.”
For a remote and dramatic landscape, hire a private driver in a 4x4 vehicle and explore the Tankwa Karoo National Park, in the Northern Cape province, a four-hour drive from Cape Town and stunning for star gazing.
The Wild Coast in the Eastern Cape, a rugged stretch nearby and the rural heartland of the Xhosa people, is another must visit.
For adventure, head to Drakensberg, the main mountain range in southern Africa and packed with hiking trails and adventure activities, such as horse riding, rock climbing, mountain biking, paragliding, zip lining and whitewater rafting. As you’re not on a budget, try them all.
In many ways, that’s the real luxury South Africa offers, a unique combination of slow travel, high adventure, nature, culture and remote beauty – all without mass tourism.
“For so many reasons South Africa is just such great value for money,” says Whelan. “You could spend €3,500 and have an amazing holiday and you could spend €60,000, stay in very high-end places, add your private yacht and helicopters, and have an amazing holiday too. There’s something for everybody and you’ll get to see all the same great things.”
To start planning your South Africa adventure, contact Travel Counsellors on 021 603 6118 or visit travelcounsellors.ie
