At the same time, South Africa holds an urban element that both reflects and rejects the colonial past. Mandela’s prison cell evokes the pains of apartheid, while commerce in vibrant Cape Town heralds a new era of upscale growth. In a country where luxury and lions meet, nothing can be mundane.
An etr South Africa programme can take many shapes, based on your preferences. From the Kruger to the Kalahari to Cape Town, we have SA covered and have done so for over a dozen years. Travel experienced. Speak with us today and let us get started on your South Africa programme!
When starting to write about highlights of a country so large, so diverse, so captivating, where would one start? Well, we’ve decided not to. Instead, we’ve listed many of the elements of our programs, region by region. Though not exhaustive, we’re confident the list will entice you. Be prepared!
In the Cape Town area:
In the Johannesburg (Gauteng) area:
The Garden Route and Klein Karoo
The North Cape Community Service
Did you know:
In the Cape Town area:
- Delve into the tragic history of apartheid on Robben Island.
- Cycle through of a ‘township’ where we meet local residents.
- Hike up Table Mountain through the bio reserve.
- Visit an Ostrich farm and learn about these unique creatures from egg to adult.
- Kayak to the wild penguins up close at Boulder’s Beach.
- Mountain bike the back roads of the Cape Peninsula or in nearby Stellenbosch.
- Go rock climbing in of the region’s nature reserves.
- Cruise to Seal Island in Hout Bay.
- Hike to the end of the Cape Peninsula, where 2 oceans meet.
- Participate in a ‘drum circle’ learning the local tempo on a Djembe drum.
- Dine on African delicacies while enjoying traditional music and dancing.
- Bargain with the locals for souvenir treasures at the Green Point Market.
- Learn hands-on of SA’s raptor and cheetah rehabilitation efforts.
- End the day at one of the world’s largest aquariums and view the shark feeding
In the Johannesburg (Gauteng) area:
- Head off on a dawn game drive led by naturalists in Pilanesburg National Park.
- Cool off in the Valley of the Waves Waterpark at Sun City.
- Bargain for traditional handicrafts at the outdoor market at Hartebeesport Dam.
- Try the local specialty, pannekeoken, at Harries.
- Interact with the lion cubs and other animals at the Lanseria Lion Park.
- Experience Lesedi and learn about five distinct ethnic groups of South Africa.
- Enjoy moon lit South African ‘braai’ in the ‘boma’, around an open fire.
- Explore elements of Soweto’s tragic history then lunch at Wandie’s.
- Descend into a gold mine and learn about the life of the miners.
- Discover the origins of man at the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site.
- Explore the Sterkfontein Caves, where the earliest humanoid fossils were discovered.
- Head to Kruger National Park for a 2 to 3 day adventure game viewing adventure.
The Garden Route and Klein Karoo
- Hike the Knysna Heads overlooking the Indian Ocean.
- Go ‘black water tubing’ down the Storms River.
- Head to Addo Elephant Park to view the largest herds in South Africa.
- Learn the fundamentals of animal tracking at a private game reserve.
- Go on a whale and dolphin watching cruise in Plettenburg Bay
- Experience the adrenaline of ‘zip lining’ high in the forest canopy.
- Explore the Cango Caves and see the incredible limestone formations.
- Discover everything you wanted to know about Ostriches in Oudthoorn.
The North Cape Community Service
- Appreciate the tragic consequences of the past apartheid regime’s policy of forced migration
- Refurbish antiquated crèche or school buildings
- Tutor at a local middle school
- Understand the role of malnutrition while personally delivering food parcels to the neediest of the regions residents.
- View first hand the situation of contemporary education in rural South Africa with a visit to a local school.
Did you know:
- South Africa is the only country with three official capitals: Pretoria, Cape Town, and Bloemfontein.
- About one-third of the population of South Africa has illegal immigrant status - they're mostly from other African countries.
- Eleven official languages are recognized in the South African constitution
- The first human-to-human heart transplant was performed by South African cardiac surgeon Christiaan Barnard at Cape Town’s Groote Schuur Hospital in December 1967
Luckily, South Africa is a perfect year round destination. That said, many consider the best times to make your way to South Africa is spring (September and October) and autumn (March and April) when temperatures are moderate (the region of Cape Town in particular) and not crowded by those on local school holidays. The southern hemisphere winter (June to August) can be cool in the north and blustery along west coast, but don’t forget that July to November are the months when the southern right whales migrate to the Cape's southern coast, providing certain sightings. If you are flexible and yet focused on sighting big game, May to August is considered the best months visiting the game parks as the foliage is less dense allowing for more viewing access.
Well, with the sheer size of the country and the wide variety of activities, the optimum duration depends upon your desired outcome (community service, game viewing, outdoor activity, etc.) and budget. Over the past 17 years, most programs we at etr have designed for international schools range from 6 to 12 nights. Just let us know what your interests are and we’ll use our expertise to come up with just the right program for you.
Currently, over 50 major airlines fly from the corners of the globe into Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB). Of particular interest, direct flights from Hong Kong (CX), Bangkok (TG), Sydney (QF) to Johannesburg and the heart of South Africa allows for a far less arduous journey for our Asian client schools than in times past. From JNB there are easy and convenient connections to Cape Town, Durban, Kimberley and other gateways. Cape Town International Airport, Africa’s 3rd busiest airport by number of passengers, has numerous non-stop flights arriving from a variety of European capitals as well as from the Middle East.
BTW: JNB is one of the few airports in the world that has direct flights (non-stop) to all 6 inhabited continents; others include Dubai International Airport and Doha International Airport.
