
Currently seeing:
Bisate Lodge

Currently seeing:
Kwessi Dunes

Currently seeing:
La Petite Ferme

Currently seeing:
Morukuru Family De Hoop

Currently seeing:
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

Currently seeing:
Victoria Falls River Lodge
The Atlantic Seaboard, also known as Cape Town’s “Riviera”, stretches from the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, on the north shore of Table Mountain, all the way down the west side of the Cape Peninsula to Hout Bay. The area is sandwiched between the glistening Atlantic Ocean and the slopes of Lions Head and the Twelve Apostles and features both stunning sunrises and sunsets. While the water can be a little chilly, beaches like Clifton and Camps Bay are popular for beach-bumming and swimming. Above all else, however, this area is bursting with great cuisine, friendly faces, fun activities, and natural wonder.
For the ideal first-time experience, we suggest a 4-night stay. This allows enough time to cover Cape Town's top attractions: Table Mountain, Robben Island, Kirstenbosch Gardens, Cape Point, Cape Peninsula, and the Cape Winelands. If possible, extending your stay is worthwhile to fully relish the city's offerings. Cape Town also serves as an excellent hub for exploring numerous attractions from a central location.
Visa requirements depend on your nationality. Citizens from certain countries may be exempt from obtaining a visa for short stays. To determine if you need a visa, it's best to check with the South African embassy or consulate in your home country. Find out more here. Additionally, South Africa offers a visa waiver program for certain countries, allowing visitors to enter for tourism purposes without a visa for a specified period. Make sure you have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months from the date of your entry into South Africa and at least 1 blank page in your passport for endorsements.
South Africa is safe to visit, but like most developing countries, it's important to be street-smart:
For those with limited time, the reserves in Cape Town’s surrounds are ideal. The Western Cape game reserves near Cape Town promise remarkable safari moments. Reserves like Sanbona and Melozhori can be reached within a 2-3 hours drive from the city, while the Garden Route area offers various thrilling options with a unique experience of its own. Find out more on our blog How to Combine a Cape Town Holiday with a Safari.
When driving in South Africa, travellers can use their valid foreign driver's licence if it meets specific criteria: it should be in English (or any other official South African language) or have an official English translation, and include a photo and signature. Road conditions vary by region. In the Western Cape, roads are generally well-maintained. In areas like the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal, occasional potholes may be encountered. To navigate, we recommend using Google Maps for the best routes, which will likely correspond to well-kept roads.
With an indescribable allure best experienced in person, Cape Town stands as one of the world’s best cities. What’s more, it holds another must-see in South Africa, an incredible flat-topped mountain towering over the city, a.k.a. Table Mountain. A well-rounded destination, travellers can look forward to natural sights like majestic mountain ranges, white sandy beaches, and rolling vineyards. Add to that scenic coastal drives, a blend of diverse cultures, world-class fine dining, gourmet markets and shops, and even the opportunity to access a malaria-free realm of wildlife. Read Our Complete Guide to Cape Town to learn more.
South Africa uses the currency Rand (ZAR) exclusively. You can exchange your currency for Rand at selected airports, banks, currency exchange offices, or ATMs. Card facilities are widely available, reducing the need for excessive cash on hand. Before your trip, check if your credit or debit card will work in South Africa for convenient card payments. However, it's advisable to carry some cash for small tips and when visiting remote destinations.
Because of the easy way we communicated with our Viatu expert, it felt like planning our holidays with a friend. It made it really flexible and perfectly suitable for our needs. The accommodations that he suggested were just wonderful and a perfect mix of everything we needed.
Nicole
Our Viatu experience was just amazing, starting with the first discussions and the planning of our trip to Namibia. The Viatu team did a great job planning the trip according to our wishes and preferences.
Stefano
What can I say? We've had an absolute blast traveling through Namibia. Soooo many good new memories! We booked our trip a bit last minute but had amazing support from Viatu to get all the information in time.
Anna
We had an incredible journey with Viatu and many unforgettable memories in South Africa. The journey was tailor-made to our wishes and the communication with Alex really easy, friendly and helpful. All the information was accessible online at any time, nicely presented and structured in an overview.
Michèle
We had the most wonderful experience with Viatu and the trip of a lifetime. My sister and I travelled for 3,5 weeks through Namibia and South Africa, and everything was perfectly planned and just amazing.
Valerie
With super short notice, they organised a trip that was just perfect. Loved everything about it! Will definitely recommend Viatu to all my friends!
Margherita
The recommended accommodations were perfect for us and everything was as expected. Even though we booked on very short notice, everything went smoothly and was well managed by Viatu.
Jan
I'm very thankful for my first Viatu experience. The 3-week trip across Namibia combined incredible landscapes and nature, mindblowing eco-friendly lodges and utter peace of mind. The organisation and support of the Viatu team were spot-on - this is the way to impress. Thanks a lot!
Christoph
We loved using the Viatu Trip Builder to design our holidays in South Africa. It was super easy and transparent. Our holidays were great and the few times we needed support, our consultant Benoit was very quick and helpful.
Anita
I had a once in a lifetime trip with Viatu. It was extremely exciting, adventurous and diverse! As my first trip, I found it to be very enjoyable. Everything was totally planned out from A to Z.
Irina
Because of the easy way we communicated with our Viatu expert, it felt like planning our holidays with a friend. It made it really flexible and perfectly suitable for our needs. The accommodations that he suggested were just wonderful and a perfect mix of everything we needed.
Nicole
Our Viatu experience was just amazing, starting with the first discussions and the planning of our trip to Namibia. The Viatu team did a great job planning the trip according to our wishes and preferences.
Stefano
What can I say? We've had an absolute blast traveling through Namibia. Soooo many good new memories! We booked our trip a bit last minute but had amazing support from Viatu to get all the information in time.
Anna
We had an incredible journey with Viatu and many unforgettable memories in South Africa. The journey was tailor-made to our wishes and the communication with Alex really easy, friendly and helpful. All the information was accessible online at any time, nicely presented and structured in an overview.
Michèle
We had the most wonderful experience with Viatu and the trip of a lifetime. My sister and I travelled for 3,5 weeks through Namibia and South Africa, and everything was perfectly planned and just amazing.
Valerie
With super short notice, they organised a trip that was just perfect. Loved everything about it! Will definitely recommend Viatu to all my friends!
Margherita
The recommended accommodations were perfect for us and everything was as expected. Even though we booked on very short notice, everything went smoothly and was well managed by Viatu.
Jan
I'm very thankful for my first Viatu experience. The 3-week trip across Namibia combined incredible landscapes and nature, mindblowing eco-friendly lodges and utter peace of mind. The organisation and support of the Viatu team were spot-on - this is the way to impress. Thanks a lot!
Christoph
We loved using the Viatu Trip Builder to design our holidays in South Africa. It was super easy and transparent. Our holidays were great and the few times we needed support, our consultant Benoit was very quick and helpful.
Anita
I had a once in a lifetime trip with Viatu. It was extremely exciting, adventurous and diverse! As my first trip, I found it to be very enjoyable. Everything was totally planned out from A to Z.
Irina