What is a Vacation?
A vacation or holiday is either a leave of absence from a regular job or an instance of leisure travel away from home.
People often take a vacation during specific holiday observances or for specific festivals or celebrations. Vacations are often spent with friends or family.
Cheap Vacations In South Africa
Hartbeespoort
The thing about living in Jo’burg is that you tend to forget how quick and easy it can be to nip out of the city for a much-needed break. Here we plan ahead- we have meetings about meetings and talks about talks.
An unplanned weekend away is a little too Cape Town for our taste! And yet, around August or September, the city starts to wear on even the most hardened Jo’burger- it’s time to get away before you lose your cool at another taxi driver or start behaving like Gareth Cliff every time someone asks how you are!
Magaliesburg
The rather small (blink and you’ll miss it) village of Magaliesburg can be reached by taking a rather picturesque and relaxing hour or so drive westward from Jo’burg or Pretoria. The village itself lies in a valley between gorgeous mountains, indigenous woodlands, and meandering rivers.
Within a small stretch of kilometers, a large assortment of activities exists of the kind to entertain any nature of people. Whatever your thing is, if you need a weekend getaway, this area has it.
Your first stop should always be the Magalies Tourist shack for the latest on what’s up in the region, which could be anything from the CellarRats Wine Fest, to the Adoons Mountain Bike Relay.
Northern Drakensberg & Natal Midlands
Tucked away, deep in the Drakensberg, lies the road to a fantasy land. Not quite as enchanting as climbing through the cupboard or jumping down a rabbit hole, a short turn off Nottingham road in the Kwa Zulu-Natal Midlands starts the gentle climb to Cleopatra’s Mountain.
The drive takes you through a landscape that during this cold winter month is like driving through the set of a Tim Burton film. Brown farmland stretching to the left and right punctuated by the bony skeletons of naked trees marching off into the horizon, and when you think you have driven too far, keep going.
Elands & Lambert’s Bay
The thing about the West Coast is what you see is what you get: the open spaces that hide nothing, the rustic wind-swept fisherman’s cottages, and the smell of bokkoms: a local delicacy of sundried fish that permeates the air. It’s a place that allows you to take a minute to breathe in the fresh sea air as carpets of sand sting your knees.
And what better place to do so than along an untouched ElandsBay coastline? Approximately an hour’s drive from Langebaan and two from Cape Town, ElandsBay is a surfing hotspot that attracts many a beach bum in search of the perfect wave. Beaches are deserted, wild, and unblemished.
Hemel n Aarde Valley
Location
The road through the Hemel-en-Aarde (Heaven and Earth) Valley, between Caledon and Hermanus, is a rollercoaster of gravel and tarmac, dropping in giant steps surrounded by mountains, rows of vineyards, pine and eucalyptus, ruins, and a church before eventually reaching the coast.
About the Destination
The valley is dotted with wine farms and due to the cool sea breeze and clay soil, similar to ones from northern France, the region is unique in South Africa and known for its pinot noir and chardonnay. The wine farms are relatively young, the oldest being Hamilton Russell at only 35 years; however, the commitment to the expression of terroir and quality is proven in the taste.
What is the cheapest holiday destination in South Africa?
Bonnievale is one of the most affordable holiday destinations in South Africa. Known as The Valley of Cheese and Wine, is situated on the banks of the Breede River and surrounded by the Langeberg Mountain Range.
How much does it cost to vacation in South Africa?
You should plan to spend around R1,653 ($89) per day on your vacation in South Africa, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, R382 ($20) on meals for one day and R288 ($15) on local transportation.
Where can I go for a weekend away in South Africa?
There are so many choices for weekend getaways
- Escape to the Cape to hike Table Mountain.
- Head for the Drakensberg for a family getaway.
- Go trout fishing in Dullstroom.
- Take the kids on a getaway through the Midlands Meander.
- Embark on an adventure to God’s Window.
- Sample wines and fabulous food in the Cape Winelands.
What is the cheapest time of year to go to South Africa?
April, May, September, and October mean lower prices and great wildlife watching. South Africa’s shoulder seasons see smaller crowds and several important festivals — including April’s Splashy Fen Music Festival in Durban.