Nightlife in South Africa

Tsakane Nxumalo is a sergeant in the Black Mambas, South Africa's first all-women anti-poaching team.

Thanks to tour deals and budget airlines, you don’t necessarily have to spend a small fortune to go on a South African safari anymore—but what if you could experience a bucket-list game drive from the comfort of your computer?

The parent and child relationship is a famously complicated one. It’s one of the few in life where the love is often so pure—and the bond so established—that both members expect to continually transition together through the different stages of life. But as children grow and develop their own identity, boundaries are redefined and the foundational rules drummed into us are questioned.

Kalmoesfontein Farm

For visitors to South Africa, wildlife encounters are often top of the list. Thornybush Game Lodge, located in the Limpopo Province of South Africa, is a dream destination for wildlife enthusiasts. Situated on a 34,000-acre private game reserve adjoining Kruger National Park, the luxury safari lodge offers its guests a chance to immerse themselves in the surrounding wilderness and get up close with the wildlife.

In southern South Africa, right along the coast, you’ll find an adult-only oasis called Nima Lodge. This hotel is a perfect destination for travelers looking to reconnect with nature and explore all the natural beauty of South Africa, whether it’s the nearby parks or enjoying the view from an on-site spa.

South Africa has diverse landscapes, from beautiful beaches to rugged mountains, making it a perfect destination for nature lovers. One of the unique accommodations in South Africa is the Stargazing Cube Misty Mountain Cube, located in the scenic Garden Route region.

Bringing private safari experiences to adventurers from across the world, Tswalu Kalahari’s trips reach far beyond a stereotypical safari. The largest private game reserve in South Africa, Tswalu doubles as the home of the Tswalu Foundation. Dedicated to environmental research, the foundation joins Tswalu’s lauded safari camps in sharing the secrets of the Kalahari with curious visitors.

‘Safari’ traditionally means journey in Swahili, but the word now describes the ultimate bucket-list trip to discover Africa’s wondrous wildlife. Yet today, that wildlife seems increasingly vulnerable, so how do you ensure your safari will be both safe and ethically sound?

Being an eco-friendly visitor is about more than avoiding plastic bottles (although that helps). It’s also about adding enjoyment to your holiday by learning more about your destination and giving something back, something that’s especially easy in South Africa’s Limpopo province. Here are our favourite sustainable tourism and conservation projects in this exciting region.

Whatever your scene, from sweaty electronic music dancefloors to open-air beer gardens, Cape Town has it all. Being a hedonistic city – especially in the summer – Cape Town has plenty of great bars where you can drink and party, especially on Long and Bree Streets where it’s safe and busy, and there are taxis to get you home. In the summer, the Atlantic Seaboard is a great option, and the party starts with the first sundowners. Taken from the new Rough Guide to Cape Town, these are 7 of our favourite places to sample the city’s nightlife.

We recently invited community projects and travel businesses to tell us their stories. We especially wanted to hear from initiatives that do things differently to make a difference — projects like the inspirational Creseldah Education Foundation (CEF), based in the Mpumalanga province of eastern South Africa.