October 2026
South Africa
South Africa offers an uplifting variety of journeys, from dramatic coastlines and generous food culture to wildlife landscapes and vibrant cities. The best time depends on your plans: November to March is generally warm and inviting around Cape Town, while the drier months from May to September are often rewarding for wildlife viewing in the Kruger region; spring also brings the possibility of wildflowers on the West Coast, depending on the rains. Cape Town and Table Mountain, the Garden Route around Knysna, the Cape Winelands and Kruger National Park make excellent starting points, while Johannesburg's museums and creative neighbourhoods add valuable perspective. The country's many languages and communities are a rich part of its identity, best approached with curiosity rather than assumptions. Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism and African traditional beliefs are among its varied religious traditions, sometimes overlapping in personal practice. At mosques, temples, churches and community sites, follow local guidance on clothing, shoes and photography. Choosing local guides and listening to the stories behind each place adds warmth and depth to a South African visit.
Photographs
54 photosPark Hyatt - Johannesburg
Where every trip begins and ends — the suite, the courtyard and the long breakfasts that set the pace for everything that follows.
Welcoming dinner and drinks
The first evening at the hotel — cocktails in the lounge, oysters and small plates, and a dinner table that stretches happily into the night.
Bubbles and oysters
Flutes of something cold and a bowl of oysters over crushed ice — the hotel's favourite way to open an evening.
Breakfast
Slow mornings on the terrace — green juice, warm pastries and fruit while the courtyard wakes up. Everything arrives beautifully set and spotlessly neat, every plate and glass in its place, and it tastes as good as it looks.
Brunch
The late-morning table — granola and berries, eggs done properly, and something sparkling on the side, with nowhere to be until the afternoon.
St Francis - Eastern Cape
We drove down and spent one night here — an easy drive, and even though we went in winter and the weather wasn't at its best, it was still beautiful. Slow mornings on the coast: coffee and eggs with the sea in view, a scooter along the palm-lined roads, and afternoons that stretch out without a plan.
Hōseki - Cape Town
An evening of small plates and quiet luxury — the koi pond, the sculpture garden and a table that keeps giving.
Marble - Johannesburg
The city from above — a rooftop lounge at dusk, the skyline burning orange behind the glass, and a wine cellar worth lingering in.