It’s hard to imagine having to get back into the swing of the working world so soon after Christmas. And because of this, Summer holidays are the perfect reset before the New Year. And, along with the New Year, comes the New Year’s resolutions.

So, what do we need to make these resolutions become a reality? More time, of course! We could all do with a little more time to be doing the things we actually want to be doing. Whether it’s learning to play an instrument, spending the day with our friends and family, or grabbing the chance to do some traveling.

muizenberg beach in cape town

South Africa Public Holidays

We’re living in one of the best countries in the world. And with all the South African public holidays, there’s a never-ending list of places to go and things to see. You’ve potentially got 16 days of holiday, while only taking off 5 days leave. For the rest of the year, you’ll be able to score 5 day holidays a month. You can spend that time jetting off for a long weekend or melting the hours with your loved ones.

public holiday calendar

Overall Best Times For SA Holidays

The key to making things this all work out? Plan your time-off well in advance. The later you put in your leave dates, the less likely you’ll actually be able to take those leave dates. Make your leave days count, and consider when the best times to plan your travels are.

Best times to visit Cape Town: The best time to visit Cape town is definitely going to be over the December holidays. Outdoor music festivals, wine farms, hiking trails, camping and rooftop bars will keep you busy all holiday. From Cape Town, you can rent a car and make your way around the Western Cape. Here you can visit some beautiful places, like Hermanus and the Garden Route.

Best times to visit Johannesburg: Book your cheap flights to Johannesburg and take a drive up the Kruger National Park. September is the absolute best time to visit the park, given that it’s the dry season – so it’s a lot easier to spot the wildlife. As well as safaris, Jozi has a buzzing night-life. No matter the time, you’ll always find some type of amazing event.

south african safari

Best times to visit Durban: The Easter holidays in April are the longest, which is perfect for planning a family holiday. Take a visit to uShaka Marine World and explore the marine environment. Or, take a shark boat tour or head to Tala Game reserve for an adventurous bushwalk.

The weather’s also still good between April and May, so that means plenty of time for beach trips, too. Cheap flights to Durban can be booked through Mango Airlines, Kulula Airlines, and Safair.

If you’re planning on doing a long-trip around the provinces, April and May are your best bets. With December offering you the most leave, you’ll be silly not to book a trip around the country.

Booking Your South African Holidays

Keep in mind that things start getting pricey when it comes to the holidays in South Africa. As well as the busy holiday seasons, booking your flights and accommodation last-minute also work out to be more costly.

Booking flights in advance ensure that you don’t end up paying almost double for flights, given how in-demand they’ll be. Well, what are you waiting for? Start planning for the SA holidays now!