South Africa: Kruger, Garden Route & Cape Town

_{This trip starts in Johannesburg and ends in Cape Town}

You will need to fly into O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) and out of Cape Town International Airport (CPT.)

Yes! Like any destination, South Africa is best when you travel smart and use common sense at all times. You will also have a local guide by your side at all times, giving you expert advice. From spotting the Big 5 in Kruger to surfing in Jeffreys Bay, hiking Table Mountain, or soaking up the Cape Town vibes, South Africa has SO much to offer. We always keep a close eye on every destination we operate in, and we'll always give you a heads-up if anything changes.

Tap water is generally safe to drink in South Africa's major cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg, but in rural areas and on safari we'd recommend sticking to bottled or filtered water.

South Africa has 11 official languages, including Zulu, Xhosa and Afrikaans, but English is widely spoken and used in most tourist areas. Learning a local greeting or two will always go down a treat with locals, though!

Yes! ATMs are widely available in cities and towns, and card payments (Visa and Mastercard) are accepted almost everywhere. Cash still comes in handy for markets, tips and smaller stalls, though. Your Local Legends will be able to help you find the best ATMs with the lowest charges.

Yes, tipping is very much part of the culture in South Africa. 10-15% is standard in restaurants, and it's customary to tip your safari guides, drivers and hospitality workers too. Your Local Legend will be able to advise you on this while on tour.

Like any country, South Africa has a range of climates throughout the year, from Kruger's baking heat to Cape Town's winter storms.

Summer (December-February): Hot, humid, and thunderstorm-heavy in Joburg and Kruger, while Cape Town is dry, sunny and buzzing with beach season.

Autumn (March-May): One of the best all-rounders. Mild temperatures, thinning bush for safari, and Cape Town's vineyards are in full harvest mode.

Winter (June-August): Cold mornings, especially in Joburg and the Cape, but dry days and the best game viewing of the year in Kruger.

Spring (September-November): Wildflowers bloom in the Cape, temperatures start climbing, and it's still a great window for safari before the summer rains roll in.

According to the locals, the dry winter months (May–September) are the best time to visit South Africa. The skies are clear, bushes are thinner, which means it's easier for wildlife spotting!

There are no mandatory vaccinations for most travellers, though some routes pass through malaria zones, so it's worth chatting to your doctor about antimalarials. We're not medically professionals, so we can't give official advice on vaccines you need/don't need.

Visa requirements often change, and it is always worth checking your local government website for the most up-to-date information.

You can book pre-nights, airport transfers and other extras at the time of booking or up to 7 days before the tour starts.

These can be booked:
-Through your online account area
-Through our sales team, you can contact them at info@trutravels.com

Yes! If you are more than 60 days out from your tour you can change the date of your tour once. You can also switch to another tour which is the same value or more.

You’re welcome to arrive at any time on Day 1 of the tour. Hotel/hostel check-in is usually from around 2 pm, so most people tend to plan their arrival for around this time. However, if you’d like to arrive a little earlier, we can also help arrange pre-nights at the starting accommodation.

There are no planned activities during the day on Day 1, giving everyone plenty of time to arrive, check in and settle in before the tour officially begins. In the evening, the group will usually head out for a welcome dinner at around 7 pm. This is a great opportunity to meet your group leader and fellow travellers. Your guide will also give you a quick overview of the trip and help break the ice, so everyone can get to know each other before the adventure begins!

No! Whether you love a sunset beer or prefer an early night in order to make the most out of every day, or even a bit of both, it's up to you how you spend your time on tour! Our guides are always on hand to suggest a range of evening activities on tour. From night markets to rooftop bars, fire shows and local cultural experiences, there's a huge variety of options! There's no pressure, ever - it's your adventure after all!

Yes, of course! You will receive a welcome email from your tour leader a week before your tour starts. This will include a QR code to join the group chat on WhatsApp and other important information before joining. In the meantime, you can join our Facebook group TruTravellers to connect with others.

Yes, the majority of our travellers will be travelling on their own! Roughly 65% of our TruTravellers come solo! We have designed our trips specifically with solo travellers in mind, so you can be assured you’ll meet lots of others travelling alone like yourself along the way. This of course doesn’t mean our trips are only for solo travellers, but it does mean that you don’t need to worry you’ll be surrounded by a group that already knows each other.

Yes! Let us know when you are booking your trip about any requirements you might have we can plan ahead and make sure this doesn’t affect your trip!

Most of the people that join us on tour are 18-thirtysomethings! We do have an upper age limit of 45 on our tours. If you are over 45 and have travelled with us before please contact our sales team at info@trutravels.com.

Our Essentials trips are exclusively built for travellers aged 18-29! Don't worry if this isn't you - our incredible Classic, Flashpacker, Limited Edition, Multi-country and Ski tours are open to everyone under 45! There's a perfect style of tour for everyone - happy browsing!

Yep! You will never lose your money. You’re protected. TruTravels is both ABTA and ATOL registered meaning your money is safe.