Cape Town
+42%€85median tour
€46middle half of tours€141
- 29% under €50
- #41 cheapest of 50
Africa · 7 cities
Things to Do in South Africa
Seven South African destinations in one place: why Cape Town and Kruger have opposite seasons, the attraction most likely to be closed when you arrive, and what a day out costs in the Cape.
5,420 tours listed by Viator 7 cities we cover Median tour €85–€85 Free cancellation
Where to go
Cities of South Africa
In the order Viator’s own catalogue puts them — most-booked first, not alphabetical.
Full list
All cities, by region
Grouped by region using Viator’s own map of the country. The first block is the places it files directly under South Africa.
What it costs
What tours cost in South Africa
From our own price index — 2,400 tours across 50 cities, collected August 2026. Medians, not averages: a couple of multi-day packages drag an average into fiction.
Vertical line is the global median, €60. Full table for all 50 cities in the Tour Price Index.
Boats & cruises
Harbour cruises, catamarans, kayaks and sunset sailings.
ExploreFood & drink
Street food, markets and tasting walks with a local guide.
ExploreWine & breweries
Vineyards, cellars, breweries and distilleries.
ExploreCity tours
Guided sightseeing on foot, by bus and by open-top tram.
ExploreAdventure
Rafting, zip lines, canyoning, quad bikes and climbing.
ExploreDay trips
Out of the city and back the same day.
ExplorePhotography
Guided shoots at the right hour, and photographers for hire.
ExploreNature & wildlife
National parks, whale watching, safaris and jungle walks.
ExplorePractical info
Know before you book
The things that change a decision — not a retelling of the guidebook.
The Table Mountain cableway closes for wind
Frequently, and at short notice — it is the single most cancelled attraction in the country. Check the operator’s status page on the morning and go up at the first opportunity of your stay rather than saving it for the last day.
Kruger is not near Cape Town
It is a two-hour flight away, at the opposite end of the country. From Johannesburg it is a five-hour drive or a short flight to Hoedspruit or Nelspruit. Planning a safari as a Cape Town day trip is the most common mistake made with this country.
The two halves have opposite best seasons
Cape Town is Mediterranean: dry, warm summers from November to March. Kruger’s game viewing is best in the dry winter, May to September, when the bush thins out and animals concentrate at water. A trip that wants both is a compromise either way.
Whale season runs June to November
Southern right whales come into the bays around Hermanus, close enough to watch from the cliff path without a boat. September and October are the peak. It is one of the best land-based whale viewing sites anywhere.
Load shedding and street sense
Scheduled power cuts have been a fact of life for years — hotels and restaurants run generators, and an app tells you the schedule. Separately, the ordinary advice is not to walk at night, use ride apps, and take township tours with operators based in the community rather than driving through.
Cape Town is above the world average
Its median tour is €85 against a global median of €60. Winelands days, shark cage diving and Cape Point full-day trips make up much of the catalogue and sit at the upper end; the city itself is inexpensive to eat and travel in.
When to visit
South Africa through the seasons
What is open, how busy it gets, and when to book ahead.
Summer
Dec–Feb
- Best for
- Cape Town, the winelands, the beaches and the Garden Route at their best.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Peak season and the domestic holidays — the Cape books out and prices rise sharply.
Autumn
Mar–May
- Best for
- The best compromise months: Cape weather still good, bush starting to thin.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- April is the quiet favourite — harvest in the winelands and fewer visitors everywhere.
Winter
Jun–Aug
- Best for
- Kruger at its best for game viewing, whales at Hermanus, low Cape prices.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Cape Town is wet and windy now; the safari half of the country is at its peak.
Spring
Sep–Nov
- Best for
- Whales at their peak, wildflowers in Namaqualand, good game viewing still.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- September and October are the best all-round window for combining Cape and bush.
Frequently asked
South Africa: common questions
How many days do you need in South Africa?
Twelve to fourteen days for the standard trip: four or five in Cape Town, three or four on the Garden Route, and three or four on safari near Kruger, with a domestic flight between the two halves. Ten days means dropping the Garden Route.
What does a tour in South Africa cost?
Cape Town sits at a median of €85 in our index of 50 cities, against a global median of €60 — above the world average. Private safari lodges near Kruger are a separate and much higher category again, priced per night all-inclusive.
When is the best time to visit?
September to November or March to May, which give a workable balance between Cape Town’s summer and Kruger’s dry winter. If the safari is the priority, come in June to September. If the Cape is, come in December to March.
Is South Africa safe for visitors?
Crime rates are high nationally and concentrated in areas visitors do not go. The practical rules are consistent: do not walk at night, use ride apps rather than hailing, keep valuables out of sight in traffic, and ask locally which areas to avoid.
Where should you go on safari?
Kruger for scale and value — you can self-drive the national park cheaply, or stay in a private reserve alongside it for off-road access and guided drives. Madikwe and Pilanesberg are malaria-free alternatives closer to Johannesburg, which matters if you are travelling with children.