Warm-up winter escapes
Winter in very sunny South Africa envelops large parts of the country in chilly temperatures and even snow in some places. This cold season runs from somewhere around May to August each year, depending on which area of South Africa you happen to be in. While many might find solace in snuggling under their own duvets in the comfort of familiar spaces, fortunately for those who love adventure, there are plenty of warmer places to discover. With no need for long flights or visa hassles, you can escape the cold and experience the best of South Africa’s winter warming destinations. East or West, which is best?
East Coast tropical escape
A quick flight to Durban, or perhaps a half-day drive from Gauteng, positions you to drive north towards magnificent Zululand and a warmer, more tropical climate. Here, you can enjoy coastal forests and endless warm water idles. Close to the Mozambique border, you’ll find the beautiful Josini Dam, which boasts aquatic wildlife and big game viewing rolled into one. Stay on a houseboat and be enthralled by wildlife viewing from the water, or languish at the relaxing lakeside hotel. This region boasts Sodwana Bay for scuba diving and Lake Sibaya, which is the largest freshwater lake in South Africa. Here, there is plenty of variety in winter, with beach escapes and a wide range of sizzling safaris. Game reserves abound in this area and the wildlife is both mighty and prolific.
West Coast wild ocean meander
If Cape Town is a starting point, then the options are always endless! Heading north up the west coast of South Africa is a wonderful way to make a slow winter escape that mixes remote seascapes with vast Namaqualand plains or the cosy Swartberg and Cederberg Mountains with a peek into the wilderness of the Karoo. So many choices. Accommodation on this coastline is plentiful and varied and can be found in many places – think Langebaan and Paternoster, or venture further north and go whale watching in Lamberts Bay. Experience the splendour of open-air restaurants offering the freshest seafood and salty air that soothes the soul. If you love to road-trip, then keep driving to the Namaqualand National Park, where the fascinating little town of Kamieskroon sprouts from the arid landscape like the prolific wildflowers that it hosts each spring. Sunsets are spectacular, and the hearth fires burn as brightly as the stars at night.
Mountain magnificence
Staring down your enemy has been known to work – so as another alternative, why not head straight into the winter mountains where it’s coldest. Yes – the mighty Drakensberg mountains offer a fantastically wide range of winter getaways that are geared to minimise the chill and maximise the cosy factor. Think mountain lodges and boutique hotels or farm stays on the rolling green slopes of this famous range. Geared to making your stay hospitable and keeping you snug, the hospitality in the area is endless and the scenery is simply panoramic in its majesty and vastness.
There is winter warmth to be found all over South Africa, even when the worst chill sets in. Take a mid-winter break and find the heat – in hearty food, roaring fires, wild oceans and tropical lushness.
