Travelling to South Africa in the Southern Hemisphere winter time (Northern Hemisphere summer) – June to August – can prove disappointing for travellers if you go to the wrong places at the wrong time of year.

Yes, it is true that South Africa is an all year round destination with guaranteed sun in 8 out of the 9 provinces during our winter months (June to August). So while travelling to Cape Town and the Western Cape province (the only province with a Mediterranean climate – winter rain fall – in South Africa) in June to August is still possible, you could find yourself with more rainy days than you bargained for.

The rest of the country has summer rain fall and sunny winters and summers, the only difference being that the winter months are slightly cooler (especially at night) and days are shorter.

The other exception is the inland areas such as the Karoo and Drakensberg areas where winter snow, while beautiful, can ruin a poorly planned road trip.

The below two options provide you with as much sun as possible while still enjoying a variety of sights and destinations.

Option 1

Route Segment: A – B

From: Hoedspruit Airport, Limpopo – Hoedspruit Airport, Hoedspruit, 1380, South Africa
To: Bundox Explorer Camp, Balule Nature Reserve – Klaserie Rd, South Africa
Distance: 18.5 km

Route Segment: B – C

From: Bundox Explorer Camp, Balule Nature Reserve – Klaserie Rd, South Africa
To: Amakhosi Safari Lodge, Pongola – Unnamed Road, South Africa
Distance: 574 km

Route Segment: C – D

From: Amakhosi Safari Lodge, Pongola – Unnamed Road, South Africa
To: Rhino River Lodge, Manyoni Game Reserve – Manyoni Private Game Reserve, North Gate, D240 Rd, South Africa
Distance: 71.6 km

Route Segment: D – E

From: Rhino River Lodge, Manyoni Game Reserve – Manyoni Private Game Reserve, North Gate, D240 Rd, South Africa
To: Hluhluwe Bush Camp, Hluhluwe – Unnamed Road, Hluhluwe, South Africa
Distance: 62.7 km

Route Segment: E – F

From: Hluhluwe Bush Camp, Hluhluwe – Unnamed Road, Hluhluwe, South Africa
To: Khaya La Manzi Lodge, Hibberdene – 162 Aubrey Rd, Hibberdene, 4220, South Africa
Distance: 370 km

Route Segment: F – G

From: Khaya La Manzi Lodge, Hibberdene – 162 Aubrey Rd, Hibberdene, 4220, South Africa
To: Umngazi Hotel & Spa, Port St Johns – Unnamed Road, Mgazi, South Africa
Distance: 285 km

Route Segment: G – H

From: Umngazi Hotel & Spa, Port St Johns – Unnamed Road, Mgazi, South Africa
To: Crawfords Beach Lodge, Chintsa – 42 Steenbras Dr, Chintsa, East London, 5275, South Africa
Distance: 297 km

Route Segment: H – I

From: Crawfords Beach Lodge, Chintsa – 42 Steenbras Dr, Chintsa, East London, 5275, South Africa
To: Woodall Country House & Spa, Addo – Jan Smuts Rd, South Africa
Distance: 334 km

Route Segment: I – J

From: Woodall Country House & Spa, Addo – Jan Smuts Rd, South Africa
To: Sandals Guest House, St Francis Bay – 4 Napier Rd, St Francis Bay, 6312, South Africa
Distance: 139 km

Route Segment: J – K

From: Sandals Guest House, St Francis Bay – 4 Napier Rd, St Francis Bay, 6312, South Africa
To: Cape St Francis Resort, Cape St Francis – 53 Da Gama Rd, Cape St Francis, 6313, South Africa
Distance: 7.8 km

Route Segment: K – L

From: Cape St Francis Resort, Cape St Francis – 53 Da Gama Rd, Cape St Francis, 6313, South Africa
To: Dune Beach House, Wilderness – 31 Die Duin, Wilderness, 6560, South Africa
Distance: 246 km

Route Segment: L – M

From: Dune Beach House, Wilderness – 31 Die Duin, Wilderness, 6560, South Africa
To: Whalesong Lodge, De Kelders – 83 Cliff St, De Kelders, 7220, South Africa
Distance: 360 km

Route Segment: M – N

From: Whalesong Lodge, De Kelders – 83 Cliff St, De Kelders, 7220, South Africa
To: La Fontaine Boutique Hotel, Franschhoek – 21 Dirkie Uys St, Franschhoek, 7690, South Africa
Distance: 150 km

Route Segment: N – O

From: La Fontaine Boutique Hotel, Franschhoek – 21 Dirkie Uys St, Franschhoek, 7690, South Africa
To: Donkieskraal Guest Lodge, Leipoldtville – Unnamed Road, South Africa
Distance: 223 km

Route Segment: O – P

From: Donkieskraal Guest Lodge, Leipoldtville – Unnamed Road, South Africa
To: Farr Out Guest House, Paternoster – 23 Seemeeu Cres, Pelgrimsrust, Paternoster, 7381, South Africa
Distance: 140 km

Route Segment: P – Q

From: Farr Out Guest House, Paternoster – 23 Seemeeu Cres, Pelgrimsrust, Paternoster, 7381, South Africa
To: Cape Town Airport, Western Cape – Cape Town International Airport (CPT), Matroosfontein, Cape Town, 7490, South Africa
Distance: 161 km

Option 2

Route Segment: A – B

From: Durban Airport, KwaZulu Natal – Durban, South Africa
To: Hluhluwe Bush Camp, Hluhluwe – Unnamed Road, Hluhluwe, South Africa
Distance: 274 km

Route Segment: B – C

From: Hluhluwe Bush Camp, Hluhluwe – Unnamed Road, Hluhluwe, South Africa
To: Rhino River Lodge, Manyoni Game Reserve – Manyoni Private Game Reserve, North Gate, D240 Rd, South Africa
Distance: 62.9 km

Route Segment: C – D

From: Rhino River Lodge, Manyoni Game Reserve – Manyoni Private Game Reserve, North Gate, D240 Rd, South Africa
To: Amakhosi Safari Lodge, Pongola – Unnamed Road, South Africa
Distance: 71.6 km

Route Segment: D – E

From: Amakhosi Safari Lodge, Pongola – Unnamed Road, South Africa
To: Bundox Explorer Camp, Balule Nature Reserve – Klaserie Rd, South Africa
Distance: 575 km

Route Segment: E – F

From: Bundox Explorer Camp, Balule Nature Reserve – Klaserie Rd, South Africa
To: Thakadu River Camp, Madikwe – Unnamed Road, South Africa
Distance: 612 km

Route Segment: F – G

From: Thakadu River Camp, Madikwe – Unnamed Road, South Africa
To: Kalahari Ranger’s Lodge, McCarthy’s Rest – Unnamed Road, South Africa
Distance: 606 km

Route Segment: G – H

From: Kalahari Ranger’s Lodge, McCarthy’s Rest – Unnamed Road, South Africa
To: Dundi Lodge, Augrabies – Unnamed Road, South Africa
Distance: 526 km

Route Segment: H – I

From: Dundi Lodge, Augrabies – Unnamed Road, South Africa
To: Naries Namakwa Retreat, Komagaas – Naries, South Africa
Distance: 340 km

Route Segment: I – J

From: Naries Namakwa Retreat, Komagaas – Naries, South Africa
To: Donkieskraal Guest Lodge, Leipoldtville – Unnamed Road, South Africa
Distance: 380 km

Route Segment: J – K

From: Donkieskraal Guest Lodge, Leipoldtville – Unnamed Road, South Africa
To: Farr Out Guest House, Paternoster – 23 Seemeeu Cres, Pelgrimsrust, Paternoster, 7381, South Africa
Distance: 140 km

Route Segment: K – L

From: Farr Out Guest House, Paternoster – 23 Seemeeu Cres, Pelgrimsrust, Paternoster, 7381, South Africa
To: La Fontaine Boutique Hotel, Franschhoek – 21 Dirkie Uys St, Franschhoek, 7690, South Africa
Distance: 186 km

Route Segment: L – M

From: La Fontaine Boutique Hotel, Franschhoek – 21 Dirkie Uys St, Franschhoek, 7690, South Africa
To: Cape Town Airport, Western Cape – Cape Town International Airport (CPT), Matroosfontein, Cape Town, 7490, South Africa
Distance: 73.1 km

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