How to Find Luxury Hotels in South Africa

Located on the southern edge of the African continent, the country of South Africa holds rich treasures. Lush vineyards, gorgeous beaches as well as some of the world's best national parks and nature preserves are just a taste of what this amazing country has to offer. Follow these steps to start planning your trip.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer with Internet access for making reservations

Book Your Lodging in South Africa

1. Know that you can book your accommodations in South Africa by calling South Africa Tourism at their New York office at 212-730-2929, or by visiting their Web site (see Resources below).
2. Enjoy easy access to some of South Africa's most famous sights (including the Cape of Good Hope, the Cape Winelands and Table Mountain) when you book luxury accommodations in Cape Town.
3. Check out accommodations in suburbs like Camps Bay and Simon's Town where you'll tend to find luxury rooms at budget prices.
4. Explore the east coast city of Durban from one of its quaint and affordable beach-front bed-and-breakfast inns.
5. Use your five-star guest house accommodations in the Northern Cape's Upington as a launching pad for a trek to the stunning Augrabie Falls.
6. Book luxury accommodations on the Western Cape to take advantage of the nature hikes, wine cellars and unspoiled wildlife preserves prevalent throughout the region.

Know Your Destination

7. Know that South Africa is a remarkable country filled with rich cultural attractions, abundant wildlife and a huge variety of tourist-friendly accommodations.
8. Expect warm daytime temperatures in South Africa all year round, but pack some winter clothes for the cold nights of June and July.
9. Be aware that most tourists will need a visa as well as a passport in order to enter South Africa.

Organize Transportation

10. Fly into South Africa from anywhere in the world via one of its 10 major international airports.
11. Enjoy painless travel between cities in South Africa by means of its excellent plane, bus, train and car-for-hire services.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid being refused entry into South Africa by ensuring that your passport is valid for at least 6 months and that it has two consecutive blank pages. Know that you will also need to show your return ticket upon arrival.
• Know that South Africa has one of the highest rates of HIV infection in the world. Do not under any circumstances have unprotected sex there.
• Avoid visiting townships without a professional guide. Tourists are frequent targets of violent crime in these areas.
• Educate yourself on the best ways to protect against mosquito bites during northeast South Africa's peak malaria season (November through May).

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