South Africa is an amazing country – with outstanding natural beauty and some of the best wildlife in the world.

It has something for everyone. From the majesty of Table Mountain standing guard over Cape Town, to the penguins nesting on Boulders Beach, to the lush Garden Route that winds its way along the coast and then to whale watching from Hermanus and the dry bushveld of the Kruger and the arid Kalhari, it’s no surprise that once people have come to South Africa, they often return again and again. There is so much to see and do.

Top 5 reasons why South Africa is a great destination for holidays in 2016/17

1. The flight from the UK to South Africa is around 12 hours - fairly long, but there’s no time difference – so no jet lag. Such a bonus. And an overnight flight means no wasted time.

2. The exchange rate: South Africa is one of the few destinations where the pound still buys you a great deal. In fact, you’ll be amazed at how you can dine like kings and queens for the price of a fast food takeaway at home!

3. The quality of the food and wine. Eating out in South Africa is a pleasure – you can enjoy some of the best produce in the world at amazing prices.

The vineyards of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek produce many very good wines – they are a revelation to many. And the wineries are great to visit, often having cafes/restaurants so you can enjoy your wines with food.

Unlike in Europe, you tend to have to pay for tastings but they remain excellent value and you don’t need to feel guilty about not being able to buy some bottles to take home!

4. The wildlife is amazing. From July to November you can whale watch Southern Right and Humpback whales (who come to this stretch of coast to breed and give birth) from the small seaside town of Hermanus. Great white shark cage diving is available in nearby Gansbaai.

There are penguins on the beaches, baboons, ostrich and antelope.

But most people come to South Africa for safari. The Kruger National Park and the private game reserves that surround it are one of the world’s greatest wildlife conservation areas – home to the big 5 (lion, elephant, rhino, leopard and buffalo) and the experience of seeing these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat is magical.

Many visitors stay in luxury lodges or camps but there are also simpler self-catering camps, often in spectacular settings and ideal for self-driving. A safari need not break the bank.

5. For lovers of flora and fauna, the Cape offers quite extraordinary vistas of carpets of wild flowers in August/September – a sight to behold and once seen, never forgotten.

And all this, without even mentioning the natural wonders of the Victoria Falls, Table Mountain, the Cape of Good Hope, the political history of the Zulu battlefields, Soweto and Robben Island, the World Heritage Sites of the Bushman paintings in the Drakensberg Mountains , the Cradle of Humankind at Gauteng and the ISimangaliso Wetland Park in KwaZulu-Natal.

You can see why once visitors have been to South Africa, they keep on returning.

If you would like to explore the possibility of a trip to South Africa, then please contact 2BY2 Holidays, tell them what you would like and see what is possible.