Winter Rains

In South Africa, we call it winter, the temperatures in the Eastern Cape drop to a daily average of around 26 degrees c, at night around 13 with the early mornings sometimes as low as perhaps seven degrees on occasions, a friend of mine who often holidays away from his London flat says to me “and you call this winter!”….

Today, as I write from this wonderful winter holiday destination, a vicious cold front is moving through, it reached as low as seven degrees this morning and now, at mid day it is only 13,5. Let’s think about this for a moment, this is a cold spell, in other parts of the world one cannot leave one’s pet outside for more than fifteen minutes or it will die. Next winter, the 2010 soccer world cup, the largest sport event in the world will bring thousands of travel visitors to South Africa. Are they panicking about temperatures, please don’t – I have watched telly and seen them play football in the UK and Europe in slushy left over snow, we call it mud! South Africa is a stunning winter destination.

Maybe a little longer in bed, take along an extra jersey just in case and enjoy the warmth of your hotel or bed and breakfast accommodation as you travel around South Africa, from Cape Town to Johannesburg, Port Alfred, Knysna, Durban to Port Elizabeth as you follow your team during the competition. Perhaps rent a holiday home to use as a base from which to travel.

Whilst camping and out door living might not be great at this time, this form of accommodation however will take you to some wonderful and interesting places. Visitors to South Africa have many other accommodation options, from self catering to luxury Hotels, browse around our recommended accommodation site http://www.staysa.co.za and check out the many bed options across all types and budgets.

A top for travel tip in winter is that wherever you go, pack a knee rug and an old fashioned hot water bottle that you can fill in the evenings and take it along to bed with you, the knee rug is warm if chilly air hits an open game viewing vehicle and it can double up as an extra blanket when you are sleeping.

Travel as little off the beaten track as you tour between soccer matches, as said, Winters are generally dry in South Africa, the exception perhaps being the Western Cape or Cape Town region, discuss your route and site seeing options with the owner of your accommodation establishment or travel agent. South Africans’ are proud of their country and will gladly assist any visitor.

South Africa is a wonderful winter destination, most international visitors head for the game parks in summer as they run from the European winters, whereas it’s actually in winter they should be visiting, animals are easier seen, the grass is shirted and they are often gathered around the waterholes.

Alan Hawkins – CEO