Everything You Need to Know Before Booking a Christmas Vacation in South Africa
As a local South African with a deep love for my home country, I want to warn you up front, Christmas in South Africa is very different from the typical Hallmark Christmas movie feels. Instead of a white, snowy Christmas, you’ll be in shorts and a Christmas T-shirt. Instead of drinking hot mulled wine or eggnog, you’ll be sipping on a cold, refreshing cider. Christmas in South Africa is all about having a good time in the sun with the people you love, eating delicious food and, even, having a family Christmas swim in the pool!
Accommodation Options for Your South African Christmas Vacation:
- Johannesburg: Sandton City Splendid Apartment 201
- Cape Town: Vineyard Hotel
- Plettenberg Bay: Franmarel
- Amakhala Game Reserve: Bukela Game Lodge
Links to Activities to Make Your Time Here Extra Special:
- Johannesburg: Soweto Street Walking Tour and Lunch
- Cape Town: Bo-Kaap Walking Tour
- Plettenberg Bay: Tsitsikamma Canopy Tour
South Africans love the build up to Christmas and the vibe across the whole country over December is vibrant and energetic. We even have a local word for this – Ke Dezemba. This is the time of year when the skies are blue, the vibes are awesome and everyone is in a good mood. It’s kind of like what summer break feels like in the Northern Hemisphere, but mixed with the festive joy and togetherness of Christmas.
If this sounds like your vibe and you’ve always wanted to experience everything this beautiful country has to offer, then Christmas in South Africa should definitely be on your list! This blog will show you exactly how to make the most of your South African Christmas vacation and experience Ke Dezemba like a local.
The Perfect South African December Itinerary
To start your South African Christmas adventure off, your flight will be landing in Johannesburg, at O. R. Thambo International Airport. This airport is located in the eastern suburbs of the city and is about 40 minutes away from Sandton, where I would suggest staying for 3 or 4 days to settle in. There are some great hotels in the area, but the guesthouses are even better and much homier. Make sure to hire a car ahead of your arrival, as South Africa isn’t very pedestrian friendly. While you’re in Johannesburg some of the best things to do in and around the city would be to take a guided tour through the township of Soweto, take a drive out to the Cradle of Humankind, as well as visiting Nelson Mandela Square or Monte Casino for a nice evening meal.
Once you’ve settled in and toured Johannesburg, it’s time to fly to Cape Town to start the coastal section of your trip. Definitely pre-book a rental car for when you arrive, as you’ll be heading along a Garden Route road trip after your stay in the city. Cape Town is probably the most well-known destination in South Africa, and with good reason. This vibrant city is not only buzzing with friendly locals, an incredible food scene and deep historical roots, but it is one of the most naturally beautiful cities in the world. Table Mountain, one of the new Seven Wonders of Nature, stands proudly over the city bowl. You’ll want to schedule in at least 5 or 6 days to fully explore and appreciate Cape Town.
Some highlights of the city include meeting the cutest colony of Cape Penguins at Boulder’s Beach, visiting the artistic and historical neighbourhood of Bo-Kaap, stopping at shops, cafes and restaurants and chatting to the locals as you wander around the city streets, and of course, heading up the majestic Table Mountain (just make sure to do this on a clear day that isn’t windy). Definitely schedule in a day or two to drive to the wine country of South Africa, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. These gorgeous towns are filled with incredible scenery, historic architecture and, of course, delicious wines! If you’re interested in learning more about the history of South Africa, book a tour to Robben Island, where the political hero, Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 of his 27 years spent in prison. This tour shows the sad history of the country, but stands as a reminder of why freedom is so important as a human right.
After you’ve taken in all that Cape Town has to offer, the rest of your time in South Africa will be spent road-tripping my personal favourite, the Garden Route. Filled with lush, green mountains and golden sandy beaches that stretch on for miles, the Garden Route is exactly what I would imagine the Garden of Eden to look like. You’ll need at least two weeks to really enjoy everything this special coastline has to offer. The Garden Route stretches along the coast between the cities of Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. The areas along the route that are the best to stay are Hermanus, Mossel Bay, Oudtshoorn, Wilderness, Tsitsikamma National Park and Plettenberg Bay. Plan to stay in Port Elizabeth for at least four days, with two nights to spend outside the city at Amakhala Game Reserve so you can experience the magic of a South African Big 5 safari!
From Port Elizabeth, you can either fly back to Cape Town or Johannesburg and then fly back home from there, with a tummy full of delicious local food and a heart full of unforgettable memories that were made in the beautiful country of South Africa!
The Typical South African Christmas Season Checklist
South Africans typically get together with family and friends and celebrate Christmas Eve and Christmas day with loved ones, just as most other countries do, with the slight difference of celebrating in the hot summer temperatures, having a BBQ and wearing flip-flops. The normal South African Christmas season usually consists of:
- Christmas Carol Service and Christmas Markets – ask your accommodation about local carol services and markets that are happening in the area, they’ll probably be there too and invite you to join them!
- Ke Dezemba – embracing the month of December with feel-good and uplifting vibes and celebrating with friends and family.
- Community togetherness – celebrating together as a community with a spirit of giving and helping each other.
- Christmas T-shirt – no jumpers needed! You can find Christmas T-Shirts at the local Pick n’ Pay Clothing or Woolworths stores.
- Spit Braai or traditional Christmas lunch – chat to your accommodation about any Christmas lunch recommendations they may have, or if you’re looking for something more South African, ask them if they can help you arrange a small spit braai to have on Christmas day.
- Christmas day swim – if the weather is playing nice, a Christmas day family swim in the pool or down at the beach is always a great way to end off your day!
You’ll definitely be considered honorary South Africans during your visit if you manage to tick all of these off your list!
Important Tips
When to Visit
Most locals take off work from the middle of December until the first or second week of January, which makes this time frame the peak season, especially along the coast. If you’d like to experience all the vibes of Ke Dezemba, with a bit of a quieter down time mixed in, I’d recommend planning your visit from the start of December until just after Christmas.
This will allow you to have a few weeks of quiet exploration around the country before the busyness really kicks in and, that way, you’ll get to have the best of both experiences. A good local tip would also be to avoid the beaches on Boxing Day and New Years Day, because the beaches get really packed and become a bit unruly on these days.
The cheapest flights to South Africa in December usually tend to be flying in around the 3rd – 6th of December and flying back out between the 16th and 27th. Many airlines have international flights into South Africa, but the best experiences we’ve had have been with KLM and Emirates, with layovers in Amsterdam and Dubai.
What to Pack
December temperatures in South Africa range from 35 degrees Celsius to 25 degrees Celsius, depending on where you are in the country. Johannesburg has magnificent thunder storms on hot, summer afternoons, whereas Cape Town and the Garden Route generally have milder and dryer summer days. If you’ll be staying at a bush lodge, the days are really hot, but nights and mornings can be a bit chilly, so pack layers that you can take off as the day warms up.
In general, people in South Africa dress very casually and shorts and a t-shirt are the go-to. Pack some higher end clothes for days out in Stellenbosch, Franshoek and evenings in Cape Town. Other than that, casual layers are the way to go. You’ll probably be driving to most places, as South Africa isn’t very walking friendly, but some comfy trainers are always a good idea. Also, make sure to pack sunscreen, hats and of course, swimwear!
Be Aware
Most South Africans are super friendly and welcoming and most will help you if you need it, but sadly, a lot of the population does live in poverty. This unfortunately does cause an increase in crime. Be vigilant and aware of your surroundings. If you feel unsafe or uncomfortable, go to the nearest shop and ask for help.
Driving your own car is more advisable than getting an Uber, so assign a designated driver if you’d like to have a few drinks. Don’t wear any flashy jewellery and don’t keep you cell phone in your back pocket. Do not leave any valuables in the car either. Try book tours with local guides, if possible, by using GetYourGuide and always ask your accommodation for safety tips.
Local Slang
Even though everyone in South Africa speaks English, we tend to have our own unique dialect with the slang words we use. Some of the most common words you’ll probably hear are:
- Howzit: A local greeting
- Lekker: Cool or awesome
- Boet: Pal or friend (sometimes the word Bru is used in place of Boet)
- Robot: South African word for traffic light (no idea how this came about!)
- Ja: Yeah
- Gees: Extremely good vibes only found in South Africa
- Ubuntu: The feeling of community, compassion and oneness in South Africa
South Africa is an amazing country filled with welcoming people, good vibes and incredible natural beauty, but there’s just something about December in South Africa that makes Christmas the perfect time to plan your vacation here. Try something different for the festive season and trade in snow angels for sand castles along the sunny coast of South Africa! If you need any help planning your perfect South African Christmas itinerary, leave a comment below and I’ll guide you through it!
