Trading Seasons between the US and South Africa

Last updated on April 7th, 2025

Winter in the United States  can be brutal. Which is why the eventual reprieve of hot weather is what most look forward to. Sure, wrapping up in layers of coats, scarves and jerseys seems appealing. But, nothing beats wearing your favorite summer dress or linen trousers and feeling the warm breeze caress your bare skin.
But, have you considered the seasonal changes in the Southern Hemisphere? The Fall and Winter of the US is the Spring and Summer for South Africa. And the country has a lot of reasons to visit, especially for black travel groups or other travelers of color. Here are a few things to think about.

Traveling in winter is more affordable

As with any popular holiday destination, the slower months tend to provide tourists with the most pocket-friendly opportunities to explore. You can look forward to flight costs that are considerably lower than if you hoped to travel to South Africa during the December holidays (when the country is bursting with holiday-makers ready to soak up the sun). Your accommodation and entertainment costs will be more affordable too, as most businesses offer winter specials to ensure they remain profitable during the winter months.

Sightseeing and excursions aren’t densely populated

Imagine the bliss of making reservations at restaurants without having to negotiate a wait list. Some of the most popular wine farms in South Africa become easily available to you when you’re not competing with tour buses bursting with globetrotters who want to cram into the same tasting rooms as you do.
Here are a few you’ll want to add to your to-do list:

Aslina Wines

Nstiki Biyela is a maverick in the wine industry. She began her career as a  winemaker in 2004 with Stellekaya Wines. As if making history by becoming the first black woman winemaker wasn’t enough, she wanted her own wine label. In 2016, she made that dream come true. Since then, she has been producing some of the most enviable wine on the market. Not greedy with her knowledge, the enigmatic force is an open book and often runs workshops on the joy of winemaking. If you visit her tasting room, she is more than happy to engage you in conversations as robust as her unique Umsasane (Umbrella Tree in Zulu).

Klein Goederust

Until recently, this fully black-owned wine farm was one of  the only commercially owned black owned wineries in South Africa. It is a must-do for any wine lover keen to invest in the growing diversification of an industry that has been historically inaccessible to people of color. But don’t just let the history sway you, the reason this pillar has stood firm for as long as it has is because the bottles Klein Goederust produces easily outperform some of the larger and older labels available in the local market.

Openwine

If you’re in Cape Town, and want to sample varietals from wine makers that hail from every corner of the continent, you’ll want to make a turn at Openwine. The well-stocked selection of curious and uncommon wines coupled with the effortlessly integrated clientele provides a unique tasting experience that can stretch well into the night.

Safari in South Africa is best during winter

Africa is where you go to enjoy the best safaris that the world has to offer. With approximately 500 private game reserves spread across South Africa, the choices are endless.
Some might assume that summer is the best time to enjoy the local wildlife, but the climate tends to be unbearable. The high temperatures (often reaching 100.4°F) drive animals to seek refuge in thickets of trees, which doesn’t present much of a show for their audience. During the milder months of June, July and August, The Big Five (lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and African buffalo) put on a display, as they and their peers tend to enjoy being out and about longer. There are a couple of standout lodges in the country worth a visit:

Miarestate Hotel & Spa

The Eastern Cape is home to some of the most beautiful destinations in the entire country because there is great attention placed on preserving the natural landscape. Miarestate in Haga Haga is a black-owned lodge that boasts private beaches, horse-riding and hiking trails as well as much more. The 740-hectare wildlife estate houses an array of non-predatory wildlife for you to enjoy at your leisure.

Kruger Shalati

You can’t have a conversation about safari in South Africa without talking about the Kruger National Park. Covering a span of roughly 19,485 km², this park that stretches across two of the nine provinces in the country provides for 147 different species of mammals, 114 types of reptile, 51 snake species, 49 fish species and a massive 508 breeds of bird.
What makes the all-inclusive Kruger Shalati experience so unforgettable is that you sleep in a train suspended over the Sabie River. This means that at any given moment, you can enjoy the spectacle of hippo, lions and cheetahs quenching themselves at the ever-flowing water source.
Travel is one of life’s great privileges. If done right, it engages and rewards our curiosity. Spend a week or two in an environment you’d never consider for yourself and you’ll surprise yourself with the experiences you find.