South Africa

From the lush vineyards of the Western Cape to the rugged national parks and sprawling beaches, South Africa is a country of many faces.

Your private charter hire jet can take you to any number of airports in the region, but the most popular include Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban  – busy cities, teeming with life, culture and plenty to entertain.

If you’re planning on seeing as much of the country as possible, the larger airports are fully equipped to welcome private charter flights.

But where would you start in this country so rich in history, traditions and rich landscapes? Take your pick from the three capital cities: Pretoria, Cape Town and Bloemfontein, or the popular Johannesburg.

Pretoria is known as the executive capital, where the country’s government calls home, and host to foreign embassies from across the globe.

Straddling the Apies River, and extending as far as the Magaliesberg Mountains, Pretoria is a city with an eye on the future. Home to high ranking universities, technological innovation and a centre of research, it also enjoys a sub-tropical climate making it a great year-round destination, even in the colder winters.

Less than 60kms away lies Johannesburg, famous for producing some of the country’s, and the world’s, best golfers, tennis stars and cricketers.

What started life as a 19^th century gold-mining settlement has grown into a modern, vibrant city which still carries the echoes of the struggle to end apartheid within the sprawling Soweto township, once home to Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu.

Now a financial and industrial metropolis, Johannesburg is a polyglot of cultures, with at least a dozen different languages spoken daily. Bustling and ambitious, the city relies on the goods it produces, from textiles to steel.

Bloemfontein is the judicial capital of the country and the seventh largest city. Four hundred kilometres from Johannesburg, the city is rich in flora and fauna and home to the popular Rose Festival.

One of its attractions is its game reserve, one of several across the country and a must for anyone visiting.  With an increasing emphasis on sustainable tourism, safaris are the ultimate way to catch a glimpse of the Big Five, but you can also visit the more unusual penguin colony at Stony Point, an hour from Cape Town.

From wildlife to wine life, if you’re a wine buff, you’ve come to the right part of the world. Dotted along the coast you’ll have your pick of vineyards to visit, most growing the popular Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon grape varieties. But South Africa’s very own Pinotage is on the rise, producing a wine on the more savoury side of a Pinot Noir.

And the best time to visit? South Africa enjoys a sub-tropical geography, hemmed in by the ocean on three sides, which helps moderate the temperature.

East and west coasts offer a very different climate but owing to its altitude, the country is generally warm and dry without soaring temperatures.

There is exceptional accommodation in the larger cities and beach resorts dedicated to your wellbeing and relaxation. For a night under the stars, book a luxury king-sized bed on the deck at a private game reserve.

You’ll run out of time long before you run out of places to explore in this beautiful, diverse country. Charter a jet today and start your South African adventure.