South Africa is a destination that is extremely good value for money, according to SA Tourism officials, speaking during an Africa Hub webinar, part of the Destination Training Week ahead of the OurAfrica.Travel virtual trade show.

Sherwin Arends, Trade Relations Officer at SAT, said South Africa’s ‘value for money’ was a big draw for tourists. “They are very well looked after and their pounds, dollars and euros stretch a very long way.

“We have done some consumer research in the UK, and South Africa is the second-cheapest long-haul destination. We are lucky – we offer a fantastic experience that won’t break the bank.”

He added that South Africa, aside from its rich culture and history, had good food and wine that made it a big ‘foodie’ destination.

For Arends, the ideal traveller type for South Africa is ‘anyone and everyone’, adding that the country has been gaining in popularity with travellers in the 18 to 24 age group.

“We are quite fortunate with the plethora of experiences on offer, so we do appeal to a wide variety of people. We are popular with thrill and adventure seekers. We have bungee jumping, hiking, lots of walking, cycling… Wildlife is a big draw, and is almost always found on any itinerary for South Africa,” said Arends.

Regarding the best times to visit, Arends said: “The summer season is usually between September and April, so that coincides with winter in Europe and the US. It gets very busy during December/January/February.

“We have the green season between June, July and August, and you are looking at temperatures around 16C, while the high season is about 28C. Obviously, wildlife viewing is available throughout the year in various parts of the country.”

Arends listed key experiences such as Table Mountain, Robben Island, Cape Point and Peninsula, the African penguins, Cape Winelands, Hermanus, Garden Route, Eastern Cape game reserves and national parks, Madikwe Reserve, Kruger National Park, and KwaZulu Natal.