Planning a golf itinerary in South Africa is not simply a matter of putting courses on a map and hoping the tee times line up. The country’s golf destinations can be combined with city stays, wine regions, coastal routes and safari areas, giving travel agents several ways to build an itinerary around a client’s interests and available travel time. South African Tourism highlights golf destinations across regions including the Western Cape, Garden Route, North West and Mpumalanga.
For travel agents, knowing how the regions connect is key to planning South Africa golf tours. This guide looks at the main golf regions, ways to combine golf with safari, how many days to allow for different types of golf tours, and when to consider travelling based on the climate in each region.
Why Sell South Africa Golf Tours?
South Africa gives travel agents several ways to combine golf with other parts of a client’s holiday. Cape Town can be paired with the Winelands, while the Garden Route provides access to golf courses in destinations including George and Knysna. Sun City offers two golf courses, while golf in the Lowveld can be combined with a safari itinerary.
This flexibility means a golf itinerary does not have to follow one formula. A client may want several rounds of golf in one region, while another may want golf to form one part of a wider South African itinerary. Travel agents can use the client’s interests, travel dates and available time to decide which regions and courses make sense for the trip.
South Africa’s Main Golf Regions
South Africa’s golf courses are spread across several provinces, so selecting the right region is one of the first decisions when planning a golf tour.
Cape Town and the Western Cape
Cape Town provides a base for golf itineraries that also include the Cape Winelands and other Western Cape destinations. The province has golf courses in and around Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Somerset West and Hermanus.
Courses such as Pearl Valley, Erinvale and De Zalze can be included in Western Cape itineraries. South African Tourism also identifies the Western Cape and Garden Route as destinations where golf can be combined with other travel experiences.
For travel agents, Cape Town can therefore work as either the main destination for a golf trip or the starting point for a longer South Africa itinerary.
The Cape Winelands
The Cape Winelands provides another option for combining golf with a stay outside Cape Town. Courses in Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek can be incorporated into an itinerary alongside visits to wine estates and other local attractions.
Pearl Valley is located in Franschhoek, while De Zalze is in Stellenbosch, giving travel agents options when planning a route through the Winelands.
The Garden Route
The Garden Route is one of the main golf regions to consider when planning a South Africa golf tour. The route includes towns such as Mossel Bay, George, Wilderness, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, with golf courses located along the route.
Fancourt in George has three courses, including The Links, Montagu and Outeniqua. Other options in the region include Oubaai, Simola and courses around Mossel Bay and Knysna.
The Garden Route can also be incorporated into a longer itinerary from Cape Town, giving agents the option to combine golf with a road journey and stays in several destinations.
Sun City and the North West
Sun City is another established golf destination. The resort has two par-72 courses, the Gary Player Country Club and Lost City Golf Course, both designed by Gary Player.
Sun City can also be paired with wildlife experiences in the surrounding North West region. Pilanesberg National Park is located near the resort, providing an option for agents planning an itinerary that combines golf with wildlife.
Mpumalanga and the Kruger Region
Mpumalanga provides an option for combining golf with a safari in the Kruger region. Leopard Creek, located near the Kruger National Park, is one of the courses highlighted by South African Tourism for golf travel in the area.
This region can form part of a wider itinerary that combines golf with time in the Lowveld and a safari stay.
Golf and Safari in South Africa
Golf and safari can be combined within the same South Africa golf tour, allowing clients to include both activities in one trip. South African Tourism currently features itineraries combining golf in the Western Cape and Garden Route with safari experiences, as well as routes connecting Cape Town and golf destinations with the Kruger region.
Combining Golf with the Kruger Region
A golf and safari itinerary can include golf in the Western Cape before continuing to the Kruger region. Another option is to combine golf around Johannesburg or Sun City with a safari in the northern parts of the country.
The best routing depends on the courses selected, the safari destination and the client’s international flight arrangements. Allowing time for transfers between regions is important when building the itinerary.
Combining Golf with a Private Game Reserve
Private game reserves can be added before or after the golf portion of a trip. This gives travel agents flexibility when deciding how to divide the itinerary between golf and safari.
For example, a longer itinerary could begin with Cape Town and the Winelands, continue along the Garden Route for golf, and then finish with a safari. South African Tourism currently features a 12-day itinerary combining Cape Town, the Winelands, Fancourt and a safari at Shamwari Private Game Reserve.
Planning for Non-Golfers
Golf and safari itineraries can also work for groups that include non-golfers. When golfers are on the course, other members of the group can take part in sightseeing, food and wine experiences, nature activities or other scheduled activities.
This gives travel agents another way to structure an itinerary without requiring every traveller to play every round.
How Long Should a South Africa Golf Tour Be?
The length of a South Africa golf tour depends on the number of courses and regions included. A short itinerary can focus on one area, while a longer trip allows golf to be combined with several destinations.
Five to Seven Days
A five- to seven-day itinerary can focus on one golf region. Cape Town and the surrounding Western Cape can work for a shorter trip because clients can stay in one main area while visiting several courses.
This format also leaves room for sightseeing rather than filling every day with golf.
Eight to Ten Days
Eight to ten days gives travel agents more room to combine regions. A route could include Cape Town and the Winelands before continuing towards the Garden Route.
This length can also allow for non-golf days and travel between destinations.
Ten to Fourteen Days
A ten- to fourteen-day itinerary allows several golf regions and other South African experiences to be combined. A route could include Cape Town, the Winelands, the Garden Route and a safari destination.
South African Tourism currently features a 12-day Cape Town, Winelands, Garden Route and safari itinerary, showing how these components can be combined within one trip.
Longer Golf Tours
Longer trips can include more courses and regions, but the itinerary should still allow enough time for transfers and activities outside golf. For clients who want to play regularly, keeping the route practical is more useful than simply adding more courses to the list.
When Is the Best Time for Golf in South Africa?
There is no single best time for every South Africa golf tour because weather varies between regions. Travel agents should consider the climate of each destination alongside the client’s preferred travel dates and the other activities included in the itinerary.
Cape Town and the Western Cape
Cape Town has a Mediterranean climate, with its warmer and drier period generally occurring from October to March. South African Tourism also identifies April, May and September to October as good periods for visiting Cape Town, depending on the type of trip being planned.
For golf itineraries, travel agents should consider the client’s tolerance for cooler and wetter conditions during the Cape winter, which runs from around May to August.
The Garden Route
The Garden Route has a climate that differs from Cape Town, and rainfall can occur throughout the year. South African Tourism identifies October to April as a period to consider for visitors who prefer warmer, drier conditions.
The region can therefore be included in golf itineraries across several months, with the exact travel dates considered alongside the rest of the route.
Sun City and the North West
Sun City operates as a year-round destination, but travel agents should consider the seasonal conditions when planning outdoor activities. The region can experience hot summer conditions, while winter generally brings drier weather.
Kruger and the Lowveld
For clients combining golf with safari, the timing of the wildlife portion can influence the overall travel dates. South African Tourism recommends winter for safari in Mpumalanga and Limpopo because the conditions are generally dry, with cooler nights and vegetation that becomes sparser.
The key is to plan the golf itinerary and safari dates together rather than choosing the golf dates first and adding the safari afterwards. That way, the itinerary has a fighting chance of behaving itself.