A beautiful country has been named among the friendliest in the world and is 28C in December. South Africa is the southernmost country in Africa, with a coastline that stretches along the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean.

The country offers both domestic and international tourists a wide variety of options, among others the picturesque natural landscape and game reserves, diverse cultural heritage and highly regarded wines. South Africa has also been named the friendliest country in the world, according to a survey from American-based payments group Remitly.

The country scored 34.63, beating Greece, Croatia, and Mexico to the top spot. The survey had 3,000 participants from around the globe and higher scores showed that people were friendly, generous, helpful, and willing to compromise their interests with others. It is also the perfect spot for a winter getaway. In the country’s summer (November to February), there is an average daily maximum temperature of 28C, and an average low of 16C.

February is the hottest month of the year as well as the least humid and one of the driest months, with up to 10 hours of sunshine a day. For most of the country, rain falls mainly in the summer months with brief afternoon thunderstorms. The exception is the Western Cape and its capital city Cape Town, where the climate is Mediterranean.

South Africa is a dream for wildlife fans. Among the large mammals found in the northern bushveld (including Kruger National Park and Sabi Sand Game Reserve) are lions, leopards, cheetahs, white rhinoceroses, blue wildebeest, kudus, impalas, hyenas, hippopotamuses, and giraffes. 

It is also great for history lovers, with some of the oldest archaeological and human fossil sites in the world. Archaeologists have recovered extensive fossil remains from a series of caves in Gauteng Province, branded “the Cradle of Humankind”, which have become a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Cape Town is the capital city, known for its round harbour and landmarks. The city has six main attractions: Table Mountain, Cape Point, Groot Constantia vineyard, Robben Island, Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden and the Victoria and Albert Waterfront.

Table Mountain, the most popular sight, sits in a national park overlooking the city with visitors hiking to the top or taking the cableway. Cape Point sits on the edge of the national park, home to wildlife such as penguins, baboons, seals and birds. 

But the city isn’t all wildlife and hikes, there are also lots of streets to explore with independent shops, award-winning restaurants and a number of museums and galleries.

South African cuisine is diverse and reflects the country’s multicultural heritage, incorporating influences from indigenous African, Dutch, British, Indian, and Cape Malay culinary traditions. 

Traditional dishes include bobotie, a curried minced meat dish with an egg-based topping; bunny chow, a hollowed-out loaf of bread filled with curry, originating in Durban; and potjiekos, a slow-cooked stew prepared in a cast-iron pot over open flame. 

Street foods such as vetkoek, gatsby sandwiches, samoosas, and biltong (air-dried cured meat) are widely consumed. Popular desserts include milk tart and koeksisters.

Those wishing to visit can take the direct 11-hour flight from London to Cape Town. There are indirect flights from Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh. There are countless accommodation options on offer across the country, with hotels, Airbnbs, hostels, holiday lets and more available to stay in.