Shoulder season best time to travel, particularly South Africa
(Director’s note: The summer tourist season is over. Now we’re in the shoulder season, an ideal time to travel. Diana Parker, a freelance travel writer based in Pondicherry, India, breaks down the reasons why shoulder season is the best time to travel.)
Has anyone ever told you about traveling in “shoulder season”? If you haven’t heard of this term before, then you’ve come to the right place because this article’s got you covered. Shoulder season means just before and just after the peak season. In other words fall or spring time. Visiting South Africa between April and June, and again between September and November, is not only fantastic on account of the great accommodation deals you might get, but also due to the incredible beauty showcased by nature during these months. If you are lucky and flexible enough to hit the sky during shoulder season, then you should 100 percent take advantage of it. Here are the top reasons to visit your bucket list countries in non-peak times:
Understanding shoulder season
It’s fair to say that very few people love traveling in peak times, not least because of the expensive accommodation and sky-high temperatures. With the exception of a handful of (likely) younger adults who are keen to party, the majority of us prefer fewer people when we go on holiday – but you certainly still want there to be enough folks about to have a fun and calm environment.
It’s a little bit like Goldy Locks: It can’t be too busy or too quiet. It has to be just right. Shoulder season is the Goldy Locks of traveling because this is a time period between the high tourist season (summer) and the low season (winter), typically encompassing the months of late spring (April to June) and early autumn (September to October).
Specifically South Africa is considered particularly favorable in these months due to a blend of mild weather, fewer crowds and often lower prices compared to peak summer months.
During the shoulder season, South Africa’s renowned tourist destinations, from Table Mountain to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was kept imprisoned for over 27 years, to the picturesque coastlines of the Western Cape province, are less congested, allowing for a more relaxed and intimate experience. Especially if you’re in Cape Town, which tends to get unbearably warm and busy during the summers months, you are going to love not waiting in line.
Just like you can buy Colosseum tickets quickly and easily online when you’re in Italy, you can also do the same for sights in the city or even for safari activities during the shoulder seasons. Specifically if you are interested in wildlife, summer is not the best time as animals aren’t as visible or easy to spot as they are during the fall season.
How to save in shoulder season
Anyone who loves to travel knows that the most expensive part of it all is where you rest your head at night. Accommodation can be marked up to twice the price it would be in the off-season, which definitely has a huge impact on your available spending money and whether you’ll be able to see even more African countries, like Algeria which has surprisingly become a huge tourist destination.
Accommodation rates and flight prices tend to be more affordable in the shoulder season compared to the peak season, which means that you have plenty of opportunities if you’re a budget-conscious traveler. Think about how much you could save if your stay was 30 percent cheaper. It’s money that could go towards delicious dinners or unforgettable road trips.
Something that you can do in the shoulder season is treat yourself to one of the best hotels in South Africa, an endeavor that may be tricky in peak times as they could be unaffordable since this is when property owners make the majority of their income.
So accommodation has been ticked, now let’s check out other ways you can save money and why shoulder season has become the new, most popular time to travel. When there is increased demand for something, whether that’s flights or a spot at a fab restaurant, it will inevitably be more expensive.
In the shoulder season, flight operators aren’t as busy and because they still want to fill their flights, they may mark down the price. The same applies to tickets for activities or sights, which are usually reduced in the off-season. Of course, you still want some kind of ambience when you arrive. It’s no fun being the only person in a city.
That’s why shoulder season is ideal because you get the best of both worlds. Another noteworthy aspect is the cultural events and local festivals that you could visit. As the summer tourists dwindle, local festivals and harvest celebrations come into full swing. These types of festivals are how you really get to know a country and its heritage and history.
There’s hardly anything better than having the luxury of time and freedom, and if you visit South Africa in the shoulder season, time and freedom will meet discounts and fewer tourists. While the off-season can become rather cold and isolated and the main season can be the exact opposite, shoulder season is just right.
Picture absolutely breathtaking beaches in terms of scenery and peaceful nature coupled with a wide range of seafood and cuisine, brought together with discounted accommodation costs and stunning weather. As the saying goes: “The world is full of wonderful things you haven’t seen yet. Don’t ever give up on the chance of seeing them.”