Sun, Stadiums, and South Africa: The Cricket Holiday You Can't Miss This Summer
- Ncakos316
- Mar 31
- 4 min read
South African cricket is about to host one of the most compelling back-to-back Test cricket sequences in recent memory, with a sprinkling of Bangladesh sandwiched in between. So, if you're an Australian or English cricket fan sitting at home deciding whether to make the trip to Africa, here's some advice: don't hesitate. Book the flights. Now. Mate.
The World Test Champions host Australia for a three-Test series in October 2026, followed by England's three-Test tour beginning in December which includes the iconic Boxing Day and New Year's Day Tests. This is world-class Test cricket, in a country that rewards travelling fans in ways that few destinations on Earth are able to match.
For Australian Fans: An Emotional Return
Australia will visit South Africa for three Tests starting on October 9 in Durban. The tour marks their first Test series in the country since the infamous 2018 series when then-captain Steve Smith admitted the side had used sandpaper to tamper with the ball. The emotional weight of that return alone makes this a truly exciting series. Just leave your home renovation tools in Australia, lads. After Durban, the sides head to the atmospheric St. George's Park in Gqeberha, followed by a third Test at the site of Sandpapergate, Newlands.
On the field, the cricket promises to be blockbuster. Australia, currently ranked the number one Test side in the world, face the team in second place, with both sides having met in the last World Test Championship Final, won by South Africa. All that means that, for Australia, revenge, pride, and redemption are all on the line. South African pitches, with their pace, bounce, and seam movement, will test the currently very shaky Australian batting order, while Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood will find conditions just as inviting.
October is also one of the better months to visit South Africa. Spring is in full swing, the weather is warm without reaching the boiling point of summer, and the Cape in late October is genuinely spectacular. Between Tests, Durban offers sunny beaches along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline, and safaris a short drive outside the city. Gqeberha, formerly Port Elizabeth, sits on the Eastern Cape coast and is a gateway to the gorgeous Garden Route and Addo Elephant National Park, one of the most accessible, and underrated, Big Five game reserves on the continent. Finally, Cape Town needs no introduction: take the cable car up Table Mountain, head to Boulders Beach to see its African penguin colony, check out the winelands of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek just 45 minutes away, or hit the V&A Waterfront for a post-cricket drink. The cricket gives you the reason to visit; South Africa takes care of the rest.
For English Fans: Let the Pound be Your Guide
After a brief, two-test visit by Bangladesh, England arrive in South Africa for a three-Test series starting December 17 at the Wanderers. This is followed by the traditional Boxing Day Test at Centurion, and the New Year's Test at beautiful Newlands. For English cricket fans, this is close to the ideal touring itinerary. You arrive in Johannesburg for the first Test, spend Christmas in South Africa which, in summer, means braais, sunshine, and cricket rather than grey skies, boring sausages, below average pies and warm lagers. Then head 45 minutes away to Centurion for Boxing Day before finishing in Cape Town for the New Year. As schedules go, that's bloody delightful, innit bruv?
The cricket itself will be fiercely contested. England's Bazball era has produced a side that is fearless, and sometimes awful, away from home, but South African conditions remain a genuine examination of any touring team's ability. Will Brook, Duckett and Root be as effective on South Africa's spicy pitches as they are on flat decks? The Wanderers in Johannesburg sits at a high altitude and produces some of the fastest pitches in world cricket. SuperSport Park in Centurion has hosted countless memorable Test contests over the years (but let's forget that one in 2000, okay?). Newlands then welcomes the New Year under the face of Table Mountain, one of the most beautiful settings in all of sport. Sitting in the open stands at Cape Town with a cold beverage in hand, baking in the sun, watching red-ball cricket being played as it was meant to be played, is an experience that stays with you for a long time.
Johannesburg offers Soweto, the Apartheid Museum, and the vibrant nightlife of Sandton and Maboneng. Centurion is close enough to Pretoria that a day's exploration between Tests is easy. Then Cape Town brings out its full repertoire with Table Mountain, whale watching along the coast, Robben Island tours, sunset on Signal Hill, and the kind of food and wine that will make you wonder why you've been spending December in the UK.
The Bigger Picture
Both Australian and English fans will find proper value for money in South Africa. The rand makes the country extremely affordable for visitors carrying Australian dollars or British pounds. World-class accommodation, restaurants, and experiences at a fraction of what they'd cost back home await. Getting around between venues is straightforward, with plenty of domestic flights available, while all the usual ride-share apps are widely used. Or, book a car for a small fee and take a cross-country road trip you won't forget.
There's something else worth saying: South Africa is a country where the people love cricket, deeply, and it shows. The grounds are easy to navigate, the atmospheres are lively, and the locals are friendly to everyone not named David Warner. We appreciate travelling cricket fans and love to share our passion for this beautiful game.
Whether you're an Australian making the way too long-overdue return to South Africa or an English fan looking for the perfect escape from winter, these are two tours not to be skipped. The cricket is the main event. South Africa is the cherry on top.
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