Are you still recovering from the crazy festive season? Or maybe your well-deserved getaway is still around the corner! Either way, 2025 creates plenty of opportunities to extend your long weekends even further by planning and using your leave days smartly. With this nifty guide and timetable, we’ll show you how!
Colourful Autumn
The year’s first public holiday is just around the corner. Take your leave and head to the Bushveld with its magical autumn-colored natural scenes or enjoy the last few summer evenings on the coast. The mild climate also makes it the ideal time to visit the beautiful Karoo and all its treasures.
As Friday 21 March is Human Rights Day and a public holiday, you can enjoy a nice extra-long weekend if you take Thursday 20 March off.
Easter weekend is celebrated next. Friday 18 April and Monday 21 April are public holidays, so this Easter weekend is four days long without even giving up any leave! However, on our handy guide, we suggest you take Tuesday, 22 April to Friday 25 April off to extend the long weekend. On top of that, Freedom Day falls on the following Monday and just like that, you can enjoy a getaway of up to 11 days! This time of year is a popular weekend getaway for many South Africans who want to spend time with loved ones. Go for a stroll along a river in Gauteng or enjoy a Mediterranean getaway on the West Coast ─ the weather is ideal for a water getaway!
Workers’ Day falls on Thursday 1 May and if you take a day off on Friday 2 May you can enjoy a long weekend of four days!
Winter Wanderlust
It’s tough to imagine anything better than a crackling fire while winter rain falls outside. 2025’s winter long weekends are perfect for visiting South Africa’s most beautiful snowy destinations such as the Cederberg, Rhodes or Clarens.
Winter is also the best time for game viewing, so head to the Kruger National Park or break away to the Bushveld for an unforgettable game-viewing holiday. If you prefer something more adventurous, read our blog about some exciting hiking trails in the Drakensberg Mountains.
Youth Day falls on Monday 16 June this year, so you have a three-day weekend without giving up any leave, but we suggest putting in one day’s leave before or after the weekend to double your weekend!
Playful Spring
With all the wildflowers colouring in our landscapes during this season, you can’t help but visit Namaqualand’s floral splendour and drive along the West Coast to witness this natural phenomenon. If you are looking for something more adventurous, this is also the ideal time to visit the Wild Coast as the rainy season is coming to an end.
Heritage Day (aka Braai Day) on Wednesday 24 September is the last public holiday for a while. We suggest you take 2 days off on Monday and Tuesday, or Thursday and Friday to make your work week extra short.
Happy Summer
Book your December holiday accommodation in South Africa’s ever-popular coastal towns like Mossel Bay, Durban and Knysna now to avoid disappointment. That way you have something to look forward to all year round!
The first public holiday, Day of Reconciliation, in December is Tuesday 16 December and if you are not on your summer holiday yet, you can at least enjoy a four-day long weekend if you take the 15th off on Monday. This public holiday also falls during the school holidays.
Christmas Day is on Thursday 25 December and Friday 26 December is the Day of Goodwill and also a holiday. We suggest you take 22, 23 and 24 December off to have a nine-day holiday!
Download this timetable to help you plan!

Get your diary ready and start maximising your leave days, because with all these long weekends coming up, you can’t help but kick off 2024 on an exciting note.
Featured image: La Petite Baleine Seaside Villa
Also read:
Egg-ceptional Easter Weekend Escapes Outside Cape Town
Secluded Bushveld Stays for Couples