The flight is long but there is no jetlag and it could hardly be more worthwhile; a journey south to a summer Christmas and New Year's Eve in South Africa.

The exoticism, for Northern Hemisphere people, of a festive season in the sun is just one advantage. While not seriously hit by the global financial crisis, the economy has seen the local currency weaken, thus making it more affordable in euro and sterling terms.

Set aside at least 10 days spanning the height of the festive season, perhaps choosing Cape Town for that celebration or if you are going to cast your credit crunch cares aside, the somewhat pricier resort of a game-spotting expedition, in the world-famous Kruger Park or one of the many well-run nature reserves.

South Africa boasts no less than eight World Heritage Sites, of which one is Gauteng province's Cradle of Humankind, which features a series of dolomitic caves and is, so some scientists believe, possibly the place where the hominid family split away from the rest of the ape family, thus possibly making all of us ultimately of South African descent.

Family matters aside, ponder life during a tour of the Western Cape winelands, an expedition along the beauty of the Garden Route or for the more earnest, trips to museums specialising in everything from diamond mining (Kimberley), gold (Johannesburg) to many places of local cultural and historical significance, to say nothing of fishing, shark diving… and checking out the venues for the 2010 football World Cup.