Cape Town never sleeps. I swear, every week there’s something happening, a random event, a festival, a parade, a race, a concert, or something totally unexpected. And somehow, I always end up in the middle of it.
Discover South Africa with a local who speaks your language
Jonas Sandström grew up in Stockholm and has called South Africa home for more than 20 years. Combining deep local knowledge, fluent Swedish, and a passion for authentic travel experiences, he creates journeys that showcase the real South Africa, far beyond the typical tourist trail.
Whether you prefer a fully guided experience or the freedom to explore independently, Jonas and his team ensure that every trip is seamless and completely tailored to you. Everything is done in the spirit of “embracing South Africa”, the meaning of Gonana in isiZulu.
South African Travel We Specialise In
Each year, we partner with trusted brands and individuals in Sweden to design and host small-group themed trips - perfect for first-time visitors. So if you have a specific niche interest or you’d like to join like-minded travellers click the button below.
We have an in-house golf specialist who has played almost every course in South Africa. She managed to do this while representing Western Province and playing competitively before starting a family. Working closely with the rest of our team, she designs golf journeys that can be golf-focused, or one combining golf with a safari, city or beach escape.
Jonas has explored and stayed at over 50 safari lodges across South Africa. From the iconic Kruger National Park and the private reserves of Greater Kruger, to UNESCO Heritage Sites in KwaZulu-Natal, and even the Garden Route - he has seen them all. With his expertise, we create tailor-made safari experiences based on your budget, interests and travel wishlist, while providing expert guidance on the best regions, seasons and wildlife encounters for couples, families and groups.
Got a South African bucket list you’d like us to bring to life? Check out our private itinerary planning process to see how we bring an itinerary to life from start to finish. Find out more about the entire planning process and how we are with you every step of the way - even if we’re not guiding you or you opt to self-drive this great land.
WHY TRAVEL WITH US?
ACCREDITED
Our founder, Jonas Sandström is a qualified National Guide and accredited by the South African Tourism Board.
OWNER-RUN
We’re a small team of niche professionals with the owner, Jonas, actively involved from guiding to planning.
EXPERIENCED
We have 20 years of experience in hosting European guests, with a particular focus on bringing Scandinavians to Southern Africa.
RESPONSIBLE
We’re Fair Trade accredited and work within that network, and we support sustainability and women-run establishments.
LOCALS
We live and work from Cape Town allowing us to stay up-to-date with life on the ground and test all the new places.
TRIED-AND-TESTED
All of our destinations, and activities are places that we have personally experienced and taken a liking to.
Travel Stories
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An Absolutely Fantastic Journey from Start to Finish
We’ve had an absolutely fantastic trip. Thank you so much! You’re the best in every way. Your dedication in preparing for the trip and tailoring it to our interests, the consistently rich and varied programme, and your personal, informative and inspiring guided tours were all wonderful. The service from Gonana, including the adjustments made along the way, was excellent. Lovely accommodation and absolutely delicious food throughout.
Jock, Sus, Simon & Sam, September 2026
Stockholm
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An unforgettable trip, very well organized by Gonana South African Travel. Consistently high quality in everything from hotels and restaurants to programs and guided tours, with professional and knowledgeable guides. In Cape Town we were asked what we liked best – the answer was simple: It’s a feeling. We will be back.
Mirella E. Grant, April 2026
Norway
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Wonderful trip to South Africa
We had a wonderful trip to South Africa organized by Joy and Jonas at Gonana Travel. All worked out so well. Very nice extra feature to get recommandations for restaurants. We’ll come back and can warmly recommend Gonana Travel.
Cecilia Nygren Leijonhufvud, April 2026
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Our trip was unforgettable thanks to this fantastic travel agency. Everything was personalized with such care, and the team was always available, responsive, and genuinely helpful throughout the entire journey. The guides were excellent—knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate. The selection of restaurants, hotels, and trips was lovely. We could not have made such a selection ourselves, even with hours of searching.
Katharina Döberl, March 2026
Latest News
Raving Through The Winelands
Tue November 25, 2025
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Touring the Western Cape (part 1)
Wed November 19, 2025
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During the past few weeks, all I’ve been writing about is Cape Town (makes sense, because I live here ;)). But the last two weeks have been a little different. I got to follow along on a group trip, led by Jonas, through the Western Cape, and all I have to say is “wow”. Every time I think I’ve seen “enough” of this place, it surprises me again. The more I explore,...
Touring the Western Cape (part 2)
Tue November 18, 2025
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After our wine-filled days in Franschhoek and Stellenbosch, it was time for the next chapter of our trip, and let me tell you, this one did not disappoint. I have to say that every day was full of those “pinch me, is this real?” moments.
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