England Cricket Tour to South Africa 2026/27

England's tour of South Africa in December 2026 and January 2027 is shaping up to be one of the marquee tours of the cycle. Three Test matches and three ODIs across some of the most spectacular cricket grounds in the world.

This guide covers everything you need to plan your trip — confirmed fixtures, the grounds you'll visit, what to expect on the ground, and how to put together a tour that works for you. This tour is part of England's packed 2026/27 schedule — see all upcoming England cricket tours for the full picture.

Confirmed Fixtures

Test Series

The three-match Test series is the headline act. South Africa's home conditions are among the most challenging in world cricket — pace, bounce, and altitude all play a part.

• 1st Test — 17–21 December 2026, The Wanderers, Johannesburg
• 2nd Test — 26–30 December 2026, SuperSport Park, Centurion
• 3rd Test — 3–7 January 2027, Newlands, Cape Town

ODI Series

• 1st ODI — 10 January 2027, Boland Park, Paarl
• 2nd ODI — 13 January 2027, Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein
• 3rd ODI — 15 January 2027, Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein

The Grounds

The Wanderers, Johannesburg

Known as the Bullring for good reason. The Wanderers is intense, loud, and produces some of the most dramatic cricket you'll see anywhere. The ground holds around 34,000 and the Highveld altitude means the ball carries and the pace is genuine. Johannesburg is a city that demands respect but rewards exploration — particularly Soweto, the Apartheid Museum, and the surrounding game reserves. This is where the tour begins.

SuperSport Park, Centurion

Centurion sits at altitude on the Highveld, roughly 30 minutes from Pretoria. The pitch here is traditionally fast and bouncy — pace bowlers love it. The ground holds around 22,000 and has a modern feel, with easy access from Johannesburg's OR Tambo airport. The Boxing Day Test here adds a festive dimension to the tour.

Newlands, Cape Town

There is no more beautiful cricket ground in the world. Table Mountain provides the backdrop, the oak trees frame the ground, and the atmosphere on a Test match day is unforgettable. Newlands holds approximately 25,000 and the Western Province light gives the ground a quality you simply don't get anywhere else. Cape Town itself is worth a week of anyone's time — wine country, the peninsula, the waterfront, and some of the best restaurants on the continent.

Boland Park, Paarl

A compact, picturesque ground in the heart of the Cape Winelands. Boland Park holds around 10,000 and is surrounded by mountains and vineyards — one of the most scenic ODI venues in the world. Paarl is less than an hour from Cape Town, making it an easy day trip or a chance to combine cricket with a few days in wine country.

Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein

The tour finishes in the Free State capital. Mangaung Oval is a smaller, traditional ground with a warm, local atmosphere. Bloemfontein is a city that doesn't feature on most tourist itineraries, but hosting the final two ODIs gives it a place on this tour.

Planning Your Trip

When to Go

The Test series runs through the South African summer — December and January. Expect temperatures in the mid-to-high twenties in Cape Town, slightly higher in Johannesburg and Centurion. The Western Cape has a Mediterranean climate; Gauteng (Johannesburg/Centurion) gets afternoon thunderstorms in summer, but they rarely disrupt play for long.

How Long You Need

Most supporters travel for between 10 and 21 days. A popular option is to cover two of the three Tests and build in time for Cape Town's wine country, a garden route drive, or a safari in the Kruger region. If you want all three Tests plus white-ball cricket, you're looking at three to four weeks.

What to Combine

South Africa is one of the easiest cricket destinations to combine with extraordinary experiences. The most popular additions are:

• Cape Winelands — Stellenbosch and Franschhoek are world-class wine regions less than an hour from Cape Town
• Garden Route — self-drive from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth through some of the most scenic coastline in the world
• Safari — Kruger National Park, Sabi Sands, or Pilanesberg are all accessible from Johannesburg
• Victoria Falls — a short flight from Johannesburg for a two or three night extension

Beyond the Cricket in Cape Town

Cape Town deserves more than just a Test match. The city consistently ranks among the most beautiful in the world, and for good reason — Table Mountain, the V&A Waterfront, Kirstenbosch Gardens, the Cape Peninsula drive, Robben Island, and some of the best food and wine you'll find anywhere. Most supporters build in at least three or four extra days around the Newlands Test to explore properly. We've put together a complete Cape Town sightseeing guide covering everything from the must-see landmarks to the restaurants and experiences worth your time.

Ground-Only Packages

We connect you with officially appointed tour operators in South Africa who arrange your accommodation, match tickets, transfers and experiences directly. Your booking and contract is with them — specialists who know South African cricket travel inside out. You book your own flights.

Every trip is built from scratch around your group, your budget, and how much cricket you want. No fixed packages, no group tours — just a bespoke itinerary put together by people who know the destination.

Why South Africa?

Twenty years of taking cricket supporters to South Africa has taught me that it's the most complete cricket destination in the world. The cricket is fierce, the grounds are spectacular, the country is breathtaking, and the value is outstanding. The combination of a Cape Town Test with a few days in the winelands is about as good as life gets.

England's last Test series in South Africa produced some memorable cricket. The 2026/27 tour will be no different — Bazball meets South African pace and bounce on their home pitches.

Start Planning

The best trips to South Africa are the ones planned early. Hotels near the grounds book up fast, particularly in Cape Town over the festive season. For a deeper look at the country, venues, and practical travel advice, see our full South Africa cricket travel guide. And if you're ready to start building your trip, start a conversation with us now.

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Ian Kerr is the founder of Follow On Tours and has been organising cricket travel for over 20 years, including multiple England tours to South Africa.