South Africa

From the natural beauty of the Cape of Good Hope to spectacular wildlife reserves like Kruger National Park, Sabi Sand and MalaMala, the sand dunes of the Kalahari, and powdery beaches lapped by the Indian and Atlantic oceans, South Africa is a nature lover’s paradise. The country also boasts several historical treasures like the Cradle of Humankind, Constitution Hill and the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, fine culture, cuisine and wines from Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, and exciting adventures like shark cage diving and bungee jumping. There’s literally nothing you can’t do in South Africa!

Destinations

Key sights to see

Cape Town

Situated between the slopes of the iconic Table Mountain and the glistening waters of Table Bay, and blessed with world-class beaches, top-notch restaurants and vineyards, breathtaking scenery, a wide-range of adventure activities, and abundant wildlife - from the penguins at Boulders Beach to the sharks at Gansbaai, Cape Town consistently captivates the hearts of all who visit.

The Garden Route

The Garden Route is a stunning and scenic stretch along the southeastern coast of South Africa that extends from Cape Agulhas in the West to Port Elizabeth in the East. The route is known for its diverse landscapes including dense forests, expansive lagoons, picturesque coastal cliffs, beautiful beaches, and charming towns. Visitors can enjoy a wide range of activities and some spectacular resorts & spas and restaurants along the route.

Johannesburg

The largest city in South Africa, Johannesburg, also known as Joburg, Jozi, or “the City of Gold," is home to several historical sites like Constitution Hill, a prison where key historical figures like Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi were once held, the Apartheid Museum, which documents the Apartheid era, and the Cradle of Humankind. The nearby township of Soweto is also worth visiting. It has the only street in the world where two Nobel Prize winners have lived.

Kruger National Park

Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa. 147 species of mammals can be found in the park including lions, cheetahs, leopards, giraffes, elephants, warthogs, cape buffalo, blue wildebeest, black rhinoceros, african wild dog, spotted hyena, various kinds of antelopes, and hippos. The park also has 517 species of birds and 126 species of reptile. Visitors can explore the park in a 4x4, take a bush walk or fly above in a hot-air balloon.

Sabi Sands Game Reserve

Adjacent to Kruger National Park, the Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve is a premier game viewing destination, and the first-ever private nature reserve established in South Africa. Sabi Sands offers exceptional game viewing opportunities with frequent sightings of the renowned Big Five as well as Cheetah, Zebra, Giraffe, and a variety of Antelope. Visitors can enjoy dining under the stars, guided bush walks and an unforgettable stay in a luxurious safari lodge.

MalaMala Game Reserve

With 33,000 acres of land, MalaMala Game Reserve is one of the largest, private Big Five game reserves in South Africa. Wildlife moves from Kruger National Park with which MalaMala shares a border, across MalaMala, to the river and back again, almost guaranteeing a Big 5 viewing experience. MalaMala is a high-end safari destination, so the lodges near the reserve might be relatively expensive compared to other game reserves in the area.

Activities

Exciting and memorable things to do

Cape Peninsula Tour

Visit the breathtaking Cape Peninsula, on this day tour. Drive through Chapman’s Peak on to Hout Bay, and take a boat ride to Seal Island. Then continue further to Cape Point, the Cape of Good Hope, Boulder’s Beach Penguin Colony to see a colony of African Penguins, and finally, end the day with a leisurely stroll through the ecological wonderland that is Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden.

Cape Winelands Tour

Spend a day exploring the Cape Winelands, one of the most famous wine growing regions in the world. Visit the beautiful and historical towns of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, popularly known as the “Food & Wine” capital of South Africa. Take the Franschhoek Wine Tram and stop at some of the famous wineries in the region for wine tasting. On the way back, see the spot where Nelson Mandela was finally released from prison at Drakenstein.

Shark Cage Diving, Gansbaai

Depart early in the morning from Cape Town for Gansbaai, and enjoy a sumptuous breakfast on arrivale. Then, experience the thrill of getting up close and personal with Great White Sharks by going Shark Cage diving in the area popularly known as Shark Alley, which is frequented by a large number of Great White and other types of sharks. After the adrenaline rush, return to Gansbaai harbor, for your drive back to Cape Town.

Whale Watching, Hermanus

Drive about 2 hours south east of Cape Town to Hermanus, and watch Southern Right Whales as they migrate from their feeding grounds in the Antarctic to the warmer waters of South Africa to mate and give birth. Hermanus, particularly Walker Bay, has been recognized as one of the 12 best whale watching destinations in the world. Visitors can watch whales either from the shore or take boat tours to get closer to the whales.

Knysna Lagoon Cruises

With five rivers flowing in and meeting with the Indian Ocean, Knsyna Lagoon is one of the most popular locations on the Garden Route. Visitors can enjoy sunset cruises, private boat charters, kayak tours, oyster tours, nature trails, and scooter tours of the forests surrounding the lagoon. The John Benn (a double-decker floating restaurant) is one of most famous cruise liners in Knysna. Tours are 90 minutes long and go across the lagoon to the Knsyna Heads.

Cango Caves Tour, Oudtshoorn

Explore the 20 million year old Cango Caves system consisting of a series of hidden chambers cut deep into a thick limestone rock layer in the Swartberg Mountains, 30 kilometres north of Oudtshoorn, in South Africa’s Western Cape Province. Learn about the various rock formations including stalactites and stalagmites in a wide variety of colors, especially Cleopatra’s needle which stand nearly 9 meters high!

Apartheid Museum & Constitution Hill – Day Tour

Visit two of the most important sites in South African history, the Apartheid Museum and Constitution Hill. Learn about life under Apartheid, and South Africa’s path to democracy by exploring the interactive exhibits at the Apartheid Museum. Then, visit the prison which housed Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi, and tour the Constitution Court of South Africa at Constitution Hill.

Soweto – Half Day Tour

Explore the township of Soweto on this half day tour. Visit Vilakazi street, the only street in the world on which two Nobel laureates lived and take a tour of Mandela House, where Nelson Mandela lived from 1946 to 1961. Also visit the Hector Pieterson memorial, which commemorates the death of several students who were shot in 1976 during a peaceful demonstration. Finally, drive by the most iconic landmark in Soweto, the painted Orlando Towers.

The Cradle of Humankind – Half Day Tour

Visit the Cradle of Humankind, where fossils of our ancestors dating back over 3 million years have been found. First, tour the Maropeng Visitor Center, and learn about the evolution of humans over the last few million years through a series of interactive exhibits. Then, explore the Sterkfontein caves to see how fossils are discovered, excavated and dated, and the sites where some of the most ancient and important fossils were found.

South Africa

Destinations

Activities

Map

Add to favorite

Create new board

Add to current board

Add to favorite

Delete from favorite

Add to favorite