By Julius Choudhury
South Africa has all of the features that travelers long for in a vacation destination: fine weather, gorgeous scenery, great beaches, modern accommodations and superb cuisine. The southern tip of Africa also offers an exotic array of once-in-a-lifetime adventures, from off-roading on a safari to diving with great white sharks. It’s hard to name another holiday destination that offers as much variety. An overview of the best places to visit in South Africa.
Kruger National Park
Spread over an area of 7,523 square miles (19,485 sq. km), the Kruger National Park is the one of the largest game reserves in the continent. Home to the big five game animals such as lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhinoceros, it was made the country’s first national park in 1926.
Cape Town Winelands
Gorgeous landscapes, delectable food and wine tasting – experience the good life in the stunning Cape Winelands. Take your pick from the most scenic wine routes such as Constantia Valley, Stellenbosch, Helderberg, Durbanville Valley, Franschhoek and enjoy the rustic architecture on the way, savoring the sprawling valleys and their signature red and sweet wine samples.
Garden Route
Purely meant for delightful long drives, the awe-inspiring Garden Route is stretched over 300 km (186.4 miles) from Mossel Bay in the Western Cape to Storms River in the Eastern Cape. From an unadulterated view of the azure Indian Ocean to several lakes, lagoons and vineyards on the way – the route is home to several picturesque towns such as Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Little Brak River and Nature's Valley.
Blyde River Canyon
Located in the Mpumalanga region, the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve is the third largest canyon on Earth and offers several natural attractions such as the God’s Window, Bourke's Luck Potholes, Three Rondavels, The Pinnacle and over 1,000 species of flora.
Durban Beachfront
Known for its all-year-round warm weather and roaring waves, the Durban Beachfront boasts of stunning sea view from almost all the hotels in the area. A favorite among surfers from all over the world, the Beachfront is home to several attractions such as Battery Beach, Snake Park, Bay of Plenty, uShaka Marine World and Suncoast Casino.
Drakensberg
Home to gorgeous valleys such as the Champagne Valley, Didima Valley, Amphitheatre Valley and Middledale Pass Valley, the Drakensberg escarpment offers some of the best mountain views in the country. You can choose to stay in luxurious hotels and resorts or go camping in tents or your caravan amid nature.
Drakensberg Home to gorgeous valleys such as the Champagne Valley, Didima Valley, Amphitheatre Valley and Middledale Pass Valley, the Drakensberg escarpment offers some of the best mountain views in the country. You can choose to stay in luxurious hotels and resorts or go camping in tents or your caravan amid nature.
Table Mountain
One of the most iconic natural landmarks of South Africa, the flat-topped mountain overlooks the city of Cape Town. You can choose to hike to the top, or take a cable car to the summit. Adventure enthusiasts can engage in exhilarating activities such as mountain biking, caving and rock climbing, while nature lovers can hike around to look for rare, endemic flora and fauna.
Cradle of Humankind
From learning about Paleoanthropology to wining and dining in fine surroundings, the UNESCO World Heritage Site near Johannesburg is a must-see location on any South African itinerary. It is home to more than 40 percent of the world’s human ancestral fossils. Be sure to check out the Sterkfontein Caves, where a 2.3-million-year-old hominin fossil was discovered in 1947.
Robben Island
Take a glimpse into the country’s apartheid history as you visit the Robben Island – where iconic revolutionary, Nobel laureate and former South African President Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years. Located off the coast of Bloubergstrand, Cape Town, the infamous prison has been marked as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as a South African National Heritage Site.
Soweto
An important center for the struggle against apartheid, the city of Soweto (abbreviated from South Western Township) was specifically built for black people during the country’s racial segregation system from 1948 to 1991. Visit historical sites such as the Kliptown, where the Freedom Charter was adopted in 1955, and the Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum.
