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What makes South Africa a diverse travel destination?
- From the towering Table Mountain that dominates the skyline of modern and vibrant Cape Town to the wild swaths of land home to lions and elephants in Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa offers a huge variety of activities for travelers of all interests.
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What unique experiences can visitors enjoy in Franschhoek?
- The hop on, hop off tram in Franschhoek takes guests to some of the most acclaimed vineyards in the region.
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What can visitors discover at the Cradle of Humankind?
- The Cradle of Humankind offers a glimpse at the fossils of some of humanity’s ancestors, which are millions of years old.
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What makes South Africa's climate and landscape unique?
- South Africa’s climate is pleasant, and the country boasts beaches, mountains, grasslands, and exciting cities reflecting centuries of blended culture from its diverse societies and settlers.
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1. Kruger National Park
Spot the Big Five and explore exciting safari sights on a once-in-a-lifetime trip.
Kruger National Park is one of the largest natural reserves in Africa with more than 7,500 square miles of mountains, tropical forests, and grassy plains. The park features an impressively high population of wildlife, from a diversity of plants to the “Big Five” of African animals: elephants, lions, rhinos, buffalo, and leopards. The park is also home to hundreds of other species of animals, birds, and plants, and guests to Kruger National Park can witness some of this astounding nature up close by taking a classic safari tour through the area. Kruger National Park offers day safaris as well as overnight trips, and you can choose from a variety of accommodations, from a rustic camp setting to a luxury private safari lodge.
2. Addo Elephant National Park
Watch majestic herds and enjoy affordable wildlife views on a family-friendly outing.
Addo Elephant National Park is a massive wildlife conservation space located near Port Elizabeth at the southeastern edge of South Africa. The park is home to lions, hyenas, black rhino, and of course, elephants, all of which live wild within the park’s borders. Visitors can drive, hike, ride horses, or take a jeep tour through the park, where they will see birds and animals at the watering hole, grazing in the savannah, or roaming their natural habitat. There are also many camps and areas of the park that are accessible to wheelchair users and disabled guests, where they can also spot birds and many other types of wildlife. Visitors can also choose to camp at the park or stay in one of the lodges on the premises.
3. Cape Town
Hike Table Mountain and explore vibrant city attractions on a thrilling weekend.
Cape Town is the capital of South Africa, located on a peninsula on the country’s southwest coast. It’s an incredibly vibrant city with a colorful and varied mix of cultures, as well as an abundance of outdoor activities both on land and in the water. Visitors to Cape Town can take a cable car ride up to the top of Table Mountain, which towers over the city, and from there they can see stunning views of the city, the surrounding land, and the deep blue of the South Atlantic Ocean. Visitors can also take a boat from Cape Town to Robben Island, where they will find the infamous prison that once held Nelson Mandela during apartheid. The prison is now a museum where guests can learn about the island’s history.
4. Cradle of Humankind
Walk ancient caves and discover unusual fossils at this fascinating UNESCO site.
Just about 30 miles northwest of Johannesburg is the Cradle of Humankind, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that contains millions of years worth of fossils. There are fifteen major sites in the Cradle of Humankind, such as the Sterkfontein Caves, which are filled with fossils and evidence of early prehistoric life. One of particular note is Little Foot, the fossilized skeleton of an Australopithecus (ancient species of hominid) that is estimated to be more than 3 million years old. These fossils and many more are still being excavated, and they present a stunningly educational look at human history, and all the species who came before us.
5. Durban
Surf warm waves and savor flavorful street food on a lively summer visit.
Durban is a coastal city in eastern South Africa with a very noticeable mix of cultures like Indian, traditional African, and colonial European. A seafront promenade in Durban provides some lovely golden beaches for sunbathing and swimming as well as a beautiful view of the ocean. Guests in Durban can ride horses along the beach or delve beneath the waters with Scuba diving or even in a shark cage. On land, visitors will also enjoy the many shops in the city, as well as the abundance of craft fairs, markets, and bazaars that fill the streets with color, music, and activity. On Wilson’s Wharf, a trendy seaside district, there are plenty of options for food, shopping, and fun. Many festivals are hosted there throughout the year.
6. Franschhoek
Sip fine wines and admire romantic vineyard views in this charming retreat.
The town of Franschhoek in southwestern South Africa just north of Cape Town is a beautiful historic town that bears a lot of evidence of the French colonists who settled there in the 17th century. Visitors can explore Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve for a peaceful hike to look at some of the natural landscapes and wildflowers of the region or check out the Huguenot Memorial Museum to learn about the French settlers who came to the region centuries ago. The Francshhoek region is also incredibly well known for its wine, and visitors will particularly enjoy the Franschhoek Wine Tram, a double decker open air tram that travels between vineyards in the region.
7. George
Golf scenic fairways and enjoy easy access to Garden Route sights.
George is a coastal city in West Cape, South Africa that is part of a region known as the Garden Route, named for the Cape Wildflower Floral Kingdom. It is home to many sunny and peaceful golf courses as well as Wilderness, a national park that is a haven for hikers, nature lovers, and seekers of adventure. In Wilderness National Park, visitors can enjoy beaches, hiking trails, gorges, lakes, and wooded hills. In the city itself, you can can find the Outeniqua Transport Museum, which contains displays and exhibits about historic steam trains and vintage cars, as well as the George Museum, where you can learn about the history of the region, including its timber industry.
8. Hermanus
Spot whales from shore and walk along coastal trails on a spring trip.
Hermanus is a coastal town in West Cape that is extremely famous for the whale watching opportunities there in the southern winter and spring months of June to November. During this time, huge pods of whales migrate north from Antarctica, and many tours are available for tourists to try and catch a glimpse of these amazing creatures as they travel, mate, and explore the waters with their newly calved young. Hermanus truly has some of the best whale watching in the world, and visitors would be remiss if they didn’t hop on a boat, a helicopter, or a high cliff path to try and see them. The area is also a great place to look for sharks, as about 5 miles from the coast there is an area called Shark Alley that is a very popular hunting ground for great white sharks.
9. Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Track rhinos and explore exciting bushland in Africa’s oldest game reserve.
Established in 1895, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park is the oldest game reserve in all of the continent of Africa. It consists of almost 400 square miles of rolling hills and green grassland, and it is home to an abundance of wildlife such as zebra, rhino, elephants, lions, hyenas, and many species of birds. Visitors to Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park can take a safari ride in an open air safari vehicle, which will drive through the very heart of the park to places where the animals spend their days, and guests are often surprised by elephants crossing the road directly in front of them or a herd of antelope on the move.
10. Hout Bay
Sail the harbor and savor fresh seafood on a quick coastal escape.
Hout Bay , a peninsular town located just south of the capital city of Cape Town, is a lovely little seaside area that is close enough to the big city for day trips and exploration in the metropolitan area, but far enough away that it is much quieter and peaceful. The village is surrounded by water and mountains, its coasts lined with sandy beaches, and there is pleasant weather in abundance. Visitors to Hout Bay can take a drive on Chapmans Peak Drive, a scenic road that leads through the mountains and will eventually find its way to Cape of Good Hope National Park, a rocky area at the very southern tip of the peninsula.
Plan Your Trip
Table of Contents:
- 1. Kruger National Park
- 2. Addo Elephant National Park
- 3. Cape Town
- 4. Cradle of Humankind
- 5. Durban
- 6. Franschhoek
- 7. George
- 8. Hermanus
- 9. Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
- 10. Hout Bay