Best Places to Visit South Africa

South Africa’s top 10 destinations

Table of Contents

1. Cape Town

Cape Town is one of the main stopping points on any route in Southern Africa, with Table Mountain as its landmark, many beautiful beaches, the popular Victoria and Alfred Waterhead, magnificent stores, restaurants, and fantastic nightlife. Take the cableway to the height of Table Mountain to enjoy stunning city views. The UNESCO World Heritage site was once the outpost where former President Nelson Mandela was held during the apartheid period and is another highlight of a boat ride to Robben Island. To see the two ocean sights meet, head for Clifton, Camps Bay, Llandudno, Hout Bay, and Noordhoek on a day trip to the rugged Cape Peninsular National Park, the popular Cape of Good Hope, and to the best beaches.

2. Kruger National Park

World-famous Kruger National Park is now part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park – which includes reservations in neighboring Mozambique which Zimbabwe – and now covers 20.000 square kilometers of land. Kruger and neighboring private game reserves like Sabi sand, Timbavati, Thornybush, and Manyeleti give unbelievable opportunities to see plenty of animals and birds and birdlife, including black and white rhino. Hospitality encompasses rustic and ultra-luxurious lodges.

3. The Winelands

Explore the South African Cape Wine Region and its beautiful climate. Explore the historic villages of Paarl and Franschhoek and Stellenbosch from the center of the Winelands. Stellenbosch, South Africa’s second oldest city, offers some of the world’s best wines and is also a busy university town, lined with oak trees and quaint small arts and crafts. Paarl is nestled in the Berg River Valley, mostly Afrikanese-speaking. It has a range of traditional wine farmhouses, and Franschhoek is a charming small town with world-renowned cellars, South Africa’s very own ‘french neighborhood.’

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4. The Garden Route

The Garden Route is a beautiful coastline that runs from George to Port Elizabeth. Keeping in touch on the Garden Path, Oudtshoorn is the capital of Klein Karoo, famous for the ostriches, and nearby Cango Caves and Plettenberg Bay, with its exquisite beaches. Knysna, the picturesque town lying between lush forests and coasts of the tranquil lagoon, is the Garden Highway’s key hub. Other highlights include the Wilderness National Park, a paradise for nature enthusiasts, and Swellendam with big, oaky, old homes.

5. Madikwe Game Reserve

Madikwe is a massive Big Five Game Reserve just four hours drive from Johannesburg and two-three hours drive from Sun City. Madikwe’s vast open grassland and wooden plains cover some 750 km2, and its rich plant diversity guarantees a wide variety of game, with 66 major species of mammals and over 300 species of birds. They are conserved as one of the best conservation regions in Africa. The Madikwe Game Reserve is a perfect safari destination for families with a malaria-free area in South Africa tour packages.

6. Hluhluhwe Umfolozi National Park

The Hluhluwe Umfolozi National Park is situated in Zululand and is the oldest game reserve in Africa. It occupies an area of 96,000 hectares. It is home to the Big Five and many other animal species, including the elusive get and wild dog. Hidden with pans and waterholes, the visitors can watch the animals nearby, which are the game’s main focus. The National Park is known for its protection of white rhino and home to at least one-quarter of the world’s black and white rhino population.

7. iSimangaliso Wetlands Park

One of South Africa’s gems is the UNESCO-listed Greater iSimangaliso Wetlands Park (formerly St. Lucia Wetland Park). A singular synthesis of a subtropical coastline and classical African playground, covering St. Lucia Lake, the Marine Reserves of St. Lucia and Maputaland, the Coastal Forest Reserves, and the natural reserve of the Kosi Bay region. The highest population of hippos and crocodiles in this country is represented by hippos, black rhino, leopards, and many birds and marine life. St-Lucia supports more animal species than the Kruger National Park and the Okavango Delta.

8. Kingdom of Swaziland

South Africa is a picturesque region, locked up with a fascinating cultural patrimony, rough mountain, busty mountains, and magnificent views of the game. The highest game concentration in Canada is in Hlane Royal National Park, including four of the Big Five, the lion, the elephant, the rhino, and the leopard. The heavy water hole in Ndlovu Camp is one of the highlights of the area. Horses of white rhino, elephants, and local hippos also are seen. Mlilwane is a lovely isolated refuge in the Valley of Heaven in Swaziland. On foot, horseback, or car, the south half of the park can be explored.

9. Blyde River Canyon

The Blyde River Canyon, the third-largest canyon globally, is one of the biggest natural wonders of South Africa. The canyon’s highest point reaches almost 2000 meters above sea level when snaking through the landscape for 25 kilometers, and its lowest peak drops to less than 561 meters. It supports a wide range of animals, from hippos to crocodiles and many birds, too many primate species. Many sights are worth seeing, including the Luck Potholes of Bourkes, an intriguing array of potholes and shaped and sculpted rock formations, the huge 200-meter Kadishi waterfall.

10. Addo Elephant Park

Addo Elephant Park is a nature park near Port Elizabeth. It was built as a sanctuary for the eleven elephants left in 1931 and now home to more than 600 elephants since then to South Africa’s third-largest park. While elephants’ greatest attraction is definitely the park, there are also the other Big Five, Zebra, Autriche, and Warthog. Their members are also in the park. The park is an excellent place to go out on a safari with guided game drives. The park limits are on the coast, and Africans, cape fur seals, and large white sharks can be seen outside Algoa Bay.