South Africa makes for great destination for any traveler. It is full of destinations not to miss in one’s lifetime. The country has everything to offer visitors. See wild lions, catch a wave on a surfboard, relax in a 7 star lodge, jump off the highest bridge bungee bridge in the world, snap a selfie with penguins, or get up close and personal with a whales. We just spent two months touring the beautiful country and here’s our list of must see places in South Africa. Hope you enjoy.
Must See Places in South Africa
The Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park in South Africa is one of the largest game reserves in Africa and with very dense animal population it makes for one of the best places to take a safari. The national park takes up roughly the size of Israel of South Africa, or 7,523 square miles. The animal and plant diversity here is staggering with 404 woody plants and 224 grasses, 53 fish, 34 amphibians, 118 reptiles, 517 birds and 147 mammals. So grab a guidebook and start checking off your sightings because you will loose count. For more info check out the national parks site.
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Read More: {Gateway to a Wildlife Safari: A guide to Kruger National Park from Hoedspruit}
Cape Town
Located on the Southwestern tip of South Africa, Cape Town is a must see for the world. It is Africa’s most visited tourist destination. Cape Town has one of the best backdrops in the world with the iconic Table Mountain. There are plenty of reasons for this too. The city enjoys mild year-round weather and it is surrounded by natural beauty. The surrounding cape area is gorgeous offering beautiful beaches, wine lands, and mountains. You can see wild penguins, shop at a wonderful craft market, climb a mountain, and dine at a hip restaurant all in one day in Cape Town. It’s not hard to see why so many people flock to here.
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The Drakensberg Mountains
The Drakensberg Mountains were a must see destination for us. I have a passion for a good hike. The Drakensberg region is offers some of Africa’s best, and for that matter best in the world. You have great mountain lodges, dramatic mountains, snowboarding, culture, the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, and the best small town in South Africa here. It all culminates in the one of the most impressive natural formations on the planet, The Drakensberg Amphitheater. Don’t forget to visit the mountain country surrounded by South Africa, Lesotho. We stayed at a number of charming places, but the highlight was Montusi Mountain Lodge.
Read More: {Escape To The Drakensberg Mountains in South Africa}
Cape Wine Lands
Do you like to drink wine? Because the wine lands around the Cape of South Africa produce some of the best wines. You can choose from Paarl, Stellenbosch, and Franschoek for a great wine tour, or all of them. We visited Stellenbosch, the largest, and sampled some of their fine wines. They make excellent Sav Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Shiraz, Cabernet, and their own specialty Pinotage. The whole region is stunning with plenty to offer, such as, fine dining restaurants and boutique hotels. Our two favorite places to stay were Oude Werf and Rozendal cottages.
Read More: {Don’t Miss One of the Best Wine Regions in the World}
Hermanus
This fishing town is home to whale watching. And it’s proximity to the Southern most point of Africa makes for a great day trip. The real draw here in the ability to see whales, seals, manta rays, and sharks in the wild. And for those brave enough you have a chance to see great white sharks up close and personal from the water from the nearby town of Gansbaai. Yes, we got in the water. We took a dive with Marine Dynamics the most professional group in SA, and are active in shark conservation. The sharks are massive, beautiful, and terrifying. In Hermanus you come to respect the majestic marine life in our oceans and understand just how important it is to protect. It’s not just one of the must see places in South Africa, but life.
A Township
A major reason to travel to South Africa is the culture. It’s not in the fine restaurants, art galleries, or national parks. The culture of South Africa stems from the brimming townships. They are an important aspect of South African history. A living testament to the damage inflicted by Apartheid and a harsh reminder of the poverty that afflicts Africa. It is also a source of vibrant culture. The streets are full with street art, colorful houses, and smiling faces. Don’t listen to the bad rap they often receive, with the right tour guide they are safe and welcoming. One must simply know where to go.
The Garden Route
The Garden route is right along with Cape Town for being one of the most trafficked tourist destinations in South Africa. This beautiful stretch of road along the coast extends from Mossel Bay to Storms River. The name comes from the unique vegetation that can be found here with quant towns and cities dotting the coastline. It’s also home to one of our favorite game reserves offering visitors to explore the Fynbos. It’s also where we jumped off the highest bridge in the world offering bungee jumping on a regular basis. Towns like Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, and George are sure to the amuse those looking for something more relaxed, like day walking along the beach followed by a fresh seafood dinner along the water.
Read More:{Ecotourism in South Africa at Gondwana Game Reserve}
There is plenty more to South Africa!
This is really only the tip of the iceberg of must see places in South Africa. It’s a big country filled with hundreds of interesting sites. We could spend several months exploring South Africa and still not feel we’ve seen it all. However, if you’re pressed for time checking one or all of them off the list are sure to not disappoint any visitor to South Africa.
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