South Africa is a country of incredible beauty and diversity, with a wide range of landscapes, cultures, and activities to explore. From the bustling cities of Johannesburg and Durban to the wilds of the Kruger National Park and the majestic Drakensberg Mountains, there is something for everyone in South Africa. Whether you're looking for a relaxing beach holiday, an adventure in the wilderness, or a cultural experience, South Africa has it all. Here are 15 incredible places to visit in South Africa.
Cape Town - Located on the southwestern tip of South Africa's Western Cape Province, Cape Town enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate and a spectacular natural environment. Flanked by Table Mountain and overlooking the infamous Robben Island, Cape Town has a little bit of everything: history, nature, culture, you name it, Cape Town has it.
Kruger National Park - The Kruger National Park is one of Africa's great nature experiences and the most powerful national park in the country. A trip here will stay etched in your mind. Its accessibility, quantity and variety of wildlife, and its astonishing size and variety of activities make Kruger distinctive and attractive.
Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg Park - Majestic, breathtaking and mysterious, the mountains and foothills of the World Heritage-listed Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg Park are among the most stunning landscapes in the country. Drakensberg means Dragon Mountains in Afrikaans, while the Zulus called the eastern face of the Ukhahlamba mountain range (meaning spear barrier). Both terms beautifully convey the sublime backdrop of incredible peaks in the area. People have lived here for thousands of years, as evidenced by the numerous rock art sites of San.
Wild Coast - With its rugged cliffs that sink into the sea, remote sandy beaches, rural Xhosa villages and history of shipwrecks and stranded sailors, the aptly named Costa Salvaje is ideally explored on foot. From the Great Kei River to Port St Johns, trails hug the coast, traverse dense vegetation or meander down bare slopes and gorges, and often overlook right whales and southern dolphins in turquoise seas.
Kgalagadi Transboundary Park - The Kgalagadi Transboundary Park covers nearly 38,850 square kilometers (15,000 square miles) of rough Kalahari in the North Cape and Botswana, an area roamed by thousands of predators. But these statistics, although impressive, barely touch the surface of this immense land of crackling sunsets, velvety night skies and rolling red dunes.
iSimangaliso Wetland Park - iSimangaliso, which means miracle or wonder in Zulu, has an appropriate name. This UNESCO World Heritage Site in KwaZulu-Natal incorporates 10 destinations, from the Mozambican border to Maphelane, on the southern tip of Lake Santa Lucia. The iSimangaliso Wetland Park protects five distinct ecosystems, ranging from beaches, coastal reefs and coastal forests to lakes, wetlands and forests.
Addo Elephant National Park - In Addo Elephant National Park, more than 600 African elephants roam low bushes, tall grass and distant hills. The land (reclaimed after being decimated by farmers) and the park represent a conservation success story. Hyenas and lions, introduced in 2003 to reduce populations of kudu, ostriches and wild boars also roam freely.
Johannesburg - Despite its appalling reputation Johannesburg is an inspiring place thanks to the regeneration that elevates the city center. The cultural enclaves of Braamfontein Newtown 44 Stanley and the Maboneng district are dynamic and exciting places by all standards of the city with galleries restaurants bars and boutiques.
Cradle of Humanity - As you will discover in this paleontological zone it started in Africa in western Gauteng to be precise. The Cradle of Humanity cares for hundreds of square miles of beautiful green and brown savannahs and a growing migration of tourists descendants of hominids who sit with the fossils of their ancestors deep underground before returning to civilization in restaurants and day spas.
South African Beaches - South Africa's windswept coastline is teeming with gorgeous beaches. From family favorites in Cape Town to world-famous surf spots here are some of the best.
Wild Experiences - South Africa has many wild experiences. If you're looking for the best thing to include in your trip start with these 15 quintessential things to do.
Durban - Durban is one of the most popular holiday destinations in South Africa due to its near-perfect year-round climate. If you want to stay out check out the gondola rides fishing marine world uShaka Gateway Theater all water sports you can imagine.
