Where to go in South Africa

Cape Winelands

Cape Winelands is situated at the Western Cape Province and is known as the largest wine producing region in the country.

The most popular wine regions here include the Wellington, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Constantia, Franschhoek and Robertson.

If you want to experience grape stomping, you can check out the Robertson Wine Valley during the hands-on-harvest festival.

If you want to skip grape stomping, you can opt to ride a stallion to get a great overlooking view of the whole valley. You can also take a river cruise at the Breede River. Children can have lots of fun if you take them on a vineyard tractor trip that will teach them how to make vinegar and verjuice, among so many other treats.

If it is wine bath that you desire, you can head off to the Mont Destin in Stellenbosch. You and your companions can have the whole vineyard to yourselves. Relax in this activity fit for royalties, while you all indulge on estate wine and feast your eyes on the beauty of your surroundings.

Cape Town

The main attractions of Cape Town are its beautiful beaches – so attractive that a lot of people still flock to them even though the water is a bit chilly. After all, if you don’t feel like swimming, these beaches still provide a great venue for basking in the sun, play beach volleyball, or simply hanging out with your companions.

There are wide sandy stretches on the Atlantic seaboard. This is also ideal for watching sunsets while savoring the sea temperatures that the beaches here are known for.

If you love to go walking, you can head on to the Noordhoek Beach, which is also frequented by kite fliers and surf enthusiasts. Surfers also seek the Kommetjie Beach for its excellent waves.

Kruger National Park

At Kruger National Park, you can head on to its northern section to marvel at the one-of-a-kind biodiversity that you will find there. There are fever tree forests and forests of giant baobabs. It is like being transported into the lands of fairies and witches.

To get an even better feel of the park, you can stay at one of its private lodges, the Pafuri Camp, which is being maintained by the Makuleke people, who were trained by experienced rangers.

This venue is filled with scenic sights, natural wonders, birds, and forests. It is home to various animals, which include leopards, buffaloes, rhinos, lions, and elephants.

There is also evidence that Homo erectus people lived here in the past. You can find hand axes that existed since the Stone Age and dinosaur fossils that are still unexcavated.

Soweto

Your trip to South Africa should not just be a sightseeing trip. It could be an educational one as well.

Take this chance to immerse in South Africa’s rural areas and get a better insight into the core of the freedom struggle. To make the most of your time and ensure that you see the right sights and places, it is best that you book into a Soweto township tour.

The tour will be able to explain the reason why black people moved into the cities, what challenges they needed to go through, and what has changed through the years.

The tour is going to be better if you are going to stay overnight in the place. This way, you can also experience Soweto’s colorful nightlife and social scene.

The Garden Route

The Garden Route houses a great variety of attractions, such as secluded artist communities, ancient forests, modern malls, golf courses, mountain hideaways, beaches, retirement properties, craft centers, and a lot more.

You can find here the ostrich capital of the world, the Oudtshoorn.

As you take the Garden Route tour, you might as well visit other nearby towns, too, such as the Wilderness, Plettenberg Bay, Calitzdorp, Knysna, and Sedgefield.

Outside Plettenberg Bay, you can find the Bramon Wine Farm, which is a recent addition in the area.

You can easily get to the Garden Route when you are in Cape Town. The national park in the area serves as the thread that weaves together the ancient forests at the Tsitsikamma National Park and the wild coastline on the Wilderness National Park. The whole area is almost whimsical with the enthralling mix of ecosystems.

Johannesburg

Johannesburg is known as the city of gold and glamour because it has a complete lineup of establishments that cater to those who are seeking entertainment and leisure.

Johannesburg served as the host city to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It has lots of great restaurants, sidewalk cafes, big shopping malls, museums, galleries, casinos, and clubs.

There are bars that you can check out if you only want to hang out or have some cocktails. The restaurants are diverse, from casual to fine dining. You can find jazz lounges, comedy clubs, venues with live music, and many more.

While in town, you can check out the Constitution Hill, Apartheid Museum, Nelson Mandela Square, Sandton City, Gold Reef City or Emperor’s Palace, Montecasino, Rosebank Mall, and Soweto’s Maponya Mall.

The Wild Coast

You will be amazed at the unspoiled national treasure that can be found at the Wild Coast. Exploring the area can be done by merely strolling around, but you can also do it on horseback. You can also try out some snorkeling and diving along the way.

The coastline stretches on the Umtanvuna River to the Great Kei. As you walk through the area, indulge and savor the dramatic sceneries complete with beaches, bays, valleys and hills.

If you are on a horseback, you can check out the Transkei, which used to be a homeland and is part of the Eastern Cape Wild Coast. This is popular to hikers and is considered as the heart of the Xhosa nation.

There are ancient forests here that have yellow wood trees, cycads, and various species of animals and birds. Fishing can also be enjoyed here, but you have to acquire a fishing license first from any local post office.

There are shipwrecks that can be found here as well.

The whole stretch of the coastline can be enjoyed while strolling on the Wild Coast Hiking Trail. You can also take a peek at the treasures that are hidden on the shipwrecks while enjoying water activities such as diving and snorkeling.

Durban

Durban is said to be the most popular domestic holiday city in the country. It’s a place that can be enjoyed no matter what the weather is because it has so many different attractions and activities that you may want to try.

 There are sandy swimming beaches where you can surf or simply bask in the sun. You can also try fishing or enjoy the sights as the sun sets. You can spend quality time with your family at the uShaka Marine World and the Water World.

The subtropical weather in the city is responsible for its green appearance all year round. Art lovers also delight in spending time at the Berea and the areas on the Victoria Embankment. You will find here excellent Victorian architecture that has been preserved properly.

Robben Island Prison Museum

The Robben Island Prison Museum is another site that will let you learn a lot about this nation’s people and history.

For the locals, this prison museum serves as a significant symbol of self-sacrifice, justice, and human rights.

The tour can take up to three and a half hours. It begins at the Mandela Gateway, at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, where you will be given a peek of the different exhibitions on the island.

Then you will take a ferry ride that will last for 30 minutes. This ride will take you to the maximum security prison, which your guide can help you explore.

After this stop, you will take a bus ride that will last for 45 minutes. On this ride, you will hear more information about the island’s history and what it has gone through as a leper colony, a mental hospital, and a military base.

In addition to its wealth of history, the Robben Island Prison Museum site also holds some interesting flora and fauna that the authorities aim to protect and conserve.

This museum is now considered a South African National Heritage Site.

The Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve

The Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve can be found in Mpumalanga, South Africa.

A tour of this place allows tourists to take a peek at the country’s most spectacular views: the nature reserve has many natural wonders, one of which is the Bourke’s Luck Potholes.

You can also enjoy some scenic dives, swimming, and hiking while you are here.

The place is an ideal place to visit for animal lovers because this serves as home to various species of birds and rare animals, which you would surely love to see.