9 Most Interesting Places in South Africa

South Africa is one of the largest and undoubtedly the most diverse countries on the continent. So join us on a journey through the most interesting (though not always the most beautiful) and inspiring cities, extraordinary driving routes, parks full of wild animals, inaccessible mountains and wide sandy beaches that this country offers to the numerous tourists who come here. Regardless of what type of traveler you are and who you travel with, you will surely find that in this place you will definitely not be bored, and exotic holidays in south africa it is possible to reconcile even the most contradictory plans!

Panorama Route – Mac Mac Falls

Security in South Africa

Just like in any other country, in South Africa, from time to time there are acts of common crime, mainly thefts and robberies. The basic information that is worth getting from the locals or employees of the hotel where you will be staying is... where not to go or drive! Certainly, in Polish cities you know districts where it is better to go only during the day or with someone who knows the area, and where it is better to put jewelry or electronic equipment in a safe or deposit. During travel to South Africa it is certainly worth being prudent – ​​make a copy of your passport, tickets and all important documents that you can have with you all the time instead of the originals, avoid using ATMs and currency exchanges in busy public places, and even take an old wallet stuffed with small and old, canceled cards, the loss of which will be neither inconvenient nor painful. Also remember to follow all instructions of employees and rangers in national parks, bearing in mind that you will be in contact with wild animals and you are the guests in their natural environment. Use common sense, and the advice instilled from childhood will certainly come in handy – it is better to be safe than sorry.

Cape Town – the mother of cities

Our South Africa trip We will start in Cape Town – a unique city located on Table Bay, at the confluence of two oceans: the Atlantic and the Indian, and at the foot of Table Mountain. Capetown It is the oldest city in South Africa, founded by the Dutch East India Company as a port where ships could dock before continuing their journey to Asia. The Dutch settled here, as well as French Huguenots fleeing religious persecution. People from Madagascar and Asian countries (today's India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Indonesia) began to be brought to Cape Town to work as slaves, and after the British took over South Africa, citizens of the Islands also settled here. It is no wonder that today's Cape Town is a multicultural city, where many tribes, communities and ethnic groups still coexist. The multiculturalism of Cape Town's city centre can certainly be seen while walking along the famous Long Street, full of historic Victorian buildings, traces of the former presence of Muslims in the area and numerous clubs, restaurants and cafes that make the nightlife more enjoyable for both tourists and permanent residents of the city. Nevertheless, it is enough to walk a few steps along one of the streets perpendicular to "Long" to reach the Bo Kaap district, where a completely different and extremely colourful world awaits you - looking like the background of many a cartoon or the colourful towns of Mexico or Colombia. If you have enough time, also drop by the nearby Iziko Bo Kaap museum, where exhibitions are presented on the history of this area and the influence of local Muslim communities on the local culture.

Capetown

Travel to Cape Town It also cannot be completed without a trip to the city's most characteristic and iconic attraction - Table Mountain. The local peaks rise just over 1000 meters above sea level, and the panorama of the city from this place will certainly be unforgettable. If you have enough time, we recommend going to the outskirts of the city, where there is a nature reserve and a former reference point for sailors traveling this way to India - the Cape of Good Hope. It is worth planning more time for this trip to be able to stop along the way - in the area of ​​Duiker Island and Boulders Beach, where you will easily meet numerous seals and extremely cute... penguins!

SELF-DRIVE IN SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa - Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Hermanus, Knysna, Addo, Kenston
South Africa is rightly considered one of the most beautiful and diverse countries in the world. A holiday in South Africa will take you to the Cape of Good Hope and take in the views from Table Mountain, enjoy fine wine in the famous vineyards of Stellenbosch, whale-watch in Hermanus, traverse the scenic Garden Route, spot game in Addo Elephant Park and finally, laze around on the secluded beaches of the Indian Ocean.

Pretoria – not just the capital

South Africa is the only country in the world with three capitals. The seat of legislative power is the aforementioned Cape Town, the seat of judicial power is the relatively small Bloemfontein, located near the border of Lesotho, while the executive power is concentrated in Pretoria. It is worth treating this place not only as a grazing base for the not so distant National Parks – Kruger, Mapungubwe or Marakele, but as an opportunity to discover several attractions located here. A stay in Pretoria is a chance to visit numerous museums: here you can find, among others, the Correctional Service Museum, the Pioneer Museum (a kind of open-air museum presenting the history of the Great Trek; located in the oldest building in the city!) or the Kruger Museum, one of the former presidents of the Republic of South Africa. Another great idea for moving around the center of Pretoria is to use the Friends of the Rail train, where aboard a traditional, steam train you will take a trip into the past and a series of interesting attractions - both educational and entertaining.

Pretoria

Pretoria will not disappoint those who expect nature, wild animals and a bit of adrenaline from their South African vacation. Without leaving the city limits, you can go to one of two reserves - Rietvlei and Groenkloof, where you will meet numerous cheetahs, zebras and hundreds of antelopes. The safari itself can take place not only on board a private car, but also on foot or on horseback! After such intense experiences, we recommend going to one of Pretoria's atmospheric bars, trying local wine and local delicacies: depending on whether you feel like an elegant candlelight dinner or a casual outing with friends, head to Summit Grill & Skybar or Lucky Rodrigo, respectively.

Johannesburg – a city of contrasts and records

A crossroads of two worlds, where the old gold rush and the apartheid era gave birth to districts famous for their enormous wealth and extreme poverty. Despite its bad reputation and not yet fully developed tourist infrastructure, it is worth staying here for a day or two and discovering the city in the best possible way – on foot. Using the services of local, experienced guides, you will be able to see the local differences and contrasts not only from a distance, observing the city panorama from the 50th floor of the Carlton Centre, which is the tallest skyscraper in Africa, but also up close. Such a walk will allow you to discover both the greatest attractions Johannesburg – the Apartheid Museum, the South African Constitutional Court, built on the model of former temples, exclusive districts and restaurants – as well as the poorer, authentic district of Soweto, where two Nobel Peace Prize winners, Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, grew up on the same street. This is also where it is worth getting involved in the activities of one of the many non-governmental organizations and donating at least a few dollars to it, you can also go to the local open-air market, where your help will be a bit more direct. Thanks to such activities, the district of Soweto is gradually transforming from a kind of slum, full of makeshift huts without electricity or sewage, into a colorful world filled with playgrounds, local art centers and service points.

Johannesburg

Depending on your preferences or interests, interesting suggestions for spending a few days of your vacation in Johannesburg are also Gold Reef City Theme Park, an amusement park located in a former gold mine, also presenting the history of local mining, a complex of limestone caves, where fossils from over 3,5 million years ago were found, which earned this place the nickname Cradle of Humanity, or one of the capital's casinos! In the evenings, go to the extremely popular 27 Boxes complex among locals, created on the site of former shipping containers, where there is now a number of shops, cafes and local bars and restaurants with incredibly tasty snacks from both South Africa and the furthest corners of all continents!

South Africa – Wild Africa Self Drive

South Africa - Johannesburg, Kruger Park, Drakensberg, Durban, Cape Town
A journey through South Africa is the epitome of adventure! Drive along the enchanting Panorama Route, see the majestic Big Five – elephants, lions, buffalo, rhinos and leopards – and be amazed by the beauty of the Drakensberg Mountains. The soft sands of Durban's beaches will make you want to keep going, and the wine from Cape Town's vineyards will go to your head!

Durban – the continent's largest port

Even though many tourists during their trips to South Africa often bypasses Durban, the largest port Africa, in our opinion you should definitely stop here. However, this is not just our opinion, because in 2015, the city was considered the "coolest" in the whole of South Africa in the CNN ranking, often compared to Miami in the USA! In recent years, the center of Durban has undergone a thorough revitalization due to events held here, such as the 2010 FIFA World Cup matches, the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2011 or the annual film festivals - Durban International Film Festival and music - MTV Africa Music Awards, thanks to which the city is gaining the title of one of the best for everyday life. It is worth adding to this kilometers of wonderful, sandy beaches, great conditions for water sports and over 320 sunny days a year, and you will understand why today's Durban is an extraordinary mix of cultures, ethnicities and nationalities, and at the same time a city that never sleeps. Start your tour in the suburbs, such as Umhlanga, considered enclaves of the upper classes during apartheid, where time now moves more slowly and there are many great bars, cafes and restaurants in the small streets leading off the local promenade. Then head to Warvick market, where you can get fresh and fragrant fruit and vegetables for pennies and stop for the famous local snack, bunny chow, on the popular Golden Mile beach. The African and European side of Durban is also worth comparing with the Indian one - and without having to go overseas - in the area of ​​Chatsworth or Tongaat, where you can easily buy an authentic saris, taste and smell oriental curry, and drivers drive here somewhat less safely.

Durban

If the mix of Durban's impressions is a bit too much for you, we have a solution for that - after experiencing all the city's attractions, we recommend staying in the quiet town of Trafalgar, located on a beautiful, sandy beach, about 1,5 hours' drive from the center of the metropolis. Here you will find a charming hotel with a private winery and only 6 tastefully decorated apartments - Days at Sea Lodge, where you will surely be able to feel almost at home!

Panorama Route – all shades of green and brown

South Africa has thousands of kilometers of very good quality roads, so you should definitely consider visiting this country as an option self drive – behind the wheel of your own car! All you need to drive your own car in South Africa is an international driving license and a credit card, on which rental companies often block the equivalent of around USD 300-400 as a deposit, which is returned immediately after returning the car. If you are travelling with one or two people, a B-segment car, such as a Ford Fiesta or Seat Leon, will work great, while if you plan to deviate from the main road often or are going on holiday in Africa with four or five people, it is worth considering one of the E-segment vehicles, such as a Toyota Rav4.

Panorama Route – Blyde River Canyon

sama Panorama Trail runs through the north-eastern part of the country, in the Mpumalanga region, located west of the Kruger Park and north of one of the main cities in the region – Nelspruit. Depending on the chosen option, the road can measure from 100 to 250 kilometres, starting in the town of Sabie and ending at Erasmus Pass, and having a car will allow you to choose your route, the length of stops and complete independence! While in this region, you will find charming towns such as Sabie, located in the forest valleys, in the past known for its numerous crocodiles, or Pilgrims Rest, experiencing a gold rush frenzy at the end of the XNUMXth century, where you can visit an interesting museum dedicated to the extraction of this metal or try your luck yourself by renting special pans for rinsing it. Panorama Route also offers natural attractions: stop at Mac Mac Falls and take a walk along the nearby birdwatching trail, explore one of the oldest caves in the world – Echo Caves full of impressive stalactites and stalagmites, or see the majestic Blyde River Canyon. We guarantee you will want to stay here!

Garden Route – the mildest climate in Africa

Stretching along the southern coast of the country, from Cape Town in the west to the eastern areas of Port Elizabeth and Addo National Park. Garden Route is another of the iconic scenic routes that are worth seeing during holidays in South Africa. The route connecting the two cities is already much longer than the previously presented Panorama Route, as it is about 750 kilometers, so it is worth spreading it over at least 4-5 days and planning your accommodations accordingly along the way. During the tour, you will see sleepy fishing villages, rushing rivers, clear lakes, majestic mountain peaks and wonderful beaches, so it is time to see all the faces of South Africa! Visit the small Boggoms Bay, where time stopped almost half a century ago and the contrasting Mossel Bay, where according to the Guinness list of records, there is the mildest climate on the continent, second only to Hawaii in the world ranking. You will also find many great restaurants, golf courses and a museum dedicated to the Portuguese explorer Bartolomeo Diaz with a fantastic replica of the caravels that called at local ports over 500 years ago!

Garden Route

On the route, you will also see the most popular city in the region, known for its excellent conditions for observing dolphins and whales - Knysna, limestone caves and an ostrich farm near Oudtshoorn, the mysterious and almost evergreen Tsitsikamma or the fabulously located Plettenberg Bay, where both lovers of walking and hiking and travelers thirsty for activity will find their place. You can visit one of the world's largest bird parks, Birds of Eden, or the charming Monkeyland - a rehabilitation center for monkeys requiring hospitalization or convalescence. In this forest sanctuary, you will cross a bridge over 100 meters running through the crown of the local forest, giving you the opportunity to look at numerous gibbons, howler monkeys and lemurs from a completely different perspective.

SOUTH AFRICA AND THE KINGDOM OF SWAZILAND

SWAZILAND, South Africa — Pretoria, Kruger National Park, Kingdom of Swaziland, Hluhluwe Game Reserve, Drakensberg Mountains, Durban, Garden Route, Cape Town
A journey to the end of Africa, where cultures, races, languages, wealth and poverty mix. You will learn the true history of slavery and apartheid. You will feel the atmosphere of the Victorian era under British rule. You will come face to face with the Big Five of Africa during an exciting safari in the Kruger Park. You will look deep into the third largest canyon in the world, drive along the picturesque Garden Route and visit the tiny country of Swaziland, famous for its hospitable people and beautiful mountain landscapes.

The Drakensberg Mountains – the highest peaks in the country

See if you can spot dragons among the exotic fauna and flora of South Africa! The Drakensberg Mountains is a mountain range located in the central part of the country, between two African enclaves – the kingdoms of Lesotho and Eswatini, known as Swaziland until 2018. The highest peak in these mountains is Thabana Ntlenyana (3482 m above sea level), which is located in the former kingdom, and whose name, somewhat perversely, means a beautiful and… small mountain. It is best to plan a climb to this peak between May and September, and the route itself from the Sani Pass, which can be reached by 4×4 vehicles, is about 13 kilometres long. Experienced hikers should cover it in 5-6 hours, but if you do not feel up to marching at such a pace, you can use the option of one of the local travel agencies, which divide the expedition to the peak into 3 days.

The Drakensberg Mountains

The pristine Drakensberg region is full of spectacular peaks, passes, lakes and rivers, and during the trip you will also stop at the highest pub and restaurant in the whole of South Africa, which certainly guarantees another unforgettable adventure! Remember, however, that this is a border region, and before traveling to the mountains you should take your passport with you along with a possible visa entitling you to enter Lesotho. If you do not want to bother yourself, during your stay in this region and in the Royal Natal National Park you will also easily find routes located only in South Africa, as well as those that can be covered on foot (or on horseback!) in just an hour or two. In addition to comfortable shoes, pack your luggage also... a swimsuit. In the national park there are many streams, lakes and waterfalls, where, in good weather, you can relax before continuing your hike!

Kruger National Park – a land of wild animals

Holidays in the countries of central and southern Africa are one of the best opportunities to go on safari! In South Africa you will find as many as 19 national parks, the total area of ​​which is equal to the territory of Belgium and Switzerland, but if you want to come face to face with wild animals, and maybe even the whole big five, the best choice will be located in the north-eastern part of the country Kruger Park. The vast landscapes, spectacular African wildlife and the number of attractions waiting for you there make it worth spending at least two full days here. There are more species of mammals here than in any other African park – 147 – and an additional 517 species of birds and 126 species of other vertebrates. Depending on the chosen part of the park, you can travel here by car, on foot, on horseback or in a small light aircraft.

Kruger Park

The vastness of the local attractions allows you to look for numerous "five". In addition to the big ones - elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo and leopard - you can also look for the small ones - animals that share part of their name with representatives of the five, and are microscopic in relation to them (the elephant shrew mouse, the red-billed hartebeest bird, the leopard tortoise reptile and insects - antlion and rhinoceros beetle), the big six birds (the great bustard, the martial eagle, the lappet-faced vulture, the greater fisherman, the African frogmouth and the ground hornbill) or the five most important species of trees in the Kruger Park, which include, among others, the famous baobabs. Most tourist routes lead from north to south between the areas of the towns of Malelane and Thulamela, which are almost 400 kilometres apart, and depending on the season in which your safari will take place or the animals you want to meet, your a tailor-made trip to South Africa we will plan according to the appropriate program. When looking for giraffes, visit the area around Lower Sabie Rest Camp, planning to catch lions, leopards and elephants - head for Skukuza Rest Camp, and if you want to stand face to face with hippos and crocodiles, we especially recommend the area around Letaba Rest Camp, where you can also visit the reconstructed village of Masorini, where tools and artifacts most likely dating back to the Stone Age were found. When planning a stop in this place, it is also worth climbing the nearby peak of the same name, from where there is a stunning panorama of the entire area, thanks to which it will be easier for you to imagine the vastness of the local area.

KRUGER PARK SAFARI AND RELAXATION ON THE BEACHES OF MOZAMBIQUE

SOUTH AFRICA, MOZAMBIQUE - Pretoria, Kruger National Park, Blyde River Canyon, Mozambique - Vilanculos
A journey to the tip of Africa, where cultures, languages, wealth and poverty mix. You will learn the true history of slavery and apartheid. You will feel the atmosphere of the Victorian era under British rule. You will come face to face with the Big Five of Africa during an exciting safari in the Kruger Park. You will look deep into the third largest canyon in the world. And finally, you will immerse yourself in the Indian Ocean on the coast of the amazing and yet unspoiled by mass tourism Mozambique!

Hluhluwe – home of the white rhinos

The last of the places we want to take you to during this short tour of the most important attractions of South Africa is located in the south-eastern part of the country, a little over 200 kilometers from the previously mentioned Durban. About 20 minutes from the small and inconspicuous town of the same name, you will find the biggest attraction of the region - the oldest on the entire continent Hluhluwe iMfolozi Reserve. This place gained fame in the 50s and 60s, when a breeding operation for white rhinos was carried out here, aimed at preventing the extinction of the species, thanks to which the current population of these mammals in the reserve reaches almost 2000, and some of the animals have also been moved from here to other areas originally inhabited by them. In addition to the rhinos themselves, in the Hluhluwe reserve you will also easily meet other representatives of the Big Five, as well as hundreds of other smaller and larger animals. What's more, from mid-March to mid-December you can also choose to go on a walking safari here, during which you will discover incredibly charming hills, valleys and grassy plains together with an armed ranger - guide.

Hluhluwe Reserve

During one of the hiking trips, we also recommend visiting a traditional Zulu village to better understand the customs and traditions of one of the oldest peoples on the continent, and if you are not afraid of sleeping under the stars, you can also go on a multi-day trek, during which you will certainly experience many extraordinary adventures.