2024 South Africa Visitors Guide
South Africa is an enchanting country that has diverse wild-life, beautiful landscapes, rich cultures, exotic food, and natural sceneries. Its beaches are not only beautiful but are also among the most visited in the world. There are a large number of tourist attractions that can make South Africa vacations a thrilling experience. South Africa is a large, diverse and incredibly beautiful country. The size of France and Spain combined, it varies from the picturesque Garden Route towns of the Western Cape to the raw stretch of subtropical coast in northern KwaZulu-Natal. It’s also one of the great cultural meeting points of the African continent, a fact obscured by years of enforced racial segregation, but now manifest in the big cities. Yet South Africa is also something of an enigma; it has the best travel facilities on the African continent, but also the most difficult surface to scratch. After so long as an international pariah, the “rainbow nation” is still struggling to find its identity.
Many visitors are pleasantly surprised by South Africa’s excellent infrastructure , which draws a favorable comparison with countries such as Australia or the United States. Good air links and bus networks, excellent roads and a growing number of first-class B&Bs and guesthouses make South Africa a perfect touring country and – with the dramatic slide of the rand in 2001 – a cheap one too for visitors. For those on a budget, rapidly mushrooming backpacker hostels and backpacker buses provide an efficient means of exploring.
However, as a visitor, you’ll have to make an effort to meet members of the country’s African majority on equal terms. Apartheid may be dead, but its heritage continues to shape South Africa in a very physical way. The country was organized for the benefit of whites, so it’s easy to get a very white-orientated experience in Africa. Nowhere is this more in evidence than in the layout of towns and cities, where African areas – often desperately poor – are usually tucked out of sight.
Top Attractions in South Africa
Table Mountain
Table Mountain is a must-see destination for visitors looking for adventure during their vacation. The mountain is located within a national park. From Table Mountain tourists can enjoy overlooking the city of Cape Town. According to visitors, the views are absolutely breathtaking. Considered to be one of the 7 Wonders of Nature, this is a perfect place for hiking.
Durban Beaches
The beaches in South Africa are not only famous, but they are actually considered to be among the best in the world. Durban Beaches are often compared to the highly popular Miami Beach, providing possibilities for both relaxations and to have fun. Visitors seem to appreciate most about this place the fact that it is quite clean and safe. The golden sand and the beautiful views make the Durban Beaches a lovely place to be in.
Kruger National Park
The Kruger National Park is a place that should not be missed during a vacation in South Africa. This is the largest game reserve on the entire continent, offering visitors the possibility to have an amazing time. The park is home to many species of mammals, including giraffes, cheetahs and the Big Five. This park has many places to stay for visitors, too, so it may be a destination for a unique outdoor experience in nature.
- Robben Island
Visit the notorious offshore jail where political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela, were incarcerated.
- The Bo Kaap
The streets of Cape Town’s oldest residential area are filled with colorful Cape Dutch and Georgian architecture.
- Game Trails
Combine adventure with wildlife-spotting on a guided hike in the mighty Kruger National Park, the most famous of South Africa’s reserves.
- Live Music
Johannesburg offers the best nightlife in South Africa, attracting top musical performers from around the country and abroad.
- Cape Point
The treacherous rocky promontory south of Cape Town, where many ships have come to grief since the fifteenth century.
- Whales
These regular visitors to the southern Cape coast often approach surprisingly close to the shore.The most spectacular way to ascend Cape Town’s famous landmark is also the easiest – the revolving cable car.
- The Cradle of Humankind
One of the world’s major paleontological sites, the Sterkfontein Caves are home to “Mrs. Ples”, a female skull some 2.6 million years old.
- Soweto
Take a tour around the vast, sprawling township that became a world-famous symbol of resistance to apartheid.
Cape Town
Let’s begin with attractions of the majestic Cape Town. The architectural beauty of the place abounds in Victorian buildings that are reminiscent of the colonial period. The city is renowned for world-famous Table Mountain that is charismatic and dramatically beautiful. For attracting tourists, there are restaurants and pubs. Cape Helderberg is an enchanting place consisting of mountain ranges overlooking a valley and lovely coastal regions. If you are after windsurfing, sunbathing and boating, then Gordon’s Bay is an ideal place for spending South Africa vacations. The Wine Route at Helderberg is famous for the production of world-class wines that have the effects of beautiful weather of the place.
Our three days of fun-filled enjoyment in Cape Town had us begging for more. It simply exceeded my expectations. The history of the place itself is riveting, the friendly people will have you at ‘hello’ and the dollar here is stronger than ever. We reveled in the marvel of this city as it became part of our travel onboard the Silversea Cruise.
South Africa is a paradise destination which is far away from any tourist destination so like us tourists can spend a few days during the pre and the post-cruise period to visit the untouched countryside and the town side. We did some exciting things here a recap.
You cannot miss driving or walkabout in the downtown region of Cape Town. This is the best way to understand the spirit and experience of life in the city. The diverse architecture and historic sites are sure to lure. These will make for great memorabilia of Cape Town. One can also have a jolly good time by the seaside or take in stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
We even found a place to stay which was not too far from the infamous Table Mountain. Also, try the beaches and the Victoria and Alfred waterfront which is simply wow. However tired we got we couldn’t resist hiking up the Table Mountain. We settled for the nearby Signal Hill with a local resident playing the role of an able guide. The world hasn’t seen more friendly people than the ones here at Cape Town. Although the strong winds and cloudy weather played spoilsport we recommend the cable car journey to the top of the Table Mountain. When in Cape Town weather news is everything!
The three days here were a breeze. The days simply flew by with all the things which we packed into our schedules. The V&A was named after Queen Victoria and her beloved son Alfred who once visited here. The harbor is filled with tourists and locals all happy under the sun finding a place to drink and eat.
There are plenty of bars and outdoor restaurants at the harbor that great coastal cuisine. Be at part of the carnival here and let loose as we wind. The snaps tell a story which we don’t recollect, the rum can do that sometimes. The relaxed lot can find solace at the wonderful amphitheater here. A short cab ride from downtown will take you to the V&A area.
We got a great insight into the history of South Africa at Robben Island. Book a ferry tour in advance as it is very popular and fill up quickly. We even got a tour of Robben Island, guess who was our personal guide? A former prisoner and it does not get better than this, it was truly like reliving the tormenting and liberating history of the region.
The Cape Town beaches are stunning with their golden white sands and turquoise blue waters. The short trip was exhilarating for the diverse experiences of the botanical gardens, the wine and cheese, stunning views from Cape Point, Watching Fur Seals near Hout Bay and the cutest penguins at Boulders beach. Unbelievable!
Garden Route
One can enjoy South Africa vacations amidst natural landscapes and enchanting wetlands of Garden Route. The restorative beauty of this place is unparallel and is popular among tourists for hiking activities. Otter Trail and Dolphin Trial are the top hiking places. The other attractions of this place are Albertinia, Dana Bay, and Great Brak. Now let’s talk about Johannesburg which is the largest city in this country. The suburban areas of Parkwood that are laden with all the modern amenities catch the attention of the visitor. The featured attractions in Auckland Park, Johannesburg are Absa and Apartheid Museums, Gold Reef City, and Melville Koppies Nature Reserve. Victory Park is a famous suburb that is a unique combination of modern and old settings.
Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga or the “Paradise Country” as it is popularly known is a treat for the tourists. The wetlands of this area have been divided into seven regions. Panorama Route is a paradise in itself. Laden with exquisite beauty and cultural heritage, it is a must-watch place for travelers. Most of us have heard the name of Kruger National Park which is stretched for about 350 kilometers. The varied wildlife of this park is worth watching. The park supports many forms of wildlife. Lion, leopard, antelope, giraffe, and many wild beasts are found in this largest game reserve of Africa. The safari of Kruger is well famous. Though the tour to Kruger is self-guided, one can hire guides for site-seeing.
Johannesburg
Fast-paced, frenetic JOHANNESBURG has had a reputation for immorality, greed, and violence ever since its first plot auction in December 1886. Despite its status as the largest and richest city in the country, it has never been the seat of government or national political power, allowing it to concentrate fully on what it has always done best: make money and get ahead. Those priorities have, over the years, cut across political and racial lines: only in Jo’burg would ambitious black Africans like Nelson Mandela have been able to train in a white law firm; only in Jo’burg would creative hotspots like Sophiatown and Alexandra exist at all, and only in Jo’burg would white liberalism has been given any intellectual recognition in the dark days of apartheid.
Even so, the divisions of the old South Africa are as apparent here as anywhere else. Ridiculously opulent white mansions in leafy suburbs are protected by high walls and razor wire, only a mile or two from sprawling shanty towns housing millions of intensely poor blacks. As the new political dispensation sees formerly white areas administratively yoked with the black townships, so the city struggles to cope with massive pressures on housing, services and law and order. Nowhere is a new tension more in evidence than in the previously all-white central business district, where an influx of poor blacks, and a soaring crime rate, has caused a mass exodus of shops and restaurants to the northern suburbs.
As the center readjusts, so the fringes expand: there will be a continuous ribbon of development between Johannesburg and Pretoria, originally 50km apart, within a decade. Meanwhile, the black middle class, much more evident in Johannesburg than anywhere else in South Africa, is moving from township to suburb, while tens of thousands of immigrants from elsewhere in Africa flood into inner-city suburbs like Hillbrow and townships like Alexandra.
There are very few conventional tourist sights in Johannesburg, and some visitors fall into the trap of retreating to their hotel room, too intimidated by the city’s reputation to explore, venturing out only to the bland, safe, covered shopping malls of the northern suburbs while making hasty plans to move on. However, once you’ve found a convenient way of getting around, either by car or in the company of a tour guide, the history, diversity and stimulating energy of the city can quickly become compelling. Johannesburg offers fascinating museums, most notably the Museum Africa in Newtown, as well as excellent art galleries. A number of suburbs have a thriving café culture, which by the evening transforms to a lively restaurant scene. There are shops with excellent contemporary African art and design, striking buildings, and of course the townships, most easily explored on a tour but, in some places, somewhere you can get to under your own steam. Johannesburg is also a great place to watch sport : Ellis Park was the scene of South Africa’s emotional victory in the 1995 Rugby World Cup, the IAAF World Cup was held at the neighboring athletics stadium in 1999, and the massive FNB soccer stadium on the edge of Soweto, which fills to capacity for local derbies or international fixtures, remains the principal venue for the country’s most popular sport.
North-West Province
The North-West Province of this amazing land is renowned for its world-class amenities and sophisticated lifestyle. The breathtaking beauty of the natural sceneries and rich vegetation are eye-catchy. South Africa vacations are incomplete without visiting this marvelous place of enchanting beauty. The Bojanala region of North-West has several mountain ranges. Another attraction is the Hartbeespoort Dam that is constructed in the middle of the mountains. There are several villages that are present in its vicinity. The dam acts as a source of irrigation for the nearby areas. The Sun City is a famous holiday resort that is a home of casinos. Those who want to spend their vacations in luxurious accommodations and in a sophisticated lifestyle, it is a great place.
Blue Hole city, Kimberley
In your plan of South Africa travel, this time leave behind the wilderness and consider visiting some natural attractions. I know that most of South Africa travel are confined to national parks. However, this time explore this region from a different angle by visiting its diamond as well as Blue Hole city, Kimberley. Nestled in the Northern Cape Province, Kimberley is easily accessible by air, rail, and road from the different cities in South Africa.
South Africa travel to the famous Big Hole
The Big Hole is regarded as the largest man-dug quarry on the planet and this zeal was for hunting diamonds in the late 19th as well as the 20th centuries. To its west, the Open Mine Museum is the home of the genuinely original as well as refurbished edifices revealing much of the city’s past. And yes, how can one forget to see the first diamond found in South Africa, The Eureka? Have fun as you look for your own diamond, be a temporary miner in a diamond mining operation full of blastings, explore an antique pub exhibit, and enjoy skittles. Your South Africa travel is incomplete without a trip to these places in Kimberley!
One more interestingly spectacular attraction here is the Flamingo Island that is just what the birdwatchers are looking out for! Nestled at a distance of 7 km at the Kamfers Dam, this island is the home of the flamingoes and is among those only four abodes of the bird in entire Africa. The dam supports nearly 60,000 Lesser Flamingos that is over 50% of the total southern African population. Isn’t this surprising?
Diggers’ Memorial is dedicated to the past and current diggers. It is a fountain that adorns the Ernest Oppenheimer Gardens that themselves are dedicated to the late Sir Ernest Oppenheimer who was a mining tycoon. Also worth visiting is the Honored Dead Memorial that is dedicated to those who lost their lives while protecting the city at the times of the 124-day siege in the Anglo Boer War. On the monument’s stylobate, look for a ‘Long Cecil’ that is a gun made in the De Beers Workshops during the blockade.
Harry Oppenheimer House is for all those diamond lovers out there! It is inside this structure that the sorting of the diamonds from all over South Africa take place daily. As this process requires gentle natural light, the edifice contains the only windows on the south for blocking the direct sunlight. However, this one is not open to the public for security.
Among the main museums, do visit the William Humphreys Art Gallery that is among the vital ones in the country. This is the home of traditional as well as modern South African graphics, paintings, and sculptures. However, there are several special exhibitions hosted here regularly. One of the most visited museums is the McGregor Museum that was constructed as a sanatorium. This over 100-year-building has also been a luxury hotel and a convent school. Currently a museum, this one offers advice as well as research to many community projects. Recognized now as a national monument, the Rudd House is one more attraction here, which was the luxury dwelling of HP Rudd who was a mining tycoon. It was the McGregor museum that refurbished it to its complete majesty. To view this house, you need to take an appointment from the McGregor Museum. Duggan Cronin Gallery is one more attraction here where the native cultures, as well as lifestyles, are seized nicely in over 8000 photographs of the early 20th century taken by Irishman AM Duggan Cronin. So, here you will mostly come across the precious ethnographic collection.
Memorial to the Pioneers of Aviation, located near the airport, is now a 100-year-site where the South African Air Force was born. Today, you can explore it as a rebuilding of the hangar along with a mocked-up Compton Paterson bi-plane that was utilized in flight training.
One of the ancient pubs is The Star of the West near the Kimberley Mine Museum. Made in the 1870s by using just iron and wood, this is the right place for a little light refreshment. 873. The Kimberley tram will drop you on request here for those who just want a close look. Well, this is now a national monument.
If you are in South Africa, it is obvious that you will definitely visit a national park. In Kimberley, the newest one is the Mokala National Park at 80 km amidst the hills boasting many landscapes of seclusion. This is the home of the flora and fauna beauty, especially the Camel Thorn trees in arid areas varying from a small shrub to 16 m tall trees whose gum and bark act as medicines for coughs, colds, and nosebleeds.
Food of South Africa
Africa is a place that fills one’s mind with a myriad range of sights, sounds, and smells. Think about it. If you were to close your eyes and think about Africa, the first thing that would come to your head would be images of waste open lands, with animals, all around, communicating with each other and the smell of the earthy ground. Then again, Africa is not only about grasslands where animals graze and go about doing their everyday things. Africa is filled with a large number of tropical rain forests, green throughout the year, and it has the Sahara Desert, which seems to never end, and yet is a way of life for many. All along Africa too, one comes across a large number of different tribes of people, indigenous to their own lands and locations. Each of these peoples has its own sets of customs and traditions, rules and laws. One of the most amazing things about the people from Africa is the fact that each of these people has their own sense of delicacy and each of them has fairly distinguishable senses of taste.
Amongst the best places to try out the African delicacies in the country of South Africa, and here one must try the different delicacies at Cape Town. Not only does one get the most delectable of African delicacies over here, but it also sees the influence of both Eastern and Western food on the local palate. African food that one can eat over here in Cape Town is true, in the truest sense of the world, global food. Some of the local delicacies over here include the masterful recipes concocted by African chefs which have crocodile meat, ostrich meat, and springbok meat as their main ingredients. Besides, Where else on the planet would you get to sample these lovely dishes.
Here are some of the dishes that you must be sure to check out when you go on a trip to South Africa.
Succulent Seafood
If you are the kind of person who loves seafood, and also take adequate care of your health and well-being, you must be sure to try out the seafood options that Cape Town offers. The seafood range here is wide and diverse and ranges from abalones to lobsters, from prawns to many different kinds of shellfish. They’re also a great variety of fish that one can try over here. People who eat seafood preparations in Cape Town often swear that it is the best seafood in the world.
Karroo Lamb
The Karroo Lamb is a special lamb in Cape Town, which is fed on a diet of shrubs and herbs exclusively, which gives its meat a very different flavor and aroma. Karroo Lamb preparations can be undertaken in a number of ways. One can pan-fry or even stir-fry the meat. Then again, for those looking for an all-out feast, one can either cook it in a stew or even deep-fry it.
Chocolicious Chocolates
Perhaps no other phrase can better explain the chocolates in South Africa than the term “chocolicious”. South Africa is known to be an exporter of many hundreds of tons of chocolate bars around the world every year. The flavors of the chocolate bars and other chocolate items that come out of South Africa are so varied and lovely, that it would be a loss to not try these beauties in one’s lifetime. South African chocolates can be found all around in the malls, and even the smallest of shops. Indeed so deep is the love for chocolates in this country for their chocolate that it is considered one of the best gifts to give to people, whatever the occasion may, or may not be.
Corn and Corn Congee
Amongst the most important elements in an African’s diet is the presence of corn. Corn is had in a variety of ways all over Africa. One way that the South Africans love to eat their corn is by baking it, then grinding it down to a fine powder, and then, along with water and the other ingredients, making a corn congee out of it. Corn congee is eaten in South Africa, like almost all over the rest of the world, as a breakfast dish. With corn congee as the main dish, the sides are made of yogurt, sugar, or even meat that has been drenched in tomato sauce and the juice obtained from onions. However, there is no hard and fast rule that this dish can be had only as one for breakfast, and can also be consumed as a full meal.
Fried Chicken from Nando’s
If you want to get an idea of what a healthy fried chicken would be like, head to Nando’s. Indeed so famous is the chicken dish over here, with all its African influence that it is now seen in a number of franchisee stores not only in South Africa, but also in nations like New Zealand, Australia, and Portugal amongst many others. In the many eateries that you go to, this fried chicken delicacy is the best example of the health-conscious diet that most South Africans follow. The seasoning that is used for this dish is a heady mix of garlic, pepper, fresh lemon juice, herb, and chili. This seasoning is what makes an otherwise bland chicken into a thoroughly spicy eating delight.
All in all, eating in South Africa is an experience to remember, with food items that are not native to Africa itself but is also available here.