From beautiful cities, exotic safari and sunny beaches to picturesque deserts, the best places to visit in South Africa leave you with delightful memories. Often called “The World in One Century”, South Africa is one of those countries to add to your bucket list if you are looking for a thrilling holiday.
Each region has its own distinct personality and culture, offering a captivating blend of remote wilderness and rich history. The climate of South Africa is usually dry and sunny, but expect temperatures to drop down below zero degrees in some areas. With that in mind, let’s now take a look at five of the best places to visit in South Africa if you’re looking for a once-in-a-lifetime trip.
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Which Are the Best Places to Visit in South Africa?
1. Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park is South Africa’s biggest and most popular national park. It is home to the big five and boasts healthy populations of wildlife. A visit to the iconic park guarantees you an encounter with elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, lions, leopards, cheetahs and wild dogs. You would give everything just to be at Kruger National Park with your loved ones since it delivers unparalleled safari experiences.
Kruger National Park offers a wildlife safari experience of its own. Photo/ Discover Africa Safaris
2. Cape Winelands
The beauty of the Cape Winelands is unmatched. Located only an hour’s drive from Cape Town, a night or two in the peaceful patchwork of vineyards and mountains will dissolve any lingering city stress. Sip, swirl and sample award-winning wines and then indulge in gourmet farm-to-table cuisine or wander don oak-lined streets to local art galleries. The Cape Winelands’ green valleys ensconced by craggy mountains are as much of a treat for the eyes as its cuisine is for the palate.
Cape Winelands. Photo/ Micato Safaris.
3. Cape Town
Cape Town is an amazing place to be in South Africa. The city offers forests, grasslands, nature reserves, beaches, gardens, mountains, oceans, and Winelands, as well as one of the most unique floral biomes in the world – fynbos.
If it’s world-class beaches you’re looking for, then Cape Town has you. From Camps Bay near the city centre to Diaz Beach way down the peninsula, the city hosts a huge selection of beaches to explore. You could spend a week in Cape Town and not manage to fully explore all of its beaches. Cape Town is perhaps most famously known for being the home of South African president Nelson Mandela.
4. Stellenbosch
If you want to spend some days in a peaceful and picture-perfect town then you cannot afford to miss Stellenbosch town. Stellenbosch is the second oldest town in South Africa, with its history dating back to 1679. A visit to the Village Museum and Stellenyrk Museum will help you learn more about the only university town in South Africa.
5. Garden Route
Garden Route. Photo/ Rove.me.
Garden Route is a firm favourite when it comes to South Africa vacations and should be on the bucket list of every traveller. A combination of world-class beaches, indigenous forests interspersed with welcoming towns, iridescent lagoons and scenic, ocean-hugging highway is what the world-famous route is about.
The beautiful length of coastline stretches from a couple of hours outside Cape Town to the seaside town of Plettenberg Bay. Garden Route is, without a doubt, one of the best places to visit in South Africa.
What Is the Prettiest Destination in South Africa?
- Tshukudu Game Reserve, Limpopo
- Knysna, Western Cape
- God’s Window, Mpumalanga
- Boulders Beach, Western Cape
- Blyde River Canyon, Mpumalanga
What Is the Most Visited Destination in South Africa?
1. V&A Waterfront, Western Cape is considered the most visited tourist attraction in South Africa. The V&A Waterfront attracts 24 million visitors.
Where Is the Best Place to Visit Cape Town or Johannesburg?
Cape Town or Johannesburg? The choice is up to you. It would be impossible to say one location is better than the other as both have a lot to offer. A visit to Cape Town or Johannesburg will give you a clear view of South Africa’s culture and open your eyes to the beauty of the African landscape.
What Is the Best City to Stay in South Africa?
Cape Town is the overall best place to stay in South Africa.
