South Africa has a lot to offer holiday enthusiasts. South Africa is a handful of fun, from the sunny beaches to stunning cities, charming deserts, and exciting wildlife.
No wonder it is called “The World in One Country.” South Africa has people from all races exchanging their diverse cultures and history. You can’t miss the entertainment, cuisines, galleries, and museums.
South Africa is also a relatively low-cost travel destination for adventurous travelers with a sunny and dry climate.
Let’s explore, in no particular order, the 15 fantastic holiday destinations in South Africa.
1. Durban
Durban is among the most visited destinations in South Africa, known for its rich European and native cultures. Most visitors come to enjoy their cuisines, especially the Bombay crush, Shisa Nyama, and Bunny chow.
Similarly, some others can’t resist visiting the uShaka marine world, the Golden Mile, especially the Durban Botanical Garden, to view the Woods Cycad, one of the most isolated plants in the world.
At Durban, you can also take a tour of other attractions like the Mini Town, Getaway theatre, Gondola rides, Moses Mabhida Stadium, coastlines, hotels, and markets. You can as well enjoy fishing and water sports.
2. Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park is a national reserve in South Africa and a top destination for wildlife enthusiasts. It is the most available and most famous of all the game reserves.
It houses the Big Five, including other wildlife like hippopotamus, crocodiles, and other animals in the thick grove and grassland forests.
3. Cape Town
Sure, you cannot say you have a complete tour to South Africa if you didn’t visit Cape Town – the country’s legislative capital.
It is that one destination you utterly should see. As it is habitually, the Mother City is the oldest city to be set up by the Europeans in 1652.
It has a mixture of African and European civilization and a combination of urban and natural life, leaving you with a lot to enjoy.
Cape Town is known for its diversity in culture and religion, with influential religious groups rightly represented.
Take a trip to the Constantia wine farm, Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, and enjoy water sports.
While you view the modern and historic structures, aesthetic street arts, and more, ensure you devour their rich cuisines.
4. Drakensburg
Drakensburg, also called the Dragon forest, is the chief mountain peak in South Africa, occupying 200km covered by mountain streams, caves, and waterfalls.
Most visitors to this holiday destination come back to enjoy hiking at the Amphitheater because the climate is warm enough that you barely see snow.
Visit to discover the Tugela Falls, the world’s second chief waterfall found at the Royal Natal National Park.
You can’t also resist visiting the UKhahlamba Drakensburg Park with many natural and artificial structures, especially the arts on rocks.
What’s more? If you love adventure, then Lesotho is the one place you should be. This non-coastal area will leave you with no choice but to hold your breath while driving up to the Sani Pass leading to Lesotho.
You can spice up your adventure by accepting a mountain climbing trip or trekking up the Sani Pass to Lesotho.
5. The Golden Route
The Golden Route is a driving route along the southeastern part of South Africa. It is regarded as the most beautiful driving route globally, adorned with cliffs, hills, ponds, lagoons, and beach towns.
It extends towards the Storms River and the Mossel Bay, covering 200 kilometers long. Sure, apart from enjoying the route’s beauty, there are a couple of other destinations to explore.
Take a tour around the Great Route National Park, the Garden Route Mall, the Oudtshoorn Ostrich Farms, the Plettenberg Bay, the Knysna Reserve Park, and the Congo Caves all in Knysna town.
6. Stellenbosch
A charming town in South Africa, Stellenbosch has ancient buildings, aged oak trees, and farms. There are known for the preservation of cultures and traditions.
Stellenbosch has restaurants and cafes that serve assorted mouth-watering meals as well as drinks of all kinds. Adventure lovers can visit the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve for a trail in the wilderness, hiking, and biking.
Mostly called the University town because of the University of Stellenbosch, tourists can stroll around the University’s Botanic Garden.
Furthermore, you can visit the Stellenbosch Village Museum and the Rupert Museum to view the garden artworks and refurbished edifices.
7. Bloemfontein
Bloemfontein is termed the judicial capital of South Africa and is among the top holiday destinations in the country. The city is ‘the city of roses’ attributed to its annual rose festival.
After your first visit, you will yearn to visit again after angling at Maselspoort or exploring the Mystic Boer, Oliewenhuis Art Museum, the Iziko Planetarium, and Digital Dome.
You can’t resist a tour around the National Museum, Anglo Boer War Museum, and the Free State National Botanical Garden.
8. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, which means the ‘Great Thirst,’ is an exceptional desert wilderness with exclusive wildlife species.
It was commissioned in 1999 as an amalgamation of Botswana’s Gemsbok National Park and South Africa’s Kalahari Gemsbok National Park.
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park has a vast collection of gemsbok, springbok, wildebeest, and a couple of other games.
The park took its name from the Kgalagadi tribe. To date, some communities from this tribe, like the Khomani community and the Mier community, still reside there.
9. ISimangaliso Wetland Park
ISimangaliso Wetland Park is in the north of the KwaZulu natal province. The word ‘ISimangaliso’ stands for ‘miracle and wonder’ in the Zulu language. It is a one-stop destination for wildlife lovers.
The ISimangaliso Wetland Park houses more than 500 animals and birds, especially buffalos, hippopotamus, baboons, crocodiles, rhinos, and all other animals that love water.
10. Cage Dive with Great White Sharks
If you love thrills, then the Cage Dive with Great White Sharks is one destination you won’t want to miss out on easily. This attraction has been getting an increasing number of visitors of recently in South Africa.
It allows you to face a white shark in the ocean while in a solid iron cage. You can also be in the boat and watch the shark’s activities.
Divers are encouraged to visit more from April to October because the white shakes swim more.
Tours are across the Mossel Bay, Simon’s Town, Dyer Island, Gansbaai, Seal Island, and across other oceans in South Africa.
11. East London
East London is a city in South Africa famous for its numerous beaches and ‘Buffalo City.’ It lies across Buffalo River and the Nahoon River.
East London is known mainly for its warm climate, giant sandhill, museum, outdoor games, water sports, and many other adventures.
12. Addo Elephant National Park
Established in the 1930s, the Addo Elephant National Park is among the most significant national parks in South Africa, with many elephants.
This wildlife conservation center has many parts, including the Colchester part that houses antelopes, zebras, and elephants.
The Woody Cape and the Zuurberg part are open for trails of all kinds, including hiking. The Darlington part is a dam, whereas the Kabouga part is available for driving across the park.
13. Hermanus
Hermanus is known for its extensive collection of dolphins and whales. Located in Western Cape, the city is popularly known as the ‘Whale Capital.’
You can either stay at the cliff or take a boat tour to see the dolphins and whales. There is an annual Whale Festival at Hermanus that you can’t afford to miss.
14. Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve
Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, also known as Motlatse Canyon Provincial Nature Reserve, is located in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa.
The beautiful destination is the best place to be if you want to appreciate nature. It has varieties of well-formed textures and shades of rocks, rivers, waterfalls, and plants.
Awe yourself with its numerous species of wildlife including crocodiles, and hippopotamus. You can as well go for trails and boat trips.
15. Kimberly
If you want a walk down the olden days, then Kimberly is the destination for you. It is commonly called ‘the city of sparkles’ and still keeps the history of their mining experiences.
Explore their mining hole, take a tour to learn about their mining history in their museum, or go for a drink.
Which place is the most visited in South Africa?
There are many places visitors by tourists in South Africa, but the most visited is the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront with an annual visit of 24 million persons.
Final Words
Words cannot describe the beauty of South Africa, and therefore, you must visit to experience it yourself. The 15 Amazing Holiday Destinations list in South Africa is among the many low-cost thrilling places you can see.
