Top Spots to Visit in South Africa

Top Spots to Visit in South Africa! With its amazing weather and gorgeous scenery on offer, South Africa is a country that promises and adventure unlike any other; you just have to know where to head to and what to see!

The land is vast, and the experiences on offer are endless. Whether you’re checking out the city vibes in Cape Town, soaking up the rich history around Johannesburg, or submerging yourself in the rich and vibrant culture and cuisines of Durban, there isn’t much that you won’t be able to do in the Rainbow Nation.

If you’re stuck trying to decide where to go and what to see, then this post will act as your handy little guide. We’ve rounded up 7 of the best spots you have to see while traveling in South Africa, which will give you a head start for planning your bucket list, so grab your gear and follow our advice for an amazing experience!

Sea Point and Lion’s Head, Cape town, Spots to Visit in South Africa by David Stanley

7 Top Spots to Visit in South Africa

1. Cape Town

Cape Town, the Mother City, is one of South Africa’s most popular touristic towns, and the reason why isn’t hard to understand. Set in a mind-blowingly beautiful landscape, Cape Town offers you great weather, fascinating locals, and the promise of an adventure around just about every corner.

Enjoy the ocean from Table Bay or head up to Table Mountain for a must-see bird’s eye view of the surroundings, but don’t forget to pack a light wind breaker as it can get pretty chilly up there.

Cape Town, City Hall, Spots to Visit in South Africa by Magemu

2. Kruger National Park

Bordering Mozambique and Zimbabwe, the Kruger National Park is arguably South Africa’s biggest attraction as far as safaris go. With a very dense animal population and an abundance of plants within the reserve, the Kruger showcases nearly all of SA’s wildlife.

It’s a must see, whether you plan on self-driving or hopping on board a guided game drive.

Kruger National Park, Spots to Visit in South Africa by flowcomm

3. Kalahari Gemsbok National Park

South Africa’s Kalahari Gemsbok National Park borders with the Gemsbok National Park of its next door neighbor, Botswana, and combined, these two parks form the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, the largest of its kind in the world.

You can view the camel thorn trees, get lost in the red sands of the Northern Cape Park, or be whisked away by the tranquility drifting throughout the golden grasslands. The Transfrontier Park is well-known for its renowned black-maned Kalahari lion, its huge herds of gemsbok, their ever-curious meerkat families, and of course bird life a plenty.

Red dunes in the Kgalagadi-Kalahari, Spots to Visit in South Africa by Bougnat87

4. Drakensberg Mountains

What literally translates to ‘the mountains of the dragon’, the Drakensberg Mountain Range in South Africa is one of the country’s most famous attractions, and if you’re keen on getting lost in natural wonder, it’s definitely a spot you have to visit.

Visit the World Heritage-Listed uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park or check out the ancient San rock art in the Royal Natal National Park. You can also view the awe-inspiring Amphitheatre cliff face, or head out to Giant’s Castle Game Reserve for an authentic wildlife encounter experience.

Summer time here is marked by a blanket of greenery covering the landscape, but avid adrenaline junkies can also experience the thrill of taking on the ice-capped mountains and their ski slopes when the winter months come around.

Drakensberg Mountains, Spots to Visit in South Africa by Klim Levene

5. The Garden Route

On the south-east coast of South Africa lies the breathtaking Garden Route, spanning 200 kilometers along one of the country’s most spectacular coastlines. Visiting the Garden Route will see you passing through a range of pretty coastal towns, green hills, lakes and lagoons, and stunning coastal cliffs as you make your way through from Mossel Bay to the Storms River in the Eastern Cape.

Don’t miss out on visiting the charming town of Knysna, the ostrich farms of Oudtsoorn (and the Cango Caves). There’s also the Robberg Nature Reserve well worth seeing when you’re passing through Plettenberg Bay.

Somewhere on the Garden Route, Spots to Visit in South Africa by Ajay Goel

6. iSimangaliso Wetland Park

In Zulu, iSimangaliso means ‘miracle and wonder’, and it’s a name well worth its title. Africa’s largest estuarine system, the former Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park, is a UNESCO World Heritage Area, seamlessly connecting 8 ecosystems which include rivers, lakes, coastal dunes, coral reefs, swamplands, and savanna plains.

The area is home to over 526 species of birds, but the loggerhead turtles, leopards, crocs, hippos, and rhino are also inhabitants of this eco-Eden.

iSimangaliso Wetland Reserve, Spots to Visit in South Africa by Fyre Mael

7. Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve

If you’re planning a trip that trails from Johannesburg through to the Kruger National Park, the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve is a site you can’t afford to miss out on seeing. On offer here is the opportunity to see what Africa’s 2nd largest canyon looks like, but you’ll probably also be blown away by the hugely diverse fauna and flora life in the area.

Make sure you take a scenic drive route through the area, stopping at some of the most breathtaking viewing points such as Three Rondavels as well as God’s Window.

God’s Window, Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, Spots to Visit in South Africa by South African Tourism

Final Thoughts

We reckon that the 7 sites of South Africa which we just told you about should form part of any proper travel itinerary if you’re planning a rainbow nation adventure. We hope that you have enjoyed this post and that it has inspired you to seek the sun, fun, and wilder side of South Africa.