South Africa is a country that is as well known for its wildlife and safaris as it is for its beaches and Winelands. It has been given the name of ‘Rainbow Country’, as it is very culturally diverse. South Africa has a lot of big, popular cities such as Cape Town and Johannesburg, which in turn have a lot to offer to tourists. It shares its northern borders with countries like Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The country has also been listed as one of the most mega diverse nations in the world, regarding its biodiversity.

The period between May and September is considered ideal visiting time. This is because the weather conditions are extremely pleasant. Improper or poor weather can often interfere with wildlife safaris. But you can rest assured that during these months, your tours and safaris can go on undisturbed.

The best thing about South Africa is known for its South Africa food. The South African cuisine is known for its variety of choice of meat dishes. Biltong, a salty dried meat dish, which is similar to meat jerky, is one of the most known traditional South African foods. Bobotie, yet another dish of Malay descent includes a meatloaf, raisins and is served with a baked egg on top. Furthermore, most of the dishes here are served by sambals, yellow rice, yellow rice, coconut, banana slices, and chutney. Other than this, traditional dishes also include Kachumbari, Brik, Fufu, and Kachumbari.

South Africa is known for various commodities that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. From well-made leather shoes to sandals to leather goods and to wooden objects, one can find many things in South Africa.

Shops tucked away into street corners, bustling flea markets and more make up the rest of the shopping scenario in South Africa. Flea markets are great if you’d like to shop for knick-knacks and souvenirs. The country also has a lot of hawkers who will try and sell their wares on the streets, at traffic signals and in the rural areas. These hawkers sell homemade sweets, sculptures, fruits and home decor items.

Eleven official languages make South Africa the country with the second-largest number of constitutionally recognized languages.

The 11 official South African languages include English, Afrikaans, Ndebele, Xhosa, Zulu, Swati, Southern Sotho, Sepedi, Tsonga, Tswana and Venda.

1. CAPE TOWN

Cape Town is the second largest city in South Africa and one of its three capitals. It is one of the best places to visit in Africa and is known for Table Mountain National Park and Cape Point. It is equally popular for its beaches. You can visit numerous beaches in a single day in Cape Town, each with a different vibe.

Cape Town’s location between mountain and sea adds to its natural beauty. It is a hub of adventure sports, including paragliding, skydiving, helicopter rides, scuba diving, snorkelling, hiking and much more. Cape Town is also home to one of the best surfing beaches in the world. The city’s heart is spread across the V&A Waterfront with excellent restaurants, best shopping outlets and fabulous sights. To get the best view of the city, mountain and the sea, ride the Cape Wheel. 

With a rich cultural heritage, Cape Town is very polished and gives a unique European vibe. Well known for its deep history and brilliant architecture, it proudly boasts Victorian-era monuments and structures. Stretching beyond the central city are the Cape Winelands and charming little villages. Cape Town is a great place to tick off a lot of bucket-list adventures at once!

Places to visit in Cape Town: Table Mountain, Robben Island, V&A Waterfront, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, Cape of Good Hope, Boulders Penguin Colony, Muizenberg beach town

2. JOHANNESBURG

Affectionately called ‘Joburg’ or ‘Jozi, Johannesburg is a land of brilliant landscapes, great architecture and contrasting cultures. It has a wonderfully rich history along with the modern district squares with plenty of things to offer tourists. Posh and Lavish as it looks, Joburg also has the deep interior ancient gullies reminding locals of their olden days. The largest city in South Africa and the second largest city in Africa, Joburg is thoroughly enjoyed by the locals and foreigners alike. 

The beating heart of South Africa, Johannesburg offers to be a quick respite for the vacationers. The city is fast, rapid and constantly changing with the advancing world. Johannesburg offers the best nightlife in South Africa, and the live music here is not to be missed. It also has a thriving art scene and cafe culture. The city is one of the greenest in the world and is the world’s largest man-made urban forest.

Places to visit in Johannesburg: Apartheid Museum, Constitution hill, Mandela House museum, Gold Reef City, Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens, Pilanesberg National Park

3. PORT ELIZABETH

Port Elizabeth, now renamed Gqeberha, is one of the largest cities in South Africa. It is located halfway between Cape Town and Durban, on the beautiful shores of Nelson Mandela Bay. Port Elizabeth is known for its many blue-flag beaches and fun water sports. It also acts as the gateway to the Eastern Cape of South Africa, known for its big five game safari.

Port Elizabeth is a famed spot for dolphin and whale spotting almost throughout the year. Like most places in South Africa, the city is home to diverse wildlife reserves with a fantastic array of jungle beasts. It also offers several historical attractions and hiking trails.

A major highlight of Port Elizabeth is the warm oceanic climate which makes it one of the top cities in the world for pleasant year-round weather. The centrally situated Port Elizabeth Airport provides easy access to all parts of the city and is also known as the “15-minute city”. Most attractions here are located within a 15-minute distance from the airport.

Places to visit in Port Elizabeth: Algoa Beach, Donkin Reserve, Boardwalk Casino and Entertainment Complex, Addo Elephant Park, Red Location Museum, Maitland Beach, Seaview Lion Park

4. DURBAN

Located on the east coast of South Africa, Durban is one of the largest cities in KwaZulu Natal province. It is situated at the mouth of the Umgeni River and overlooks the Indian Ocean. It also has a natural harbour which is one of the busiest ports in South Africa. A city with a rich blend of history and modernity, Durban makes for an exciting stay!

Durban has sea, valley and mountains. The laidback seaside town has some of the best beaches in South Africa. Most beaches are spread across the Golden Mile, popular amongst surfers, fishers and swimmers. It is one of the top tourist attractions in Durban, with popular restaurants and nightclubs interspersed with the beaches.

Places to visit in Durban: Golden Mile, uShaka Marine World, Moses Mabhida Stadium, Valley of a Thousand Hills, Phezulu Safari Park, Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve, The Kwazulu Natal Society of Arts, Japanese Garden

5. PRETORIA

The administrative capital of South Africa, Pretoria is one of Gauteng’s most important cities. It is the executive seat of the government of South Africa and one of the three capital cities (along with Cape Town and Bloemfontein). Pretoria is popularly known as the Jacaranda City due to more than 70,000 Jacaranda trees which colour the city purple in October-November each year.

Places to visit in Pretoria: Voortrekker Monument, Pretoria National Botanical Garden, Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Union Buildings, National Zoological Gardens, Kruger House Museum, Hennops Hiking Trail, Hazel Food Market, Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Grove Ice Rink, Zita Park, Ditsong National Museum of Cultural History

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