Best Things to Do in South Africa

Top things to do in South Africa

• Table Mountain. Take the cable car or hike for views over Cape Town.
• Cape Point and the Cape Peninsula. Cape of Good Hope, Chapman's Peak drive and Boulders Beach penguins.
• Robben Island. The island prison where Nelson Mandela was held.
• Winelands. Stellenbosch and Franschhoek wine estates and long lunches.
• V&A Waterfront. Shops, restaurants and harbour views.
• Kruger National Park safari. Game drives to look for the Big Five.
• Garden Route. Whale watching, Knysna lagoon and Tsitsikamma.
• Soweto and Apartheid Museum. Essential history and culture in Johannesburg.

Where to stay

• Cape Town. Table Mountain, beaches, wine country and the Cape Peninsula. Best for first-time visitors and city lovers.
• Winelands (Stellenbosch, Franschhoek). Wine estates, gourmet food and scenic drives close to Cape Town.
• Garden Route. A coastal drive with forests, lagoons and beaches, usually done as a self-drive trip.
• Kruger and surrounding reserves. One of Africa's best safari areas. Best for a big-five safari add-on.
• Johannesburg. Apartheid Museum, Soweto and shopping. Best for a short stay or connection.

Getting around

Taxis and ride-hailing cover Cape Town and Johannesburg, and many visitors rent a car for the peninsula, winelands and Garden Route. Domestic flights link the main cities.

Tips

• Take normal city precautions, use ride-hailing at night and keep valuables out of sight.
• Add a safari to your beach or city stay, and allow a full day to travel from Cape Town to Kruger by air and road.
• Check the load-shedding and weather outlook, especially in winter.

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