From white-water rafting, coral reefs, dragon-backed mountain ranges, and golden beaches, South Africa is packed with several tourist attractions that will surely leave anyone in awe. Aside from these astounding attractions, you can also explore vibrant cities and learn about Africa’s turbulent history in Cape Town, which is considered one of the world’s most beautiful cities. In this article, we are going to help you with your next travel to Africa by listing down the top sightseeing places there.
Kruger National Park in Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces
Kruger National Park is considered one of Africa’s best and oldest game reserves. If you happen to be a wildlife lover, this park needs to be on your itinerary. The park is located 4.5 hours away from Johannesburg, and you will get to see elephants, buffalo, leopards, rhinos, as well as other wildlife. Not only that, but the Kruger National Park is also home to archeological sites and rock paintings.
Cape Town, Western Cape
Cape Town is considered to be one of the world’s most breathtaking cities. This multicultural city is surrounded by nature, and it is nuzzled between the sea and a rugged range of mountains. One of the best things you can do here in Cape Town is visit Table Mountain. It is a mountain with a flat-topped peak that presides over the city. You can be a little bit more adventurous and catch the most spectacular view of Cape Town by hiking to the summit of Table Mountain. On the mountain’s eastern slope, you can visit the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cape Town’s coast is also filled with natural wonders where you can see whales from the harbor and penguins waddling along the golden beaches.
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in Northern Cape
The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is a merger of South Africa’s Botswana’s Gemsbok National Park and Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, and it is considered to be one of the largest wilderness in the world. The park was established in 2000, and it was officially declared as Africa’s first transfrontier park. Here you will get to see red sands, gnarled camel thorn trees, golden grasslands, as well as deep blue skies. You can also see a vast diversity of wildlife such as the famous black-maned Kalahari lion, meerkats, birds of prey, stately gemsbok with V-shaped horns, as well as sprawling nests of sociable weavers. You can also see other predators such as cheetahs, leopards, and hyenas.
The Garden Route
The Garden Route is located along the country’s southeast coast, and it runs 200 kilometers through South Africa’s most stunning coastal scenery. The Garden Route is a popular driving route that passes through lagoons, pretty seaside towns, rolling green hills, coastal cliffs, and lakes. Along the way, you will be able to stop by some spots where you can experience the most exhilarating adventures, such as whale watching trips, elephant experiences, tree canopy tours, and even bungee jumping.
The Drakensberg in KwaZulu-Natal
You will be in awe of the view that the Drakensberg has to offer. It’s no wonder why this is a top vacation destination not just for tourists but also for South Africans as well. The Drakensberg is home to South Africa’s highest peaks. It encompasses the World Heritage-listed uKhalamba-Drakensberg Park, which has jaw-dropping sites such as the San rock art and jagged basalt buttresses. This region is also home to the Royal Natal National Park, where you can see the great Amphitheatre, which is a magnificent cliff face as well as the source of South Africa’s main rivers.
iSimangaliso Wetland Park in KwaZulu Natal
This is a World Heritage Area that is home to Africa’s most significant estuarine system. It is formerly known as the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park, and it is located on the northeastern coast of KwaZulu Natl. This park connects eight interwoven ecosystems such as towering coastal dunes, crocodile-filled rivers, coral reefs, savanna, lakes, and swamplands. Because of this, the area is known to support a wide variety of wildlife with more than 526 species of birds and rhinos, leopards, leatherback and loggerhead turtles, and Africa’s highest concentration of crocodiles and hippos. Here in iSimangaliso Wetland Park, you will get the chance to combine coastal adventures with a classic safari experience in the marine reserve, such as diving, kayaking, snorkeling, and fishing.