The Lonely Planet travel guide has declared that South Africa is one of its top 30 must-visit locations around the globe, although the reason might surprise you.
So what makes South Africa a great place to visit?
Why has travel bible Lonely Planet listed the Rainbow Nation as one of its top 30 countries to visit? Well, the answer is because of South Africa’s culinary scene; specifically, its world-class, ‘exciting’ dining.
“Complementing its internationally known (and loved) vineyards, South Africa’s new generation of chefs is propelling the country’s culinary scene forward making it a destination to visit not just for wine, but food as well.”
The Lonely Planet praises the country’s “bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables that complement its high-quality seafood and meats.” In addition, it notes that over rthe last ten years, a growing number of top chefs have seized on this abundance, and South Africa now boasts a number of eateries on global “best” lists, as wek as “hidden gems” that “reach deep into the country’s soul for inspiration.”
There’s of course much more that South Africa has to offer. How about the best safari destinations, with the Big Five on offer, and much more besides? Ocean-lapped, powdery beaches? Fabulous wineries? Star-studded desert skies? Historic townships? The unique history?
If you are planning to travel to South Africa, it will be difficult to plan your trip. This is because your choices are endless, and the country is large. You need weeks or a couple of months if you want to cover all the popular tourist attractions or anything ‘off the beaten track’. At the very least, start with our curated list.
Go to Kruger National Park
A trip to the unique Kruger National Park will sear itself in your mind – such will be the experience you’ll have. There are myriad opportunities to enjoy the wildlife at our biggest national park. To give you an idea of size, it’s roughly the size of the country of Israel and stretches over the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. There are mountains, rivers, savannah, and tropical forests. It houses pretty much all we have to offer in terms of African fauna.
The Big 5 are safari royalty really. African elephants, lions, black rhinoceros, leopards, and the Cape buffalo. And please, don’t plan to travel to South Africa without accommodating a visit to its astonishing wildlife areas. We pretty much revere our wildlife in South Africa and there are plentiful game reserves and parks to choose from when planning your Big 5 safari trip. ‘Safari’ is Swahili for ‘journey’, so be prepared to travel, sometimes for days to catch all five. Game spotting activities are led by expert guides, normally in 4×4 vehicles. But for the brave, there are guided bush walks or aerial safari trips in hot air balloons or light aircraft.
If you are looking for something a little more intimate when you travel to South Africa, we recommend you try Sabi Sands, which borders on the Kruger National Park, where you are more likely to see the elusive leopard. If it’s unspoilt bushveld with a bit of Big 5 you are after, then Pilansberg is your spot. Close to Johannesburg and Pretoria, it is an easy park to travel to for a short trip. Does your travel to South Africa include time in Pretoria? Check out our article on 5 family-friendly things to do while there. For big cat lovers, there is Shamwari Game Reserve, an extension to the Garden Route, which houses the Born Free Big Cat Sanctuary.
Lesotho is a must-visit
Lesotho is affectionately known as our Kingdom in the Sky. Technically, it is not in South Africa, as it is an enclaved country. But since you are here, why miss it? This is a place where your soul will grow. Soar. You will be forgiven for feeling like you have stepped into Wakandaland, too (the film’s Border Tribe costumes took inspiration from Lesotho and Basotho blankets). You will find high altitudes, with most of the country being above 1800m above sea level, and a decided nip in the air – but this only adds to its uniqueness. Easily accessible from Durban, which, incidentally is also worth a visit, and Johannesburg, this beautiful little country can certainly be classified as being ‘off the beaten track’.
When you are planning your travel to South Africa do make a note to buy yourself a beautiful Basotho blanket. The landscape here is untamed and unspoilt with the Maluti mountains and Drakensberg range taking up the sky. There are so many adventures to be had here. Check out the Meletsunyane Falls, the highest single-drop waterfall in Southern Africa. For adrenaline junkies, go to Semonkong where you will find the highest commercial abseil in the word from a 200m high cliff. Get your Jurassic Park on with the Lesothosaurus dinosaur footprints to be seen at Morija. Do not miss Thaba Bosiu, the mountain stronghold of the great warrior and diplomat King Moeshoeshoe. The Kings and Queens of Lesotho are buried here.
An important tip when planning to travel to South Africa: Although South African currency is accepted everywhere, make sure to ask for your change in Rand or you’ll get Maloto, which is difficult to change when you get back to the South African side of the mountains.
Go whale watching
Adventure-seekers who travel to South Africa will most certainly include on their trip whale watching: South Africa is one of the best destinations worldwide for whale and dolphin watching with around 37 species along the South African coastlines. Whale watching is a bit of a coastal sport and locals will flock in droves to Hermanus during whale season to spot them. Whale season is roughly June to December. The most common species to see this close to the coast are humpbacks and the southern right whales. They come right into the bay with their calves and up to the coastline for safety and can be seen from the Old Harbour Wall or the cliff path. No binoculars required unless you want detail.
You can get up close and personal to these laidback, playful beasts by booking one of the many available whale-watching boat rides. If you are planning to travel to South Africa be sure to pack your wet weather gear as slaps and splashes are not unusual. For accommodation or boat trips, book early. Especially during the Hermanus Whale Festival. The town will be packed. Prefer something less crowded? Head further up the east coast to the De Hoop Nature reserve and Marine sanctuary where you can do the 5-day whale trail. One of South Africa’s most important whale nurseries can be found in this Marine Protected area, so you are sure to see little ones splashing about.
Don’t miss Drakensberg
Locals call this spectacular mountain range ‘The Berg’. Located in the KwaZulu-Natal province, Drakensberg, which means ‘Mountains of the Dragon’, is known for its beautiful waterfalls and hiking trails
Visit Namaqualand
(Or ‘Nama kwa land’, as we more commonly refer to it by its Nama and Khoikhoi name in South Africa.)
When you travel to South Africa head for this charming local favourite, beautiful flower carpets cover the arid Nama kwa landscape in spring. It’s known as the Cape daisy route along the lesser travelled west coast of South Africa. This is where you come if you want your travel to South Africa to entail trips off the beaten track, something a little more laidback, somewhere local lekker*. Covering 440,000 square kilometres, you can choose between Little Namaqualand to the south or Great Namaqualand to the north.
Several Nature reserves, national parks and even the transfrontier park between Namibia and South Africa are to be found along the west coast. And if you get your timing exactly right, somewhere between July and September depending on rainfall, you can combine your flower carpet ride with a whale-watching safari. Get your 4×4 on with the many routes available in the Goegap Nature reserve, close to the town of Springbok. Closer to Kamieskroon you can feast your eyes on miles and miles of brightly coloured flowers at the Skilpad Flower Nature reserve.
This is an area where the desert and the arid Karoo landscape meet the Atlantic Ocean. You can even see some impressive shipwrecks on the coastline of the Namaqualand Nature Reserve. If you are a nature lover and outdoor enthusiast this is your coastline to visit.
Go ridin’ on the Blue Train
In the mood for something a little more extravagant? Then the Blue Train is the train for you. Think old-world charm of cross-country rail travel with the opulence of a 5-star hotel, on wheels. This 2-day cross-country journey is enjoyed by presidents, celebrities, honeymooners, and ordinary folk who want to experience a touch of glamour.
Travelling north to south across the country from Pretoria to Cape Town, the landscape is exactly what you would expect from a train safari and so much more. Marvel at arid desert, untamed savannah, and far off horizons. There are two trips to choose from, the most popular being the Cape Town Journey and the Kruger Park Journey. The latter is only available once or twice a year so make sure to check availability if you want to combine your Blue Train with your Kruger Park adventures when planning your South African travel trip.
Suites range from the luxurious to the deluxe. With double or twin beds to choose from, they convert into a sumptuous private lounge during the day. The train itself has two lounges. The Club lounge for High tea in the afternoons converts to a quintessential smoking lounge after dinner. If you like to indulge in cognac and cigars this is also the train’s only designated smoking area. And the Observation Lounge with its large windows provides uninterrupted panoramic views.
Visit the Cape Winelands for a magnificent day of wine tasting
Love your wine? Then head for the Cape Winelands – less than an hour from Cape Town. Perhaps the best known are Franschhoek and Stellenbosch. Bask in the undulating vineyards and the breathtaking vistas. Wherever you choose to go, there will be plenty of offerings from hundreds of wine estates, including wine, cheese and biltong platters (SA’s famous dried meat snack). Once you’re done conclude your trip at the Montagu hot springs.
Bonus: Here’s yet another reason to visit South Africa…
All set to travel to South Africa? Share with us your travel stories and tips.
Local is lekker* A favourite South Africa expression to say that all things local are great.
Sources:
https://www.hayesandjarvis.ie/blog/top-5-game-reserves-in-south-africa
https://www.travelbutlers.com/south-africa/whale-watching/hermanus-and-gansbaai.asp
https://insideguide.co.za/cape-town/whale-watching/
https://www.places.co.za/html/lesotho.html
