The cities of Johannesburg and Cape Town have become popular destinations for visitors from around the world, situated in the southernmost point in Africa. South Africa is one of the biggest countries on the continent. However, in South Africa, there are several other places to visit than the two largest.
Travelers who wish to escape will enjoy mountain air in Hogsback and Drakensberg. Relax on the shores of Knysna or enjoy the safari in Southern Africa’s oldest and best wildlife area, the Kruger National Park.
Fortunately, traveling across South Africa is also reasonably cheap, as there are many low-cost airlines around the country and excellent highways, so it is easy to hire a car to explore the country by yourself.
1. Cape Town, Western Cape
Cape Town is a touristic highlight for numerous tourists to South Africa Tour Packages, known for its cultural diversity and social tolerance. Mother City has a range of attractions, experiences, restaurants, and outdoor activities that are ideal for both aging and interested visitors.
You can appreciate stunning scenery in Cape Town – from the Cape Peninsula white-sand sandy beaches to the famous Table Mountain cliffs – or a whole range of world-class restaurants and local wines. You can also spend pleasant morning walking, surfing, scuba diving, and shopping along with V&A’s waterfront beachside markets.
2. The Cape Winelands, Western Cape
The Cape Winelands, a beautiful region with greenery and fertile valleys, is situated east of Cape Town. Visitors love the region with its amazing scenic scenery, its culture (the best reflection of the majestic Netherlands’ Cape architecture in its towns and outskirts), its world-renowned viticultures.
The wine regions of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Wellington, and Paarl are the most common ones. Each has wine tasting tours and a range of great restaurants, most of which show the finest local products from the Western Cape.
3. Hermanus, Western Cape
The seaside city of Hermanus has gained a reputation as the whale-watching capital of South Africa, 120 kilometers to the southeast of Cape Town.
Each year in a few hundred feet from the shoreline of Hermanus, migrating Südright Whales stop for breeding and calving in the city’s Walker Bay. You can book a tour with one of the many whale-watching boats in Hermanus, or you can freely enjoy the whales from any of the points of view along the Route of the Cliff.
4. Knysna, Western Cape
Garden Route in South Africa is renowned worldwide for its abundance of enchanting coastal cities, Knysna being probably one of the most stunning.
Knysna offers a wide variety of charismatic guest houses and bed and breakfasts, as well as art galleries, boutiques, and artisanal shops, nestled between the Outeniqua Mountains and the Indian Ocean. It is particularly famous for its seafood restaurants with Oysters from the picturesque lagoon of the town.
5. Oudtshoorn, Western Cape
A major pit stop along Route 62 through South Africa’s wine country is the tiny village Oudtshoorn. Oudtshoorn is known to deliver a range of sights, from nature parks, autumn-going Museums to hot air-balls in the countryside. Known for its ostrich farms and its nearby Cango Caves.
The CP-Nel Museum is one of the most important attractions of the area, focusing on Victorian life in the early 20th century and on the rich history of the autumn industry, which has brought the city onto the map. You can visit the Safari Ostrich Farm or the Cango Wildlife Ranch for a close-up view of the wildlife surrounding Oudtshoorn.
6. Hogsback, Eastern Cape
Located high in the neck-like Amathole, Hogsback is a quaint city which, when it wrote “Lord of the Rings,” has inspired J.R. R. Tolkien, born in South Africa. The surrounding landscape is luxuriant, green, and surrounded by walking trails that lead to hidden waterfalls and streams in the forest.
A variety of native birdlife, including the heavily endangered cap parrot, is also found in the thick indigenous forest. The city itself is full of the folklore of fairy. A bohemian collection of backpacker lodges, bed and breakfasts, art galleries, and New Age stores can be found here.
7. The Transkei, Eastern Cape
The Transkei area was once considered a Black homeland under apartheid, separated from South Africa. It is now an untouched wild area of amazing natural wonders, which stretches from the Great Kei to the Umtamvuna River in the Eastern Cape.
The Transkei has a proud cultural heritage as the birthplace of anti-apartheid activists, among them Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, and Oliver Tambo. In its remote rural village, the typical Xhosa lifestyle is still visible and its winding countryside is dotted with simple rondavel huts and herds of Nguni indigenous cattle.
8. Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
Durban, which is known for its golden beaches, tropical climates, and its rich culture, is a cosmopolitan center of KwaZulu-Natal province.
The town’s cuisine is dominated by fine curry restaurants and after dark, tourists await an impressive selection of bars and nightclubs. Go to Moyo at the end of uShaka Pier for the best view with your drink. The Durban Golden Mile, home to some of the most important surfing spots in South Africa, is a constant atmosphere throughout the day.
9. Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal
A wonderful destination is the capital of the province of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg. This industrial hub, known for its colonial buildings, its rich culture of gaming, and its lush nature found in nearby parks and reserves, is popularly known as Maritzburg.
In June or the annual Cycling Amashovashova Run between the two towns of October, you can take part in the Camera of Pietermaritzburg-Durban if you’re a sports fan. The KwaZulu-Natal Museum, the City Hal, the Imperial Hotel, and the Tatham Art Gallery also host a variety of museums and galleries for art lovers and history enthusiasts.
