South Africa Travel Guide
South Africa is often called the world in one country, and it is easy to see why. In a single trip you can go on a Big Five safari, drive one of the most beautiful coastal roads on Earth, taste world-class wine and watch the sunset from the top of Table Mountain.
Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, with mountains, beaches and colorful neighborhoods all in one place. Kruger National Park offers some of the best wildlife viewing in Africa, and the Garden Route takes you through forests, lagoons and quiet beach towns.
Whether you are planning your first safari, a road trip or a food and wine holiday, this guide will help you discover the best places to visit in South Africa, when to go, how much it costs and the hidden gems most travelers miss.
Everything you need to know about South Africa
Before you pack your bags, read these practical guides. They cover the best time to visit, how much a trip to South Africa costs, visas, renting a car, staying safe and the local tips every traveler should know.
- South Africa Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors
- Best Time to Visit South Africa
- How Much Does a Trip to South Africa Cost?
- South Africa Visa Guide for Tourists
- Renting a Car in South Africa: Complete Guide
- Best Travel Insurance for South Africa
- Is South Africa Safe for Tourists?
- 14 Days in South Africa: Perfect Itinerary
- Best Kruger National Park Safari Tours
- Garden Route Road Trip: Complete Guide
- Where to Stay in Cape Town: Best Areas and Hotels
- Best Things to Do in Cape Town
- Best Wine Tours from Cape Town
- Best Safari Lodges in South Africa
Why South Africa Should Be Your Next Trip
South Africa is one of the best safari destinations in the world, and one of the most affordable. In Kruger National Park and the private reserves around it, you have a real chance to see the Big Five, often in just a few days. You can even drive through Kruger in your own rental car.
Cape Town alone could fill a whole week. Take the cable car up Table Mountain, visit the penguins at Boulders Beach, drive to the Cape of Good Hope and spend a day in the Cape Winelands tasting wine in Stellenbosch and Franschhoek.
The Garden Route is one of the most famous road trips in the world. Between Mossel Bay and Storms River you pass forests, cliffs, lagoons and beach towns like Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, with whale watching in Hermanus and the ostrich farms of Oudtshoorn close by.
South Africa also offers excellent value. Great hotels, restaurants and wine cost much less than in Europe or the United States. Try a traditional braai (barbecue), bobotie, bunny chow in Durban and a glass of local pinotage, and you will understand why so many travelers come back.
Best Places to Visit in South Africa
From Table Mountain and the Cape Winelands to the wildlife of Kruger and the beaches of the Garden Route, every place in South Africa has its own character. Click on a destination below to find what to see, where to stay and the best things to do there.
- Cape Town
- Kruger National Park
- Garden Route
- Stellenbosch
- Franschhoek
- Johannesburg
- Durban
- Hermanus
- Knysna
- Plettenberg Bay
- Cape of Good Hope
- Boulders Beach
- Table Mountain
- Sabi Sands
- Drakensberg
- Blyde River Canyon
- Oudtshoorn
- Tsitsikamma
- Mossel Bay
- Pretoria
- Port Elizabeth
- Pilanesberg
- Addo Elephant Park
- iSimangaliso
- Hluhluwe-iMfolozi
- Wild Coast
- Cederberg
- Soweto
Latest South Africa Travel Guides
Safari guides, road trip itineraries and local tips to help you plan the perfect trip to South Africa.
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