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South Africa<\/a> is famous for its stunning landscapes, incredible wildlife, award-winning wineries, beautiful beaches, and lively and cosmopolitan cities. I\u2019ve been to the country twice and always leave wanting more. There\u2019s something deeply special about this place.<\/p>\n Stretching over 2,800 kilometers (1,700 miles) and home to 59 million people, you could easily spend months here and still not see everything. Heck, just driving from one end of the country takes several days. <\/p>\n Though there are hundreds of things to see and do in the country, here\u2019s my list of the best things to do in South Africa to help you plan your trip, save money, and have fun!<\/p>\n The most well-known safari destination is Kruger National Park, which has incredible diversity and tons of amazing wildlife, including the \u201cBig 5\u201d (lions, leopards, elephants, rhinoceroses, and Cape buffalo). <\/p>\n I went to Kruger a few years back<\/a>, and it was everything I\u2019d expected and more. Although you can drive yourself around the park, I actually recommend using a guide because they\u2019ll be much better at spotting animals and will also give you heaps info about them, their habitat, and the park itself. Since this is one of those “once in a lifetime” experiences it’s worth spending the money to get a knowledgeable guide.<\/p>\n While Kruger is the most famous safari destination, there are dozens of other options across South Africa. Here are a few I recommend:<\/p>\n Safaris are so common in South Africa<\/a> that pretty much every price point and budget is covered. Accommodation options range from budget-friendly campsites to upscale guesthouses and resorts. <\/p>\n While doing a multi-day game drive<\/a> is best, if you’re short on time (and money) you can book a game drive from Cape Town<\/a> that includes pick-up and drop-off from your hotel. For more suggestions, check out this post I wrote on what to do in Cape Town<\/a>. If you\u2019re a beginner, Durban is a great option for surfing lessons because of the reliable waves and warm water of the Indian Ocean. Expect to pay around 250 ZAR per person for a 1.5-hour lesson. While in Johannesburg, be sure to visit the Constitutional Court. It stands on the site of a former political prison and you can tour some of the prison ruins and learn more about the many political prisoners who were unjustly detained here. Guided tours<\/a> are available around Constitution Hill and the Apartheid Museum as well.<\/p>\n Also, be sure to visit the District Six Museum in Cape Town. It\u2019s a memorial to the people who lived in the area in the 1970s who were forced to relocate so that white citizens could move in. It\u2019s both sobering and illuminating. Admission is 120 ZAR for a guided tour and includes entrance fee. Conditions at the prison were incredibly harsh, with many prisoners forced into hard labor in the limestone quarry. They were also made to sleep on the stone floors of their cells without a bed as well.<\/p>\n Today, former prisoners are tour guides and they shed light on what life was like here during apartheid. You\u2019ll be able to see Mandela\u2019s cell and take a bus ride around the island to see the prisoner\u2019s graveyard as well as the quarry where Mandela and other prisoners were forced to work.<\/p>\n Ferries operate three times a day, starting at 9am (a fourth ferry operates during the summer season). Tours start at 600 ZAR (for non-South Africans), which includes the ferry ride. Expect the entire trip to take at least four hours. <\/p>\n Unfortunately, they\u2019re an endangered species as a result of human impacts like pollution, oil spills, and habitat destruction. For that reason, you aren\u2019t allowed to walk on the beach where the penguins breed but you can watch them from the nearby viewing platforms. There is also a raised boardwalk that starts at the Boulders Visitor Centre which will let you get up close to the penguins. Just keep in mind that they are wild animals and the beach is their home, not yours. Be sure to keep your distance and don’t try to feed them or pet them. As cute as they are, they’re still wild animals. <\/p>\n If you are feeling adventurous, you can stop at Bloukrans Bridge, the highest bridge in Africa, and go bungee jumping there. Expect to pay around 1,690 ZAR per person.<\/p>\n The beautiful beaches of Plettenberg Bay on the Indian Ocean are also a worthwhile Garden Route stop.<\/p>\n There are other popular road-trip routes in South Africa, such as the Panorama Route in Mpumalanga, which winds around the Blyde River Canyon<\/a>, or the Wild Coast route for exploring dramatic coastal landscapes. You can also pick a road-trip route that takes in several national parks, as there are quite a few scattered around the country where you can self-drive through the park to see the wildlife.<\/p>\n For the best car rental prices, use Discover Cars<\/a>. You can get a quote using the widget below:
\n <\/p>\n1. Go on a safari<\/h3>\n
![\"Zebra](\"https:\/\/media.nomadicmatt.com\/2020\/zebra_safari.jpg\")
\nMost people come to South Africa to go on a safari \u2014 and for good reason. It\u2019s home to some of the best game drives in the world and you\u2019ll want to spend at least a couple of nights in one of the dozens of national parks. There’s truly nothing like it.<\/p>\n\n
\n <\/p>\n2. Visit Cape Town<\/h3>\n
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\nCape Town<\/a> is the most popular destination in South Africa. It\u2019s a vibrant, multicultural city with lively bars, delicious food, great weather, lots of nature and hiking nearby. In addition to the city’s amazing beaches, the waterfront is bursting with things to do as well. While you’re here, make sure you hike Table Mountain and Lion’s Head, tour Robben island (where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned), and relax at Muizenberg beach.<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n3. Go Surfing <\/h3>\n
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\nBoth the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean coasts of South Africa offer world-class surfing. Jeffrey\u2019s Bay on the south coast near Port Elizabeth is the most famous surfing destination in South Africa<\/a> and offers big waves and multiple breaks. There are also a number of good surfing locations near Cape Town, including Dungeons in Hout Bay and a number of others further south on the Western Cape, such as Long Beach. <\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n4. Learn About Apartheid<\/h3>\n
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\nYou can\u2019t visit South Africa without learning about the horror of apartheid (a system of institutionalized racial segregation), which cast its shadow over the country from the 1940s all the way into the 1990s. Opened in 2001, the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg does an excellent job of highlighting apartheid’s history and legacy. Admission is 150 ZAR.<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n5. Visit Robben Island<\/h3>\n
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\nWhen it comes to learning about apartheid, you’ll want to also plan a trip to Robben Island<\/a>. Located just 6 kilometers (4 miles) off the coast of Cape Town, Robben Island was a maximum-security prison until 1996. During the apartheid era, many political prisoners were sent to Robben Island. This includes Nelson Mandela, who spent 18 years behind bars on Robben Island. The prison is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important cultural sites in the country.<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n6. Hike the Drakensberg Mountains<\/h3>\n
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\nThe Drakensberg region near the east coast is home to the highest mountain range in the country, with rugged, green peaks, sandstone cliffs, and deep valleys. There are lots of trails, ranging from casual walks to strenuous climbs and plenty of options for both day hikes and multi-day hikes. Some of the popular routes include the following:<\/p>\n\n
7. See African Penguins<\/h3>\n
![\"penguins](\"https:\/\/media.nomadicmatt.com\/2020\/southafrica_penguins.jpg\")
\nPart of the Table Mountain National Park and a short drive from Cape Town, the Boulders Penguin Colony is home to several thousand African penguins. (Fun fact: they\u2019re also known as jackass penguins, because the noises they make sound like a donkey braying.) <\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n8. Take a Road Trip<\/h3>\n
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\nSouth Africa is an awesome road trip destination.<\/a> The most famous route is the Garden Route, which takes you along coastal cliffs and through forests and mountain ranges. Stretching along the south-central coast from Mossel Bay in the west to Storms River in the east, the Garden Route is only around 200 kilometers (125 miles) long but is full of beaches, lakes, and lagoons. <\/p>\n
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