Reasons Why You Should Visit South Africa
What does the perfect holiday getaway look like to you? Perhaps it’s traveling to new places and spending time with loved ones. Maybe it’s getting to know fascinating people or experiencing thrilling pursuits like horseback riding, hiking, and game viewing. Is it days spent enjoying the sun on a sandy beach and leisurely lunches in picturesque settings?
Welcome to stunning South Africa, where we firmly believe that you can experience everything on a single African vacation. These are our justifications for traveling to South Africa, which is sometimes described as “a world in one country.”
Africa’s Greatest Big Five Sightings
One of the greatest reasons to travel to South Africa is because it’s one of the few sites on the planet where you may see all five of the Big Five (elephant, buffalo, rhino, lion, and leopard) in a single day. Because of its exceptional national parks and conservation areas, the nation is home to some of the best Big 5 safari sites in the world, including:
- Kruger National Park and its private game reserves like Sabi Sands, Thornybush, Londolozi, MalaMala, Lion Sands and Dulini
- Madikwe Game Reserve
- Phinda Game Reserve
- Pilanesberg National Park
- Addo Elephant National Park
Magnificent Beaches
From trendy Camps Bay, near the city center, to Boulders Beach, home to a hilarious colony of endangered African penguins that waddle around, Cape Town is home to some of the best urban beaches in the world. You can find vast miles of immaculate fine sand surrounded by waves that get warmer as you move further north along KwaZulu-Natal’s Indian Ocean coastline and South Africa’s Garden Route. When visiting South Africa, you can even find great places for diving and snorkeling, as well as tropical coral reefs.
A Wide Range of Activities
South Africans often view their country as a vast playground because of its abundance of sunshine, mountains, sea, and rivers. Hike to the summit of Table Mountain, go horseback riding in the Drakensberg, see whales in Hermanus, take a guided walking tour of Johannesburg to learn about South Africa’s urban culture, paraglide over the beaches of Cape Town, go on a walking safari in the Kruger, cycle through the Cape Winelands, explore the forest canopy on the Garden Route, or play a round of golf on one of the many top-notch courses. There will never be a dull time when you travel to South Africa!
Excellent Wine & Food
Look no further than South Africa if you’re searching for exquisite cuisine at incredible prices. We strongly advise spending time in the Cape Winelands, the indisputable “gourmet capital” of South Africa, when traveling to Cape Town, the country’s Mother City. Discover the stunning estates, savor some of the best food in the world at its amazing restaurants, and taste award-winning wines in cool basements and on patios covered with vines.
Enjoy a gastronomic retreat in the verdant KwaZulu-Natal Midlands on the nation’s eastern coast, preparing yourself for a relaxing trek in the foothills of the stunning Drakensberg Mountains.
The oldest “foodie” destination in South Africa is Cape Town, but Johannesburg is quickly overtaking it! Craft beer, excellent coffee, vibrant markets, and innovative eateries that combine regional flavors with global trends can all be found in both, all served with the warm warmth of South Africa.
Almost ideal weather
Did you know that the KwaZulu-Natal Coast’s beaches, Ballito, and Durban receive more than 300 days of sunshine annually on average? Even the “rainy season” over the Kruger, which runs from December to March, is actually very sunny. The rain usually falls in the form of brief thundershowers in the late afternoon, which leaves the air clear of dust and makes for clear, brilliant photos.
South Africa enjoys spectacular summers and warm winters due to its generally moderate environment. A memorable holiday depends on having wonderful weather, and for many tourists, particularly those from the northern hemisphere, this is one of the main reasons to go to South Africa.
Friendly People & Local Cultures
Tourists frequently remark on how much we South Africans smile—yes, we are a gregarious people! We enthusiastically recommend our favorite spots and activities and like meeting new people. You will notice a wide variety of looks, hear multiple distinct accents in our English, and taste a rich fusion of flavors in our cuisine since we are a melting pot of many intriguing cultures that have come together to make one nation.
In Johannesburg, you may visit Nelson Mandela’s home and trace our history in Soweto, while in Cape Town, you can learn how to make traditional Malay curries.
Rich History of South Africa
When you travel to South Africa, how far back would you like to go? Along with many other (and some of the oldest) human fossils, the 2.3-million-year-old fossil known as Mrs. Ples was discovered at the Cradle of Humankind.
Our top pick for a taste of more recent history is the KwaZulu-Natal Battlefields. The year 1875, when British soldiers, Boer commandos, and Zulu warriors engaged in deadly combat, is vividly brought to life by excellent guides. Perhaps the greatest way to understand South Africa’s extraordinary modern history is to visit Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners were imprisoned for 18 years.
Our oldest city is Cape Town, the Constantia Winelands are almost 300 years old, and San Bushmen can tell you more about their desert way of life, which hasn’t altered much over thousands of years. South Africa is on our list of the best places to visit because cultural tourists love the country’s diverse range of beliefs, traditions, and social mores.
South Africa is Family Friendly
Your children will adore it! There are many fantastic options for a family vacation in beautiful South Africa, including plenty of kid-friendly lodging. For a beach vacation, Cape Town and the Garden Route are especially well-liked.
We suggest the Pilanesberg, Madikwe, or one of the Eastern Cape reserves for a family safari in Africa; they are all malaria-free and offer excellent game viewing. Try thrill-a-minute Sun City, a vacation destination less than two hours’ drive from Johannesburg that even features a sandy “beach” and “ocean” constructed in the middle of the bush, for loud, unbridled whoops of ecstasy.
Ask your Africa Safari Expert to recommend a lodge that is kid-friendly if you are taking little children on safari for the first time. Many of them provide fantastic junior ranger programs, shortened game drives, informative games, and designated play spaces with qualified babysitters. Little ones may find long game drives difficult, but they can enjoy mild nature excursions with knowledgeable guides who can teach them about flowers, insects, and birds.
Getting Around is Easy
International airports all around South Africa receive a constant stream of foreign airlines. Additionally, there is a network of national highways that wind through farmlands, crisscross the vast Karoo landscapes, nip along beaches, and cross breathtaking mountain ranges. One of the biggest reasons to visit South Africa if you’re an independent traveler is that it’s one of only two countries in Africa where we suggest taking a self-drive vacation.
Furthermore, self-drivers will never be far from a full-service gas station, Wi-Fi is generally available, the mobile phone network is first-rate, and ATMs are easily accessible.