South Africa has one big selling point - variety. Its landscape is as varied as it is beautiful, with a huge range of different sights: climb Table Mountain, visit dramatic river valleys and waterfalls, drive through looming canyons and gorges, and explore a fantastic coastline that ranges from the rocky precipice of Cape Point to the gleaming luxury of famous Fourth Beach. The range of outdoor activities on offer is just as varied, from surfing and trail hiking to more extreme options like white water rafting and rock climbing. There's even the world's longest zip line here, allowing steely-nerved punters to fly over the landscape at terrifying speeds. South Africa's wildlife is another star attraction, meet some on safaris and whale-watching trips - you can even go diving with five-metre long tiger sharks if you're brave enough!
South Africa's culture is as varied as its landscape, with different regions enjoying their own customs, history and languages. Its cities are vibrant, Johannesburg, especially has a fantastic nightlife and music scene. Its festivals also give an insight into the depth of South African culture; a notable example is the famous Kaapse Klopse carnival, which celebrates the subversive tradition of white-faced minstrels with music, dancing and colourful costumes. Unfortunately, the flipside of this diversity includes the uncomfortable specter of the apartheid years, which still maintain a ghostly presence in the form of massive social inequality, social instability and a surprisingly high crime rate. None of this should deter potential visitors from exploring this fantastic and varied country, but it does seem as though South Africa has some way to go before fulfilling its potential as a vibrant, thriving and genuinely unique destination.
Come to South Africa for...
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Go for: Wildlife, Diving, National Parks, Extreme Challenge, Snorkelling
16 experiences:
Tiger sharks at Umkomaas, Rocktail Bay, The Great Sardine Migration, Maputaland's Turtle Hatching Season, South Africa's Elusive Rhino.
11 more »
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Famed as one of the most beautiful places on earth, Cape Town is rugged, delicate and pristine all wrapped into one perfect picture. And as if the beauty weren’t enough, the city has a laid back atmosphere and a rich culture that can’t be missed.
Go for: Wine Regions, Beaches, Festivals, Monuments & Landmarks, Windsurfing
23 experiences:
Robben Island, Windsurfing off Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Four Rosmead, Surfing Kalk Bay.
18 more »
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Go for: Visitor Attractions, Road Trips, Trekking, Walking, Diving
42 experiences:
Garden Route: Slang River to Tsitsikamma, Cederberg Wilderness Area Walks, Diving with Great whites in Gansbaai, Bird Island, South Africa, Soekershof.
37 more »
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Go for: Surfing, Walking, Trekking, Camps & Campsites, Whale Watching
12 experiences:
Surfing J Bay (Jeffreys Bay or Jeffreysbaai), The Otter and Whale Walking Trails, Whale Watching in Plettenberg Bay, Surfing Cape St. Francis, Nahoon Reef Surfing.
7 more »
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Go for: Astronomy, Extreme Challenge, Safari, Wildlife
7 experiences:
Astronomy in the Karoo National Park, The Longest, Fastest Zipline, The Wild Dogs of Midikwe Game Reserve.
2 more »
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Go for: Trekking, Walking, Wildlife, Safari, Camps & Campsites
6 experiences:
Walking trails in the Kruger National Park, The Leopards of Sabi Sands, Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape, Thaba-Metsi Adventure Farm.
1 more »
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Go for: Trains, Visitor Attractions, Squares, Streets & Urban Spaces
3 experiences:
The Blue Train, Church Square, National Zoological Gardens of South Africa.
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Go for: B&B, Wine Regions, Festivals
3 experiences:
Lekkerwijn, Nederburg Wine Auction, Paarl.
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This beautiful rocky reef supports a healthy population of bull sharks. The sharks are more often seen in the summer months between November and March when the water temperature ranges from around 19 to 24 degrees C. They are impressive animals with...
Go for: Diving, Extreme Challenge
1 experiences:
Bull Sharks at Protea Banks.
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Last year I was fortunate enough to participate in the inaugural Eden to Addo Mega-hike, a 400km, 17-day epic that crosses seven mountain groupings, many rivers, biomes and veld types. The Mega-hike has now become an annual event that aims to...
Go for: Trekking, Walking
1 experiences:
Eden to Addo Mega-hike.
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Kwazulu
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