If you want to come back from your holidays with a lot of stories to tell, visit South Africa as your next destination. If the country is on the trendy list, it is simply because it has so much to offer to visitors from around the world. Below you will discover some of them, which you will need to experience and see with your own eyes in order to understand the full attraction of this marvellous country.

So sit back, relax, and let me tell you about the delights of a holiday in South Africa.

Discover the Wildlife

Although seeing a fox on a street corner of London can be interesting and make you feel close to nature, this is certainly not what we mean in regards to wildlife. On South Africa holidays, what you can expect to see are the Big Five, as they are being called by nature lovers. This group is made of lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffalos. However, there will be many others that will join them when you go on a tour, such as the noble-looking giraffes, the horrid looking hyenas and the super speedy ostriches.

In Africa, the Big Five game animals are the lion, leopard, black rhinoceros, African bush elephant, and African buffalo. These are all animals that you think of when you picture yourself on safari, but did you know that you will also get to watch a few whales as well as penguins on the coastline? And of course South Africa is famed for cage diving with Great White sharks.

It takes on average 12 hour to fly to South Africa, so find flights from London to Johannesburg or Cape Town international airport right now.

Lion cubs. Kalahari South Africa

You can see the big five in South Africa

Travel through Incredible Scenery

When you choose to go on holidays in South Africa, get ready for breath-taking landscapes. The scenery is so diverse that you will want to take thousands of pictures, just to remind yourself of its beauty when you get back to the UK. It starts in Cape Town and its surrounding areas, which offer some of the most spectacular coastal scenery in the world, with rugged mountains in the back and white-sand beaches with turquoise waters right in front.

If you like road trips, you will enjoy the Garden Route and it 200 kilometres that will take you along the southeastern coast, as dense forests, picturesque beaches and great looking seaside towns await you. Finally, a trip to the Drakensberg Mountains (also known as the “Dragon Mountains”) will stun you with its particular peaks and waterfalls. To get to South Africa, you can also stop by France, through a selection of flights to Paris.

Open Yourself to New Wines

South Africa is getting more an more famous for the various wines that are produced in its regions. You should go there not only to taste them, but also to visit the vineyards located at the feet of beautiful mountains and close to small towns that are worth discovering. The most popular wine regions include Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, and Paarl.

There, you will discover wines that are developed in accordance to the country’s climate and special winemaking techniques. They are often fruity in mouth, which is helped by mixing a variety of grapes that grow in the different regions. They are also known for having a higher alcohol content. This is due to the fact the climate in South Africa is generally warm, which allows grapes to ripen fully. It results in higher sugar levels, which in turn produces higher alcohol content wines.

Colourful buildings in Bo Kaap district in Cape Town

Colourful buildings in the Bo-Kaap district of Cape Town

20 things to do in South Africa

1. Go on a safari in Kruger National Park or another game reserve to see the incredible wildlife, including the Big Five (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhinoceros).

2. Visit Cape Town and take a cable car ride up Table Mountain for stunning views of the city and coastline.

3. Explore the Cape Winelands and take a wine tour to sample some of South Africa’s finest wines.

4. Take a road trip along the Garden Route, a scenic coastal stretch between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, and stop at picturesque towns like Knysna and Plettenberg Bay.

5. Visit the stunning beaches of Durban and indulge in water sports like surfing and kiteboarding.

6. Explore the historical and cultural attractions of Johannesburg, such as the Apartheid Museum and Constitution Hill.

7. Take a boat tour to see the magnificent whales in Hermanus during whale-watching season (June to November).

8. Visit the vibrant township of Soweto near Johannesburg and learn about its rich history and culture.

9. Explore the Drakensberg Mountains and go hiking or rock climbing in this beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site.

10. Visit the famous Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, and take a tour to learn about the country’s struggle against apartheid.

11. Go shark cage diving in Gansbaai for an adrenaline-filled experience with great white sharks for the ultimate South African adventure.

12. Explore the stunning landscapes of the Blyde River Canyon, the third-largest canyon in the world.

13. Take a tour of the historical and scenic Route 62, a road trip that stretches from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth.

14. Visit the Kingdom of the Zulu in KwaZulu-Natal and learn about their culture and traditions.

15. Go on a boat tour of the St. Lucia Wetlands and spot hippos, crocodiles, and a variety of bird species.

16. Explore the vibrant and colourful Bo-Kaap neighbourhood in Cape Town, known for its Cape Malay culture and cuisine.

17. Go hiking in the Drakensberg Amphitheatre and witness the impressive Tugela Falls, the second-highest waterfall in the world.

18. Take a hot air balloon ride over the picturesque landscapes of the Magaliesberg Mountains.

19. Explore the stunning landscapes of the Cederberg Mountains and go rock climbing or enjoy stargazing in this remote wilderness area.

20. Visit the culturally rich and diverse city of Durban and explore its markets, museums, and cuisine, influenced by Indian and Zulu cultures.