Top 10 Best Things To Do In South Africa

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Top 10 Best Things to Do In South Africa

Here are the top 10 best things to do in South Africa on a vacation and they include; game drives, city tours, hiking, nature walks, birding, interaction with local community, boat cruise, biking, visiting the apartheid museum among others.

South Africa is one of the countries in Southern African. Its bordered by Namibia in the north east, Botswanan in the east Zimbabwe to the north finally Mozambique to the Northeast.

South Africa is among the leading tourism destinations in Africa and it possesses different sites and attractions from inland safaris, wildlife , water safari among others.

Here are the following top 10 best things to do in South Africa on a vacation;

1. Game Drive In South Africa

Game drive is one of top 10 best things to do in South Africa. They are conducted in different national parks and can be done during morning and evening hours and some of the game parks which are suitable for game driving include;

Kruger National park. This is one of Africa’s largest national parks and its among the most visited in South Africa. Its a home to different mammals and bird species. Its among the unique places to visit while in south Africa. Kruger National Park is a home to 147 mammal species, 114 reptile species and 507 bird species.

While in south Africa, Kruger national park is a must visit. Animals you will get a glimpse of while in the park include the big five such as lions, elephants, buffalos, rhinos and leopards. Other animals include hyenas, baboons, African wild dog, impalas, common warthog, vervet monkey, greater kudu, nyala among others. Its among the top 20 things to do in South Africa.

The park has experienced guides who will give you a remarkable game experience which will leave you amazed and make you appreciate the beauty of this park.

Here you will have the chance to move within Kruger National Park or any other national park in south Africa while viewing different animal species such as elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos, buffalos, hyenas, impalas, giraffes and many others. While driving miles into a desert area you will come to see the surrounding mountains and craters in South Africa. While in for a game drive at Kruger national park, you can see the wildebeest migration. It is one of the major tourist activities that brings tourists to Kruger national park. This migration typically begins in May,

Addo elephant National Park is the third largest game reserve in South Africa. This park is most known for its elephants population of which there are over 600. However, its also a home to different mammal species animals such as, lions, leopards, buffalos, hyenas among others.

Madikwe Game Reserve, is the fifth largest game reserve in South Africa bordering Botswana and is home to a variety of wildlife such as elephants, lions, leopards and rhinos, plus endangered wild dogs. Hundreds of bird species including ostriches, vultures and the large Kori bustard can be found in this game park.

Ithala game reserve is one of the youngest game reserves in south Africa. Despite it being young, it has numerous wildlife .When you visit, expect to see the big five and other mammal species plus bird species. This park is a haven for game viewing.

2. City Tour In South Africa

City tour is also among the unique 10 best things to do in South Africa. These tours are most favorable for people in fit health conditions and can handle long and exhausting walks. While in South Africa, One can do city tour in the following ways:

Visiting the Cape town: This is one of the top 10 tourist attractions in South Africa. While in Cape town, you can do a lot of day and night activities like sightseeing, sun bathing among others. The town is most suitable for honeymoon couples since its filled with great bonding activities. It is a home to the inspirational South African president and National treasure, Nelson Mandela. It is important to know the activities you want to do in south Africa’s Cape Town prior to your visit.
Visiting Pretoria Town: This town is among the amazing places for city tours for instance, its monuments, Kruger house, union building among others. These places can be visited by the young and old as well.
Visiting Johannesburg Town: This is the biggest city in South Africa. Activities that can be done here include, visiting the apartheid museum, Learning South Africa’s history at Constitution Hill, visiting Mandela’s House in Soweto, having a fun day in Gold Reef City, and others.

3. Hiking In South Africa

Hiking is a must do in South Africa. Hiking does a lot to someone’s body thus keep that adrenaline dripping by going for a hike while in South Africa. You can do hikes from various mountains and hills. This is the best activity for the people who love adventure. During hiking, you will also engage in sight seeing and birding. The following are the different sites to consider for hiking in South Africa.

At Mountain Mafadi: This is the highest mountain in South Africa which is located at the boarder of Lesotho and South Africa. You will have a chance to learn different plant species within the forest while hiking.
At Mountain Cathedral: This mountain is about 6 kilometers above the ground. Visitors can enjoy the beauty of its nature and also engage in activities like scenic walks, fishing , plus swimming in crystal clear rivers and climbing the rock.
At Injisuthi mountain: Is one of the highest mountains in the Drakensberg mountain range at 3,408 meters. It is located on the border between Lesotho and the South African province KwaZulu-Natal.
At ILembe : Is the heights mountain in Swaziland and its located in the east uKhahlamba (or Drakensberg) mountain range, on the border with South Africa. From here you can engage in some activities like horse riding, hiking among others.

4. Diving In South Africa

Diving is among the top 10 best things one should do in South Africa vacation. Diving is the activity during which you plunge your head into the water or descend beneath it while wearing specialized breathing apparatus, that is deep sea diving. A number of tourists who visit South Africa are attracted by such places. Here are number of diving area in south Africa;

The Boesmansgat in South Africa: This is a deep freshwater cave that is also known as Bushman’s Hole in English. It is located in the province of the Northern Cape. You can see various attractions while in this location, including the Big Hole, the Sisshen Golf and Country Club, and the Truce Trees, among others. To view the aforementioned features, a large number of tourists come to this location.
The False bay: This is one of the diving sites in South Africa. Here at False bay, you will enjoy great all year round diving although in summer the visibility is sometimes poor due to south eastern winds. You will also enjoy some bird watching , fish game, swimming, boat cruise and sun bathing.
The Aliwal Shoal: From here you will experience the rocky reef and the unique underwater landscapes that create a backdrop of impressive caves, canals and rock formations, making it a perfect location for diving.

5. Cultural Interactions In South Africa

Cultural interactions in South Africa is also a among the top 10 best things to do in South Africa while on a vacation. Its mainly done during the community tours. South Africa is one of those countries that have remained true to their heritage despite of colonization. When you visit a community in South Africa, you will engage in different activities for instance crafting, beads making, among others. It will be an amazing experience to foster learning which will be crowned by a traditional dance, you will be requested to interact with the community. You will enjoy the cultural introduction in south Africa such as,

The cultural dance include the mokhibo, the mohobelo and the mokorotlo. The mokorotlo is a specific dance performed by men for the Chief during important occasions.

You will also learn about their heritage and way of life for instance cultural wedding in south Africa. From here you will enjoy the south African way of getting married in traditional ways, the norms and beliefs to mention but a few.

6. Boat Cruise In South Africa

How do you go on a vacation to South Africa and not have a boat cruise? Boat cruising is among the top 10 best things to do in South Africa. A boat cruise is a holiday activity carried out on water by the use of boats, ships among others to reach a certain destination. Here in South Africa, a boat cruise is carried out on large water bodies such as lakes, rivers plus the oceans. South Africa has a number of destinations that will offer an amazing boat cruise experience These area include :

Kruger national game park: This type of cruising is for those interested in wildlife. Here, you will cruise with a well experienced guide and while on a boat cruise, you will also see the aquatic animals such as the hippos, crocodiles among others. The entire family can take pleasure in this outdoor excursion, and there are ground animals to be seen within the park while cruising.
At Brede river: Also known as Brea River is located in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. For boat cruises, it is among the most famous destinations for it in South Africa. Still, you can observe animals like ducklings and dolphins on this river. The area is also frequently inhabited by insects like butterflies and othes.
At Orange river: While on this river, you can view different animals such as the the hippos, crocodiles among others.
At Sodwana bay: It is a bay on the northern coast of Kwazulu Natal, South Africa. is renowned for its deep sea diving, boat tours, and spectacular coral reefs. You may see a wide range of animal and bird species along the bay from here, like the council bird, among others.

8. Visiting The God’s window In South Africa

Visiting the God’s window also known as the panoramic view of the Lowveld in South Africa is among the top 10 best things to do in South Africa on a vacation. Its one of the most popular view points in South Africa. From here, you can enjoy panoramic views around the place and you can see as far as Kruger national park.

9.Visiting The Apartheid Museum And The Iziko South African Museum

Visiting the apartheid museum: This is also among the top 10 best things to do in south Africa on a vacation. It was opened in 2001 and is acknowledged as the pre-eminent museum in the world. It is located in Johannesburg and it illustrates the rise and the fall of apartheid in South Africa that’s why its called a tourist attraction.

Iziko South African museum is also an interesting place to visit. Its found in Cape town and it was founded in 1825. It is a tourist attraction site for people who love to know about the rooted history of South Africa. Its also good for edutainment tourism because it helps to keep theology, paleal African zoology and archaeology collections of South Africa.

10. Visiting The Table Mountains In South Africa

These are flat topped mountains in south Africa forming a prominent land mark over looking the city of Cape Town. It is found in the south western side of south Africa. Here you will be able to view the cities in South Africa such as the Cape town, the Pretorial city among others. People who visit here are also interested in hiking of the mountain as a tourist activity to carry out in south Africa, thus making visiting the table mountains one of the 10 best things to do in South Africa.

11. Birding In South Africa

This is also among the top 10 best things to do in south Africa on a vacation. While in south Africa, you will find a number of bird species such as turacos, Woodward’s baits, green causal among others. The best time for birdwatching is the rainy season, African spring and summer between September and March or April. South Africa has a number of birding sites such as the Kruger National Game Park, West Coast National Park, iSimangaliso Wetland Park among others.

At Kruger national park, the park is commonly visited during October and March for birders, this is when the bird population swells by approximately 200 migrant species that have flown south from elsewhere in Africa and from Eurasia.
At the West Coast National Park , is well known for its and other birds. While driving in the park one may see raptors like rock kestrel, black kite among others.
At Isimangaliso wetland park. Here you will see over 500 bird species and it’s one of the most important breeding area for water birds in south Africa.

Accommodation Facilities In South Africa

In south Africa, you can find various accommodation according to the budget that you have. These lodges and hotels range from budget, midrange to luxury. So when you are planning a vacation in South Africa, you don’t have to worry about where you will sleep.

Some of the luxury accommodation include; Morukuru Family De Hoop, Madikwe Hills Private Game Lodge, Malewane Lodge, Aquila Private Game Reserve, Kapama River Lodge, Londolozi Game Reserve, Lion Sands Game Reserve, &Beyond Phinda Rock Lodge, The Royal Madikwe Luxury, Leopard Hills, Madikwe Safari Lodge, Tsala Tree Top Lodge, Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge, Ellerman House, Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, Atlanticview Cape Town and many others. These are usually more expensive than budget and mid range accommodations.

The mid-range accommodations include; A’Zambezi River Lodge, Acacia Farm Lodge, Atzaro Okavango Camp, Kanga Camp, Linyanti Bush Camp, Nyamatusi Camp, Amakhala Bukela Game Lodge, aha The Rex Hotel, Kruger Gate Hotel

The budget accommodations include; Magalies River Country Retreat, Thorn Tree Bush Camp, The Eden Lodge Verulam, The Stabbles Cottages, Limpopo lodge, to mention but a few.

Frequently Asked questions

What is South Africa famous for?

South Africa is famous for being among the most visited countries in the whole world due to presence of attractions such as game parks, water bodies, mountains, and many cities among others.

2. Which are the best things to do in South Africa?

The best things to do in south Africa include the following,

Hiking.

Boat cruise.

Birding.

Biking.

Game drives among others.

3. What is the most visited place in South Africa?

The most visited place in south Africa is V and A Water front and its located in Western Cape.

In conclusion, the top 10 things to do in south Africa on a vacation include; boat cruise, hiking, game drives, the visiting of the gods window among others. From the above explanations, you are all open to enter south Africa since its the right place to visit.