South Africa Tourist Attractions
South Africa is one of the most interesting countries of visit, as it opens up a wide array of diverse attractions. Offering a heady combination of wonderful landscapes, rich culture, and a historic tradition, the country is home to unique destinations with distinct characteristics. From wandering along the rugged coastlines, touring the national parks, exploring the scenic routes to visiting the cosmopolitan cities like Cape Town, South Africa tourist attractions offer endless possibilities of experiencing the country at its best. It presents a world for the tourist that is adorned with natural and cultural icons.
Additionally, the country is also home to around eight World Heritage Sites.
Top Tourist Destinations in South Africa
On your visit to this wonderful land of diverse beauties, you will come across incredibly distinct destinations with defining characteristics. The country is also recognized for it national parks. It is often considered by many that South Africa in a way presents an eclectic mix of first and third world cultures.Here is a look at some of the frequently visited South Africa tourist attractions that is spread across the geographical region -
Western Cape and Cape Town
A premier South Africa tourist destination, Cape Town the capital city is home to some of the ionic landmarks defining the skyline of the country. The city boasts of reason more than one that finely attribute to its popularity. The province of Cape is mostly famous for featuring the iconic Table Mountain coupled with other attractions like, Cape Winelands and a spectacular coastline. The city is also renowned for it architectural marvels that include the majestic Edwardian and Victorian buildings.These buildings are finely preserved to reflect the historic past of the country. The Cape Peninsula up to the stretch of Cape Point holds special interest for the nature lovers, as it offers incredible scenic views of the surroundings. Other popular attractions or activity that dominates the tourism appeal of the region includes whale-watching, wonderful cuisine, pulsating nightlife, and great shopping opportunities.
Garden Route
Another top attraction in South Africa, the Garden Route is considered to be of sole interest to the nature lovers. The land strip on the western coast of the country is characterized by all the elements of natural beauty that include rivers, lakes, dunes, wetlands, forests, and beaches. The beautiful views of the scenic mountain range as it backdrop further adds appeal to this nature’s wonderland. The land strip with due credit to it name is offered the name for its unparallel beauty of the natural surroundings.The land of natural beauty however is not only restricted to the lovers of scenic beauty. During your trip to the region, you can also choose to hike the region to explore the beauty at its best. The hiking trails in the region namely: the Dolphin trails, Otter Trail and the Tsitsikama are considered the top trails in the country. The region holds a special interest among the eco-lovers and tourists searching for a secluded retreat or escape in the lap of nature. The region is also famous for being a wonderful sight of bird watching.
The land of natural beauty is best visited during the summer season. You can also plan a tour of the land during the winter months for a romantic getaway. The naturally beautiful route is a must include in the South Africa tour guide.
KwaZulu Natal
This province in the country presents for you a world of beauties and attractions tucked into one. Settled to the northern side of Durban, the region is famous for the best African game reserves and secluded beaches. While in the western region, you will come across the Drakensberg Mountain and temperate Midlands. The southern side features long stretch of subtropical coastline, fishing destinations, and lush green golf courses.The province of KwaZulu Natal is also referred as the Kingdom of the Zulu. This region offers a wonderful mix of European, African, and Indian cultures. It is also famous for being home to World Heritage Site namely, the Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg Park and Greater St Lucia Wetland Park. Beaches are another top attraction of the region that holds on to the ever-rising tourism appeal of the region. During your visit to the region, you will also come across relics of South African battle history.
Kruger National Park
One of the major highlights of South African tourism, the Kruger National Park was formed with the idea of preserving the wildlife of Lowveld. The national park that came into being in 1898 spans across two provinces: Limpopo and the Mpumalanga Provinces. The natural reserve that is stretch across an extensive area of 20 000 square kilometers. The journey from the southern gate to its northern gate almost stretches to 250 mile.This natural reserve offers an unparallel diversity in wildlife and is also considered a leader in environmental managing techniques. This iconic attraction of the country is home to a wide array of wildlife and birdlife that counts to around 507 bird, 34 amphibian, 114 reptile, 49 fish, and 147 mammal.
Eastern Cape
Another popular place of visit in South Africa, the Eastern Cape ranks the second largest among all the nine provinces of the country. This beautiful land is settled between the Western Cape and KwaZulu Natal. The region is surrounded by the Drakensberg Mountain and Orange River. The Cape is famous for being a wonderful destination of sun, sand, and sea. The shoreline here is quite extensive that stretches across from a rugged coastline in the south to sub tropical beaches in the northern region.The region is also recognized for the being home to some of the best surfs in the country. During your visit to the region, do not miss visiting the Jeffreys Bay and St Francis Bay, popular surfing destinations of the country. The Wild coast is also renowned for featuring some of the breaks known to be the best-kept secrets.
Some of the other most recognized South Africa tourist attraction includes -
- Soweto
- Cango Caves
- Mpumalanga
- Sun City Resort
- Sea World in Durban
- The Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve
The country is also famous for its National Botanical Gardens, World Heritage Sites, Game and Nature Reserve, and lastly but most importantly its beaches.
