South Africa attractions

The Donkin Reserve introduces visitors to the early history of Port Elizabeth by way of a small park, stone pyramid, and lighthouse overlooking the South African coastline. Built as a touching memorial to Elizabeth Donkin—wife of 19th-century Cape Colony Governor Rufane Donkin—the hilltop memorial commemorates the woman for whom the city is named, with an inscription that reads: “In the memory of one the most perfect of human beings who has given her name to the town below.”While you won’t likely spot much wildlife in this reserve, you will find excellent views from atop the lighthouse, as well as walking trails and the terminus of the larger Route 67 Art Trail—a walking tour of 67 pieces of public art representing Nelson Mandela’s 67 years of service to end apartheid in South Africa.

Table Mountain is a must-see for all Cape Town visitors. The panoramic views from the top of its 3,563-foot (1,086-meter) peak are well worth the climb—though you won’t have to break a sweat thanks to the mountain’s two cableways, each with a revolving car ferrying passengers to the summit. Once at the top, a series of hiking trails show off Table Mountain National Park’s geographic features, while daredevils can test their mettle by rappelling from the upper cable station.

The Nelson Mandela National Museum (Mandela House), is dedicated to the preservation of the history, heritage, and legacy of the Mandela family. Former South African president Nelson Mandela and his family lived in this Johannesburg house from 1946 to the 1990s before dedicating it to the Soweto Heritage Trust.

The Delaire Graff Estate is a luxurious winery at the base of the Cape Fold Mountains, filled with art collected by owner Laurence Graff. With a particular focus on works from African artists, you’ll be surrounded by the beauty of both nature and humans. The winery is noted for its Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties.

The impressive Cape Town Stadium, built to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup and formerly known as the Green Point Stadium, is Cape Town’s architectural and entertainment centerpiece. With a capacity of 55,000 people, the venue hosts everything from rugby matches to big-name performers. Visitors can catch a game, show, or explore the stadium on a tour.

Set at nearly 10,000 feet (2,865 meters) above sea level, Sani Pass is the gateway between KwaZulu-Natal and the landlocked mountain Kingdom of Lesotho. Via 4-wheel-drive, experience the rugged dirt road cut with hairpin turns on a steep climb to the top of Sani Pass. Your reward is a bumpy adventure along with panoramic views.

Built on the site of the 1910 Indian Market, Victoria Street Market is Durban’s oldest market. With more than 200 stalls spread across two stories, the gaudy modern building houses an intoxicating blend of India and Africa. Known to locals simply as “The Vic,” it offers everything from spices to luggage to Indian fabrics to African souvenirs, including Zulu beadwork.

The rolling green countryside outside Howick is idyllic but marks a dark moment in South Africa’s complex past. In 1962, anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela was arrested on the road. He would be imprisoned for 27 years before gaining his freedom and becoming South Africa’s first president. Today, the site of his capture is marked by a visitor center and a stunning sculpture.

It’s easy to see why iSimangaliso Wetland Park was South Africa’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site: Here you’ll find long swathes of beach populated by birds and sea turtles, while crocodiles, hippos, and elephants make their homes in the swamps further inland. This lush, coastal environment is best explored by boat as you discover the biodiversity for which South Africa is famous.

Boasting four acclaimed white-sand beaches, Clifton attracts Cape Town’s elite residents and wealthiest visitors. From upscale homes perched above the shoreline to high-dollar yachts anchored in the bay, the Cape Town suburb has a reputation for being frequented by celebrities and wealthy entrepreneurs. That said, anyone can spend the day sunbathing and enjoying drinks and seafood served on the picturesque beaches.

Perhaps nowhere is South Africa’s transition to democracy more apparent than on Constitution Hill. For over a hundred years, buildings here functioned as a feared prison complex, holding everyone from common criminals to activists Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, and even Winston Churchill (briefly during the Boer War. Since 2004, the site has been home to South Africa’s Constitutional Court.

The misconception that the Cape of Good Hope is South Africa’s southernmost point has made it a bustling tourist hot spot, with throngs of visitors queuing for the perfect photo. Buck the trend and make your way to the true southern tip of South Africa–Cape Agulhas in Agulhas National Park. Apart from its geographical significance, the park offers hiking, fishing, and accommodation.

The forests and grasslands of Kragga Kamma Game Park on the outskirts of Port Elizabeth provide a place for white rhino, giraffe, buffalo, and other South African wildlife to roam freely. Get the classic safari experience as you enjoy the park’s game drives, picnic areas, restaurant, and overnight accommodations.

Rising more than 2,000 feet (600 meters) above the Atlantic Ocean, Lion’s Head peak presides over Cape Town and can be spotted from nearly everywhere in the city, but the real treasure is the view from the peak. Hike the steep trail the top to be rewarded with views of the coastline, cityscape, and neighboring Table Mountain.

The Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve holds the third-largest canyon in the world, which boasts cliffs that rise nearly 2625 feet (800 meters) from the river bed below. Adventurous travelers can explore the canyon’s lush green scenery, waterfalls, and wildlife on hikes, boat excursions, and rock climbing adventures.

Set among the rocky hills and bushland outside Johannesburg, Aha Lesedi, an African lodge and cultural village is made up of traditional homesteads and provides an opportunity to meet people from Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi, Ndebele, and Basotho origins. Lesedi reflects the diversity of South Africa’s original inhabitants with elements from many tribal cultures.

Durban City Hall is a downtown Durban landmark. An exuberant neo-baroque building, it features a double-height stripy portico topped off with a towering dome, four smaller domes, and plenty of sculptures. In addition to municipal chambers, it’s also home to the Durban Art Gallery, the Durban Natural Science Museum, a library, and an auditorium.

As the most accessible of Cape Town’s three peaks, Signal Hill is a prime spot for catching sunset over the city. In addition to its spectacular scenery, Signal Hill also harbors the Noon Guns, two Dutch naval guns, and the last remaining Peninsula Shale Renosterveld vegetation.

The rugged buttresses of the Twelve Apostles mountains back the white-sand sweep of Camps Bay Beach, making Camps Bay one of Cape Town’s fanciest suburbs—and a popular weekend getaway. Sun, sea, sand, food, and drink are the main attractions here, but you can also cycle the beachfront or hike up to Table Mountain or Lion’s Head.

Originally a jetty built in 1654 to provide fresh water and produce to the sailors of the Dutch East India Company, the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is now one of the most-visited attractions in South Africa. The area is a development consisting of two harbors, retail shops and museums, seascapes and mountain views, and plenty of places to bed down, drink up, and eat away.

Because of the climate that’s needed to grow wine, vineyards are often located in areas with exceptional natural beauty. In the case of the famous Cape Winelands, however, the rolling hills and jagged mountains provide an awesome sense of wonder that’s stronger than most other wine regions. Of all the wineries in Stellenbosch, the Jordan Wine Estate is one of the more scenic, luxurious, and storied places, and has been family-owned since 1982 well before the area had become famous.In addition to the spectacular natural surroundings, Jordan Wine Estate owes much of its success to the area’s mineral-rich soil, which tour guides discuss and explain in depth while strolling the vineyards before heading down to the impressively engineered cellar. As a winery that focuses on blending methods from the New as well as Old worlds, Jordan Winery has stainless steel tanks as well as wooden barrels, which along with the fresh, flavorful grapes and decades of winemaking knowledge, help create the distinctive flavors that Jordan Wine Estate is known for.

Established in 1849, Africa’s oldest botanic gardens spread across 37 acres. With winding paths, manicured lawns, and a diverse array of flora, the spot is a green oasis just outside the city. You’ll find treasures, including the Orchid House–home to more than 8,000 plants–and the Butterfly Garden, which highlights species native to KwaZulu-Natal.

There are some places so exceptionally welcoming, hospitable, comfortable, and friendly, that you feel like family from the moment you arrive and wish you never had to leave. Delheim Estate is one of those places, and this family owned farm outside of Stellenbosch has been growing grapes and making wine since the middle of the 1950s. The legendary patriarch, “Spatz” Sperling, helped formulate South Africa’s very first wine route back in 1971, at which time only three other wineries were part of the Stellenbosch wine route, though that number today has swollen to include over 600 different farms. Despite their success and pioneering spirit, Delheim has made sustainability a focal point of the vineyard, and believe that we are but stewards of this land who are placed here to care for it, show it respect, and it, in turn, will care for us. You can feel that spirit in the cellar door and famous Garden Restaurant, where the view stretches out to Table Mountain across rolling, vineyard-lined valleys.In addition to tastings, picnics, and tours, Delheim is also known for their quirky pairing of wine with cupcakes, and the vineyard is often a favorite stop on Cape Winelands day tours.

One of the world’s first botanical gardens, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden hosts more than 7,000 plant species from throughout Southern Africa. Visit to explore the 1,300-acre (528-hectare) gardens spread across the slopes of Table Mountain, including extensive hiking trails, a stone sculpture garden, and sunset summer concerts.

The white water of Howick Falls plunges 310 feet (95 meters) into a pool, which is said to be the home of Inkanyamba, a huge serpent-like creature with the head of a horse. Its legendary temper is blamed for the region’s seasonal storms, while its presence gives the waterfall the name KwaNogqaza, meaning place of the tall one.

The Cape Dutch-style buildings at the Boschendal Wine Estate are painted a brilliant white, contrasting against the greenery of the Franschhoek valley. In the background, the rugged mountains elevate the scene from the basically bucolic. One of South Africa’s oldest wineries, this historic farm is the perfect place to bask in the peace of the Cape winelands.

The Moses Mabhida Stadium, built to host the 2010 World Cup games, is one of the country’s top sport and concert venues. Its modern architecture and massive arch set it apart on the Durban waterfront. Overlook the city from a viewing platform at the top of the arch and push your limits on the world’s largest stadium swing.

You don’t have to visit the big game reserves to appreciate the variety of South African wildlife—it’s all on display at the Johannesburg Zoo. The sprawling 136-acre (55-hectare) site includes spacious habitats for more than 320 species, with a focus on the physical and psychological wellbeing of the animals on display.

Step into Cape Town’s dynamic history by visiting the oldest remaining colonial-era building in the country. Built by Dutch colonists at the end of the 1600s, the Castle of Good Hope once served as a maritime resupply point and military hub. Its historic architecture and displays make it a popular attraction on tours of the city.

Tiny Duiker Island—also known as “Seal Island” for its large population of Cape fur seals—sits just off the South African coast at Hout Bay, near Cape Town. It measures just 253 feet by 312 feet (77 meters by 95 meters) and is a seabird sanctuary in addition to sheltering thousands of Cape fur seals.