Choose your country and language:

Africa

  • Global
  • Angola
  • Botswana
  • DRC
  • Ethiopia
  • Ghana
  • Kenya
  • Malawi
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Nigeria
  • South Africa
  • Tanzania
  • Uganda
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe
  • shotLeft

Americas

  • USA
  • Argentina
  • Brazil

Asia Pacific

  • China
  • India
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • Australia

Europe

  • France
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Netherlands
  • United Kingdom
Back
South Africa
Adventure
Attractions
Affordable
Trails
Family
People
Day Trips
Small town charm
Mountain Escapes

WWhether you’re after a cultural expedition, the perfect meal or a thrilling outdoor adventure, these are the South African destinations worth discovering. 

1. Port St Johns, Eastern Cape
In the Heart of the Wild Coast, you’ll find Port St Johns, affectionately known as PSJ. The little coastal town is situated close to the Umzimvubu River, along the Wild Coast. With its rocky shores and secluded beaches, the area is the perfect place to reconnect with nature. Do take care when swimming in the sea though, as this is the Wild Coast.

2. Sabie, Mpumalanga
Tucked away in the mountains of Mpumalanga, Sabie is a town well-known for its forestry. The town of Sabie lies on the Sabie River and not far from the Kruger National Park. The Lower Sabie Rest Camp is a popular stay for visitors going to the game reserve. Other natural attractions surrounding the town are the Blyde River Canyon, Lone Creek Falls and the Maria Shires Falls.

Did You Know?
TTwo thirds of the fynbos found in the Cape, can only be found there, and nowhere else in the world. Addo Elephant National Park in South Africa is the only place in the world where you can find the Big 7.

33. Coffee Bay, Eastern Cape
This serene seaside village is a family favourite, where you can surf in the Indian Ocean and immerse yourself in Xhosa tradition. Coffee Bay is known for its backpackers, which draw in visitors on a daily basis. An idyllic escape from city life, this magical part of the world is sure to keep you coming back.

44. Kakamas, Northern Cape
Kakamas rests on the banks of the Orange River in the Northern Cape. The town is known for its fertile landscape, perfectly suited to vineyards, and is wonderful for a weekend away. Popular activities include hiking, wine tasting, as well as visiting one of the private game reserves nearby.

5. Nieuwoudtville, Northern Cape
Located in the Upper Karoo is the tranquil town of Nieuwoudtville. There are some wonderful hiking trails in the area and a few kilometres north of the town you’ll find the famous Nieuwoudtville Falls on the Doring River. In flower season you’ll also be able to witness a myriad of pretty blooms.

6. Gariep Dam, Free State
The Gariep Dam is located at a meeting point between three provinces: the Free State, Northern Cape and the Eastern Cape. As the biggest dam in South Africa, it’s not surprising that it attracts lovers of water activities, and is the perfect fishing and boating location.

7. Hogsback, Eastern Cape
Hogsback is a calm mountain village in the Amathole Mountains, and supposedly the inspiration for JRR Tolkien’s Middle Earth. It is recognised for its enchanting forests, waterfalls, trout fishing, and the historical town. You will also find Gaikas Kop Mountain here, which at 1 963m is the highest peak in the area.

Best time to visit?
What to pack?

Related articles

  • Patricia Chiloane: Serurubele Boutique Hotel

    Patricia Chiloane: Serurubele Boutique Hotel
    Patricia Chiloane is a passionate and dedicated ambassador of Mpumalanga province. She is a descendant of landowners, who have lived in the area of Bushbuckridge for generations. When she initially conceptualised Serurubele Boutique Hotel, the MBA graduate’s goal was to create a tourism ecosystem to benefit everyone in the small town. Her other goal was to elevate Bushbuckridge on the tourism map. The land on which Serurubele Boutique Hotel is built has been in her family for four generations. The hotel’s name, Serurubele, is derived from the SeSotho word for butterfly, the small insect that is endemic to the Lowveld. As visitors walk through the hotel, they are immersed in the story of the region. The hotel’s 16 luxury rooms are punctuated with pictures of the Lowveld butterflies, paying homage to the natural splendour of the area.
  • Mpho Molema: The Workshop ko Kasi, Northern Cape

    Mpho Molema: The Workshop ko Kasi, Northern Cape
    Despite its scenic landscape and being home to the Eye of Kuruman (a wondrous natural spring known as one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere), Kuruman in the Northern Cape is not often the first place that one thinks of when we speak about tourism in South Africa. Mpho Molema, a native of Mothibistad township in Kuruman, defies this status quo through The Workshop ko Kasi”, an eco-tourism and creative hub offering authentic African experiences to visitors from all over the world.
  • Khosi Tyobeka, Zimase Travel

    Khosi Tyobeka, Zimase Travel
    Khosi Tyobeka has built her business around making travelling easy and accessible. Her company, Zimasa Travel, provides tailor-made travel solutions; from planning to the execution of travel or conference needs. The award winning entrepreneur’s flair for business runs in her family. When she was growing up her mother operated a food business in their small village in the North West Province .
  • Millicent Shai: Founder and owner of Thaba Legae Guest Lodge

    Millicent Shai: Founder and owner of Thaba Legae Guest Lodge
    When one thinks of tourism in South Africa, the North West Province and its Magaliesberg mountain range and lush bushes come to mind. Not new to leisure and travel, the province has always held its baton, offering the famous Sun City resort and its surrounding holiday destinations. The province’s natural beauty has always added to the allure.
  • Underberg, KwaZulu-Natal: idyllic town in the foothills of the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg

    Underberg, KwaZulu-Natal: idyllic town in the foothills of the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg
    Underberg offers visitors a bustling farm-town welcome in the foothills of the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg – a great base from which to explore this part of KwaZulu-Natal’s many outdoor attractions.
  • The Upper Karoo Route: meander through Northern Cape from Victoria West to Calvinia

    The Upper Karoo Route: meander through Northern Cape from Victoria West to Calvinia
    The Upper Karoo Route from Victoria West to Calvinia via Carnarvon offers the beautiful landscape of Northern Cape (strewn with daisies in spring), rare wildlife and a thriving, hospitable culture.
  • The Tsitsikamma Woodcutters’ Journey: explore a beautiful indigenous forest

    The Tsitsikamma Woodcutters’ Journey: explore a beautiful indigenous forest
    The Tsitsikamma Woodcutters’ Journey on the Garden Route in Western Cape takes you through pristine indigenous forests in one of South Africa’s most beautiful national parks.
  • Weddings in Northern Cape: lush riverside farms and dramatic desert landscapes

    Weddings in Northern Cape: lush riverside farms and dramatic desert landscapes
    Northern Cape is a vast arid province bisected by the Orange River – a superb wedding destination, whether among lush vineyard greenery, spring wildflowers, or the stark dry beauty of the Kalahari.

South Africa on social media

Copyright © 2024 South African Tourism
|Terms and conditions|Disclaimer|Privacy policy