South Africa
South Africa is a country on the southernmost tip of the African continent, marked by several distinct ecosystems. Inland safari destination Kruger National Park is populated by big game. The Western Cape offers beaches, lush winelands around Stellenbosch and Paarl, craggy cliffs at the Cape of Good Hope, forest and lagoons along the Garden Route, and the city of Cape Town, beneath flat-topped Table Mountain.
The stark northwestern Kalahari is a semiarid savannah that’s home to leopards, cheetahs and several game reserves. In KwaZulu-Natal province lie the Drakensberg Mountains and the Amphitheatre, a dramatic semicircular cliff with the Tugela Falls at the top. Major urban areas include Johannesburg and the township of Soweto, where Nelson Mandela worked to end apartheid. Durban’s Golden Mile has a refurbished promenade and is famous for its surfing beaches. Northeastern Sun City is a huge resort complex of casinos and golf courses. Capital Pretoria features key historic Transvaal sites such as the Voortrekker Monument and Kruger House.
Popular Places to Visit
Cape Town
Johannesburg
Kruger National Park
Durban
Pretoria
Port Elizabeth
Knysna
When to Visit
Most visitors arrive during summer (Nov–Mar), when the weather ranges from warm to hot on the coast, depending on location (the interior High Veld and Drakensberg Mountains tend to be much cooler). The ideal season for the wildlife parks is May–Sep, when the weather is dry and big game is more likely to be spotted. Major events include the Minstrel Carnival/Kaapse Klopse (Cape Town, Jan), Two Oceans Marathon (Cape Town, Apr), the National Arts Festival (Grahamstown, Jun–Jul) and Cape Town Comedy Festival (Sep).
South Africa is Famous For
- Beaches
- Nature
- City life
- Adventure