Top 25 Attractions in South Africa

The former colonial pearl of the British Empire, and today the independent state of South Africa is one of the richest countries in Africa. Here are deposits of precious stones, gold and platinum, the extraction of which provides South Africa with considerable income.

The tourism industry is developed quite well - dozens of upscale hotels welcome guests. The best beaches in East London and Port Elizabeth are well equipped. Excursions in colonial Pretoria or Cape Town are organized at a decent level.

People come to South Africa for breathtaking views of the Dragon Mountains, the legendary Cape of Good Hope, for the atmosphere of numerous festivals and holidays, for an unimaginable mixture of traditional African way of life, colonial times and modernity. The country is very popular with Europeans and American tourists.

What to see in South Africa?

The most interesting and beautiful places, photos and a brief description.

Cape Town

A beautiful city located at the very edge of the continent - the Cape of Good Hope. The old quarters of the city are filled with mansions, villas, former administrative buildings, which can be considered as monuments of Dutch architecture and the building traditions of the Victorian era. The population of Cape Tuan is the descendants of the Afrikaans-speaking Boers, English-speaking whites, black immigrants from the interior of South Africa.

Johannesburg

A modern energetic city, the financial heart of the country. All major events in the business world take place here, major contracts are concluded and negotiations are underway for many billions of dollars of investments. Johannesburg emerged at the dawn of the African "gold rush" and immediately began to develop as a business center of the country. There is also a dark side - for the last 20 years, the city has been considered the criminal capital of South Africa.

apartheid museum

Located in Johannesburg on the territory of Gold Reef City Park. The expositions of the museum are devoted to the history of oppression and oppression of black peoples since the arrival of European colonizers (first the Dutch, then the British) to this land. The policy of apartheid was carried out until 1994 and was part of the official state ideology. The museum is dedicated to the memory of the victims of unjust racial segregation.

Victoria and Alfred Waterfront

One of the attractions of Cape Town, the "Victorian harbor", restored in the 1990s. In addition to restored historical buildings, there are trendy restaurants and bars, museums, shopping centers. The harbor is a popular place for walks and for exciting sea voyages on yachts. From the embankment you can go on a sea excursion or just enjoy a walk along the well-groomed pavements.

Kalahari Desert

An ever-growing desert in southern Africa. Its red-orange sands have already invaded the territory of its neighbors - Zambia, Angola and Zimbabwe. Kalahari occupies almost 8% of the territory of the entire continent and its area is steadily increasing. The indigenous tribe of the Bushmen lives in this area, which, like thousands of years ago, lives by hunting and primitive crafts. Excursions to Bushmen settlements are popular with tourists.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden

Located in the vicinity of Cape Town near Table Mountain. The garden covers an area of ​​more than 530 hectares and is considered one of the largest in the world. More than 7,000 species of unique plants grow here, characteristic only of southern Africa. The territory of the park is very well-groomed, paths are laid through the thickets. The garden was created over a hundred years ago in 1913 in order to save a unique ecological system from destruction by man.

Kruger National Park

The reserve of South Africa, where representatives of typical African fauna live in their natural environment: rhinos, elephants, buffaloes, lions, giraffes, leopards and other animal species. The famous Crocodile and Limpopo rivers flow through the park. On the area occupied by the reserve, you can place a small state. Since 2002, Kruger has become part of the interstate nature reserve Great Limpopo Transnational Park.

Pilanesberg National Park

It is located a couple of hours drive from Johannesburg, thanks to which it has gained great popularity among tourists. This is a small park in the crater of an ancient volcano with an area of ​​about 600 km². The so-called “big five” African animals live here: rhinoceros, lion, buffalo, leopard and elephant. The term comes from a hunting safari, as these animals are regarded as the most significant trophies, they are extremely difficult to get.

Tsitsikamma Marine National Park

It represents several tens of kilometers of coastline along with a five-kilometer coastline. A third of the park is occupied by dense forests growing in river gorges. The fauna is represented by a wide variety of species: African weasel, Dominican gull, ostrich, olive woodpecker, dolphin, whale, killer whale, otter and many others. The reserve is based laboratory for the study of endangered species of fish.

dragon mountains

Mountain range passing through the territory of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. In the language of the local tribe, the name of the chain sounds like "Kwathlamba", which means "rocky place". Part of the system is part of the UNESCO-protected Drakensberg National Park. The Dragon Mountains contain large reserves of platinum, gold, and other less valuable but useful ores. In the rocks there are caves with ancient rock paintings, which are more than 8000 years old.

table mountain

Located southwest of Cape Town on the shores of the bay of the same name, it is considered the hallmark of this city (even its image is on the city flag). Many archaeological artifacts have been found in the Dining Room area. According to them, scientists concluded that people have been living in this area for tens of thousands of years. A cable car leads up the mountain, and hiking trails are equipped near the slopes.

Rock Lions Head

From English, the name of the mountain is translated as "lion's head", initially the English colonialists called the rock "sugar loaf". This small peak rises above Cape Town by only 670 meters. The observation deck offers a panoramic view. Numerous tourists like to take photos against the backdrop of "soaring" Cape Town below or against the backdrop of a mesmerizing African sunset.

Cradle of Humanity

A place where, as a result of excavations, important evidence of the origin of man was found. On this territory there are caves of Svartkrans, Makapan, Sterkfontein, Taung, Kromdraai (more than 200 caves in total). Excavations are ongoing, as not all caves have been explored. Archaeologists constantly find ancient fossilized remains of humans and relic animals, as well as the remains of tools and household items. The area is under the protection of UNESCO.

Kimberlite pipe "Big Hole"

Former diamond quarry near the city of Kimberley. It is interesting that people dug this huge hole without the use of technology. Diamond mining was carried out here from 1866 to 1914. For several decades, miners have mined about three tons of precious stones. The famous 287 carat Tiffany, 153.5 carat Porter Rhodes and some large specimens of the diamond giant De Beers came out of the quarry.

Blyde River Canyon

One of the main natural attractions of South Africa. This is a green river gorge with many viewing platforms for tourists, offering a very beautiful panoramic view of the surrounding landscape. Unlike other canyons with rocky slopes and poor vegetation, there is a rich wildlife here. Tourists can order a hang gliding flight and look at the natural beauty from an unusual angle.

Garden Road (Garden Route)

Garden Route is a famous tourist route along the coast of the Indian Ocean, from St. Francis Bay to Mussel Bay. The path runs through the cities of Albertina, Stilby, Knysna, George and the coastal strip of the Tsitsikamma National Park. Garden Route has secluded beaches, wild thickets of bright flowers, bays, picturesque meadows. The route is one of the main destinations for travelers.

Cape of Good Hope

At the southern tip of Africa, warm and cold currents meet, the Atlantic Ocean mixes water with the Indian. It happens in a place called the Cape of Good Hope. During the period of active development of African lands, this was a deadly place for sailors, since the unpredictability of sea currents often led to the wreck of ships. The legendary Vasco da Gama visited the cape, and the legend of the Flying Dutchman is connected with the cape.

Cango caves

The formations are located in the Black Mountains of Swartberg. This is a vast underground complex with a total length of 5 km. Only the first 2 km are accessible for visiting. The entrance to the cave is located 50 meters deep from the surface of the earth. The Kango complex has several underground halls of different sizes with poetic names: Wedding Hall, Rainbow Hall, Throne Hall, Devil's Workshop, Crystal Forest Hall. You can go down to the cave with an organized tour.

Robben Island

The island where "Father of the Nation" Nelson Mandela spent 27 years of his life in captivity. The prison, which has existed on Robben Island for almost 400 years, was formerly owned by the East India Company and used to hold exiles. During the heyday of the apartheid regime, a maximum security prison was established here. The tourist itinerary includes a bus trip around the island, a walk through the prison and a visit to N. Mandela's cell.

Wine farms Franschhoek

Grape plantations and wineries in South Africa, where high-quality wine is produced according to old recipes. Many of these recipes have not changed since the 17th century. Farms were cultivated by French Huguenot settlers. The wines of South Africa are considered unique in terms of taste, they have no analogues, as the grapes grow on sandy soil. Interesting excursions into the history of winemaking are organized for visitors.

sun city

Resort city, a major tourist center in South Africa. It is considered a world masterpiece of landscape architecture. The resort was established in 1979. It has hosted many world-famous stars from Frank Sinatra to Boney M. Beauty contests "Miss World", boxing championships, business conferences were held here. In Sun City, guests are welcomed by high-class five-star hotels, where famous public figures often stay.

Tugela waterfall

Natural attraction, located on the territory of the Natal National Park. This waterfall is considered the second largest in the world after Angel. Water streams fall from almost a kilometer high in the form of five cascades. Several tourist routes are organized around the waterfall, it is possible to book a guided tour or explore the surroundings on your own.

Augrabis waterfall

A "small" waterfall with a height of 146 meters near the border with Namibia. Located 500 km. from the mouth of the Orange River. Powerful streams flow into a narrow gorge, during large floods of the river, thousands of cubic meters of water pass through this gorge in a few seconds. Below, water collects in a natural floodplain, which is called the "gigantic cauldron". During the fall of water jets, large waves are created and abundant splashes fly around.

Golden Mile beach

Popular beach in Durban. In the north, the territory rests on the business district of the city, where the Sunny Beach casino is located. Swimming areas are fenced with a reliable protective net from sharks, which live in large numbers in this part of the ocean. During the high season, the Golden Mile often becomes a venue for various events, festivals and celebrations. There are numerous hotels and private apartments around.

Boulders Beach

This beach is located near Cape Town. It is famous for the fact that a large population of penguins settled here. They began to arrive in 1982, in a few years the colony increased to an impressive size of almost 3,000 individuals. It is believed that the closure of the fish factory contributed to this and the penguins had enough food. People bathe in the background of birds resting on the stones, but it is forbidden to approach them.