With its hypnotising landscape, world-class vineyards, buzzing cities and, of course, the most amazing wildlife on Earth, South Africa is a country that needs to be seen to be believed. If South Africa is top of your travel bucket list, there’s never been a better time to explore this incredible country than on one of Riviera Travel’s unforgettable tours. With so much to discover on a holiday to this epic country, it’s hard to know where to start. To help, here's our list of must-see places and top things to do in South Africa, covering Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Zululand and on a once-in-a-lifetime South African safari.
Best things to do in Cape Town
Whale Watching in Hermanus
Cape Town is an excellent place to go whale watching, but for your best chance of spotting these beautiful ocean creatures, it’s worth heading slightly down the coast to Hermanus. Just over an hour and a half’s drive from Cape Town, Hermanus is renowned as the world’s best spot for onshore whale watching. From early June to late November, 100s of whales visit the waters around Walker Bay, so your chances of spotting one are very high – you can even join one of the boat rides to get closer to the whales if you like. One of the most popular times to visit Hermanus is during the town’s annual Whale Festival, running 28th-30th September in 2024. Here over 130,000 visitors flock to Hermanus every year to enjoy the majestic coastal scenery and the best chance to whale watch from the shore. There’s also various eco-marine displays and educational shows, as well as craft markets, wine and beer tents, great local food and fairground rides.
The Winelands
Drive just an hour northeast of Cape Town and you’ll arrive in the glorious Cape Winelands. South Africa and world-famous wine go hand-in-hand, and here you’ll be able to sample some of the best Viognier, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon surrounded by rolling acres of idyllic vineyards. South Africa’s Winelands region centres around three main towns – Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl – and while there’s plenty to explore here, it’s really all about the wine. Tour the many award-winning wine estates, big and small, indulge in some unforgettable food-and-wine pairings at the vineyards’ own restaurants, then raise a glass to your South African adventure as the sun sets over the glorious Winelands countryside.
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
Set against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch is undoubtedly one of the most magnificent botanical gardens in the world. Of course, the location is pretty spectacular, but it’s also the unique flora on display which makes these gardens a must-visit when in Cape Town. Wander amongst proteas, birds of paradise and wild gardenia, get your culture fix in the sculpture garden, enjoy the heady scents of the fragrance garden, and explore from above along the tree canopy walkway, in this serene botanical setting. And, if you’ve got any energy left after discovering this gardener’s paradise, there are two hiking trails up Table Mountain leading from the gardens. With something to offer in every season, if you want to see the maximum number of plants in flowers on your trip to Kirstenbosch look to visit between August and November.
Table Mountain Cable Car Ride
There’s no more iconic Cape Town sight than Table Mountain. This natural wonder surrounds the city and boasts the most incredible panoramic views across Cape Town and the South African coast. The quickest way to get to the top is the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, a 5-minute cable car journey that is as exhilarating as the views are breath-taking. While it’s best avoided if you’re afraid of heights, it really is the best way to take in the sweeping scenery –watching the sun set as you travel back down to the city is an unforgettable experience. The cable car runs all year round except from mid-July to the start of September, when annual maintenance is carried out.
Penguins at Boulder’s Beach
While Cape Town has no shortage of beautiful beaches, Boulder’s Beach is something special. This is home to a colony of around 3,000 endangered African Penguins, and you can watch these endearing birds go about their lives largely unaware of – or simply ignoring – the crowds of admirers who come to catch a glimpse. Three boardwalks run along the beach providing the perfect spot to view these wonderful birds as they waddle around. As tempting as it may be, don’t head onto the sand or attempt to pet the penguins – they may look cute, but their beaks are very sharp, and they won’t think twice about nipping if they feel threatened.
Robben Island
Notorious as the prison where Nelson Mandela spent most of his 27-year incarceration, Robben Island is one of the top things to see in Cape Town if you’re interested in learning more about South Africa’s multi-layered history. Today it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and serves as a memorial to those who spent many years imprisoned here and their fight for equality. Weather dependent, ferries depart from Nelson Mandela Gateway at the V & A Waterfront and the guided tours take around three and a half hours, including the ferry trip there and back. It’s worth booking as far in advance as possible as these tours often sell out.
Other experiences in Cape Town
- Lion’s Head, mountain, Cape Town
- District Six, museum telling the stories of District Six – a multiracial area pulled apart during apartheid, Cape Town
Experience a South African Safari
Panorama Route
Road trips don’t get any more spectacular than South Africa’s Panorama Route, serving up knockout scenery at every turn. Following the rim of Blyde River Canyon, with take-your-breath-away views across the seductively green gorge, the route is dotted with raging rivers, picturesque waterfalls, natural rock formations, and scenic villages. Often used as the picture-perfect route to Kruger National Park, the Panorama Route is so much more than simply a means of getting from A to B. There’s a treasure trove of South African wildlife, flora and diverse landscape to explore along the way.
Blyde River Canyon
Delivering the kind of out-of-this-world scenery you’d expect from a country like South Africa, the Blyde River Canyon is scene-stealing in its beauty. The sheer scale of the canyon is awe-inspiring – it’s one of the largest in the world – with towering rock formations surrounding thick sloping forests, and the Motlatse River running through its centre. It’s also home to a large diversity of life, including hippos, crocodiles, bushbabies, and Cape vultures.
Other experiences on a South African safari
- Graskop Gorge Viewing Elevator, glass-fronted lift in Afromontane Forest, Graskop
- Buffalo Rock, safari tents, Kruger National Park
What animals will you see on a safari in South Africa?
South Africa is a fantastic place to see some of the world’s most majestic creatures in the wild, and there’s no place better to do it than Kruger National Park. Join an early morning or early evening guided safari around the dusty savannah-style plains for your chance to encounter the Big Five – that’s lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and Cape buffalo. As well as this iconic group, you can also expect to see giraffes, hippos, zebras, warthogs, kudus, cheetahs, and spotted hyenas on your South African safari. If you’re lucky you might even spot the elusive black rhino or wild dog. For your best chance of seeing South Africa’s wildlife in all its glory, aim to visit during the dry season – which runs from May to September – in particular August-September when water is scarce, and the watering holes attract the animals in their hoards.
Best things to do in Johannesburg
Apartheid Museum
The first of its kind in the world, Johannesburg’s Apartheid Museum takes you on a sobering journey through the rise and fall of the apartheid era in South Africa, through film footage, photographs, text panels, and artifacts. Expertly curated, the museum tells the human stories behind this horrific period in the country’s history and the incredibly inspiring stories of those who fought hard to make a difference. It’s a vital museum that should be on everyone’s Jo’burg must-visit list.
Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum
Hector Pieterson Sq is named after the 12-year-old schoolboy who was shot dead by police during the anti-apartheid Soweto uprising. Here you’ll find a memorial to the student, dedicated to preserving the memory of the 1976 uprisings, as well as a museum detailing the protests and the lives lost in the fight against racial segregation.
Other experiences in Johannesburg
- Vilakazi Street, township where you can see the former homes of Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Johannesburg
- The Cradle of Humankind, paleoanthropological site, Johannesburg
- Gold Reef City, theme park and casino, Johannesburg
Best things to do in Pretoria
Bothongo Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve
Less than an hour’s drive outside the city of Pretoria you’ll find this sprawling nature reserve which offers plenty of activities for an action-packed day. Join one of the guided game drives or follow the self-drive route, where you can spot everything from lions to Cape buffalo. Follow the Hippo Walkway to see these animals up close, and stroll around the tranquil Bothongo African Garden, rich with native plants. You can also explore the unique Bothongo WonderCave, an immerse underground natural chamber with dramatic stalactites and stalagmites, before enjoying a traditional braai on the outside grill.
Hartbeespoort Aerial Cable Car
Get a bird’s eye view of the glorious South African landscape on this gentle six-minute cable car ride. With panoramic views across the magnificent Magaliesberg mountain range and Hartbeesberg Dam, as well as the chance to wildlife spot as you pass above a large nature reserve, it’s an easy way to take in the sights of Pretoria and its surroundings.
Other experiences in Pretoria
- Wonderboom Nature Reserve, home to a famous 1,000-year-old wild fig tree, Pretoria
Best things to do in Zululand
Eswatini
Formerly known as Swaziland, Eswatini is a diminutive landlocked country in South Africa, just north of Zululand. While it may be small, it certainly has a lot to offer with excellent wildlife watching – Mkhaya Game reserve and Hlane Royal National Park are both spectacular – and a friendly community proud to share its culture and unique traditions.
Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift
Learn about the compelling history of the Zulu Wars, with a visit to these famous battlefields, immortalised in classic films like Zulu Down and Zulu. Here, knowledgeable guides will bring these stories to life with fascinating insights into the brave soldiers and Zulu chieftains who fought and died during the battles that shook the British Empire to its core.
Other experiences in Zululand
- Piggs Peak, village, Eswatini
- Royal Palace, royal residence, Eswatini
- KwaZulu-Natal, beautiful coastal province, Zululand
Holidays to South Africa
