South Africa - The Ultimate Travel Guide

Also known as the ‘Mother City'; Cape Town is a cultural melting pot and boasts the majestic backdrop of Table Mountain. V&A Waterfront leads to Two Oceans Aquarium, seafood platters overlooking Table Bay, and ferry rides to Robben Island. Seek out the Castle of Good Hope, Cape Town Diamond Museum, and Zeitz MOCAA and wander through the idyllic Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens. Explore Bo-Kaap’s colourful houses, cobbled streets, and District Six Museum and soak up the dramatic views along Chapman’s Peak Drive.

Head 50 miles east of Cape Town into The Cape Winelands - South Africa’s premier wine-producing region and also home to famous towns like Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, and Paarl. Sip your way through vineyard after vineyard dotted throughout the beautiful and lush countryside. From enjoying cellar tours, wine tastings on sun-drenched patios, and relaxing with gourmet picnics to the unique hop-on-hop-off experience of travelling between historic estates aboard the Franschhoek Wine Train – this is paradise found for all wine fans!

If you want to hit the pause button; then Durban is perfect. This bustling port city in KwaZulu-Natal mixes a warm climate, beaches, and Indian-influenced culture. Take a leisurely stroll along the 6km Golden Mile and experience the sharks and water slides at uShaka Marine World enroute. Moses Mabhida Stadium leads to the SkyCar and a bungee swing for amazing city and ocean views or escape to see the orchids at Durban Botanic Garden. Shop for Indian spices and African crafts at Victoria Street Market and taste an authentic Bunny Chow.

Johannesburg is South Africa’s largest city and the cultural heart of the “Rainbow Nation". Understand the rise and fall of apartheid at the deeply-moving Apartheid Museum and the journey to democracy at Constitutional Hill. Tour the historic Soweto township to visit Nelson Mandela’s home turned museum on Vilakazi Street and the poignant Hector Pieterson Memorial. Gain an insight into human origins at the UNESCO-listed Cradle of Humankind, experience Gold Reef City theme park, or meet the 320+ animal species at Johannesburg Zoo.

A road trip along the Garden Route gives the USA’s Route 66 a real run for its money; weaving its way through forests, beaches, lagoons, and cliff-hugging roads along South Africa’s south-eastern coast from Mossel Bay to Storms River. Stop off in Knysna for a platter of fresh oysters and to see the Knysna Heads and zipline through Tsitsikamma National Park. Bungee jump at Bloukrans Bridge, pay a visit to Oudtshoorn’s ostrich farms and Cango Caves, or go in search of whales in the waters of Plettenberg Bay.

If you want to get up close to the "Big Five" all in one day, then a safari in Kruger National Park must hit the bull’s-eye from the get-go! Think early morning and afternoon game drives bouncing along off-road on the back of a jeep with your trusty guide at the wheel; your camera at the ready to capture your first sighting of a hippopotamus or giraffe. And bringing your day to a close in style as you feast on freshly cooked meat from an open-air braai under star-lit, clear skies with a glass of local wine in hand.

No journey through the Cape Peninsula is complete without visiting Boulders Beach near Simon’s Town. Early mornings and late afternoons are prime time with fewer crowds to walk along the boardwalks at Foxy Beach to watch hundreds of African penguins frolicking and swimming in their natural, protected habitat. Take time to visit the main beach to paddle in the calm waters – you might also get to swim alongside wild penguins at a respectful distance - and climb, walk, and explore the giant, 540-million-year old granite boulders that give the beach its name.

Board the ferry from V&A Waterfront’s Nelson Mandela Gateway, cross Table Bay, and step onto Robben Island. Delve into the island’s 500-year-old history and follow in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela and 1000s of South Africa’s freedom fighters. Guided walking and bus tours take you around famed sights from the Lime and Blue Stone Quarries and Robert Sobukwe's house to army and navy bunkers and the Maximum Security Prison – you can even step into the tiny 7ft x 8ft cell where Nelson Mandela was confined for 18 of his 27 years in prison.

The best views of Cape Town, Table Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Twelve Apostles peaks are undoubtedly from the top of Table Mountain! And what better way to get up there than taking a five-minute ride on the rotating Table Mountain Aerial Cableway (and yes, it does rotate part way up). Wander around and explore on your own or learn about the mountain’s history, flora, and fauna on one of the free, 30-minute guided tours from the Twelve Apostles Terrace. Or why not get your heart racing with a speedy 112-metre controlled descent down the mountain by abseil from the summit? 

South Africa’s cuisine blends indigenous, Malay, and European flavours with a focus on hearty meats and savoury spices. Tuck into Babotie - curry-spiced minced meat topped with egg custard; Bunny Chow – hollowed out loaf of bread filled with spicy curry; and Boerewors – spicy farmer’s sausages grilled on a braai open fire; followed by Malva Pudding or Melktert for dessert. Relax with a hot or cold cup of Rooibos Tea, a tot of Amarula or Van Der Hum liqueur, a Springbokkie shooter, or a bottle of Umqombothi sorghum beer or Castle Lager. Premium Chenin Blanc, Pinotage, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pino Noir are must-try wines.

For the ultimate day’s adventure, why not take the scenic 40-mile drive from Cape Town through the Cape Peninsula to Cape Point; passing Camps Bay, Hout Bay, Chapman’s Peak Drive, Noordhoek, and Simon’s Town along the way. Stop at the Cape of Good Hope, one of Africa’s most iconic coastal landmarks, before continuing to Cape Point. While often said to be where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet, this is a popular myth, but the views are no less spectacular. Take in the dramatic scenery from the Flying Dutchman Funicular or climb to the 285-foot-high Old Lighthouse, and don’t forget a photo at the famous Cape of Good Hope sign!

Cameras at the ready! Ticking South Africa’s "Big Five" - Lion, Leopard, Rhinoceros, Elephant, and Buffalo - off the bucket-list are a must-do for animal lovers. A safari in Kruger National Park, Madikwe Game Reserve, Pilanesberg National Park, and Eastern Cape’s Shamwari and Amakhala Reserves offers prime viewing conditions to view these amazing animals in their natural habitat. And, of course, other animals like Giraffes, Hippos, and Cheetahs and birds such as Secretarybirds, Martial Eagles, Kori Bustards, Lilac-breasted Rollers, and Southern Ground Hornbills might just put in an appearance too!