South Africa is famous for its wilderness and there is ample opportunity to experience some the best views, inspiring natural scenery and wild animal behaviour in the world. The most impressive sights in the country are all centred on wildlife and nature, which is perfect for those who enjoy the outdoors.
 Beaches
South Africa offers visitors the chance to relax on a beautiful beach and cool down in the crystal clear waters. There is a wide choice of beaches, meaning there is a beach for everyone. If you fancy a relaxing and quiet holiday, the horseshoe shaped Knysna Lagoon is an ideal location. The trendy resort of Plettenberg Bay is built on the mouth of the Buffalo River and is an incredibly popular and lively area. The beach offers excellent water sports including some of the best surfing in South Africa. Durban offers some excellent city beaches such as the Golden Mile (which is actually four miles long).
 Botanical gardens
South Africa is home to nearly 24,000 species of flora and the many botanical gardens found around the country offers displays of most of them. The Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens were first opened in 1895 and can be found on the lower slopes of Table Mountain. These are thought to be among the finest botanical gardens in the world. The Johannesburg Botanic Gardens houses some of the finest plant collections in the world as well as many theme gardens such as the Herb Garden, the Rose Garden and the Shakespeare Garden.
 Table Mountain
Cape Town’s famous mountain has a flat top offering stunning views across the peninsular to the Atlantic Ocean. It is possible to climb up the mountain to enjoy the vistas at your own pace, but for those less adventurous, there is a very comfortable cable-car making the journey to and from the peak.
 Drakensberg
This is South Africa’s largest and most impressive mountain range. The name translates as ‘Dragon Mountains’, as they have what look like jagged teeth peaks. The mountains are a lot cooler than the arid mainland they sits on and offer those who are adventurous enough the opportunity to climb and then to bathe and relax in cool mountain pools. The nearby caves offer excellent examples of rock art, created by the bushmen who used to inhabit the area. The main caves boast over 500 rock paintings.
 Nature Reserves
South Africa boasts some of the most impressive opportunities to observe natural wildlife in the world. Nature reserves can be found across the country and are noted for their wildlife, natural beauty and hiking trails. The Addo Elephant National Park can be found 45 miles north of Port Elizabeth and was opened in 1931 to protect the last of the Eastern Cape elephants. It is also home to black rhino, buffalo and antelope as well as over 170 species of birds.
 Hluhluwe-Umfolozi National Park offers visitors a wide range of habitats ranging from rocky hills to open desert. There are also thick woodlands to be explored. The park runs a very successful breeding programme for the white rhinos which has re-stocked the whole of Africa and is where almost all of the world’s white rhino population live. Augrabies National Park is home to many baboons, monkeys, rhino and antelope.
 Kruger National Park is an enormous reserve; it is the size of Wales in the UK, and one of the best places in the world to see the ‘big five’: lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes and rhinos. All animals wander freely through this area so viewing the animals is truly a unique and wonderful experience. Safaris on foot follow a network of trails in the company of an armed ranger, while vehicles are also allowed in.
 The Shipwreck Coast
This is a stretch of the Eastern Cape coast that is a graveyard for countless ships. It is an ideal place to ‘getaway’ as it offers secluded beaches and crystal waters. There is a long hiking trail, 38 miles long, with many different entry and exit points. The area is surrounded by stunning landscapes and beautiful forests. If you decide to go hiking, you are able to set your own pace and set up camp where you want, allowing you to fully enjoy the experience.
 Victoria and Albert Waterfront
This is a delightful restored old Victorian harbour which offers visitors a wide array of shops, museums and impressive restaurants. There is also free daily entertainment. Boat trips leave from here every day and travel to the notorious Robben Island, which is where Nelson Mandela was once imprisoned. You will also be able to visit the remains of the early colonial government. You will see many fine buildings including the Parliament Buildings.
Top Things to Do
 Explore one of the country’s wine routes
South Africa boasts 13 major wine producing regions, which are all crying out to be explored. The Stellenbosch wine route was the country’s first, and all of its wineries can be found within seven miles of Stellenbosch. The Olifants wine route is 125 miles long and passes through the stunning Cederberg Mountains. The Robertson Valley is a two-hour drive from Cape Town and is particularly well known for its chardonnay. All of the routes are worth a visit, but of course you may not have time for all of them, so the best solution is to choose one or two that are within a reasonable travelling distance.
 Whale watch or dive with sharks
South Africa has recently gained a reputation for whale watching and shark cage-diving. Sharks migrate through the Cape’s Bay from June to August and move into the Durban area from October to January. For whale watching fans, there is a Cape Whale route set up to observe whales, which usually swim very close to the shore. The best time to spot them is from June to September. However, Hermanus is probably the best place in South Africa to go whale watching.
 Do a bungee jump
If you are in the Western Cape area and are feeling adventurous, it is possible to bungee jump from one of the world’s highest drops – the bridge over the Blaukrans River. If you are able to, try to keep your eyes open as you jump, as the view is absolutely breathtaking.
 Go scuba diving
South Africa’s diving facilities are incredibly well developed. Reef diving is popular in Sodwana Bay, while wreck diving is widespread around the Cape area. Popular diving sites to be found inland include Wondergat and Miracle Water. The offshore banks of Protea offer one of the best dive sites in the whole of South Africa. The Tsitsikamma Coastal Park offers divers fantastic opportunities for underwater photography. PADI and NAUI courses are available.
 Surf the waves
Surfing is a very popular pastime in South Africa for both locals and tourists. J-Bay, close to Cape Town, offers one of the best locations, which unsurprisingly is also the most popular although Lambert’s Bay is another good spot and is slightly less crowded.
 Take a trip on a steam train
South Africa is one of the few remaining countries in the world where steam trains are still widely used. These locomotives range from the luxury Pride of Africa to small trains running on narrow railways like the Midmar Steam Railway near Pietermaritzburg. If you are looking for a scenic ride, the famous Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe runs along the Garden Route on a daytrip from Knysna. The Union Limited crosses the famous Kaaimans River Bridge, which is one of the most photographed railway bridges in the world.
 Visit Grahamstown’s arts festival
If you are in South Africa in June, a trip to Grahamstown should not be missed as the annual arts festival is held. It is a 10-day event and is the biggest and oldest arts festival in the country. As well as the festival, visitors to this town will also find numerous historical buildings as well as stunning monuments.
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