Our trip to South Africa was unforgettable in so many ways. The rainbow nation is teeming with wildlife, gorgeous vistas, and culture. We loved absolutely everything we did in South Africa, but there are a few things that stood out above the rest. Here are the top 9 South African experiences to add to your bucket list.
An African safari
One of the main reasons people visit South Africa is for its wildlife and exceptional game viewing. With over 20 national parks and loads of private game reserves, South Africa is full of amazing safari opportunities. The huge variety of great game parks makes you spoiled for choice.
Our favorites include Kruger National Park and Hluhluwe Imfolozi. Hluhluwe Imfolozi is a lesser known reserve set in the lush, rolling hills of KwaZulu Natal district. Kruger has parts with trees where leopards like to hang out and parts where plains is all you can see for miles. Those areas are known for cheetahs and wild dogs.
We were lucky enough to have spotted all of the ‘Big 5’ after driving around Hluhluwe and Kruger (lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalo). The Big 5 was originally a term used to identify the most dangerous African animals to humans on foot. Now, tourists from all over the world flock to countries like South Africa to see these 5 fascinating creatures.
Sleep in a cave
Sleep in a cave?! Yup! Head up to the gorgeous Drakensberg mountains and you’ll find tons of overnight hikes to caves. We did the Gxalingenwa cave hike in Sani Pass. We hiked nearly 18 miles (28-29 kilometers) in under 12 hours over the course of 2 days.
The cave was surprisingly comfortable and we all slept well in the warmth of our sleeping bags.
Learn to surf
One of our favorite things to do in South Africa is surf, whether it’s just renting a board or taking a proper lesson. We did 2 lessons over 3 weeks in Durban with Xpressions. They were both magnificent. My sister Elsa and I were riding waves standing up by the end of it!
Other great surfing spots include Muizenberg near Cape Town and Jeffery’s Bay.
Go wine tasting in the Cape Winelands
Although I am only a teen, I really enjoyed our many vineyard visits near Cape Town in Somerset West, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. The views from the estates and the wealth of activities available that go beyond wine tasting make the area truly special. Have a gourmet picnic, taste some fizzy grape juice, or look down on False Bay as you sip some of the region’s world renowned pinotage.
Read more: The Ultimate Cape Town Travel Guide
Play with penguins
Boulders Beach and Betty’s Bay near Cape Town are both home to large penguin colonies. On both you can walk along a boardwalk to observe them, but it’s at Boulders Beach that you can also swim and play with them. Do watch out though, they will nip if you get too close!
The best way to visit Boulders Beach is through a Cape Peninsula road trip including other cool spots like Cape of Good Hope, a Noordhoek sunset and so much more! Read my itinerary post here…
1 day Cape Peninsula Road trip with penguins, epic views and more!
Retrace Nelson Mandela’s steps
“I am not truly free if I am taking away someone else’s freedom, just as surely as I am not free when my freedom is taken from me.”
“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than the opposite.”
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
Each of these quotes from Nelson Mandela’s “A Long Walk To Freedom” are so powerful and inspiring. As we traveled around South Africa, we made a point to visit places where we could learn about apartheid and about Nelson Mandela. I carried “A Long Walk To Freedom” with me, reading up on each place before we went. For example, the book has a large part about Robben Island. If you are planning on visiting Robben Island, be sure to read some about it. It really gives a sense of how life in the island’s prison was then.
Retracing Mandela’s footsteps is something you can do only in South Africa, so take the chance while you are there. From Mandela’s birthplace in Qunu, to his house in Soweto, to his capture site near Durban, to the cell where he lived in Robben Island for 18 years. Places like the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg are also places to learn about Mandela and his life.
Sample local cuisine
There is something very special about tasting local food. It’s a way to understand a culture and learn more about a new place. As we travel, we are always trying to find restaurants with the local food. It’s important to push a little bit outside of your comfort zone and try something different. Jo’burg may have a few McDonalds, but is that really an authentic way to learn about South Africa?
Instead, find a spot to try pap, a doughy cornmeal paste. It is traditionally served with stews, meat, or curry and eaten with hands.
Something you’ll quickly find out about most South Africans is their love for meat. A traditional braai (BBQ) usually consists of boerewors (pork and beef sausage) and not many fresh sides like most Americans are used to eating at a picnic or backyard barbecue.
Some South African dishes are deeply influenced by other cultures. If you are headed to Durban, you must try bunny chow. There is a large Indian population in the area, resulting in this sort of fusion dish. It is a carved out loaf of bread filled with curry.
Some dishes and desserts especially are influenced by the Dutch. If you have the chance, try and sample a milk tart or malva pudding.
Another traditional dessert is a koeksister. It is almost like a donut and is rolled in coconut or sweet syrup.
Visit the greenest canyon in the world
The Blyde River Canyon is not only the greenest canyon in the world, but also the third largest after Tsangpo Canyon in Tibet and The Grand Canyon in the United States. The Panorama Route is a popular driving route that takes you to several lookouts and points of interest. It is often overlooked by the infamous Kruger National Park, but is something not to be missed.
I’ll be posting another article soon specifically about driving the Panorama Route, so look out for that.
Tour a township
During the apartheid regime, blacks and coloreds were kicked out of their homes and re settled into townships. People still live in these places, often in shacks made of tin. There are many townships worth touring. Soweto in Johannesburg and Imizamo Yethu near Cape Town. We didn’t get the chance to tour Imizamo Yethu, but we did visit a couple others with local friends. For us, visiting townships was an important way to get a sense of different ways of life and understand the history.
There have been debates on whether township tours are ethical or not. In my opinion, it’s ok as long as you ask before taking photos of people.
Have you ever been to South Africa? What was your favorite activity?
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Wonderful to see South Africa through your eyes Magdalena!
Thanks! We really enjoyed our trip there.