15 Best Places to Visit in South Africa in 2024

15 Best Places to Visit in South Africa in 2024

South Africa is a country located the southernmost on the African continent. It is one of the countries in Africa Continent which attracts a lot of tourist every year. Tourist who visit South Africa mostly love to explore the national parks, take the safari to see wild animals, explore the sunny beaches, picturesque deserts or beautiful cities.

If you are planning on embarking on a holiday or vacation and you want to visit African country, South Africa is on top of list of countries to consider. If you are planning the trip from Dubai you need to know you are supposed to obtain South African visa from Dubai.

There are a lot of experiences you will enjoy when you visit South Africa. You can tour different places in the country from cities like Durban, Cape Town or Johannesburg. You can also visit the national parks, Museums, islands and beaches.

Considering there is a lot of places which you can visit in South Africa and not realistic to your all of them, here we have do research and listed the best places to consider adding in your itinerary. All these places will show you South Africa is a beautiful country. You will get to learn about this country rich culture and heritage.

01 Best Places to Visit in South Africa

If you are searching the best places to visit in South African you should not look further. Here we have listed these places for you. Check them out and add in your bucket list.

1. Durban

15 Best Places to Visit in South Africa in 2024

Durban is one of the best places to visit in South Africa and preferred destination for honeymooners. Tourists who visit this destination embark on game drive to explore the game reserves in Durban. Other explores the green landscape and wilderness.

Travelers also choose to visit Durban to enjoy the beaches especially during warm winter season and shopping the souvenir from the markets. You can also take a drive to explore the Valley of Thousand Hills admire the aesthetical beauty of South Africa and admire the lush greenery.

The tour provers have also made Durban popular because they offer tourists the water adventure and beach tours making it ideal destination during holidays.

2. Kruger National Park

15 Best Places to Visit in South Africa in 2024

When you visit South African, you cannot miss to embark on a safari to see the wild animals. One of the places where you can take the safari is at Kruger National Park. This park is ranked the largest in South Africa where African Big five live.

When you take the safari at Kruger National Park you will get to see different mammals, reptiles, amphibians and different tree species. Among the animals you can spot at the park are Cape Buffalo, lions, rhino, elephant, antlions, leopard, cheetah, the wild dogs, Buffalo-weaver, martial eagle, owl and more.

You can even book your stay at the park there are safari camp in the woods and luxurious hotels. When visiting in South Africa, Kruger is a perfect place for exploring its environment because it is surrounded by the breathtaking Panorama Route.

3. Johannesburg

15 Best Places to Visit in South Africa in 2024

Johannesburg is the place to visit and learn about South Africa history and culture. At some pint this city was regarded as Nelson Mandela home but today is a modern city.

Johannesburg is the place to visit and learn about South Africa history and culture. At some pint this city was regarded as Nelson Mandela home but today is a modern city.

Not only can you visit the museum or streets which preserve the political history of South Africa, you can embark on adventure tour to explore the game reserves and wildlife conservatories. All these activities make Johannesburg among the places to visit in South Africa for a vacation.

Johannesburg offers a wide range of activities including educational tours, wildlife encounters, nightlife, and entertainment. It's perfect for a vacation on a tight budget because there are several reasonably priced lodging options available.

4. Cape Town

15 Best Places to Visit in South Africa in 2024

Cape Town is among the cities which you cannot miss to include in the list of places to visit in South Africa. Cape Town is a 2nd popular city in South Africa and tourist visits this city to explore different tourist attractions and learn about the local cultural heritage.

One of the places which you should visit in Cape Town is False Bay, Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden and Table Mountain. There are also other places which to consider include Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, Two Oceans Aquarium and Lion’s Head. You can visit the Boulder’s Beach Penguin colony to see the endangered African penguins.

You can also experience nightlife in Cape Town at different spots in the city. For shopping experience you should visit urban malls like Canal Walk and Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre.

5. Stellenbosch

15 Best Places to Visit in South Africa in 2024

Stellenbosch is the ideal place to visit in South Africa for travelers looking to spend their vacation or holiday in South Africa in a peaceful and picture-perfect town.

Stellenbosch is the second oldest and only university town in South Africa. The town history dates back to 1679. To learn about this town history you should visit the Village Museum and Stellenyrk Museum.

Other places to visit in this town are Cape Dutch houses and charming village with the oak-lined streets. What make this town among popular tourist destination in South Africa are wine estates.

Other places to visit in this town are Cape Dutch houses and charming village with the oak-lined streets. What make this town among popular tourist destination in South Africa are wine estates.

6. Drakensberg

15 Best Places to Visit in South Africa in 2024

Ranked as the highest mountain peak in South Africa, Drakensberg or the Dragon Mountains is among the famous tourist destination to visit in South Africa.

This region, which spans the Kingdom of Lesotho and KwaZulu Natal province, is around 200 kilometers long and is rich in waterfalls, caverns, and mountain streams. The uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park is well-known for rock art.

The Giant's Castle Game Reserve contains around 800 types of blooming plants. Summer activities on the mountain paths include hiking, biking, rock climbing, parasailing, and river rafting.

7. ISimangaliso Wetland Park

15 Best Places to Visit in South Africa in 2024

Located on the northern coast of KwaZulu natal province, iSimangaliso Wetland Park is recognized and listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site. The name of this park “iSimangaliso” in Zulu means “miracle and wonder.’

It is the ideal place to visit and see nature's beauties, with over 526 species of birds and other creatures. This wetlands park provides a haven for water-loving species such as hippos, crocodiles, and turtles. There are also rhinos, zebras, baboons, and buffaloes.

8. Pilanesberg National Park

15 Best Places to Visit in South Africa in 2024

Pilanesberg National Park is the place to visit in South African for safari to see wildlife. The park is located 2.5 hours of drive away from Johannesburg.

The wildlife animals which you can spot at this national park include zebras, African wild dogs, antelopes, giraffes, various birds’ species and big five. All these animals have been able to live in this park because of the vast grasslands and the man-made lake Mankwe Dam.

9. Hermanus

15 Best Places to Visit in South Africa in 2024

Nicknamed as Whale Capital of South Africa, Hermanus is a small town located in the Western Cape. The main reason why tourist flocks in this town is to watch the whales and the dolphins.

You can take boat ride tour to watch the whales or can spot them from the cliffs. The best time of the year to visit Hermanus for whale watching is from June to December.

You can plan to visit in September to also attend the Whale Festival which is hosted every year. In addition to seeing whales and dolphins, one way to make your South Africa visit unforgettable is to stroll along the cliff-side walkway.

10. Kgalagadi Transnational Park

15 Best Places to Visit in South Africa in 2024

Situated in northern part of South African between South Africa and Botswana Kgalagadi Transnational Park, is another national park to visit. This park is combination of two parks one located in South Africa Kalahari Gemsbok National Park and another one in Botswana Gemsbok National Park. These two p[ark where merged in 2000 to create one park Kgalagadi Transnational Park.

Among the reason why tourist visit this park though located in remote region is to see South Africa treasures nimal springbok and gemsbok. These animals are famous because of the V-shaped horns.

Other animals you can see at this park include Kalahari lions, cheetahs and hyenas. Besides the wild animals what makes this park stand out among other parks in South Africa is barren wilderness and red dunes.

11. Sun City

15 Best Places to Visit in South Africa in 2024

Located closed to Johannesburg and Pilanesberg, Sun City is a privately owned resort. It is one of the best places to visit in South Africa if you want a luxurious holiday, romantic honeymoon or family weekend.

This resort not only provides a luxurious accommodation, but the surrounding attractions and activities make it an excellent choice for your trip. As a one-stop location, you may enjoy leisure activities at nearby casinos, theaters, retail malls, and cafes.

There are also adventurous activities planned, such as safari drives and game drives, for those seeking a wildlife encounter to make their vacation more enjoyable.

The resort is conveniently accessible from South Africa's major tourist spots, so you can spend a day or two exploring the imperial estate of Sun City as part of your ideal trip in South Africa.

12. Pretoria

15 Best Places to Visit in South Africa in 2024

Although Pretoria is a small city, it attract tourist to learn the history of South Africa. This is the city to visit and lean about the apartheid regime in South Africa. The place where this history is preserved is at the Museums.

Pretoria is the administrative capital and tourism hub, where visitors may explore the streets lined with jacaranda trees, making everything purple and gorgeous.

There are little communities that offer a unique twist to this finest tourist destination in South Africa. The city has long been a cosmopolitan hub, where you can still feel the aura of previous struggles and fights for right and justice.

13. Tsitsikamma National Park

15 Best Places to Visit in South Africa in 2024

Tsitsikamma National Park is a perfect South African holiday spot because of its breathtaking beauty, remoteness, and bizarre surroundings. The streams of water, the forest pathways, the local plants, and some of the African wilds give you a sense of wilderness as soon as you approach Tsitsikamma. There are gorges and cliffs that enhance this location's natural attractiveness.

The most thrilling adventures and pleasant pastimes may be found in Tsitsikamma's woodlands. Tsitsikamma is a true adventure destination in South Africa that is ideal for experiencing an adrenaline rush, offering everything from canopy tours to rafting and the world's highest bungee jumping.

14. Kgalagadi National Park

15 Best Places to Visit in South Africa in 2024

Kgalagadi National Park is the place to consider visiting in South African and spot amazing wildlife, sparse vegetation, sand dunes, dry riverbeds and so much more.

When you visit this park you will get to spot wild animals as they walk around their habitant. Some of the wild animals you will spot are cheetahs, leopards, and lions. You should carry a camera so that you can take pictures of these animals for memories.

Besides spotting the big cats, you will also have a chance to spot other animals such as the cape fox, ground squirrel, meerkat, Pangolin, the Honey Badger, blue wildebeests, hyenas, and even jackals.

You may choose to stay overnight at the park. You will spend the night at the camps in the park. They are traditional three-fenced camps. The camps give visitors an incredible wilderness experience, these campgrounds are very well-liked by tourists. Camping at night is enjoyable, and it's even possible to see animals moving more freely at night.

15. Robben Island

15 Best Places to Visit in South Africa in 2024

Robben Island became famous during the Apartheid times in South Africa. Today it is an historical place for tourists to see where the social outcasts were forcefully fleeted. The Island is situated only about 2 KM away from Cape Town.

The island is closely associated with the violence, cruelty, and inequality exhibited during Apartheid. As a result, it is clear why Robben Island is so important to Africans.

Also, Robben Island served as a jail for freedom fighters that fought throughout the country's liberation battle. As a result, it's easy to see why the location is so important to South Africans. Today, Robben Island attracts historians from all over the world.

02 FAQ’s

1. When is the best time to visit South Africa?

Can visit South Africa at time of the year but the tourist peak season and best time to visit is from April or May to October. During these months the weather is pleasant.

2. What are the best places to visit in South Africa?

The best places to visit in South Africa to consider are:

  • Table Mountain
  • Cape of Good hope
  • Cape Point
  • V&F Waterfront
  • Cape Winelands

3. What are some unique places to visit in South Africa?

Among the unique places to visit in South Africa are:

  • Cape Town
  • Kruger National Park
  • The Garden Route
  • Stellenbosch
  • Blyde River Canyon