Experience the southernmost point of Africa
Welcome to part 2 of our series; The best places in the world. First, it was Turkey and now we are going to the south of our globe: South Africa! Get to know the 6 most beautiful places in South Africa with us. There is something for everyone, we promise.
Cape Town – Experience culture
Cape Town is located on its own peninsula in the south of South Africa and definitely belongs on the list of the most beautiful places in South Africa. So what can you experience in this unique city on Table Mountain?
Of course, you should climb Table Mountain! The mountain is about 1,000 meters high and extends over 6,500 hectares. However, you don’t have to hike this mountain, there is also a cable car that takes you to the top in 7 minutes. During the ride, you can admire the 360° panorama, which is only more impressive at the highest point.
In the city itself, you can admire the culture of many different nations. This includes Bo-Kaap, a neighborhood near Signal Hill Park. The special thing about this neighborhood are the numerous, colorful houses. The culture of this neighborhood is influenced by its first inhabitants, the freed slaves from the Dutch colonial period. The inhabitants are called Cape-Malays and most of them belong to Islam, which also influences the culture and architecture. Bo-Kaap shows you and your travel buddies the old Cape Town.
The third-place you should not miss in Cape Town is the Clifton 4th beach. This white sandy beach welcomes you with crystal clear water and a beautiful landscape in the background. The best way to get there is by car or you can rent a vacation home directly on the beach with your travel buddies.
Kruger National Park – Explore natural South Africa
Kruger National Park is on the list of all travelers who want to experience South Africa. The best time to visit is in the summer, as this is the dry season and you can observe the action better. The national park is the largest reserve in South Africa and covers approximately 20,000 square kilometers, making it one of the largest parks in all of Africa. Due to its size, there is a lot to experience, which is why it is part of the most beautiful places in South Africa. For example, the Timbavati Game Reserve, where you can observe wild animals and sleep in safari huts.
The second place to see wild animals is the Djuma Game Reserve in the west of the park. Here you can especially marvel at the Big Five: elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard.
If you want to learn more about the local culture of the people and also the history interests you very much, go to Masorini Archaeological Site. The settlement was built in the 19th century and people smelted iron to process and sell it. From the highest point of the settlement, you have a great view over Shikumbu Hill.
Through the park, you can do your road trip partly by yourself, but there are also places where you can not go of course. For this, there are guided tours that you can book in advance for your group.
Sutherland – Discover secret South Africa
Sutherland is a real insider tip for all South Africa travel buddies. The town has just 2,800 inhabitants and is located in the Northern Cape of the country. Wondering what this little town in the middle of nowhere is known for? It has one of the clearest and darkest skies in the world! That’s why there is a huge telescope here that you can visit to learn more about astronomy. Sutherland is located in the Karoo National Park, which is perfect for a cool motorcycle trip. Here you can marvel at the unique starry sky and lose yourself in the depths. This national park is special because of the flora, which consists mostly of so-called succulents. There are also a lot of different bird species, reptiles and endangered species. Thus, the national park is one of the richest, but also one of the most endangered regions in the world.
Johannesburg – Experience modern South Africa
Johannesburg has the reputation of being one of the most dangerous cities in the world. But within the last few years, this has changed drastically and Johannesburg is becoming a trendy city break destination.
To get a unique view of the city you should go to the Carlton Center. This is the tallest house in Africa with 320 meters, on top of which you can get for only 2€.
If you want to learn the eventful and profound history of the country, you should visit the Apartheid Museum. Here you can learn everything from the beginnings of apartheid in 1948 to the end in 1994.
You can experience the city’s artistic scene especially well in Newton Precinct. The history of the precinct dates back to the 1880s and combines culture and biodiversity. The heart of the precinct is the Museum Africa, which contains many old photographs and African tribal art. This museum is for those of you who want to learn about the history of the indigenous people and what their culture was like. Newton Precinct also has a lot of bars, cafes and restaurants run by innovative entrepreneurs who want to revitalize the neighborhood and are proud of their heritage.
KwaZulu-Natal Province – Feel Zulu Culture
KwaZulu-Natal is a province in the east of the country, on the border with Swaziland and Mozambique. In this region, every traveler gets his money’s worth, because the subtropical country is very diverse. If you want to relax on warm sandy beaches, the Indian Ocean is ready for you. South of the metropolis of Durban there are the perfect places for this.
In the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg highlands, hikers benefit from the deep gorges and beautiful landscapes of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
For those interested in Zulu culture, Zululand awaits you in the north of the province. There are a lot of open-air museums and cultural villages to learn about the customs and culture of this people.
KwaZulu-Natal is also home to one of the oldest game reserves in Africa: the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park. Here you can go on really cool safaris and you can also observe the Big Five. There are also cheetahs, wild dogs, giraffes, and nyalas.
The KwaZulu-Natal province is something for all of you who want to combine nature adventures with cultural richness! You can find the right travel partners at JoinMyTrip.
Langebaan – Discover the beach paradise
Langebaan is just under 1.5 hours north of Cape Town by car, so it’s perfect for a road trip. This makes the town the beach paradise of the country! The main attraction of the region is the beautiful lagoon in the West Coast National Park. There are numerous opportunities for water sports here. Surfing is just the beginning.
But also nature lovers get their money’s worth because the landscape and the wildlife are beautiful. Here you will find the “Slow Five” – turtles, whales, sand tiger sharks, porcupines and Cape beachcombers. You should plan plenty of time for Langebaan because the best way to explore the West Coast National Park is on a bike tour. The weather is simply wonderful and you can really relax in the middle of nature. This is the perfect way to experience the most beautiful places in South Africa.
In the region around Langebaan, you can also get to know the culture of the indigenous people, the San. In the !KHWA TTU cultural center you can marvel at the ever-active way of life of the San and learn about their life from real nomads.
South Africa is so much more than just Table Mountain and Garden Route. If you’re open to it, nature will welcome you with open arms and the people will be happy to share their culture and history with you. Discover the most beautiful places in South Africa now. Here you can read part 1 of our series “The most beautiful places in:…“. Plus; a lot of other interesting blogs:
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