South Africa's Top Tourist Attractions (Things to do)
South Africa has legendary natural beauty, wide variety of wildlife, friendly people (rainbow nation), diverse experiences and world-class facilities. In addition South Africa is affordable, a safari superpower and the adventure capital of the world.
External Links: South African Tourism - Travelstart - SA-Venues - SafariNow - Brand South African - Wikipedia - TripAdvisor - Lonely Planet
| This table lists Things to do in South Africa (top tourist attractions). | *NE 390/242 Pretoria = North East 390 km / 242 mi from Pretoria. |
| Attraction | Description | Area |
| Kruger National Park | South Africa’s flagship park. The largest game reserve in South Africa and one of the largest in Africa. According to Wikipedia it has more species of large mammals than any other African game reserve (over 140 species). According to travel.cnn.com it is the most accessible and best equipped of Africa’s great parks. Enjoy luxury accommodation, great nature, Big 5 safaris and loads of African wildlife. | NE* 390/242 Pretoria |
| Sabi Sands Game Reserve | A group of deluxe private game reserves adjacent to the Kruger National Park. One of the reserves (Ulusaba) is owned by Sir Richard Branson. A 50 km unfenced border joins Sabi Sabi and Kruger National Park, allowing wildlife to roam freely between the reserve and the park. Enjoy luxury accommodation, great nature, Big 5 safaris and loads of African wildlife. | NE 345/214 Pretoria |
| Blyde River Canyon | One of the largest canyons in the world. Of the world’s large canyons it’s probably the greenest due to its lush subtropical vegetation. Highlights include Three Rondavels, God's Window and the famous rock pool potholes. The Panorama Route (a popular road trip) ends at this canyon. | NE 290/180 Pretoria |
| National Zoological Gardens | One of the 8 largest zoos in the world and one of the most highly rated (Wikipedia). Enjoy 700 species of animals, 9000 individual animals, aquarium, reptile park, cableway, night tours, walk-through aviary, sleep overs, kids rides, African savannah waterhole and many other enclosures (some very large | Pretoria |
| Freedom Park | A memorial to honour South Africans who lost their lives for freedom and also explores the country's diverse peoples and our common humanity. Includes garden of remembrance, monuments, sanctuary, eternal flame and 200 metal reeds. There is also a huge Wall of Names of those killed in conflicts that shaped South Africa. Conflicts include; World Wars, Zulu Wars, Xhosa Wars, Boer Wars, Liberation Struggle etc. | Pretoria |
| Voortrekker Monument | Commemorates the Great Trek where Dutch-speaking colonists migrated from Cape Town to escape British control. The monument is 62 m high and is rich in symbolism. Inside there are 27 sculptured panels depicting the history of the Great Trek and outside there is a ring of 64 granite ox-wagons. | Pretoria |
| Pilanesberg Game Reserve | Sits in the crater of a huge ancient volcano. Unique geological features include alkaline ring dike complexes, rare rock types and rare minerals. Enjoy luxury accommodation, great nature, Big 5 safaris and loads of African wildlife. Includes a daily hot air balloon safari. Reserve is alongside the Sun City holiday resort. | NW 145/90 Jo’burg |
| Sun City | Luxury resort, large casino and loads of entertainment for the whole family. Walk through the lush botanical jungle and find an enchanting luxury palace, a world-class water park, Bridge of Time, ruins of a mythical ancient civilisation and the Maze of the Lost City. Resort has four hotels, two golf courses and is right next door to the Pilanesberg Game Reserve. | NW 135/84 Jo’burg |
| Lion and Safari Park | A 600 hectare wilderness reserve which has over 80 lions and plenty of other animals. Enjoy guided safari tours, self-drives, cub interaction, cheetah interaction, lion walk, cheetah walk, giraffe and other animals feeding, quad bikes, river rafting, abseiling, 2 restaurants and a shopping complex. Close to Cradle of Humankind. | NW 45/28 Jo’burg |
| Cradle of Humankind | This site has produced the largest number of human fossils (and oldest) ever found (Wikipedia). There are more than 30 caves bearing fossils. It is a Word Heritage Site. A must see is the exhibit at the world-class Maropeng Visitor Centre. | NW 40/25 Jo’burg |
| Gold Reef City | Africa’s largest theme park complex, themed around the gold rush that started in 1886. Enjoy plenty of rides, modern casino, live shows, entertainment centre, underground mine tour, heritage tour, museum, 2 hotels inside the park and an old mining village. | Jo’burg |
| The Apartheid Museum | Shows the rise and fall of apartheid. 22 exhibit areas take the visitor through a dramatic emotional journey. The museum is a beacon of hope showing the world how South Africa is coming to terms with its past and working towards a future that all South Africans can call their own. | Jo’burg |
| iSimangaliso Wetland Park | A World Heritage Site which includes lake systems, swamp forests, Africa’s largest estuarine system, savannahs, long sandy beaches, coral reefs, coastal dunes and wetlands. Enjoy luxury accommodation, safaris, loads of African wildlife, hippo & crocodile boat cruises, turtle tours and coral reef scuba diving. | NE 280/174 Durban |
| Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Park | The oldest proclaimed nature reserve in Africa. The park is the birthplace of rhino preservation, breeding the species back from the brink of extinction. The northern Hluhluwe region is forested and mountainous. The southern Imfolozi region is markedly different with rolling open savannahs. Enjoy luxury accommodation, great nature, Big 5 safaris and loads of African wildlife. | NE 190/118 Durban |
| uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park | A Word Heritage Site. From the UNESCO website “The site has exceptional natural beauty in its soaring basaltic buttresses, incisive dramatic cutbacks, and golden sandstone ramparts as well as visually spectacular sculptured arches, caves, cliffs, pillars and rock pools.” Contributing to the beauty of the site you will also find rolling high altitude grasslands, pristine steep-sided river valleys and rocky gorges. | NW 150/93 Durban |
| Durban Beachfront | Sweeping waterfront promenade (the Golden Mile). Enjoy beaches, pools, piers, Funworld (with cable car), Mini Town, art & crafts, Suncoast Casino & Entertainment World, uShaka Marine World, Skate Park, Moses Mabhida Stadium, Blue Lagoon, shops and restaurants. Has a Miami Beach feel with high-rise hotels and flashy entertainment complexes. | Durban |
| uShaka Marine World | A shipwreck-themed marine park. Enjoy dolphin shows, large aquarium, water park (12 rides), open-air shopping mall, reptile exhibit, Kids World (inc spa), rope adventure park, Calypso dive centre, sea animal encounters and plenty of great restaurants. On Durban’s Golden Mile Beachfront. | Durban |
| Gateway Theatre of Shopping | Largest shopping centre in Southern Hemisphere (and Africa). Enjoy 400 Shops, 70 restaurants, ten pin bowling, arcade, dodgems, go-kart racing, paintball, adventure putt-putt, 5-a-side football, family funfair, Barnyard Theatre, waterpark, longboard pump track and 24 cinemas (standard, luxury, Nouveau, IMAX & XD). | Durban |
| Addo Elephant National Park | Besides the Big 5, the park also includes whales and great white sharks which makes it the only park in the world to house the Big 7. It currently ranks third in size after Kruger National Park and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. Enjoy luxury accommodation, great nature, Big 5 safaris and loads of African wildlife. Includes a coastal dune field, Alexandria Forest and marine boat cruises (6 small islands). | NE 60/37 Port Elizab.. |
| Shamwari Game Reserve | Winner of the World Travel Awards’ “World's Leading Eco-Lodge” for the last four years. The UK “Born Free Foundation" jointly funds two sanctuary at the reserve. Two international TV documentaries have being done showcasing the reserve. Enjoy luxury accommodation, great nature, Big 5 safaris and loads of African wildlife. | NE* 70/44 Port Elizab.. |
| The Big Hole | The largest excavation in the world done with hand tools. Started in 1871 as part of the diamond rush. Enjoy viewing platform, a whole museum town (showcasing the diamond rush), underground experience, old tram ride and modern visitors centre. | Kimberley |
| The Blue Train | A magnificent, moving five-star “hotel-on-wheels”. One of the most luxurious train journeys in the world (Wikipedia). Enjoy soundproofed en-suite deluxe compartments, butler service, luxury lounge cars, observation car, club car, conference car, elegant dining car and ever-changing vistas of the countryside. | |
| Cape Town and its surrounding areas | The list above does not cover Cape Town’s attractions nor its surrounding areas. To see Cape Town attraction’s go to the Home page. To see Cape Town surrounding areas go to the Surround page. | |
| Game viewing | South Africa has 100s of excellent game reserves, many with unique and interesting offerings. This page only lists a few of them. A large percentage of South Africa’s reserves have all of the Big 5. The Big 5 are lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhino. All game reserves have loads of African wildlife. | |
| Adventure activities | There are 100s of adventure activities. Most are provided by tour operators, who normally provide all the equipment. Activities includes shark cage-diving, river rafting/tubing, bungee, abseiling, tree top tours, kloofing, sea/river kayaking, snorkelling, biking, river/sea cruises, zip line, elephant riding, tandem paragliding, crocodile cage-diving, caving, walking with lions, horseback safari, segway tours, whale watching, aquarium diving, helicopter rides etc etc. |
| *NE 70/44 Port Elizab.. = North East 70 km / 44 mi from Port Elizaberth |
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