Exploring the best of South Africa: Top places to visit for travellers

From whale watching to wine tasting, South Africa has an abundance of wonderful, memory-making experiences. Home to nine provinces, each with its own natural sights, attractions and cultural offerings, Africa's southernmost country has something for everyone. Unusually, there are three capitals here - Pretoria, the executive capital, Cape Town, the legislative capital and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital. 
South Africa is renowned for its wildlife watching opportunities, perhaps unsurprisingly given that around 10 percent of the world's bird, fish, and plant species reside here and there are 9,000 privately-owned game reserves. However, the country has much more to offer beyond its extraordinary array of wildlife. In fact, some of the best places to visit in South Africa are far from the home of the 'Big Five', encompassing vibrant cities, verdant winelands and idyllic beaches.

Ready for some holiday inspiration? We've put together this guide to help fill your South African itinerary with unforgettable experiences. Whether you're seeking out the best places to visit near Cape Town or incredible nature in the country's north, here are our picks for each province.

Western Cape

Bordered by the Indian and Atlantic Ocean, and home to mountains, wineries and beautiful beaches, the Western Cape is one of South Africa's most beloved provinces. It is best known for the bustling city of Cape Town, nestled below the imposing Table Mountain. Ride the cable car to the peak's summit to enjoy its spectacular views, explore the boutiques and eateries of the V&A Waterfront, or stroll through the colourful district of Bo Kaap. Another of the best places to visit in Cape Town, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens is set in 530 hectares and is hailed as one of the top seven botanical gardens in the world. 

Take a trip to Table Bay to see the infamous Robben Island, the former prison that once held Nelson Mandela. Wine aficionados won't want to miss a visit to Franschhoek wine valley, while animal lovers are sure to love the chance to spot whales in the coastal town of Hermanus. In the province's east lies the Cango Caves - a 20-million-year-old cave network with many nooks and crannies to explore. 
Exploring by car? Be sure to follow the Cape Peninsula route along Chapman's Peak Drive - bordered by stunning coast and towering peaks, it is undoubtedly one of the country's most scenic drives.

Eastern Cape

Often overlooked in favour of its better-known western neighbour, the Eastern Cape is one of the least developed provinces in the country, with a rugged coastline, expansive desert areas and traditional villages. As a result, it remains one of the best places to visit in South Africa to enjoy an authentic taste of local culture and traditions. It's also a great place to spot wildlife, with the springboks, zebras and buffaloes of Camdeboo National Park, the vervet monkeys and bottlenose dolphins of Hluleka Nature Reserve and the always popular residents of Addo Elephant National Park among the most popular sightings. 
 
Port Elizabeth – officially Gqeberha - is one of the province's largest cities, and offers superb beaches, whale watching and grand Victorian architecture, and is the gateway to the impressively scenic Garden Route coastal stretch. Craving the great outdoors? The mountainous Tsitsikamma National Park is one of the province's best spots for hiking, watersports, and bird watching along the banks of the Storms River

Northern Cape

As South Africa's largest province, the Northern Cape is an expansive region composed of deserts, national parks and history-rich towns and cities. Sparsely populated and with residential areas hundreds of miles apart, the province is a great place to come for a slower-paced holiday. Among the Northern Cape's best places to visit are Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, situated in the Kalahari desert, where game drives provide the chance to see lions, springbok and raptors up close, and the Wildebeest Kuil Rock Art Centre, where animal-themed rock carvings, believed to have been carved by shamans 1,000-2,000 years ago, can be seen.
 
The provincial capital, Kimberley, provides a fascinating glimpse into the South African diamond rush. See the efforts of the 19th century miners at the Big Hole and Open Mine Museum, home to the world's largest hand-dug mine. The dune-laden region of Namaqualand is famous for its delicate flowers that carpet the plains every spring, but quaint villages like Hondeklip Bay, wild beaches complete with shipwrecks, and hiking opportunities make it a year-round destination.

Free State

The Free State is one of South Africa's most important agricultural regions, with rolling hills, expansive plains and majestic peaks forming the majority of the province's landscape. It is home to South Africa's judicial capital, Bloemfontein, where the Free State National Botanical Garden delights visitors with its 400 species of plants, many of which are native to the province. Elsewhere, the province's urban hubs are quieter and more compact, making it one of the best places to visit in South Africa for couples and families looking to escape the city and enjoy a cosy getaway.
 
The Drakensberg mountain range is an excellent stop for those looking for a taste of adventure, while the Golden Gate Highlands National Park provides a number of walking trails and the chance to spot hundreds of different bird species, from black storks to peregrine falcons. A quirkier but no less fascinating attraction is the Motouleng Caves, where local shamans live alongside practitioners of various religions and offer support to the pilgrims that venture here.

Kwazulu-Natal

KwaZulu-Natal is a coastal province renowned for its beaches and mountain landscapes. Its plains are home to an abundance of wildlife, making it one of the best places in South Africa to spot elusive predators and big game. Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park is a great destination, with lions, giraffes and rhinos often seen. iSimangaliso Wetland Park encompasses hundreds of miles of beaches, forests and wetlands, and is a very worthy addition to your itinerary for the chance to glimpse whales, dolphins, hippos and zebras, and snorkel alongside turtles at Kosi Bay. 
 
For those with an interest in history, the KwaZulu-Natal Battlefields Route offers fascinating and sobering insight into the Zulu Wars, including the Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift battlefields. To learn more about the lives and traditions of Zulu people, take a trip to the cultural villages near the town of Eshowe. For vibrant city life, Durban is definitely worth a visit. The port city features a unique mix of African, Indian and colonial influences, and has world-class attractions such as uShaka Marine World - one of the largest aquariums in the world - and the Durban Botanical Gardens.

North West

This landlocked province features mountains, grasslands and woodland. One of North West's highlights is Pilanesberg National Park, a former agricultural region that was transformed into a wildlife haven in the 1970s. Here you can find a wide variety of animals, including the Big Five (lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and African buffaloes), as well as hyenas, hippos and giraffes, more than 300 bird species and an extinct volcano. If you haven't had your fill of wildlife here, you can take a trip to the Bush baby and Monkey Sanctuary in Hartbeespoort, where a variety of primates, many rescued from the pet trade, are able to roam in lush surroundings. 
 
Fancy visiting the Las Vegas of South Africa? Sun City is a fun-filled resort complete with a casino, hotels, and the thrilling Valley of Waves water park. For watersports and other higher-octane adventures, head to Hartbeespoort Dam. Here you can also partake in boat cruises and hot air balloon rides, or perhaps ride the scenic Harties Cableway.

Limpopo

Limpopo is the northernmost province, and boasts one of the top 10 best places to visit in South Africa - Kruger National Park, which it shares with the Mpumalanga province. The part of the park based in Limpopo is generally less visited than its southern counterpart, mainly because the region is less developed. There are plenty of opportunities for wildlife sightings in this area though, with buffaloes, elephants, zebras, antelopes and cheetahs regularly sighted. Limpopo also offers the chance to enjoy a memorable safari experience in other locations, including the easily accessible Welgevonden Game Reserve and the Mabula Game Reserve, home to the Ground Hornbill Project. 
 
Away from its wildlife, the province has an array of historical, cultural and activity experiences to offer. Take a trip to the reservation-only Nyani Cultural Village to enjoy traditional songs and dances and cuisine, visit the charming mountain village of Haenertsburg, or explore the ruins of Mapungubwe, an ancient capital city that was once surrounded by some 200 villages.

Gauteng

While it may be the smallest of the nine South African provinces, Gauteng is a bustling region with plenty of great places to visit. Home to around a quarter of the country's entire population, the province has historical and cultural offerings galore, particularly in its capital of Johannesburg, which also happens to be South Africa's biggest city. A former 19th century gold mining hub, today the city is a bustling metropolis with attractions like Gold Reef City, a sprawling amusement park in a former gold mine and the Museum of Military History, as well as quirkier places like the Collector's Treasury, an eight-storey building crammed with more than a million second-hand books. 
 
Johannesburg is also home to the Soweto suburb, best known for its famous former residents, Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. Mandela's former home has been transformed into a fascinating museum, and the sobering Apartheid Museum and former prison of Constitution Hill are also here, as well as ample contemporary art centres and trendy coffee shops. 
 
Northwest of Johannesburg lies the Cradle of Humankind, a World Heritage Site that is home to some of the oldest hominid fossils ever discovered. The Lesedi Cultural Village is also here, and is one of the best places to visit in South Africa to gain an insight into the continent's tribal history. Elsewhere, the city of Pretoria, the country's administrative capital, offers attractions such as the National Botanical Gardens, the pretty Hennops Hiking Trail and the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa - one of the largest zoos in the world.

Mpumalanga

Located in the country's east, Mpumalanga is a wonderfully scenic province with a great variety of places to visit, particularly for those interested in nature and exploring the great outdoors. The southern portion of Kruger National Park is here, and is more developed than its northern counterpart. This part of the park has a higher game density, making it easier to spot wildlife such as lions, hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes and giraffes.  Another of the province's most popular places to visit is Blyde River Canyon, one of the largest canyons in the world, known for its spectacular scenery and ample flora. In addition to enjoying the views of the extraordinary formation itself, there are a host of experiences to enjoy here, including hiking, white water rafting, horseback riding and even hot air ballooning. Mpumalanga is also home to otherworldly attractions such as the Sudwala Caves, believed to be the oldest in the world, having formed approximately 240 million years ago, and Adam's Calendar, a mysterious stone circle only discovered in 2003 when a pilot crashed into a mountain overlooking the large monument.

South Africa may be best known for its incredible safari experiences, but there are plenty of other things to do and see. From learning about the country's rich and turbulent history to exploring its authentic culture with a trip to a traditional village, there's plenty to keep you occupied. Hopefully this guide has given you some inspiration for great places to visit in South Africa, whatever your interests and whichever of the nine provinces you head to.

Prefer to leave the trip planning to the experts? Take a look at our escorted tours to South Africa.