South Africans are blessed. Yearly, millions of travellers from around the world arrive on the country’s shores ready to explore the beauty of Mzansi.
Every province has a beautiful feature and choosing just one attraction to visit is a hard task.
From mountains, safari plains, forests, cities and the sea, exploring the country is an activity that requires you to pace yourself as a traveller.
The more you get to know Mzansi and her people, the more you will realise that to fully enjoy her, one must embrace slow travel and tourism.
Slow travel is an approach to travel that emphasises connection: to local people, cultures, food and music.
It allows you to set a more relaxed pace, reducing stress and anxiety.
Travelling the country requires planning as well as being mindful and smart and conscious about your steps, especially since you are getting to know the multicultural and diverse country that you call home.
As we celebrate Tourism Month and World Tourism Day on September 27, here are local places that every South African must see or visit.
1. Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga
Though there are plenty of South African parks that provide game viewing opportunities and seeing the Big Five, there is no place like the Kruger National Park.
The Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga is home to all the continent’s most famous species, including elephants, African buffalo, leopards, and lions.
It’s also regarded as the most likely place in the world to see a leopard which is why it’s a popular safari destination.
The Kruger also has a unique cultural and historical landscape and diversity, with well over 255 recorded archaeological sites, ranging from the early Stone Age (roughly 1 million years ago) to various Iron Age settlements and recent historical buildings and sites.
2. Table Mountain, Western Cape
Table Mountain is one of the most iconic landmarks in South Africa, and it is also one of the most popular tourist destinations in Cape Town.
The flat-topped sandstone mountain, graces the cityscape of Cape Town with its imposing presence.
Rising approximately 1,085 metres above sea level, it is a remarkable geological masterpiece formed over millions of years.
The mountain’s unique plateau, stretching approximately 3km from end to end, is a testament to the forces of nature that have shaped this awe-inspiring landmark. It also provides panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean.
3. Isimangaliso Wetland Park, KwaZulu-Natal
iSimangaliso Wetland Park is a huge protected area along the coast of KwaZulu-Natal.
The park’s centrepiece is the vast Lake St Lucia, home to large numbers of hippos, crocodiles, pelicans and flamingos.
A World Heritage Site, iSimangaliso Wetland Park (the former Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park) incorporates an astonishing variety of habitats from the Ubombo Mountains to grasslands, forests, wetlands, mangroves and ancient dunes, magnificent beaches and coral reefs.
This awesome KwaZulu-Natal Wetland Park stretches along the Zululand coast from Maphelane in the south to Kosi Bay in the north, on the Mozambique border.
4. God’s Window, Mpumalanga
God’s Window is a famous natural landmark found along the Panorama Route in Mpumalanga.
God’s Window is situated within the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve and offers a magnificent viewpoint over the greenest canyon in the world.
Here, the cliffs drop away to an astonishing 700 – 900m gorge filled with trees, shrubs, and wildlife.
God’s Window offers spectacular views across the Lowveld. On a clear day, you’ll be able to see across the famous Kruger National Park towards the Lebombo Mountains in the distance.
Forming part of a 250km long series of cliffs, God’s Window is absolutely captivating in its beauty.
5. Oribi Gorge, KwaZulu-Natal
Oribi Gorge offers unforgettable scenic views, which can be accessed via multiple viewing points around the area, including the famous overhanging Leopard Rock.
Some of the rocks at the base of the cliffs are as old as 100 million years. Walking trails through the Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve are a great way to unlock some of the treasures, including scenic waterfalls, such as Samango Falls.
Apart from more than 300 recorded bird species, there are also a breeding colony of rare Cape vultures that can be viewed closely at a vulture hide and restaurant as part of a guided tour.
The area is home to some of the wildest adventures, including the highest gorge swing in the world and Africa’s longest and fastest zipline. Not to mention wild water rafting, abseiling, suspension bridges, paintball and more.
6. Drakensberg Mountains, KZN, Free State, Eastern Cape
The Drakensberg National Park is split into three distinct sections; the Northern, Central and Southern Berg. Depending on which section of the reserve you wish to explore you will need to enter through one of the smaller towns located at its base.
The Northern Drakensberg starts in the Free State in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park and extends down to the Royal Natal National Park.
The central Drakensberg is the largest section of the mountain and incorporates Cathedral Peak, Champagne Castle and Giant’s Castle.
The Southern section of the Drakensberg runs down what is called the Transkei and into the Underberg and Sani Pass region.
7. Tsitsikamma on the Garden Route, Eastern Cape
Tsitsikamma National Park is a multi-dimensional destination with dramatic coastal scenery, reefs, rivers, lush forest and delicate fynbos.
A hiking and water sports paradise, this region forms the top section of the magnificent Garden Route National Park.
At Tsitsikamma National Park visitors will see booming breakers of the Indian Ocean relentlessly pound rocky shores, temperate high forests and fynbos (indigenous plants) rolling down to the sea in an unspoilt verdant carpet.
Age old rivers carve their way to the sea and wonderful marine creatures swim along the shore.
The boundary of the Tsitsikamma National Park stretches some 5km out to sea, protecting a wonderland of inter-tidal life, reef and deep-sea fish.
Beautiful dolphins play and surf in the breakers. The Southern Right Whale visits these waters in season, coming inshore to breed. The park has two rest camps, one at Storms River mouth and one at Nature’s Valley.
