When it comes to tourism in a country as diverse as South Africa, it’s hard to narrow down what attractions to see. For the history buffs, there are ancient wonders to explore. For the foodies, there are exceptional places to eat and drink scattered all over. There are natural gems, cultural activities and immensely meaningful socio-political sites throughout our nine provinces. Fear not! Here’s a list of the top 10 tourist attractions in South Africa – but bear in mind that this is by no means an exhaustive list!
Blyde River Canyon
Seeing all that South Africa has to offer means you need to see the biggest and best – and a good place to start is Blyde River Canyon. It is the second largest canyon in Africa, second only to the Fish River Canyon in Namibia. Unlike our neighbour’s canyon, though, Blyde River Canyon is much greener due to its lush subtropical foliage. This makes for incredibly scenic hikes through the diverse flora and fauna that call the canyon home. Keep an eye out for all five of South Africa’s primates, as well as hippos and crocodiles closer to the waterline. Like with all ancient geological phenomena, Blyde River Canyon is quite isolated, so you’d want to make a day of it, including the drive in. For that, we recommend using Town Lodge Polokwane as your base – with the right playlist, the three-and-a-half-hour drive will fly by!
Cape Winelands
The Western Cape is home to some of the most acclaimed wine farms in the world, which makes for a fantastic day trip. The experiences that the Cape Winelands offers are both scenic and delicious – and you don’t even need to be a wine lover to appreciate it! The Cape Winelands is made up of a collection of smaller towns like Stellenbosch, Paarl, Montague and Franschhoek – all offering something unique in their quaint yet vibrant history. A good journey has to start somewhere, so why not at Town Lodge Belville. Located on the outskirts of Cape Town, it’s a short drive to Stellenbosch and then on to the next farm. Just maybe catch an Uber back!
Victoria and Alfred Waterfront
Keeping our focus on the Cape, Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, or V&A to everybody else, is a hive of activity that might be attractive to you. It bears some similarities to Pretoria, in that it’s full of young energy, boutique stores and is rapidly developing. Unlike Pretoria, however, it’s on the Atlantic coastline, meaning beautiful sunset scenes are abundant too. Factor in views of Table Mountain, and you can understand why V&A is such a hip and happening place. The best part is your home away from home is right there with you – so book a stay at City Lodge Hotel Victoria and Alfred Waterfront.
Knysna
The Garden Route is widely regarded as one the most beautiful road trips one can undertake – winding along South Africa’s south-eastern coastline. Knysna is located roughly around the middle of the Garden Route, but, much like the other little coastal towns along the route, is so much more than a stop over point or transitory town. There is an acclaimed elephant park, gorgeous natural wonders to see, the rolling greens of golf courses and, of course, beautiful beachfront views. If you’re wanting a place to rest up on your journey, check out Town Lodge George.
Durban Beachfront
Durban and the ocean – need we say more? The Golden Mile promenade is truly a sight to behold, and home to a number of Durban’s pristine beaches. We know we don’t have to sell this to you too hard, since it’s already very popular over holidays. But, if you’ve been living under a rock perhaps, add this to your list – and book a stay at City Lodge Hotel Durban while you’re at it, since it’s so close to the action you can practically hear the waves crashing from the car park!
These are the proverbial tip of the iceberg, there is so much more to see and do across South Africa – one blog post was never going to cover them all! But one thing is certain, wherever your journeys take you, there’ll always be a City Lodge Hotel Group property nearby to welcome you at the end of a long trip and be the starting point of an amazing adventure!