Attractions

GAME VIEWING

Game viewing in the Timbavati

South Africa is a wildlife paradise. There are 21 National Parks (including the world-famous Kruger National Park), dozens of provincial reserves, and thousands of private game reserves spread right across the country, covering a wide variety of habitats ranging from deserts and bushveld to mountains and forests. In terms of diversity, nowhere else on earth can offer a game viewing experience quite like this!

Game viewing in the national and provincial parks is normally done in privately-owned self-drive vehicles, and visitors are obliged to remain on the roads at all times. There are also time restrictions. The private reserves offer a much more intimate experience; groups are small, open-topped vehicles are used, an expert tracker and ranger accompany each group, off-road driving is allowed, and the number of vehicles allowed in a sighting is usually restricted. Night drives are also possible, allowing guests to see animals that would not normally be visible during the day.

The best private game reserves lie along the western border of the Kruger National Park. There are no fences between Kruger and the private reserves, allowing the animals to move freely around the entire region. The most well-known of these reserves are Timbavati, Klaserie and Sabi Sands, and there are a multitude of private camps in these areas which can offer unparalleled close encounters with the big game of Africa.

From super-luxury private camps to self-drive budget safaris, from fully-catered 5-star lodges to self-catering reserves for the more budget-conscious – everyone can enjoy an exceptional game viewing experience in South Africa.

SOWETO

Soweto

Soweto was originally developed as a township for black people under the apartheid system. Its name is a syllabic abbreviation of the words "South Western Township", as it is positioned to the south-west of Johannesburg. The city is inhabited by over two million people, with homes ranging from extravagant mansions to makeshift shacks. Soweto is an eclectic mixture of enterprise and culture, and is a popular tourist destination with sites such as Kliptown (where the Freedom Charter was drawn up), the home of former President Nelson Mandela, the Hector Pieterson Memorial site, restaurants and shopping malls.

Other attractions include the Regina Mundi church, which became a haven for many anti-apartheid organisations, and the mining hostels, monstrous prison-like buildings which were designed to house male migrant workers from neighboring countries. Visitors can sample traditional African fare at one of the many “shebeens” (informal taverns and eateries), have a beer at a local brewery, or even do a power swing between the cooling towers of the old Orlando Power Station.

MAROPENG

Maropeng

The Maropeng Visitor Center is an award-winning attraction for visitors to Gauteng. Situated in the Witwatersberg and Magaliesberg mountain ranges, Maropeng is the official Visitor Center of the Cradle of Humankind, one of South Africa’s ten World Heritage Sites and one of the major tourist attractions in the country.

The exhibition center takes visitors on a journey of discovery to learn more about the origins of humankind, and is housed in the Tumulus, a unique architectural structure resembling an ancient burial mound. An underground boat ride starts the adventure, taking visitors through the various stages of Earth’s creation. Visitor’s then emerge into the main exhibition halls, where the evolution of humankind is illustrated through fun and interactive displays and games.

More than just an exploration of human origins, the Maropeng exhibition also inspires visitors to be more aware of threats to the environment. The sustainability wall, which runs across the main exhibition room, highlights important facts about modern humans and our consumption of rapidly decreasing natural resources.

Maropeng provides visitors with a rare opportunity to view original hominid and dinosaur fossils, as well as ancient artifacts housed in the fossil display room. The collections on display change throughout the year, ensuring there is always something new to see at Maropeng.

JESSICA THE HIPPO

Jessica the Hippo

Jessica the Hippo has appeared in more than 100 documentaries and TV shows around the world, and even has her own website, blog and fan club. She is the only adult hippo on earth that is known to willingly interact with humans. After being stranded during a flood when she was just a few hours old, Jessica was found and raised by ex-game ranger Tonie Joubert and his wife Shirley. As she grew older, they encouraged her to return to her natural habitat, and Jessica, now a fully mature adult, lives in the wild with other hippos. But she returns daily to the Joubert farm, which provides visitors with a unique opportunity to get close to one of these enormous creatures. Guests get to feed her some tea and snacks, rub her back, and even give her a kiss!

BLYDE RIVER CANYON

Blyde River Canyon

The Blyde River Canyon, also called the Motlatse Canyon, is located in the Mpumalanga Province just north of Graskop. It is 25 kilometers (16 miles) long and has an average depth of 800 meters (2625 feet), making it the second-biggest canyon in Africa and the largest “green” canyon on earth. There are two viewpoints which provide magnificent vistas and excellent photographic opportunities, and it is probably one of the most-photographed natural features in South Africa. The canyon is home to a wide range of bird species and also supports a variety of wildlife, including antelope, primates, hippos and crocodiles. The best way to see the birds and the animals, and to get a completely different perspective of the canyon itself, is to take a scenic boat trip along the dam and the river at the bottom of the canyon. Also visible from the boat is the Kadishi Falls, a so-called tufa waterfall which is 200 meters (660 feet) tall. It bears a striking resemblance to a human face which is crying profusely, and is thus sometimes known as “the weeping face of nature”.

BOURKE'S LUCK POTHOLES

Bourke's Luck Potholes

The Bourke's Luck Potholes are a magnificent natural attraction located along the Panorama Route, just north of the town of Graskop in Mpumalanga. This natural water feature marks the start of the Blyde River Canyon, one of the greenest canyons on earth, and has been formed by millions of years of swirling whirlpools eroding holes into the bedrock of the Treur River.

A series of overhanging pedestrian bridges and paths weave their way through this collection of dark pools, which are scattered over a large rocky area. The on-site Visitors Center hosts a model of the Blyde River Canyon, as well as cultural, historical, fauna and flora displays.

The potholes were named after a prospector, Tom Bourke, who staked a claim nearby. Although his claim did not produce a single ounce of gold, he predicted that large gold deposits would be found in the area, and he was soon proven to be correct.

GRASKOP GORGE LIFT

Graskop Gorge Lift

The Graskop Gorge Lift is a 51-meter (167 feet) elevator that transports visitors from the top of the Graskop Gorge down into the Afromontane forest at the bottom of the ravine. The smooth ride takes about a minute, and offers splendid views over the lush vegetation and the waterfall on the opposite cliff face through the glass walls of the lift.

In the gorge itself, a circular route consisting of elevated wooden walkways, platforms and suspension bridges has been laid out. At various intervals, there are interpretation boards that explain all aspects of the forest community, from the animals and insects to the plants and the trees. Special features add extra interest, like the mushroom, butterfly and bee sections.

The boardwalk route takes about an hour to complete, but visitors can spend as much time as they wish in this magical environment. Once back up at the top, there is an excellent restaurant with a wide veranda that offers great cuisine and coffeeshop options, as well as a community craft market and art gallery.

PILGRIM'S REST

Pilgrim's Rest

Located in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa, Pilgrim’s Rest is a small town with a very colorful and exciting history. In 1873, the surrounding area became densely populated with prospectors, all hoping to make their fortune after gold was discovered in a little creek by a miner named Alec Patterson. It is estimated that by the beginning of 1874, there was some 1500 prospectors working around 4000 claims.

Sadly, what was discovered was mostly alluvial gold dust, which did not reap the fortunes that all of the miners were hoping to accumulate. Occasionally, a larger nugget of gold would be found, but these were few and far between. The biggest recorded nugget weighed a substantial 214 ounces (about 13 lbs), although unconfirmed stories of nuggets as heavy as 25 lbs were often told around the campfires.

By the 1880s, most of the prospectors had moved on to other more lucrative goldfields in Barberton and on the Witwatersrand. The town started to fall into disrepair until, in 1970, most of the buildings were renovated and restored, and the village became a protected historical site.

In 1986, the town was declared a National Monument, and since then a concerted effort has been made by curators, historians, architects and other interested parties to ensure that the integrity of its history is preserved at all times.

The fact that there is still gold in the ground is exciting for visitors to contemplate, as they stand on the very site where 150 years ago men, women and children frantically dug and panned for the elusive nuggets that would make them instantly rich beyond their wildest dreams. The scars of the frenetic digging by the many prospectors is still obvious, despite the passage of time, which is just a part of what makes the town so interesting and unique.

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

Kruger National Park

The world-famous Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa, covering an area of 19,485 square kilometers (7,523 square miles), about the same size as the country of Wales in the UK. Parts of this region were first proclaimed as a protected area by the government in 1898, and it became South Africa's first national park in 1926.

In 2002, the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park (GLTP) was announced. The GLTP is a 35,000 square kilometer (13,500 square mile) peace park that links together some of the best and most established wildlife areas in southern Africa; South Africa's Kruger National Park, Mozambique's Limpopo National Park and Zimbabwe's Gonarezhou National Park. This vast conservation area is being managed as an integrated unit across the three international borders.

Plans are in place to gradually incorporate other neighboring areas, some of them ancient tribal lands, into what is intended to become a bigger transfrontier conservation region measuring almost 100,000 square kilometers (38,600 square miles). The Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park and its surrounding conservation areas will then become the world's biggest and greatest animal kingdom.

Kruger National Park has more large mammals than any other game reserve in Africa. Besides the famous “Big 5” (elephant, lion, rhino, leopard and buffalo), there is a wealth of antelope species, warthogs, ostriches, zebra, wildebeest, hyena, cheetah, wild dogs and many other smaller animals like otters, mongooses and shrews. It is unquestionably the crown jewel of the South African national parks, and has huge diversity - 336 tree, 49 fish, 34 amphibian, 114 reptile, 507 bird and 147 mammal species.

There are no cages, pens or circus performances at the Kruger National Park. What you see is what you get - animals behaving as they should in their natural habitat. It's 100% authentic, a vast, untamed natural wilderness where you will find a variety of eco-systems, plant life, birds, reptiles, insects and mammals that are just going about their daily lives. Some are the hunted. Some are the hunters. But whatever happens at Kruger National Park, you can be assured that it's unrehearsed, as-it-happens, and absolutely real.

CHIMP EDEN

Jane Goodall with a rescued chimpanzee

Chimp Eden was established in 2006 and is the first and only chimpanzee sanctuary in South Africa. Chimpanzees are considered to be the closest relative to humans, and are listed as “Endangered” under a strict application of the IUCN Red List Criteria. Chimpanzees in the wild may be extinct within the next 10 to 20 years if current trends cannot be reversed.

The goal of the chimpanzee sanctuary is to rescue chimpanzees that have survived the bush meat trade, been orphaned, traded in the illegal pet market, or rescued from being traumatized for entertainment in circuses, beach resorts and night clubs.

The chimpanzees at Chimp Eden are the lucky ones, living out their lives in a risk- free environment and being provided with the necessary attention to recover from the trauma that they have experienced. The chimpanzees spend their days in semi-wild enclosures, and show normal social interaction and behavioral patterns with other group members.

There are currently three different chimp groups and enclosures at the South African sanctuary, and there are viewpoints overlooking the forest and “foraging areas” from which visitors and volunteers can observe and study the chimpanzees.

GOLDEN GATE HIGHLANDS NATIONAL PARK

Mushroom Rocks, Golden Gate Highlands National Park

The Golden Gate Highlands National Park was first established in 1963, specifically to conserve the scenic beauty of the area. Originally only 48 square kilometers (19 square miles) in size, it was expanded at various intervals and then combined with the QwaQwa National Park in 2007, increasing the parks area to its present size of 340 square kilometers (131 square miles).

The park derives its name from the sandstone buttresses found on either side of the valley near the entrance on the western side. In 1878, a farmer named J.N.R. van Reenen and his wife stopped there as they traveled to their new farm in Vuurland. He named the location "Golden Gate" when he saw the last rays of the setting sun lighting up the cliffs.

Instead of populating the park with any of the "Big 5", the Sungazer (Giant Girdled Lizard) and the Marsh Mongoose were reintroduced. Twelve species of mice, 10 species of carnivores, and 10 antelope species were brought in, and the Grey Rhebok and the Mountain Reedbuck were already present when the park was first established.

The oldest dinosaur embryos ever discovered on earth were found in the park in 1978. The eggs were from the Triassic Period (220 to 195 million years ago) and had fossilized fetal skeletons of Massospondylus, a prosauropod dinosaur. More examples of these eggs have since been found in the park. Other fossils discovered in the park include those of advanced cynodontia (canine toothed animals), small thecodontia (animals with teeth set firmly in the jaw), and bird-like and crocodile-like dinosaurs. A new Dinosaur Center is currently under construction to highlight and display these finds.

Because there are no dangerous animals, the park is crisscrossed with various walks and hikes, ranging in time from about 30 minutes to the 2-day Rhebok Hiking Trail. Probably the most popular of these is the climb up to the top of Brandwag, the huge sandstone buttress which overlooks the main hotel. It takes about an hour, and requires a moderate level of fitness.

TSITSIKAMA NATIONAL PARK

Tsitsikama National Park

The Tsitsikama National Park is a protected and restricted area along the southern coastline of South Africa. It was first established in 1964, and was recently amalgamated with the Wilderness National Park and various other areas of land to form the Garden Route National Park. The name "Tsitsikamma" is derived from the Khoikhoi language, and translates as “clear water”.

The reserve extends along a stretch of coastline about 80 kilometers (50 miles) in length, but also projects out to sea to incorporate what is known as a Marine Protected Area (MPA). The headquarters and primary guest facilities of the park are located near the Storms River Mouth in a beautiful little bay, without a doubt one of the most scenic and attractive accommodation settings in the world.

Storms River Mouth is the start point of the famous Otter Trail, a 5-day 48 kilometer (30 mile) hike along the coastline which ends at Nature’s Valley. The hike is so sought-after that bookings have to made years in advance, and spots are allocated by using a lucky-draw system.

But there are a host of other activities available for both guests and day visitors, the most popular of which are the various walks and short hikes that have been established in the area. These include the Suspension Bridge and Lookout Trail (an easy stroll to the mouth of the Storms River), the Waterfall Trail (a short but demanding hike which follows the first 2.65 kilometres (1.65 miles) of the Otter Trail), as well as the Blue Duiker and Loerie Trails. All of these walks offer up magnificent vistas of the rugged coastline and the indigenous forest, as well as bird, game and marine life viewing opportunities.

Other fun and adventurous activities include swimming, snorkelling or SCUBA diving at the small beach near the restaurant, boat trips into the Storms River Gorge, and kayak, lilo or tubing trips on the river itself. Also to be found in the immediate surrounding area is ziplining, mountain biking, Segway tours, golf, bungy jumping, and many other sports and pastimes.

KNYSNA LAGOON CRUISE

MV John Benn

One of the must-do activities in the Knysna area is to take a cruise on the lagoon. There are a number of different options available, but perhaps the most popular is the MV John Benn, a wooden double-decked ferry which operates two cruises every day, one at lunchtime and the other in the late afternoon. The boat is extremely comfortable, is fully enclosed (but does have outside viewing decks), and has a service bar on both the upper and lower levels. The on-board restaurant has a reasonable menu with a variety of dishes, including fresh oysters. The cruise around the lagoon and into the Heads takes about 90 minutes, and offers visitors an opportunity to see the town, the estuary and the sunset (on the afternoon cruise) from a completely different perspective.

CANGO CAVES

Cango Caves

The Cango Caves are one of the oldest and most popular tourist attractions in South Africa. Rock art and artifacts indicate that the caves were in use for a long period during the Middle and Later Stone Ages, but they were only rediscovered in relatively modern times by a local farmer in 1780. It is estimated that the caves extend for a distance of 25 kilometers (16 miles) into the mountainside, but only the first few chambers are open to the public, and only as part of a guided tour.

MEERKAT EXPERIENCE

Meerkat Experience

Meerkats are shy little creatures that inhabit the more arid parts of South Africa. It is usually impossible to get anywhere near to them, yet one organisation has managed to habituate a few wild family groups to the point where they will now allow humans to spend time with them, observing their habits and behavior from a very close distance.

The Meerkat Experience starts off before sunrise with a cup of coffee, followed by a short walk to a burrow. Chairs are set up, and the guests settle in to wait for the Meerkats to wake up. As the sun rises, the animals emerge from their sleeping quarters, then greet and groom each other as they prepare for the day. Once all of the preliminaries have been completed, the Meerkats move away from their burrows to forage for food.

The Meerkat Experience provides a very special and unique opportunity to meet these amazing little animals, and will result in a close encounter that is almost impossible to forget.

WHALE WATCHING

Whale-watching in Hermanus

Hermanus, a picturesque town located on the southern coast of South Africa, is ranked as one of the world’s best land-based whale-watching sites. Each year, thousands of Southern Right Whales migrate from their icy feeding grounds off Antarctica to the temperate waters of the Cape, where they remain from July until November. During this period, the sheltered bays and coves of the area teem with the giant animals, mating, calving and rearing their young, giving whale watchers spectacular displays of raw power and elegant water acrobatics.

TABLE MOUNTAIN AERIAL CABLEWAY

Table Mountain Aerial Cableway

The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway is a transportation system offering visitors a five-minute ride to the summit of Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa. The floor of the cable car rotates through 360 degrees as it moves, allowing all of the passengers a panoramic view during both the ascent and the descent. It is one of the city’s most popular attractions, with approximately one million people per year using the facility.

The upper cable station is on the westernmost end of the Table Mountain plateau, at an elevation of 1,067 meters (3,501 feet). At the top there are stunning viewpoints over the city, Table Bay, Robben Island and the Atlantic seaboard to the west and south. Amenities at the summit include free guided walking tours, an audio tour, meal options at a café, and a wi-fi lounge.

V&A WATERFRONT

Victoria & Alfred Waterfront

The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is one of Africa's most visited destinations, attracting more than 24 million people every year. Its setting, in the oldest working harbor in the southern hemisphere, is simply spectacular; it has Table Mountain as a dramatic backdrop as well as extensive views of the ocean, city bowl and the Hottentots-Holland Mountains. The complex contains a huge range of stores, restaurants, coffee shops, bars and food markets, more than enough to keep visitors enthralled and entertained for hours. Browse around the historical attractions and museums, take a boat trip to Robben Island or a sunset cruise out into the bay, and visit the Two Oceans Aquarium, which hosts a series of mesmerizing exhibits featuring more than 3,000 sea creatures.

CAPE POINT

Cape Point

It is commonly believed, even by the locals, that Cape Point is both the southernmost tip of Africa and the place where two oceans – the Atlantic and the Indian – meet, but this is not geographically correct. That distinction belongs to Cape Agulhas, which is approximately 100 miles to the east. Be that as it may, this in no way detracts from the raw and splendid natural beauty of this rocky peninsular.

The area was originally named Cabo das Tormentas ("Cape of Storms") by Portuguese explorer Bartholomeu Dias, who was the first European to sail around Cape Point in 1488. The Portuguese ruler at the time, King John II, believed that the name had a negative connotation, so he renamed it to Cabo da Boa Esperança (“Cape of Good Hope”).

Cape Point falls within the southern section of Table Mountain National Park. Besides some of the most breathtaking ocean and mountain scenery in the world, there are beautiful beaches and tidal pools, a variety of animals and birds, hikes and walks that crisscross the entire region, and more than 1,100 plant species which are indigenous to the area.

Most visitors start off by climbing the steep hill up towards the "old" lighthouse, which was first commissioned in 1860. The fairly strenuous walk can be avoided by making use of a funicular railway which has been named the “Flying Dutchman”, a reference to the legendary ghost ship which is said to haunt these waters. Those that are still feeling up to it can then follow another path along the spine of peninsular to the “new” lighthouse, which was built in 1914. There are spectacular vistas from both viewpoints, and all along both routes.

To really get to know Cape Point and its attractions up close and personal, a visit to the Buffelsfontein Visitor Center is an essential stopover. There are a number of artifact displays and audiovisual presentations with well-researched informational materials, all designed to interpret every aspect of the area’s natural and cultural wealth.

WINE TASTING

The restaurant at Neethlingshof Wine Estate

Grapes were first planted in Cape Town in 1659, and since then the area has become world-renowned for its production of fine wines. With more than 3,000 wine farms in the region, a favorite pastime for both locals and visitors alike is to enjoy a wine tasting at one or more of the beautiful private estates that are plentiful in or near Cape Town and the surrounding small towns. Guests are often allowed to visit the cellars themselves, and usually get to sample some of the best and most expensive wines produced by each estate. Wines can be purchased directly from the onsite shops, which will also pack and ship bottles to any destination in the world. Many of the estates also have excellent restaurants on the premises.

PENGUINS

Penguins at Boulders Beach

It might sound strange, but there are wild penguin colonies in South Africa. African Penguins, which are endemic to the region, roost primarily on offshore islands, but there are 2 easily accessible colonies on the mainland – one at Betty’s Bay and the other at Boulders Beach near Cape Town. Viewing platforms have been provided, but it is also possible to walk amongst, or even swim with, the penguins in their natural environment.