The Wanderlust guide to the best of South Africa
South Africa has it all – from penguins to vineyards, Zulu battlefields to the Big 5 in abundance. Isn’t it time you explored Africa at its most accessible?
South Africa’s defining characteristic is its breath-taking diversity. As well as the Big 5 in Kruger National Park (lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo and rhinos), safari enthusiasts can spot hippo in the Limpopo River, whales off the coast at Hermanus, and penguins at Boulder’s Beach, Cape Town.
Like its wildlife, South Africa’s landscapes vary dramatically from the heights of the Drakensberg mountains to the subtropical KwaZulu Natal coast, from the flowering Cape to the vast Karoo semi-desert in its heartland. And with an excellent network of highways, good public transport and clearly-marked hiking trials, South Africa is one of the easiest countries to explore on the African continent.
South Africa also has a rich range of cultures and peoples – a fact often obscured by the Apartheid’s attempt to categorise in black and white. With 11 official languages, it truly is the Rainbow Nation. So even if you’ve visited before, you’ll have many more South Africas left to see.
Looking for Inspiration?
No matter the season, there’s always something to do in South Africa. So much so that Hazel Plush has put together a list of the top 5 things to do in South Africa for every month of the year. From stargazing in Western Cape in December or boogieing with the locals at the Makana Freedom Festival in April, you’re sure to find something to tickle your fancy. Make sure you drop by William Gray’s South Africa Travel Blueprint where he lists the five places you must include in your itinerary.
Lyn Hughes sings the praises of the twisting woodland paths, mountains, wildlife reserves and wild coastline of South Africa’s Eastern Cape and warns: Don’t step on the fairies! Nigel Hughes explores the wildlife reserves and great-value lodges in KwaZulu-Natal and says you should too. And William Gray pops back again with tips on getting the most from Cape Town and its environs.
Looking for something really different? Lyn Hughes went horseriding on the Waterburg Plateau, a journey that brought her face-to-face with giraffes, cattle and crocodiles.
More information
Top 5 things to do in South Africa in:January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December – Hazel Plush
South African Travel Blueprint: 5 unmissable trips – William Gray
South Africa’s Eastern Cape – Lyn Hughes
Exploring KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa – Nigel Richardson
Explore Cape Town and its surrounds – William Gray
Horseriding in South Africa’s Waterberg Plateau – Lyn Hughes
