South Africa Things to Do

  View from Boulders Beach at sunset
by CatherineReichardt
 
  • View from Boulders Beach at sunset
      View from Boulders Beach at sunset
    by CatherineReichardt
  • Rockpools at Umhlanga
      Rockpools at Umhlanga
    by CatherineReichardt
  • Beach at Umhlanga
      Beach at Umhlanga
    by CatherineReichardt
  •   Things to Do
    by MarioPortugal
  • Aloe
      Aloe
    by CatherineReichardt
 

Most Viewed Things to Do in South Africa

151.

Table Mountain   Cape Town

Table Mountain, Cape Town

 195 Reviews  Wherever you go in Cape Town, Table Mountain dominates the skyline, so what could be more natural than finding out what the city looks like from the top? The cablecar ride to the top of Table... 

 See All 1,429 Things to Do in Cape Town

152.

Game Reserves   Johannesburg

Game Reserves, Johannesburg

 33 Reviews  De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre Besides 'normal' cheetahs, De Wildt has a number of King Cheetahs, distinguished by the different coat pattern. There is also a healthy population of African wild... 

 See All 350 Things to Do in Johannesburg

153.

Big 5   Kruger National Park

Big 5, Kruger National Park

 40 Reviews   The African Elephant is easily distinguished from Asian Elephants as they have larger ears. The fact that you are in Africa is also a give away. They guys are massive. They are the largest land... 

 See All 257 Things to Do in Kruger National Park

154.

Penguins / Boulders Beach   Cape Town

Penguins / Boulders Beach, Cape Town

 84 Reviews  However often we visit Cape Town, we never tire of Boulders Beach. The main visitor centre with the wooden boardwalks down into the penguin colony are great, and lots of other tourists have written... 

 See All 1,429 Things to Do in Cape Town

155.

Gold Reef City   Johannesburg

Gold Reef City, Johannesburg

 22 Reviews  Gold Reef City is a Johannesburg institution and as my kids have been nagging me to go for months, I finally succumbed early in the New Year. I have to declare my bias: I hate theme parks, I dislike... 

 See All 350 Things to Do in Johannesburg

156.

Game Drives (guided)   Kruger National Park

Game Drives (guided), Kruger National Park

 13 Reviews  One of the good reasons to have a guided tour sometimes is that they (the guides) can also communicate with each other live while on the game drive and tell each other where the exotic animals are.... 

 See All 257 Things to Do in Kruger National Park

157.

Cape Point   Cape Town

Cape Point, Cape Town

 145 Reviews  Cape Point is a glorious location, especially if the weather is good. Actually it's probably even more impressive when the weather is foul and you get a real sense of what the first explorers had to... 

 See All 1,429 Things to Do in Cape Town

158.

Sun City   Johannesburg

Sun City, Johannesburg

 17 Reviews  Hey guys Sun city the name which is almost known to most of the passionate tourists coming to South Africa the place where there is a heaven between the mountains far away from here when you approach... 

 See All 350 Things to Do in Johannesburg

159.

Game Drives (Self-Driving)   Kruger National Park

Game Drives (Self-Driving), Kruger National Park

 31 Reviews  The Vervet Monkeys are rather common and you might see them in many places, on the road, on the trees and also at the camps, they are much smaller then the baboons and seems very friendly and sweet,... 

 See All 257 Things to Do in Kruger National Park

160.

Scenic drives / Garden Route   Cape Town

Scenic drives / Garden Route, Cape Town

 50 Reviews  'Iconic' is one of my favourite words (as those who have read my travel pages will know) and there are few locations in Cape Town that better deserve this adjective than the Chapman's Peak Drive! The... 

 See All 1,429 Things to Do in Cape Town

161.

Downtown Architecture and Tours   Johannesburg

Downtown Architecture and Tours, Johannesburg

 20 Reviews  The Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG) is exhibiting some of its historical Dutch collection in three of the gallery rooms between 13 November 2011 and 25 March 2012. This exhibition is being curated by... 

 See All 350 Things to Do in Johannesburg

162.

Game Drives (at night)   Kruger National Park

Game Drives (at night), Kruger National Park

 19 Reviews  Although you can see plenty of game in Kruger during the day, a night safari gives you an entirely different perspective of the park. You can see some animals that are nocturnal, such as leopards and... 

 See All 257 Things to Do in Kruger National Park

163.

Wine route / Stellenbosch   Cape Town

Wine route / Stellenbosch, Cape Town

 68 Reviews  This small town, situated about 40 km east of Cape Town, is worth visiting for a couple of reasons. Founded in 1679, it is the second oldest town in South Africa (the first one is Cape Town).... 

 See All 1,429 Things to Do in Cape Town

164.

Randburg Waterfront   Johannesburg

Randburg Waterfront, Johannesburg

 5 Reviews  Well the Randburg Waterfront has been revamped and is now called the Bright Water Commons. There is alot less water but is a 100 times nicer than before. Its a very nice to do a little shopping ,... 

 See All 350 Things to Do in Johannesburg

165.

other wildlife   Kruger National Park

other wildlife, Kruger National Park

 54 Reviews  There is a colony of fruit bats that live underneath the thatched roofs of the outdoor dining pavilions at Skukuza Camp in Kruger. They hang upside down from the rafters and sleep during the day. The... 

 See All 257 Things to Do in Kruger National Park

166.

V & A Waterfront   Cape Town

V & A Waterfront, Cape Town

 81 Reviews  This is a very popular tourist attraction besides being a working port. You can sense the vibrancy of the area as soon as you get there. There just seems to be a lightness of mood as people wander... 

 See All 1,429 Things to Do in Cape Town

167.

Harbeesport Dam   Johannesburg

Harbeesport Dam, Johannesburg

 6 Reviews  The De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Conservation Centre is an interesting place for what the tour operators bill as a “half day tour”. You have to be up early for the 08h00 tour as it takes at least... 

 See All 350 Things to Do in Johannesburg

168.

Birds   Kruger National Park

Birds, Kruger National Park

 27 Reviews  In addition to its large game animals, Kruger is also the home to a lot of interesting and photogenic bird species. These include eagles, spoonbills, storks, rollers, owls, cormorants, haws, and... 

 See All 257 Things to Do in Kruger National Park

169.

Beaches   Cape Town

Beaches, Cape Town

 91 Reviews  Kommetjie (pronounced "Kom-e-key") is one very laid back place, and arguably the New Age capital of the Cape Peninsula. Kommetjie is located on the Atlantic side of the peninsula, just south of... 

 See All 1,429 Things to Do in Cape Town

170.

MonteCasino   Johannesburg

MonteCasino, Johannesburg

 11 Reviews  Bright and cheerful entertainment is ongoing at Montecasino Montecasino has buskers, street performers, wandering around and entertaining people. Busking dates back through the ages to earliest... 

 See All 350 Things to Do in Johannesburg

171.

Walking safari   Kruger National Park

Walking safari, Kruger National Park

 7 Reviews  I’ve been planning and waiting for the walking safari since I was booking the flights and, yes, it was just fantastic. You wake up before sunrise, have a quick warm drink and off to the savannah.... 

 See All 257 Things to Do in Kruger National Park

172.

Museums / Historical Interest   Cape Town

Museums / Historical Interest, Cape Town

 85 Reviews  The Cape Town museum is located at the end of the Corporation Gardens just next to Parliament, and is a great natural history museum that doesn't seem to get the credit that it deserves. The building... 

 See All 1,429 Things to Do in Cape Town

173.

Museums and Art   Johannesburg

Museums and Art, Johannesburg

 18 Reviews  This tiny, obscure and dog-eared museum in the Bernard Price Institute (BPI) of Paeleontology on the campus of the University of the Witwatersrand ('Wits') is one that that most Johannesburgers - let... 

 See All 350 Things to Do in Johannesburg

174.

camps   Kruger National Park

camps, Kruger National Park

 8 Reviews  THIS CAMP TO IS SET IN THE NORTHERN REGION OF THE PARK, IT IS SET ALONG THE REMOTE AREA OF THE LETABA RIVER, SO NOT SUPRISSING THAT IT OFFERS GREAT GAME VIEWING FROM THE RIVER AND SURROUNDING THE CAMP... 

 See All 257 Things to Do in Kruger National Park

175.

Kirstenbosch Gardens   Cape Town

Kirstenbosch Gardens, Cape Town

 65 Reviews  A visit to a botanical garden in winter - is it worth paying an admission fee? If you are in Cape Town in winter, don't hesitate. They say that each season is good to visit Kirstenbosch Botanical... 

 See All 1,429 Things to Do in Cape Town

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Jeffrey’s Bay

by PierreZA

Jeffrey’s Bay (J-Bay) is an extremely popular holiday destination for South Africans. It is also home to an International Surfing Competition every year. This seaside town also hosts the “Shell Festival” yearly.If you want to spend time during December/January, you will have to book accommodation about a year ahead.Being a town popular with surfers, there are many surf shops, including ‘factory shops’ (Billabong etc).On the food side, there is an interesting restaurant called ‘Die Walskipper’. The setting and decor of this restaurant I think is more of a draw card than the food. The seafood though is very fresh and tasty. You will have to make reservations during peak season.There is also an outstanding bakery/eatery called ‘In Food’ with very good food.

Tip Photo
Port Elizabeth

by PierreZA

Port Elizabeth is also known as the Friendly City or the Windy City. The city has a strong British Heritage, as it was British Settlers who founded the city in 1820.It is in the Eastern Cape, and is one of the major Port (Harbour) cities of SA. It is also my hometown where I grew up.The city is very relaxed and has a small town atmosphere. It has some great beaches. If you would like more info on PE, do have a look at my VT page on Port Elizabeth.Things to do:Enjoy the great beachesTake a historical walking tour (Central)A day-trip to Addo National ParkStart you road trip of the Garden Route here

Tip Photo
Addo Elephant National Park

by PierreZA

Addo Elephant Park is less than an hour’s drive from Port Elizabeth. This can make a great daytrip from Port Elizabeth, but I suggest you do stay over at the Park.Although the name suggests it is an elephant park, it is home to a large variety of game. The Park has expanded a lot recently and is still being developed in some areas.If it is elephants you want to see, this is the place to go.For more information, you can visit my VT page on the Addo Elephant Park.

Tip Photo
Tsitiskamma

by PierreZA

The Tsitsikamma National Park is one of my favourite places in South Africa. I know this area since childhood and visited here many times. Part of the Park is the Storms River Mouth. The beach area is quite small, but there are many things to do and explore. There are different hiking trails, al vary in distance. It is a great experience hiking through the indigenous forests with beautiful plants and waterfalls.It is also a popular area fro scuba and snorkelling. The Park offers a variety of accommodation, but you will have to book well in advance, especially during peak season (November/December/January).Tsitsikamma National Park is about 180km from Port Elizabeth.See my Tsistikamma VT Page for more details.

Tip Photo
The Garden Route

by PierreZA

The Garden Route is called that, because of its natural beauty. The area is found between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, more specifically between Mosselbay and PE. Places to visit here, include Knysna, George and the amazingly beautiful Tsitsikamma National Park.The Garden Route is best explored by driving through this wonderful area. You might take a flight to George (from Cape Town or Johannesburg) and rent a car at the airport. Another option would be to fly to Port Elizabeth and rent a car there, and drive to Cape Town (or George).The Garden Route is home to indigenous rain forests and beautiful fynbos, (proteas, restios, etc).You will find a variety of accommodation in this area, anything from camping to five star boutique hotels.

Tip Photo
Franschhoek

by PierreZA

This beautiful little town, which means French Quarter, is worth visiting, and even to stay overnight. The town has a strong French heritage. It has some of the best restaurants in the country and a variety of boutique hotels. The famous Tasting Room at Le Quartier Francais, is a restaurant voted one of the top 50 in the world. For more detail, you can visit my page on Franschhoek.

Tip Photo
The Cape Winelands

by PierreZA

The Winelands are the wine producing areas of the Western Cape. These are extremely beautiful areas of the country, not very far from Cape Town. There is a strong French Heritage in some of these areas (eg Franschhoek).Areas include Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franschhoek etc. There are many wine routes, which are very easy to negotiate and clearly marked. Most wineries can be visited without appointment.Typical wines from this area: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and red blends.The Cape Winelands also have some of the best restaurants in the country. Many of these can be found in the small town of Franschhoek (see tip on Franschhoek).Wineries like Spier offers 5 star accommodation, restaurants, wine-tasting and other entertainment – which makes it a great option to stay and explore the area from.It is best to explore the Winelands by car. There are organized...

Tip Photo
Kruger National Park: Practicalities

by PierreZA

It is essential to book ahead, as this is a very popular tourist attraction for both local and international tourists.You can fly to Skukuza from Johannesburg (OR Thambo International Airport)It is very hot during summer. Spring, autumn and winter might be better times to visit.Take Malaria prophylaxis during the rainy season (summer).The Southern Part of the Park is very popular. If you want to get away from the tourist buzz, try and visit the middle or Northern parts of the Park (Singwetsi, Pafuri, Punda etc)Website: www.sanparks.co.za

Tip Photo
Kruger National Park

by PierreZA

The Kruger Park (Wildtuin in Afrikaans), is another of South Africa’s major attractions. The Park is huge, and you will need several days if you want to visit the Park in its entirety. I have visited the Park on many occasions and will always return for more. We once took a trip for a week, driving from the North down to the South, staying at different Camps on the way.The Park gives the visitor the opportunity to watch animals in their natural environment, as there is minimal human intervention. Camps are safe and be aware that there are rules as to times gates open and close (differs according to seasons). You are not allowed outside the Camps during those times. My favourite camp to stay is the ‘Olifants Camp’. This camp has beautiful views of the Elephants River and very nice accommodation on offer.You would certainly want to see the Big Five during your visit, which are Lion,...

Tip Photo
Cape Town Surroundings

by PierreZA

If you come to South Africa, do stay at least a few days in Cape Town or in places like Simon’s Town and Hout Bay around Cape Town.There is also Kalk Bay, St James, Kommetjie and Muizenberg which is only a short distance from Central Cape Town. You can visit many of these places in one day, if you plan your route/trip.You will have a beautiful view of Cape Town, with the Table Mountain backdrop from Bloubergstrand (Blue berg Beach).

Tip Photo

Top 3 Hotels in South Africa

The Table Bay Hotel  Cape Town

 9 Reviews and 344 Opinions  One of the more expensive options, but if you can afford it then go for it. The location is great,... 

 Hotels in Cape Town

The Westcliff Hotel  Johannesburg

 5 Reviews and 198 Opinions  Being a local, I have never stayed here (and probably couldn't afford to!) - having visited business... 

 Hotels in Johannesburg

Skukuza Restcamp - Kruger National Park  Kruger National Park

 8 Reviews and 99 Opinions  This is the largest camp on the banks of the Sabie river, it is also the administrative centre of... 

 See all 33 Hotels in Kruger National Park

The Place

Reviews and photos of South Africa attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for South Africa sightseeing.

Experience South Africa
 

Questions and Answers

guillerminamc profile photo

Q:  Hi all, im travelling to South Africa and Malarone is not sold in Argentina, so I should buy it when I get to South Africa. Do you... 

Gerald_D profile photo

A: You will need a prescription from a South Africa registered doctor. 

Read 20 Replies

postQuestion_button