With its epic beauty South Africa can feel like many countries in one. It's not just that there are 11 official languages and that the scenery includes everything from empty deserts, to savannah, to lush river systems, to a gorgeous coastline or that South Africa is a great place to spot the Big Five - plus whales. It's also that the South African way of life varies from modern first world standards in the big cities to a much more traditional way of living in the smaller towns and villages. Most travellers come to South Africa hoping to see something of all of these worlds, so choosing the best places to stay in South Africa is all about deciding what you really can't miss from a list of un-missable attractions.
Some of our South Africa Collections:
What not to Miss
The Wilds of South Arica
From the empty openness of the Kalahari to the verdant deltas of the Limpopo River and from the incredible biodiversity of the KwaZulu-Natal to the Kruger National Park's big-game-rich savannah, South Africa is one of the world's most epic destinations when it comes to flora, fauna and scenery.
It's also big. Really big. So choose your jumping off points carefully!
- The Western Cape is known for the Garden Route which is an easy way to see quite a bit of countryside. Also for wine, whales and Table Mountain. The Kirstenboscåh National Botanical Garden sits on the Eastern slopes of Table Mountain and is renowned for being one of the most magnificent botanical gardens in the world and this reputation is well-earned. Rare and endangered species live in this vibrant paradise and there are also a few restaurants for when your legs need a break! Robberg Nature Reserve is a fantastic coastal park through which you can hike whilst keeping the sea in sight! A great place for some gentle exercise. The beautiful bay of Knysna Heads is best visited by boat as this opens up the possibility of whale spotting depending on the season. Stunning scenery and a terrific place for a day trip.
- The Eastern Cape has the Tsitsikamma National Park which marks the end of the Garden Route, the Addo Elephant National Park, fantastic beaches at Port Elizabeth and Jeffreys Bay and the best surfing.
- The Northern Cape is famous for diamonds and the Kalahari desert.
- The KwaZulu-Natal region is where you’ll find seaside the city of Durban, plus the Drakesberg Mountain Range and the Tugela Falls, the world’s second highest waterfall.
- Mpumalanga has part of the Kruger National Park and the Blyde River Canyon.
- Limpopo has the rest of the Kruger National Park and is where you leave South Africa to enter Zimbabwe.
South Africa's Colourful Cities
South Africa is still a country in flux. Apartheid has only just been quashed - and many current citizens have experienced this change first hand. While this is still a country of huge inequalities it is changing. To put what you see in South Africa’s cities into context it’s really useful to visit museums charting the revolution against apartheid - not just Robben Island.
- With the spectacular backdrop of Table Mountain in one direction and the glittering expanse of Table Bay in the other, Cape Town has a reputation for being one of the world's most beautiful cities. It's both rugged and delicate, and rough and pristine, and extremely photogenic. On top of the beauty, the city has a reputation for being laid back and friendly and many of the best places reflect this attitude with their great service.
- Johannesburg is where most people enter South Africa and is arguably the economic heart of the whole continent. As well as the commerce you're familiar with, you'll also see a lot of business being done on the streets - especially at the traffic lights. This city is fast modernising and smartening up.
- Pretoria, the administrative capital, feels more like an old Afrikaner city than South Africa's other major centres. Elegant and gracious, the old administrative buildings are now where people of all backgrounds work. Though it looks historic and has some of South Africa's best museums it's actually very multicultural.
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Durban is very much a coastal city and Africa’s busiest port. The waterfront is a great place to be, it is freshly revamped as there’s quite a bit of development going on in Durban. The Golden Mile, the name for the stretch of wide golden sand close to downtown Durban is well-loved by surfers and there are play pools and playgrounds as well as cafes and bars. There are lots of purpose designed visitor attractions too - like aquariums and marine parks because Durban is a popular holiday destination for South Africans.
South Africa's Stunning Coastline
With golden beaches on the eastern coastline, warmed by the Indian Ocean, and the semi-arid west coast painted by the ice Atlantic, there’s a lot of choice even once you’ve decided you want to see the coast!
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Hermanus is one of the best places in the world (on land) to whale watch - a key spot on the migration route of the Southern Right whales.
- Cape Town is well know for its its beautiful, golden beaches, ideal for surfing and windsurfing. If you want to get even closer to the inhabitants of these waters visit the Two Oceans Aquarium. If you're a qualified diver you'll even be able to get into the water.
- The Eastern Cape is also known for its beaches: Jeffrey's Bay is the country's best known surfing beach, but Port and Elizabeth and East London are probably more aesthetically lovely.
- Just south of Cape Town you'll find Simon's Town, a picturesque little village with a colony of penguins.
For Wine Buffs and Foodies
- From Cape Town the wine regions of Stellenbosch and Constantia - South Africa's very first wine region - are just a short drive, and there are many tours you can join which will save you having to drive yourself. We'd recommend you stay in Franschhoek or Stellenbosch.
With such a variety of places to see and things to do, there will be no shortage of finding one of the best places to stay in South Africa. It just depends what you are going for!
