South Africa, a land of untamed wilderness and dramatic landscapes, offers a playground for adventurous activities and breathtaking sights. From thrilling wildlife encounters to exploring colorful cities, there's something for everyone in this diverse country.
Cape Town, with Table Mountain in the background, offers a blend of natural beauty and urban charm.
Luxury Safaris and Wildlife Experiences
Experience everything this diverse country has to offer on your own luxury South Africa safari. ROAR AFRICA's personalized approach will take you from the beach to the bush, discovering hidden gems and iconic destinations, and immersing you in vibrant culture and life-changing wilderness in a way that only locals can.
Going to a safari is a mandatory stop on any South African bucket list, because how can you go to Africa and not be in awe of the wildlife?? The best place to see animals in South Africa is hands-down Kruger National Park. It’s a humongous park, perfect for self-drives especially across the southern savannahs and wooded areas, animal checklist in hand, trying to spot them all like a real-life Pokemon Go. It’s a thrill, I have to be honest!
Kruger is roughly the size of Israel, so even though you can meet the Big 5 (and 142 more mammal species), you’ll really want to take your time exploring, because it’s not like the animals will be lining up to meet you. I recommend spending 4 days in Kruger so you have time to cover all of the southern (aka best) section of the park-remember, you’ll be driving slowly-and all times of day. We had the best luck with cool animals sightings during early mornings.
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South Africa's most remarkable safari experiences can be found in the Greater Kruger area, in the private reserves of Sabi Sand and Timbavati. These South Africa safari reserves are home to iconic wildlife, including the Big Five, and both combine stunning landscapes with unique animal encounters. Located in the northwestern corner, Madikwe Game Reserve is one of the country's most pristine, malaria-free reserves, offering inimitable, private safaris in South Africa.
By going on a safari you’re basically guaranteed to see iconic African wildlife like lions, elephants, rhinos, giraffes, hippos, hyenas, and stunning birds in their natural habitat. There’s the world-renowned Kruger National Park and several private reserves all over the country - each type of safari has its own benefits.
The private parks always involve guided drives with rangers who know exactly where to find elusive creatures. What’s magical about the Kruger is that it’s way more affordable and you can explore on your own. You can drive around in your own car without a guide and just keep your eyes peeled for movement. The camps are much more basic, but still comfortable, and I’d argue it feels like a more authentic experience.
If you want to get really intrepid and immerse yourself in Africa’s natural environment, you can go on a multi-day walking safari. You’ll be accompanied by a ranger who can tell you all about the areas you’re visiting and the animals you’re seeing. (And protect you if necessary.) One of the coolest parts is that you’ll get to sleep out in the bush! You can also book a short guided walk from your lodge. We did a sunrise walk in the Kruger National Park and it was amazing.
Here are a few other parks that will let you get up close and personal with South Africa's incredible wildlife:
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- Addo Elephant National Park: Along the Garden Route, about 3 hours from Plettenberg Bay.
- Knysna Elephant Park: Just 20 minutes out of Knysna and therefore very accessible if you’re driving the Garden Route.
- Tembe Elephant Park: In a much lesser-visited area of the country, far east, just across the border from Eswatini and Mozambique.
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Ethical Animal Encounters
When it comes to enjoying an ethical encounter at an animal sanctuary or orphanage, it's paramount that the animals are handled compassionately, motivated by rewards or treats and, if they are housed, that their enclosures are spacious, safe and as natural as possible - and they are not chained up. These are the essential tenets of an ethical African safari encounter with animals in Africa.
Here are a few examples of ethical animal encounters in Africa:
- The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust's Orphans' Project rescues, cares for and rehabilitates orphaned elephants from all over Africa.
- The Giraffe Centre in Nairobi is renowned for offering ethical animal encounters in Kenya.
- The AfriCat Foundation is a vital research and education facility specializing in predators like cheetahs, leopards, wild dogs and lions. At AfriCat, there is no physical interaction with or handling of the cats.
- Gorilla treks are a carefully managed activity that contribute directly to funding the conservation and research of these endangered great apes and their rainforest habitats.
Gorilla trekking is a carefully managed activity that contributes directly to funding the conservation and research of these endangered great apes and their rainforest habitats.
Coastal Adventures: Whale Watching and More
South Africa's coastline isn't just about sun-soaked beaches and dramatic cliffs. It's also where some of the ocean's most majestic creatures gather to put on a show you won't want to miss.
When you hear the term “whale watching”, you assume you’ll be out on a boat. And that is certainly one of the options, but what’s great about South Africa is that you can spot whales from dry land, too. When it comes to spotting southern right whales, Hermanus proudly waves its flag as the whale watching capital of South Africa. Hop on a tour or walk the Hermanus cliff path and just stare into the ocean, hoping for a breach.
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On the other hand, the locals will tell you that Hermanus may get all the hype, but there’s an even better spot to see the magnificent creatures: De Kelders/Gansbaai. It’s just across the bay from Hermanus, but apparently that’s where the best action is. If you head to the De Hoop Nature Reserve, a remarkable whale trail awaits you, winding through coastal fynbos and dunes, leading you to prime whale watching spots.
If humpback whales are more up your whale alley, the Wild Coast, with its high cliffs and inshore currents, is a hotspot for humpback whale sightings. And guess what? That’s not to say that these are the only whale-watching spots in South Africa. You won’t have much trouble seeing them in other places, too. Cape Town’s False Bay welcome right whales, and Port Elizabeth gets humpback whales, southern right whales, Bryde's whales and minke whales.
Here are some of the best places to spot whales:
- Hermanus
- De Kelders/Gansbaai
- De Hoop Nature Reserve
- Wild Coast
- Cape Town's False Bay
- Port Elizabeth
Beaches
If you’re thinking of a beach holiday in South Africa and actually want to be able to go in the water, remember that the further east you go, the warmer the water will be. The Atlantic Ocean isn’t exactly known for its tropical vibes, so you’ll have better chances of good temps and calmer waters once you pass Cape Agulhas-that’s where the two oceans meet.
For city beaches, Durban’s Golden Mile could be your spot (you may appreciate the shark nets along the entire beach), or head up a little further to Umhlanga Beach if you don’t like to share the sand with so many people.
Cape Town’s beaches are some of the most beautiful in all of South Africa! The scenery there is almost unsurpassed! You’ll need to be ok with cold water and great whites... Try Muizenberg Beach for city vibes, or Diaz or Nordhoek Beaches for a more natural experience. Even Port Elizabeth shouldn’t be off your city beach radar: Sardinia Bay Beach is a stunner, and you’d be close to the dozens of beaches of the Garden Route.
Hiking and Nature
The nature in South Africa is unreal! South Africa’s hiking trails range from easy, everyone-can-do-it walks to multiday adventures. The obvious hiking wonderland is Drakensberg, the highest mountain range in South Africa. The hiking trails are impeccably maintained, and the infrastructure is decent… the only slight problem is getting there-everything is so far! My favorite Drakensberg hikes are in Royal Natal National Park: Tugela Falls Sentinel Trail and Tugela Gorge. In one word: EPIC.
A much smaller logistical nightmare is the Garden Route, a 300 km (190 mi) stretch of coastline east of Cape Town. It’s basically what happens if you shrink down all of South Africa’s best nature into one small area: picture scenic coastline, wild beaches, epic mountains, and enchanted forests all in one place. If you want to focus on one place in South Africa for your outdoor adventures, the Garden Route is it.
You can even hike in South Africa and not even leave Cape Town! Some of the best hikes I’ve been on in South Africa are in and around the city of Cape Town. The Cape of Good Hope hike is popular for a reason, and even though it’s always pretty crowded, you should definitely budget time for it-half a day if you can. And obviously, the unforgettable Table Mountain is also in Cape Town.
The unforgettable Table Mountain is a must-see in Cape Town.
Wine Tasting
South African wines are delicious-try Pinotage, one of the popular wines here. That’s why it’s a no-brainer that if you can fit a wine tasting into your itinerary, go for it! You can do that on wine trams that take you on a hop on, hop off tour of different wineries, take horse tours, or hire a driver and explore the region more privately.
My personal recommendation in Franschhoek: Le Petit Manoir Restaurant. One of best restaurants in South Africa, on Michelin level. In Stellenbosch, schedule in a stop at Delaire Graff Estate. You may not be able to afford to stay in the lodge, but you sure as heck shouldn’t miss tasting those incredible wines! Interesting fact: There are grapes originally from France growing in the Franschhoek vineyards that are hundreds of years old, and they don’t grow anywhere else in the world.
| Region | Recommendation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Franschhoek | Le Petit Manoir Restaurant | One of the best restaurants in South Africa, on Michelin level. |
| Stellenbosch | Delaire Graff Estate | Incredible wines; consider a tasting. |
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