South Africa – The Most-Visited Destination On The African Continent

Why People Love to Visit South Africa

With plenty of wide-open spaces to explore, great weather, and friendly folk to welcome you, South Africa’s poised to become one of the world’s best vacation destinations.

As Africa’s most developed country, South Africa has the infrastructure to offer travelers exceptional experiences at affordable prices.  Here’s what to expect when you visit South Africa.

Easy Access

South Africa is easily accessed by air from most countries in the world, with huge modern international airports in the Western Cape, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Mpumalanga, and Gauteng.

From there, you can continue your travels on first-class charter flights or take the scenic route by hiring a car for your travels.

Fantastic Food

You’ll find every kind of food your heart desires in cities, towns, lodges, and street markets across the country. Although, you’d be cheating yourself if you didn’t indulge in some of the local delicacies on offer.

Local Treats

Some of the names pertaining to South Africa’s best foods may seem a little strange at first, but you won’t come across many dishes that you’ll find distasteful. These are some of the best South African foods to put on your list when visiting South Africa:

Rusk – These thick twice-baked biscuits are served across the nation with morning coffee. You’ll master the art of eating them before the end of your trip.
Braai or Shisha Nyama – partly refers to meat or other dishes cooked on an open fire. The main aspect of a braai/shisha nyama is the socializing that goes along with it.
Boerewors – This is one of the main requirements for a braai. It’s a spiced beef sausage similar to Cumberland sausage but with a variety of different spices.
Biltong – In some ways, biltong is like jerky since it’s dried meat. However, the combination of spices makes it an addictive snack for anyone visiting the country.

Wherever you are in South Africa, it’s a good idea to save space for dessert. After dinner treats like koeksisters, malva pudding, and milk tart will assail your taste buds with their sweet flavors.

These are only the most common types of local foods you’ll encounter in South Africa. You’ll come across many other local and regional specialties during your travels, be sure to try them all.

Internationally Acclaimed Eateries

Cape Town is widely known as the hub of culinary excellence in South Africa, and one of the best foodie destinations worldwide.

You’ll find a host of award-winning eateries in the Mother City dishing up gourmet international foods and local feasts.

Culinary excellence stretches across the country though, and you’ll often find exceptional dining opportunities in the most unexpected places. For instance, Die Wolfgat in Paternoster recently won acclaim as the Best Restaurant in the World according to The World Restaurant Awards.

Artisan Offerings

Fine dining doesn’t begin and end with five-star establishments either. You’ll find a host of outstanding artisan cheese, charcuterie, bakes, chocolates, sweets, and more across the land.

Markets are your go-to for homemade and artisan goods, but you can also find them on the shelves of local supermarkets and specialty stores.

Sublime Wine

There’s no shortage of craft beer, gin, and wine available too as well as fine homegrown coffees.

Yet, when it comes to drinks, South Africa is best known for its outstanding wines, grown and aged in the Cape Winelands. Whether you choose a tipple from one of these major growers, or opt for a taster from an artisan winemaker, you’re sure to find something to please your palate.

Stunning Scenery

From coast to coast, South Africa offers a range of scenery that’s unmatched anywhere else. Washed by two vastly different oceans, the country boasts both golden and white sands, as well as dramatic rocky shores and seaside cliffs.

Inland, vast savannahs dominate, towering mountains offer opportunities for climbing and adventure, and pristine wetlands beckon the nature lover.

Wherever you go, you’ll find a scenic backdrop to emphasize the daily glowing sunrises and sunsets. When night falls in more remote areas, billions of blazing stars illuminate the inky blackness.

Wonderful Wildlife

Thanks to its rich conservation-driven heritage, South Africa boasts abundant species of exciting animals and birds. This is the best place in Africa to see the Big Five, whether you opt for guided game drives or, walks or prefer a self-drive safari.

Beyond the Big Five, you’ll find thousands of interesting creatures to admire. The world’s tallest animals, largest land mammals, fastest animals, and largest birds all live here.

Apart from these record-breaking creatures, you’ll also discover hundreds of beautiful and rare species of every size and shape to tick off your list. Abundant sea life flourishes offshore, penguins waddle about on a public beach, and the Cape floristic kingdom boasts the highest density of different plant species on Earth.

From tiny insects to huge and ancient baobabs, South Africa’s filled with fascinating life forms wherever you turn.

You can find out more about South Africa’s diverse game parks here and in part 2 here.

Exciting Activities

In Cape Town, the iconic Table Mountain dominates the landscape offering opportunity for sight-seeing, and hiking, while the Drakensberg slices across the country providing a playground for the truly adventurous.

Everywhere you go, you’ll find opportunities to enjoy popular activities, like:

• Hiking
• Mountain biking
• Horse riding
• Ziplining
• Climbing and bouldering
• Kayaking and stand-up paddling

At the seaside, you can try your hand at surfing, kitesurfing, shark cage diving, snorkeling, and scuba diving.

The less energetic can occupy themselves with shopping, scenic boat cruises, guided tours, and more.

Fascinating Culture And Warm Hospitality

South Africa’s called the Rainbow Nation for good reason, since it’s home to people from dozens of different cultures. Each has its own history filled with fascinating folklore, rituals, and traditions.

You can get to grips with some of their stories at museums dotted across the country or on cultural tours showcasing the old ways.

One thing’s for sure, despite their different origins, South Africans are astonishingly accommodating towards visitors. Wherever you go, you’ll find friendly folk willing to go the extra mile to show off their country.

Please Note: The details shared herein around products and services, are correct at the time of publishing. However, with time some of this information may change. We recommend confirming information with suppliers prior to making final travel arrangements. If you do happen to find an issue with any information we’ve shared here, please feel free to contact us so that we can make the relevant changes.