Travel
Everything That Makes South Africa An Amazing Vacation Destination
South Africa is slowly but surely becoming one of the most vacation0-worthy countries in the world.
I think it’s safe to say that when most people start thinking about where to go on vacation, South Africa is not very high on their list! Trust me. The country is amazing and more and more people are starting to realize it. So get in on the fun and visit the country before the tourism gets completely out of hand!
Here are the best things South Africa has to offer.
THE BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE
If you can actually swing it, South Africa is best experienced by traveling to different areas of the country as it has all kinds of fascinatingly different landscapes and sights. Cape Town specifically offers crystal clear ocean waters and warm, sandy beaches, a bustling and exciting city, and breathtaking mountains just a short drive away. While the Kruger National Park offers more of a nature adventure with plenty of wild animals, wide plains, and even tropical forests.
HIKING TRAILS
If you’re an avid hiker, South Africa has to be on your must-visit list. The trails there are just incredible. Once again, Cape Town offers a bunch of great options that are easily accessible. But some of the other great hiking trails in South Africa include those at Lions Head and Table Mountain, which even has an awesome cable car that takes you to the top without the troubles of actually walking anywhere.
THE CLIMATE
More often than not, picking a vacation destination is all about climate. And I’m here to tell you, South Africa does not disappoint in that department! Not to mention, it has the massive bonus of being in the Southern Hemisphere. So it’s seasons are flipped from ours, making it the perfect place to escape any potentially brutal winter you may be subject to wherever you live.
But even the South African winter is pretty mild. For the most part, you’ll get to enjoy warm days and cool nights no matter what time of year you find yourself there.
THEY HAVE PENGUINS!
You heard me right. South Africa has penguins. Who doesn’t love penguins?! But so many people just assume you either have to go to a crowded zoo or to the dang North Pole to actually see some in person. That couldn’t be farther from the truth, people! There are literally wild penguins living on the beaches of Cape Town and you can literally swim with them. I mean… come on!
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
We already mentioned the beauty of Kruger National Park earlier in this article, but we’re going to mention it again. This park is really something to see. It’s actually the largest game reserve in the entire continent of Africa! The park itself covers roughly 7,500 square miles which, for reference, is bigger than New Jersey! You can see all kinds of amazing animals there too, including buffalo, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and lions.
PLENTY OF ACTIVITIES FOR ADRENALINE JUNKIES
South Africa is certainly more than just beautiful scenery and nice weather. There’s also plenty of amazing activities for the adrenaline junkie in you! You can do a little cage diving and swim the with sharks, go horseback riding in the beautiful wetlands, drop in for a little bungee jumping in Tsitsikamma, or hike the great Northern Drakensberg Traverse. Heck, I might need to go to South Africa more than a few times just get all this stuff in.
LUXURIOUS (AND AFFORDABLE) ACCOMMODATIONS
As tourism in South Africa has steadily increased over the last decade or so, plenty of new and amazing luxury hotels have gone up in Cape Town, among other cities. But here’s the great part: they’re not even that expensive! Mostly because the US dollar goes a long way in the country. The best cheap yet luxurious hotel in South Africa is easily 21 Nettleton. It sits up on a rolling hill so the views from every room’s balcony are truly incredible.
WINE COUNTRY 2.0
I know, I know… there’s only one wine country! And it’s in California. But I’m here to tell you: South Africa is a truly awesome vacation destination for wine lovers! They really make delicious wine there and it is incredibly cheap! You can get a really nice bottle for 4 or 5 bucks. California can’t beat those prices, people!