Safaris, exotic animals, football, rugby, extreme sports, incredible beaches, beautiful parks, plenty of exquisite hotels and restaurants of the highest quality – these are all just a few of the qualities that have turned South Africa into one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.
Today’s article will be about the most important 10 reasons to visit this beautiful African country.
- Kruger National Park
One of the largest and most famous nature reserves in the world, the park has an area of 18,899 square kilometers and is 360 kilometers from north to south and 64 kilometers from east to west. This vast and charming park offers tourists a good glimpse into the wildlife scene in Africa.
In the park you can find no less than 1982 species of plants, 517 species of birds and 147 species of mammals, mainly lions, elephants, rhinoceros, leopard and African buffalo, and 114 species of reptiles including 3000 crocodiles. Kruger Park also hosts 350 wild African dogs.
It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in South Africa and contains 21 recreational camps and 15 cabins for safari enthusiasts.
- The largest baobab in the world
The baobab is a solitary tree with a giant trunk that can live for thousands of years, fully adapted to the African environment. The largest baobab tree is located in a small town in the north, and it is one of Limpopo’s main attractions. The tree is more than 6,000 years old, making it older than the Egyptian pyramids. The trunk was cleaned from the inside in 1993.
The baobab has a circumference of 47 meters, and it stands an amazing 22 meters high. What is more surprising is that this tree blooms regularly every spring season and is home to dozens of birds, including two pairs of owls.
- Sudwala caves
Located in the Mpumalanga province in eastern South Africa, the Sudwala caves are considered to be the oldest in the world, dating back more than 240 million years. In fact, the rocks that form the cave walls date back to the precambrian period, 3.8 billion years ago. Caves have been used as shelters since the dawn of mankind because of the constant source of clean air in these underground chambers. In modern times, the Sudwala caves were discovered in the 19th century.
Warriors of the Swazi tribe found a shelter in these caves in southeastern Africa. It is said that in this place the treasure of president Paul Kruger was hidden, worth over 1 billion dollars. The Sudwala Caves have become a major tourist attraction in South Africa and currently host concerts and offer guests a journey to the rarest and most beautiful creations of nature, including the famous crystal rooms made up of aragonite crystals.
- The beaches of Durban
Palm trees, golden sand, huge waves, ideal for surfing; or quiet lagoons where you can spend time with family, five star hotels, luxury apartments and one of the largest and richest ports in the world, all in a warm climate all year round, specific to the Indian Ocean. These are the ingredients that made the beaches of Durban one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in South Africa.
- Robben Island
The Robben Island has an area of only 5 square kilometers and includes the huge and famous political prison which has recently been closed, and is now the most famous tourist attraction on this island.
The Robben Island is also a huge graveyard of Dutch and British ships from the past centuries. Here there are dozens of shipwrecks, the most famous being the Dutch ship that sank with treasures worth tens of millions of pounds lying on the bottom of the Indian Ocean, with no chances of ever being found again.
- Blade River Canyon
The Blade River Canyon is considered one of the greatest natural wonders in the world, and is the third largest canyon after the Great Canyon in the United States and the Fish River Cannula in Namibia. It is the world’s only “green” canyon, home to thousands of species of plants, fish, birds, mammals and reptiles, many of which are threatened by extinction.
- Garden Route
Garden Route, one of the most spectacular images of South African nature, is a sample of what a trip to Africa’s southernmost country can offer. Formed at the intersection of the Indian Ocean with the Tsitsikamma and Outeniqua Mountains, Garden Route is, without a doubt, proof of the beauty nature can create.
The unique natural blend of the Garden Route can be visited through organized safari trips. If you arrive here, do not hesitate to book a seat in the last functional steam train in Africa. The experience lived on board can be just the right ingredient to make your vacation unforgettable.
- Cape Town
Bordered by the ocean on one side, and on the other by the stunning mountains, Cape Town is one of the largest and most magnificent cities in South Africa. Tourists who come here should know that Cape Town has some of the most famous restaurants in the world.
Cape Town also has one of the most famous nature reserves in Africa, which is famous for its rare and exotic flowers.
- Johannesburg
Johannesburg is the “greenest” city in the world with more than 600 parks and the largest urban forest in the world. It is interesting to note that when the early inhabitants established the foundations of the city, there were no trees in Johannesburg.
The discovery of gold in the area and the huge demand for timber caused the local population to cultivate a large number of camphor trees, oak trees or other hardwood trees required to build the mining structures.
The largest zoo in South Africa was set up in Johannesburg, one of the few places where Siberian tigers and white lions have successfully bred.
- Zuzuland
This is, without a doubt, the most famous traditional place in all of South Africa. Even though the influence of the clown culture is omnipresent in this African country, you will nowhere find a bigger tribute to the great Zulu nation. It is also one of the perfect places for safari and bird-watching, where you can enjoy seeing over 650 species of rare birds and Africa’s big five: the lion, the elephant, the rhinoceros, the leopard and the African buffalo.
A trip to Zuzuland can show you one of the world’s most fascinating cultures. If all this were not enough, you can also visit Richard Bay, a coastal city whose beaches have become famous all over the world.
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