Every country in the world displays some diversity, but South Africa—stretching from the lions of the Kruger National Park to the iconic Table Mountain in the Cape—offers an exceptional range of experiences. Explore the sweeping valleys of the Winelands, Cape Town’s vibrant nightlife, Namakwa’s springtime symphony of wildflowers, or KwaZulu-Natal’s iSimangaliso Wetland Park, which boasts five distinct ecosystems and attracts everything from zebras to dolphins. There is truly something to captivate travellers of all interests and ages. Although the country has its fair share of challenges, South Africans remain some of the most upbeat, welcoming and humorous people you’ll ever meet—from farmers in the rural north who remind you to drive safely on dusty roads, to Khayelitsha children who greet you with a cheerful molo (“good morning” in Xhosa).
Set at the confluence of the Indian and Atlantic oceans and backed by the iconic Table Mountain, the bustling city of Cape Town presents an alluring combination of drawcards. Incredible powdery white beaches, highly acclaimed wine routes, and astonishingly beautiful mountain trails surround a cosmopolitan hub. This diverse metropolis is filled with superb shops and restaurants, extraordinary heritage monuments, a multitude of entertainment venues, and a spectacular, chic waterfront harbour. Highlights include the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art; Table Mountain's jaw-dropping views; Boulders Beach, where penguins might swim right up to you in the warm Indian ocean waters; the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, where you can walk along a treetop canopy among incredible native flora or watch an open-air concert at the base of the mountain; Robben Island, where visitors can see the cell where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years; and many more.
