Located at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront (V&A Waterfront), the Cape Wheel offers panoramic views of Table Mountain, Robben Island, Pearl Mountain, and the Cape Town skyline from 131 feet (40 meters) up. Built in 2010 for the FIFA World Cup, the wheel offers 30 fully enclosed cabins (or gondolas), with room for up to six adults each.
The Hillbrow Tower is a tall tower located in the Hillbrow suburb of Johannesburg. Originally known as the JG Strijdom tower, the structure was completed in 1971 and is one of the tallest constructions in the Southern Hemisphere. The Hillbrow Tower was also a major telecommunications for the city.
The Aquila Private Game Reserve, located in the Southern Karoo Highlands outside Cape Town, offers a Big Five African safari experience in a malaria-free region. Look out for South African birds such as the sacred ibis, black eagle, and buzzard, and make the most of spotting wildlife in its natural environment while touring on horseback, quad bike, or 4WD.
Set in a converted migrant workers’ compound, Johannesburg’s Workers’ Museum memorializes the oppressive conditions in which African migrants labored for much of the 20th century. The permanent exhibition includes punishment rooms, displays of photos and personal stories, and dormitories lined with icy concrete bunks.
Set in a colonnaded 1927 building that once housed the Department of Native Affairs (a key element in the machinery of apartheid), the KwaMuhle Museum explores how the racist system developed in colonial Durban. Displays show how the Durban Corporation used beer proceeds to break apart families and divide communities, and showcase the impact of apartheid on society.
The forests and grasslands of Kragga Kamma Game Park on the outskirts of Port Elizabeth provide a place for white rhino, giraffe, buffalo, and other South African wildlife to wander at will, with lions and cheetahs in spacious enclosures. Get a streamlined version of the classic safari experience as you enjoy the compact park’s game drives and overnight accommodations, including some among dramatic rock formations.
The flat-topped peaks and sheer cliffs of the Drakensberg Range rise above you as you hike through the Tugela Gorge Valley. Small mountain streams cut across grassy slopes, and the drama of the Drakensberg Amphitheatre is on full display. You’ll also find Tugela Falls—the second-highest waterfall in the world, making this remote region of KwaZulu-Natal a perfect destination for intrepid hikers.
In the foothills of the southern Drakensberg mountains, Himeville is the closest town to the Sani Pass into Lesotho. Mountain views and rippling streams make it a popular stopover en route to both Lesotho and the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park. The Himeville Museum houses antiques and San artifacts in a converted fort.
Liliesleaf is one of South Africa’s most important apartheid-era heritage sites, best known as the former secret headquarters of anti-apartheid activists including members of the African National Congress. Today, guided tours take visitors through preserved buildings, underground meeting spaces, and exhibitions that trace the country’s liberation struggle.
The Chavonnes Battery Museum in Cape Town houses the remains of an old cannon battery, one of the fortifications the Dutch East India Company (VOC) built at the beginning of the 18th century to protect against seaborne aggressors. It is said to have taken over a decade to complete the battery, which stood at what is now the V&A Waterfront.
Tranquil gardens and grassy picnic areas surround a scenic reservoir, providing the perfect respite from the hustle and bustle of Johannesburg. The botanical gardens meld a mix of herbs, succulents, and roses—all lining walkways and water features. The reservoir offers ample opportunities for fishing, paddling, and sailing.
Museum Africa, Johannesburg’s main cultural and historical museum, occupies an imposing building that was once the city’s main fruit and vegetable market. Interactive displays examine the importance of gold for South Africa, the Treason Trial, Jo’Burg’s dazzling musical heritage, and the hundreds of cultural and ethnic groups in South Africa.
Opened in 2003 by the political leader himself, Nelson Mandela Bridge is the largest cable-stayed bridge in southern Africa and a gleaming icon of Johannesburg’s rejuvenated city center. The bridge soars over more than 40 rail lines, linking the Newtown and Braamfontein neighborhoods and symbolizing the unity for which Mandela was known.
Located just outside downtown Durban, Umgeni River Bird Park is home to hundreds of birds, with some 200 species from around the world represented here. Spanning 8.6 acres (3.5 hectares), the park is a perfect respite from the bustle of the city. The park has a conservation mindset and works to breed and repopulate endangered species.
In the mountain kingdom of Lesotho, craggy peaks soar, waterfalls tumble, and nature reserves protect the region’s biodiversity. This is an off-the-beaten-path treasure—it houses Southern Africa’s only working ski resort, while cultural sites allow you to discover the land's rich history and vibrant traditions. You might even find familiar elements, with Black Panther director Ryan Coogler citing Lesotho as one of his influences.
One of the oldest and largest mosques in the Southern Hemisphere, the Juma Mosque’s impressive minarets rise above the bustling streets and markets of Durban’s Indian Quarter. The spiritual center for Durban’s Muslims and one of the most popular attractions in the city, the mosque draws in visitors interested in its historical, religious, and architectural significance.
A pair of headlands that separate the Knysna River Estuary (or Knysna Lagoon) from the Indian Ocean, the Knysna Heads are an iconic landmark along South Africa’s Garden Route. Home to residences, hotels, restaurants, a golf course, and a nature reserve, the Knysna Heads offers truly stunning views.
Just outside of Stellenbosch, Spier Wine Farm is one of the oldest wine farms in South Africa, dating back to 1692. Offering a wide range of wines and wine-tasting experiences, Spier is also home to several restaurants, shops, a hotel, and an extensive contemporary art collection. There are numerous ways to experience the estate.
A safe haven for chimpanzees, the Jane Goodall Institute’s Chimp Eden is dedicated to providing natural spaces and rehabilitation for chimpanzees who have been rescued from captivity, mistreatment, and the African bushmeat trade. Set in the nearly 2,500-acre (1,000-hectare) Umhloti Nature Reserve, semi-wild enclosures provide foraging spaces, room for socializing, and viewpoints where visitors can observe without interrupting.
Located on the slopes of Helderberg Mountain within Stellenbosch’s Blaauwklippen Valley, Waterford Estate is best known for its cabernet sauvignon. Visitors to the undeniably scenic winery can enjoy a variety of tastings in a relaxed outdoor setting, dine at its restaurant, experience a special event, and explore the 297-acre (120-hectare) estate on foot and by safari vehicle.
See lions, leopards, cheetahs, caracals, and tigers in their natural habitats at the Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary. Set in South Africa’s scenic Western Cape, the sanctuary is dedicated to reducing inhumane treatment of big cats and focuses not only on rehabilitation and protection but also on visitor education.
Located in Kleinbaai in the Western Cape, the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary provides rehabilitation for injured seabirds, especially endangered African penguins. In addition to the rescue, care, and release of birds, the center also conducts research and provides programs to help increase education and awareness.
Stretching for around 6.8 miles (12 kilometers) From Hew Harbour to Grotto Beach, the Hermanus Cliff Path winds its way over the cliffs that front the town of Hermanus. Overlooking Walker Bay, the path hugs the coast and offers spectacular views. It is one of the best land-based whale-watching spots in the world (in season).
A private game reserve that shares an unfenced border with the Greater Kruger National Park, Thornybush Game Reserve is one of the top locations for spotting Africa’s “big five.” The classic Lowveld savannah is home to lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo as well as a vast array of other wildlife. Plus, the private reserve offers top-notch service and accommodations.
Located in the southwestern Cape near Stellenbosch, Jonkershoek Nature Reserve is home to the Jonkershoek Mountains and parts of the Jonkershoek Valley. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the reserve offers stunning scenery, wildlife, and outdoor recreation opportunities, including hiking, swimming, and mountain biking.
Located on the edge of the Bot River Lagoon in the Western Cape Winelands between Hermanus and Cape Town, Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate is known for its cool-climate Walker Bay wines. In addition to the vineyard, the estate also offers restaurants, villas, and a wide range of activities for the whole family.
Once home to Mahatma Gandhi, Satyagraha House is an elegant and sustainable guesthouse with a small museum. It was in this thatched cottage inspired by native designs that Gandhi came up with his idea of satyagraha (a type of nonviolent resistance). It would shape not only India’s but also South Africa’s future.
Perched on the slopes beneath a dramatic peak of the Babylon’s Tower mountain range, Ataraxia Wines offers incredible views with their tasting experience. While the winery may be relatively new, the wines here are grown on some of the oldest soils on the planet, and created using a minimalist, non-interventionist winemaking approach.
The Midlands Meander region stretches across KwaZulu-Natal and has plenty of ways to explore it. The area is known for its lush green mountains and rolling savannahs; its natural beauty serves as a backdrop for quaint guest houses, award-winning restaurants, artisanal boutiques, and hiking and horseback riding trails.
The Cradle of Humankind, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies just an hour from Johannesburg, and the Origins Centre makes a great preview. The three-story museum, close to the city center, tells the tale of humanity’s African beginnings through interactive exhibits, video, tapestry, a spectacular collection of rock art, and more.
