Located in the Kleinrivier Mountains above Hermanus, Fernkloof Nature Reserve is known for its rich biodiversity, its fields of fynbos and wildflowers, and stunning views. Spanning 4,448 acres (1,800 hectares), it features many trails, gardens, a botanical center, nursery, and visitor center.
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.
Stretching from Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront to the tip of the Cape of Good Hope, the Cape Peninsula’s Atlantic Coast is lined with beaches, viewpoints, and towns. Choices in where and how to enjoy the coast range from the partygoer hubs of Green Point and Sea Point to the expansive beaches and resorts of Hout Bay and Camps Bay.
At Exotic Animal World, zookeepers care for hundreds of rare and exotic animals that have been surrendered or seized by the authorities. Lemurs and colorful birds move freely through a pretty indoor tropical garden and the reptile house is home to plenty of tortoises and jewel-bright snakes.
An informal settlement, Imizamo Yethu sits above Hout Bay in Cape Town as a collection of colorful shacks, many built from scrap metal. Residents come from different South African cultures and most remain disadvantaged, with the site plagued by fires, but Imizamo Yethu has a positive energy that’s distinctly South African.
The family-owned Bufflefonstien Game and Nature Reserve comprises rolling grassland where zebras and rhinos roam and copses of trees where you can spot giraffes grazing peacefully. When dusk falls, visitors can bunk down in thatched cottages with rustic stone walls constructed from natural materials found on the grounds and hear lions roar outside.
South Africa’s Swartland region is known for its wineries, yet it is far less visited than the more celebrated Cape Winelands. With its largely dry growing conditions, Swartland produces some of the best wines in the country and boasts stunning scenery dotted with golden wheat fields, olive groves, vineyards, and mountains.
