Top 10 Reasons To Visit South Africa

What is your idea of an ideal holiday break? Maybe it's spending time with friends and family exploring new places. Perhaps it's meeting interesting people, trying exciting activities like hiking, horse riding and game viewing. Or is it just lazy lunches in beautiful surroundings and soaking up the sunshine on a sandy beach?

Welcome to a country where you can have it all - South Africa. Take a look at our top 10 reasons to visit this phenomenal country.

#1 Beaches

Cape Town definitely has the best selection of beaches from fashionable Camps Bay to Boulders Beach with its dinner-jacketed penguins. But all the way along South Africa’s Garden Route and KwaZulu-Natal's Indian Ocean coastline are long stretches of bright white sand with the water getting warmer the further north you go - there are even tropical coral reefs up at Rocktail Bay.

#2 Wildlife

The Kruger Park is the place to go for the Big 5, right? Sure, but this country has so many great big 5 reserves. Try an exclusive South Africa safari in the world-renowned Sabi Sands; some family time in Madikwe Private Reserve; or a safari and beach holiday in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province – tell us what you want and we can suggest a safari to match your tastes and budget.

#3 Food & Wine

When you visit Cape Town we’d highly recommend a trip out to (or better still a few days in) the Cape Winelands: travel from farm to beautiful farm, sampling wines in cool cellars and on vine-covered patios, and don't forget to stop for lunch in one of the world’s top restaurants tucked away in the Franschhoek Valley. Or indulge in a gourmet getaway in the bottle-green hills of the Kwa-Zulu Natal Midlands, before easing any twinge of guilt with a hike into the foothills of the magnificent Drakensberg Mountains.

#4 Outdoor Activities

With plenty of sunshine, mountains, sea and rivers, South Africans tend to treat their country like one massive playground. Here is just a taste of what there is out there: hiking to the top of Table Mountain; horse riding in the Drakensberg Mountains; cage-diving with great white sharks; whale watching in Hermanus; paragliding over Cape Town’s beaches; walking safaris in Kruger; cycling through the Cape Winelands; forest canopy tours on the Garden Route ... it’s all there for the taking.

#5 People

I’ve often heard visitors comment on the fact that South Africans smile a lot, and yes, we are a friendly bunch so take the time to meet new people and find out a bit about our many fascinating cultures. And if you’re going on a safari in the Kruger Park ask about getting involved in community outreach programmes

#6 Sunshine

Did you know that Durban, Ballito and the beaches of the KwaZulu-Natal Coast average over 300 days of sunshine a year? Enough said!

#7 Family Friendly

Your kids will love it! South Africa has plenty of child-friendly accommodation and loads of great options for a family holiday: Cape Town and the Garden Route are particularly popular for a beach break; for a family safari I’d recommend the Pilanesberg, Madikwe or one of the Eastern Cape reserves – all malaria-free; and for loud, unrestrained whoops of joy, try thrill-a-minute Sun City!

#8 History

How far back do you want to go? We have the “Cradle of Humankind”, where the 2.3-million year-old fossil (nicknamed “Mrs. Ples”) was found; for more recent times I’d highly recommend the KwaZulu-Natal Battlefields for incredible tales of bravery, victory and defeat played out in bloody battles between British soldiers, Boer commandos and Zulu warriors; and then there’s Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years of his incarceration.

#9 Value For Money

In South Africa it’s easy to find a cosy guesthouse or family-run lodge that offers that extra bit of holiday pampering plus great value for money. What’s more, eating out in South Africa is really affordable, so you can enjoy your meal and bottle of wine without the bitter aftertaste of a massive bill.

#10 Good Infrastructure

South Africa is well connected with a steady flow of international airlines landing at our airports (all recently upgraded, thanks to the recent hosting of the 2010 Soccer World Cup). Also, once here, you’ll find a network of well maintained roads crossing big sky Karoo landscapes, winding through farmlands, along coastlines and over magnificent mountain passes. In fact South Africa is one of only two countries where we recommend a self-drive holiday – a fantastic option for independent traveller.

Planning a holiday in South Africa? Take a look at our favourite tours and safaris:

• Best for a Big 5 Safari: Ultimate South African Safari - a magnificent fly-in Sabi Sands and Kalahari safari combined with a stay at Cape Town's best - the Cape Grace Hotel. If you are looking for a glamorous holiday, this is perfect!
• Best for Self-drive: Best of the Garden Route Self-Drive - perfect for couples wanting a luxurious self-drive, or families looking to explore South Africa's beautiful coast and safari destinations.
• Best Safari & Beach Combo: Sun City, Safari & Mauritius Explorer - a perfect family getaway in Africa - fabulous Sun City, malaria-free Madikwe and family-central Mauritius makes this ideal for kids.
• Best Food & Wine Holiday: Drakensberg Gourmet Delight - enjoy culinary delights and local fare as you meander through the majestic Drakensberg mountains - one of South Africa's most dramatically scenic regions.
• Best for Adventure: The Great Cape Whale Watching Experience - make sure you come in season to really appreciate the extraordinary marine life of South Africa's scenic south coast. Stay in comfortable, stylish guesthouses and add on a Big 5 safari for the ultimate wildlife experience.

 
View more South Africa tours and safaris.

Written by Sandra Mallinson. Connect with her on Google+.