South Africa, the southernmost country on the African continent, is rich in history and diversity. With 11 official languages and three capitals, the country is home to some of the oldest archaeological and fossil remains in the world, making it one of the top places to visit for history buffs. Before visiting this wonderful place, you can review our guide to places to visit in South Africa.
Historic Places to Visit in South Africa
Historical places among the places to visit in South Africa will allow you to see the ruins of this country and live its history all over again. From the District Six Museum to the Voortrekker Monument, check out our list to explore!
District Six Museum, Cape Town
District Six was once a vibrant and multicultural Cape Town district. Therefore, visitors can visit this museum to understand the story of those who lived through this period, to discover how a neighborhood that was once an outstanding example of communities living and flourishing became the story of Apartheid.
Good Hope Castle, Cape Town
Good Hope Castle in Cape Town is the oldest surviving colonial building in South Africa. Visitors can explore this castle alone or take one of the many tours that reveal the castle’s extensive history.
Voortrekker Monument, Pretoria
Among the places to visit in South Africa, the Voortrekker Monument consists of a large granite structure surrounded by 64 ox wagons, a symbol of Voortrekker practices, and is surrounded by numerous statues of historical figures such as the Boer leader Piet Retief. Inside the Voortrekker Monument is a historic frieze depicting the history of Trek and the great Heroes Hall.
Majuba Hill, Volksrust
Majuba Hill in South Africa was the final battleground of the First Anglo-Boer War. The First Anglo-Boer War, known as the Transvaal War, was a conflict that lasted nearly a year in which the Boers rejected British annexation of South Africa’s Transvaal region.
About 400 British soldiers, consisting of the 58th Regiment and the 92nd Highlanders and led by Major General Sir George Pomeroy Colley, had occupied Majuba Hill in early 1881. To get more information about this war, you can visit this hill among the places to visit in South Africa.
Cultural Places to Visit in South Africa
Cultural venues, which are among the places to visit in South Africa, contain museums. These options, which are great for cultural tour enthusiasts, will allow you to get to know South Africa better.
Nelson Mandela Museum, Mthatha
Nelson Mandela Museum, which is on the list of places to visit in South Africa, tells the life of the iconic ex-president of South Africa, the struggle for democracy and the end of the apartheid regime.
The Nelson Mandela Museum actually has three locations in the Eastern Cape, one of which is the Bhunga Building. At the Bhunga Building, visitors can learn in their own words through excerpts from Nelson Mandela’s autobiography ‘A Long Walk to Freedom’.
Anglo-Boer War Museum, Bloemfontein
Located in Bloemfontein, South Africa, the Anglo-Boer War Museum, also known as the War Museum of the Boer Republics, is one of the country’s most comprehensive museums about the Second Anglo-Boer War. The museum tells the events leading up to the war, the course of the war, and its aftermath.
Apartheid Museum, Johannesburg
The Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg chronicles the history of apartheid in South Africa and the human rights struggle that ended this regime of apartheid. With twenty-two exhibition spaces of multimedia presentations including original works, information panels and films, the Apartheid Museum provides an in-depth look at life under the apartheid regime.
Robben Island, Cape Town
Robben Island, off the coast of Cape Town in South Africa, was a notorious prison known for the incarceration of political prisoners during the apartheid era. Its most famous inmate (466/64) was the anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela, who would later become the country’s president. Today, Robben Island is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a museum.
In addition to touring the maximum security prison buildings, tours include a 45-minute guided bus ride around the island and interaction with a former Robben Island inmate. A visit to Robben Island provides a fascinating insight into the history of the island and South Africa.
Natural Places to Visit in South Africa
Natural places among the places to visit in South Africa will allow you to enjoy South Africa. Check out our list to explore this country, which is home to many natural beauties, closely!
Drakensberg, KwaZulu-Natal
Drakensberg is one of the top places to visit in South Africa and a popular holiday destination for South Africans. The area includes the World Heritage-listed uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park and the Royal Natal National Park, home to the awe-inspiring amphitheater.
In summer, the mountain landscapes are lush and lush, with waterfalls and crystal clear streams. Visitors flock here to hike, bike, trout fishing on scenic mountain trails, go rock climbing, and raft in the waters of fast-flowing rivers.
Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, Mpumalanga
The Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve is a favorite stop on the way between Johannesburg and Kruger National Park. The park is home to Africa’s second largest canyon, as well as a rich diversity of wildlife and plants. Lush vegetation, waterfalls, rivers, and rock formations make for a stunning sight.
The best way to explore this magnificent park is by hiking on scenic driveways or wide trails.
Boulders Penguin Colony, Simon’s Town
If you’re a penguin lover, you’ll want to go to Simon’s Town, about an hour from Cape Town. Here you will find three beautiful beaches, home to the Boulders Penguin Colony.
In addition to diving in the bay, you can also find birds reclining in the sand and surrounding granite rocks. To enter the beach area where the penguins are located, you must enter the Table Mountain National Marine Sanctuary, which helps protect their habitat.
Wild Coast, Eastern Cape
Some of South Africa’s most beautiful coastlines lie between East London and Chintsa in the Eastern Cape. Last on our list of places to visit in South Africa, Wild Coast is an enchanting mix of craggy cliffs, azure ocean, golden sand, green hills and subtropical forests.
