Places to Visit in Southern Africa
It is common to think of Africa as one defining image. For many it might be a safari, a vehicle bouncing across the wild open. For others, maybe an iconic location like Victoria Falls or Cape Town. And for some, it might be something completely different. But, the beauty of a place like Africa is that all of them are correct. Africa, and especially Southern Africa, are a mix of landscapes and environments all vastly different from each other. From coastlines to safari plans, there are iconic landmarks and off-the-radar gems to discover. And so, with that, let’s have a look at some of the best places to visit in Southern Africa.
Kruger National Park
Let’s start with the obvious attractions: the animals. In Southern Africa there are a wealth of places to take in some incredible safaris, but by far one of the most famous places to visit in Southern Africa is the Kruger national park. This massive national park (about the size of Wales) sits in the north-eastern corner of South Africa and is internationally known for its wildlife density. Many people enquiring about visiting Africa mention it by name, but it is important to know the difference between Kruger national park and the Kruger Reserves. Kruger national park is the large national park of the country, and visiting it is possible by any number of means. You can take an organised day trip in there, you can self drive yourself and you can also stay in various lodges within the park boundaries. This accessibility is, however, one of the big issues with Kruger national park. Despite being so big, it is one of the most well known places to visit in Southern Africa and during busy times the roads within Kruger national park become crowded with tourists, all looking for the same animals. This so called “Jeep Jam” has meant that the roads within the park become a traffic jam, and the amount of traffic also means that many roads within KNP are sealed, tarmac roads to prevent erosion. This doesn’t always align with the image of the African wild that most visitors have.
Nearby however are the famed Kruger reserves, also sometimes known as ‘Greater Kruger’. Unlike Kruger national park the land here is privately or community owned, meaning only guests of the lodges can be granted access. This keeps the crowds out, and also means you have more flexibility with your day and can undertake activities like night drives, when the animals are more active. Meanwhile, unless you are staying in Kruger national park then you have to leave as the sun goes down, meaning your evenings are spent in the nearby towns instead of amongst the wildlife. There aren’t fences between Kruger national park and these reserves, so the animals are just as wild (and arguably even wilder). If looking for incredible wildlife and one of the top places to visit in Southern Africa, then these Kruger reserves should be on your list.
Okavango Delta
Nearby Botswana also has a claim to fame on their safari bona fides. The Okavango Delta, a massive network of channels where the Okavango River hits a desert and fans out, attracts countless animal species of all shapes and sizes. This water source in an otherwise dry area means that the Okavango Delta environment is an incredible opportunity to see animals in their natural habitat, and makes it one of the best places to visit in Southern Africa. With the Okavango Delta area made up of a patchwork of private reserves and game reserves, crowds are more limited, and you can easily have a solo encounter with animals on your drives without anyone else around. In fact, the only way in and out of some of these Okavango Delta areas is to use light aircraft and with a range of lodges to suit almost anyone, this can provide a truly memorable travel experience. The Okavango Delta can be more expensive than other areas to visit, but the value is definately there.
Cape Town Attractions
Sitting down south on the bottom of South Africa, Cape Town remains one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Don’t ask us, ask the voters who thought so an epic seven years in a row! Apart from it’s natural beauty, the reason this city has remained one of the most popular places to visit in Southern Africa is because of all the Cape Town attractions on offer. Beginning with the most famous of all the Cape Town attractions, Table Mountain is a iconic natural wonder. The flat top mountain range sitting directly behind the city itself, it forms the backdrop for almost all of the photos taken, unless it is covered by a layer of cloud known as the “Tablecloth”. A short cable car ride puts you up the top for remarkable views down the whole coastline, or a longer walk gives you the same view but also wonderful (and sweaty) view on the way up. In fact, this city is a hikers paradise. One of the main Cape Town attractions is the various walks and hikes on offer, from Table Mountain itself to Signal Hill or along the coastline itself. With beautiful views at almost every turn, its a great city to break out the hiking shoes and go exploring. From Table Mountain you can also see the famed Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela most famously served his sentence. Now available to be visited, you can visit the cell he served his time in as well as learn about the political struggle he (and many others) devoted their lives to.
And the list of Cape Town attractions just keeps on coming! Nearby you ahve the wonderful Cape Winelands, filled with wine farms and gastronomic delights. Or, head the other direction and along the coastline to the Cape of Good Hope, maybe stopping in to see some penguins along the way. And yes, Africa has penguins! Whether it be posh wineries or parading penguins, it is this sort of diversity that makes Cape Town one of the must see places to visit in Southern Africa.
Garden Route
But what if this coastal life suits you and you want to do some self exploring? Perhaps you are into whales, or coastal forest, or surfing, or any other number of coastal highlights. Well, heading east from Cape Town is the famed Garden Route, a stunningly scenic drive along the southern edge of Africa. Ranging from anywhere between 4 days and over a week, a trip along the Garden Route is a freedom to choose what you enjoy and make your days your own. You might prefer the animal route, looking at whales near Hermanus and then going inland to see ostriches and Caves near Outdshoorn. Perhaps you like the seaside vibe, and spend some time near Knysna and Plettenberg Bay. Or, if you want to learn to surf or are a fan of Endless Summer vibes, no trip down the Garden Route would be complete without a stop in at Jeffreys Bay, a mecca for surf lovers the world over. There are small group tours available, but the Garden Route is perfect to be self driven, with the freedom to explore your own interests.
Victoria Falls
And the list of places to visit in Southern Africa goes on. We haven’t even mentioned Zimbabwe, or the Namibian desert, or Victoria Falls. And which Victoria Falls would you explore, the quiet riverside lodge or the adrenaline fuelled adventure, filled with bungy jumping and white water rafting? Ultimately that’s the best thing about this part of the world. The catalogue of options is long, and although it may seem overwhelming, with the right experts helping you out (hint hint) it is easy to create the perfect trip for you. Whether it be Victoria Falls, Kruger national park, the Okavango Delta, the Garden Route or any number of Cape Town attractions, there is something for everyone and eveything for someone.
What will your trip look like?
