Lifestyle
Seven reasons to explore South Africa
Travel restrictions aside, there are many great reasons to holiday locally. Here are seven to consider…
![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/08/lion-780x470.jpg)
- Wildlife safaris – Not many destinations offer a chance to get up close and personal with The Big 5, but several of SA’s exquisite game parks do. Choose a walking safari or escorted game drive, camp site or luxury lodge and let the untouched wild enthral you!
- Action adventures – Fancy an adrenalin rush? What about swimming with great white sharks, hiking up a mountain, abseiling down a cliff face, rafting down rapids or plunging off the world’s highest commercial bungee bridge? With all this and more it’s no wonder South Africa is rated one of the top adventure destinations in the world!
- Stunning scenery – From vast canyons and thundering waterfalls to beautiful beaches, dusty deserts and fantastical forests, South Africa has a rich range of scenic sights to inspire and delight. Whatever your favourite type of nature (hello Drakensberg mountains!), it’s available here.
- Sun-soaked coasts – No matter where you go along South Africa’s coast, you’ll find the ocean teeming with marine life and opportunities to surf and sail. Landmark sites include Hole in the Wall just off the Wild Coast, Boulder’s Beach in Simonstown and Durban’s Golden Mile where the water is warm enough to swim all year round.
- World heritage sites – South Africa has eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Cradle of Humankind, Robben Island, the Maloti-Drakensberg Heritage Route, the Cape Floral Region and Vredefort Dome. Each is a tourist attraction in its own right with either cultural or natural significance.
- Vibrant cities – Cape Town, Durban and Joburg may all beat to different rhythms, but each one boasts top class restaurants and nightclubs, theatres, museums, galleries and shopping malls. If you love the energy of a city, their sights and sounds are a feast for the senses!
- Diverse cultures – South Africa is a rich melting pot of cultures, with many different tribal and European influences. If you’re interested in history and cultural anthropology, places like District Six, the Apartheid Museum and Lesedi African Lodge and Cultural Village will give you an opportunity to explore them all…
* Some information taken from South African Tourism; or @meetsouthafrica on IG and Facebook