Five unexpected South African destinations for your travel bucket list

Enjoy the beauty of South Africa and discover something new and different in these five, unexpected and underrated destinations without breaking the bank. Cheapflights.co.za shares a list of five exciting, local destinations that you probably haven’t been to yet, but definitely want to visit: 

1. East London offers something fun, unique and interesting for everyone: 
   • The East London Museum and the East London Aquarium. 
   • The old Friesland Milk Bar was established in 1924 and is a must for a treat. 
   • Tea In The Trees is cute and quirky. 
   • See the excavation site of the oldest human fossil footprints (124,000 years old!) in the Nahoon Point Nature Reserve.

2. Saint Lucia in KZN is a world heritage site and a wonderful place for nature lovers who might be lucky enough to see: 

• The largest population of free-roaming hippos in South Africa
• Leatherback and Loggerhead turtles laying their eggs on the beaches in the summer months.
• Breathtaking Humpback Whale and Whale Shark sightings.

3. Bloemfontein is a must for avid gardeners and plant enthusiasts.  

• The City Of Roses is known for its abundance of roses and the annual rose festival. 
• The beautiful Free State National Botanical Garden is a 70-hectare garden with over 400 different species of plants, and an ancient settler’s cottage. 
• Flora fans can also visit the Orchid House at the foot of Naval Hill, where they can see hundreds of these exotic flowers.

4. Hoedspruit is the perfect place to stop when you are on your way to the Kruger National Park or Blyde River Canyon as it is right between the two and offers loads of adventurous activities such as:  

• Horseback safaris 
• Interactive elephant experiences 
• Hot air balloon safaris 

5. Mtunzini is set along Mtunzini Beach in KZN and is ideal for outdoor lovers: 

• Fishing expeditions offer a great day out on the water.  
• Go into the wild at the Tembe Elephant Park and Umlalazi Nature Reserve.
• Beer lovers cannot miss The Zululand Brewery – known as the smallest family-owned brewery on the KZN Brew Route (the route being an experience of its own!). The flagship Zulu Blonde was voted number one ale at an international ale festival in 2010 and has been stocked across UK pubs ever since.