Things to do and see in South Africa

To do

Two Oceans Aquarium

Cape Town, Western Cape

Aquarium at the V&A Waterfront.

aquarium.co.za ↗

To see

Zeitz MOCAA

Cape Town, Western Cape

Museum of contemporary African art in a converted grain silo.

To do

Cederberg Wilderness Area

Clanwilliam, Western Cape

Hiking to the Wolfberg Arch and Maltese Cross, and rock art.

To do

Rooibos tea tours

Clanwilliam, Western Cape

Learn how rooibos is grown and processed.

To see

Huguenot Memorial and Museum

Franschhoek, Western Cape

Monument to the French Huguenots who settled the valley.

To do

Shark cage diving

Gansbaai, Western Cape

Cage-diving and boat trips from Kleinbaai.

To see

Outeniqua Transport Museum

George, Western Cape

Steam locomotives and vintage cars.

To do

Fernkloof Nature Reserve

Hermanus, Western Cape

Fynbos walks with views over Walker Bay.

To do

Whale watching

Hermanus, Western Cape

Watch southern right whales from the Cliff Path, roughly June to November.

To do

Chapman's Peak Drive

Hout Bay, Western Cape

One of the world's great coastal drives between Hout Bay and Noordhoek.

To do

Kalk Bay harbour

Kalk Bay, Western Cape

Fishing harbour with seafood restaurants, antique shops and seals.

To do

Knysna Forest walks

Knysna, Western Cape

Walks in the indigenous forest, home to the elusive Knysna elephants.

To see

Knysna Heads

Knysna, Western Cape

Sandstone cliffs guarding the entrance to the Knysna lagoon.

To see

Cape Agulhas lighthouse

L'Agulhas, Western Cape

The southernmost tip of Africa, where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet.

To do

Kitesurfing on the lagoon

Langebaan, Western Cape

Langebaan lagoon is one of the best kitesurfing spots in the country.

To see

West Coast National Park

Langebaan, Western Cape

Lagoon, birdlife and spring flowers at Postberg.

sanparks.org ↗

To do

Route 62

Montagu, Western Cape

Scenic wine and farm route through the Klein Karoo.

To see

Dias Museum Complex

Mossel Bay, Western Cape

Full-size replica of Bartolomeu Dias's caravel and the Post Office Tree.

To do

Muizenberg surfing

Muizenberg, Western Cape

Learn to surf next to the famous colourful beach huts.

To see

Cango Caves

Oudtshoorn, Western Cape

Limestone caves with heritage and adventure tours.

cango-caves.co.za ↗

To see

Taal Monument

Paarl, Western Cape

Monument to the Afrikaans language on Paarl Mountain.

To see

Paternoster fishing village

Paternoster, Western Cape

Whitewashed cottages and fresh seafood on the West Coast.

To see

Birds of Eden

Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape

One of the world's largest free-flight bird aviaries.

birdsofeden.co.za ↗

To see

Monkeyland

Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape

Free-roaming primate sanctuary.

monkeyland.co.za ↗

To do

Robberg Nature Reserve

Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape

Peninsula hike with seals, cliffs and sweeping bay views.

To do

Swartberg Pass

Prince Albert, Western Cape

Spectacular gravel pass between Oudtshoorn and Prince Albert.

To see

Boulders Beach penguins

Simon's Town, Western Cape

Colony of African penguins on a sheltered beach.

To see

Cape Point

Simon's Town, Western Cape

Dramatic cliffs and lighthouses in the Table Mountain National Park.

To do

Jonkershoek Nature Reserve

Stellenbosch, Western Cape

Hiking, mountain biking and waterfalls just outside town.

To see

Stellenbosch Village Museum

Stellenbosch, Western Cape

Four historic houses from different periods of the town's history.