Why you should see South Africa

What to see

“South Africa is the kind of place that’s hard to see on one visit,” says Page—as it’s big and diverse, with plenty of off-the-beaten-track treasures in addition to its high-profile destinations. But the following suggestions at least gesture at some of the premier attractions to be found in this southernmost realm of Africa.

Cape Town

South Africa’s legislative capital is consistently ranked among the top cities in the world to visit, not least for its spectacular, mountain-rimmed setting along Table Bay. It enjoys a mild Mediterranean-style climate with a rainy winter season from June to August. “Probably the best time to visit would be January, February, and March,” Page says.

No visit to Cape Town is complete without taking in the astonishing scenery of its signal peak Table Mountain up-close, and one classic way to do so is by riding the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway—in operation since 1929—to the summit. Page especially recommends a sunset ride on the cable car: “Cape Town is a major natural harbor and quite beautiful at night, especially from the panoramic view at the top of the gondola,” he says.

Cape Town’s beaches are legendary, and there’s fantastic shopping and dining to be had in this thoroughly cosmopolitan metropolis.

Page suggests tapping into South African history while exploring Cape Town via the District Six Museum, which tells the story of apartheid-era forced removal of the city’s District Six neighborhood, and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Robben Island in Table Bay, where civil rights leader Nelson Mandela—who helped lead the fight against apartheid and who ultimately became South Africa’s first black president—was imprisoned for some 18 years.

The Cape Peninsula

Venture beyond Cape Town to experience the stunning scenery and wildlife of the Cape Peninsula, which extends south from the city to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. “There are some surprisingly quiet, beautiful, crystal-clear beaches for all water-related activities including surfing and fishing,” Page says. Critters include the African penguins of Boulders Beach, plentiful chacma baboons, fur seals, humpbacks, and the southern right whales that frequent the coastal waters from June to November.

False Bay is also famous for its great white sharks: This is one of the preeminent places anywhere on Earth to go cage-diving with this superlative marine predator, which prowls these depths to feast on pinnipeds.

The Cape Winelands

Page also suggests touring the Cape Winelands, easily reached from Cape Town and host to some of the most extensive and well-regarded vineyards in South Africa. “These wines are becoming very famous and highly rated throughout the world,” Page notes. He suggests Stellenbosch—some 30 miles east of Cape Town—as a good destination for sampling the flavor of the Winelands country.

Private game reserves

For more classic South African wildlife-viewing, Page recommends two private game reserves in the Kruger vicinity: Kapama and Sabi Sand. These well-accoutered refuges also play host to the Big Five, plus everything from blue wildebeest and impala to civets, pangolins, vervet monkeys, and those feisty members of the weasel family known as honey badgers or ratels.

 “In a private game reserve, you’ll generally do two game drives a day,” Page explains. “You’ll start early in the morning about daybreak, because that’s when many predators are active, and do a four- or five-hour game drive with a driver and a guide. Then in the afternoon and evening as the sun’s going down, you’ll go out on another game drive for three or four hours, and again that’s another very active time for animals.”

Blyde River Canyon

South Africa boasts one of the world’s greatest gorges in the form of the Blyde River Canyon, among the scenic centerpieces of the Drakensberg. Here you’ll find such wonders as the “Weeping Face of Nature” waterfall and the round-topped canyon pillars called the Three Rondavels.

What to eat

Chutney

A quintessential taste of South Africa, according to Page. South African chutney is similar to jam and usually made with sweet fruit, but with chili and vinegar to balance out the sweetness. It can be used as a baste on meat, a dipping sauce, or a topping for toast, among many other uses. Page says the locally produced Mrs. Ball’s Original Chutney is “a must-eat and something to bring back home.”

Braai

The South African version of barbecuing is known as braaivleis, an Afrikaans word meaning "grilled meat." Called braai for short, it's traditionally done with a wood fire, and it's a common way for South Africans to socialize, as well as a popular cuisine in restaurants. Meats on offer include familiar favorites like steaks and chicken, but you'll also find native favorites like boerewors, a traditional South African sausage cooked in a spiral shape; and roosterbrood bread, which is cooked by putting dough right on the grill.

Where to stay & how to get around

Stay in Cape Town

“Cape Town offers world-class accommodations such as the Waterfront Hotel, the Commodore Hotel, and the Table Bay Hotel,” Page says. He also highly recommends the Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa to the south of the city along the road down the Cape Peninsula, which overlooks the Atlantic.

Stay in Johannesburg

In Johannesburg, meanwhile, your options include the Saxon Hotel, Villas & Spas—which, notably, once served as a home-away-from-home for none other than Nelson Mandela—as well as Fairlawns Boutique Hotel & Spa and the Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff.

Other destinations to add to your trip