Discover our members' favourite cities in South Africa. Feel free to publish your own reviews to take part in this collaborative ranking.
Wedged between turbulent oceans and a flat-topped mountain, Cape Town packs a lot into its borders. You will find postcard-perfect beaches with freezing water, historic townships, hillside vineyards, and penguins lounging on white sand. Dining here competes with major global capitals, and adventure waits at every turn, all for a reasonable price. Expect a mix of raw wilderness and relaxed cosmopolitan life under the Southern Hemisphere sun.
Renamed Mbombela, Nelspruit serves as the capital of South Africa's Mpumalanga province and the primary gateway to Kruger National Park. You can explore the biodiversity of the Lowveld Botanical Gardens or descend into the Sudwala Caves, which are among the oldest in the world. The area offers plenty of action, from whitewater rafting to educational tours at the Chimp Eden sanctuary.
Johannesburg is the economic engine of South Africa, where history, art, and nature collide. Spend time at the Apartheid Museum and Soweto to understand the struggle for freedom, or check out the galleries and street art in the Maboneng District. For a change of pace, the Johannesburg Botanical Garden and nearby sites like the Cradle of Humankind offer a quick escape from the city grind.
Oudtshoorn, located in the Klein Karoo region, is widely known as the ostrich capital of the world. Several ostrich farms, such as Highgate and Safari Ostrich Show Farm, offer guided tours where you can learn about raising these massive birds. These farms also provide insight into their role in the region's economic history and let you observe these distinctive creatures up close.
About 30 minutes outside town, the Cango Caves rank among Oudtshoorn's top attractions. These limestone caverns, shaped by millennia of erosion, feature impressive stalactite and stalagmite formations. Guided tours, offered in multiple languages, take you through this well-preserved geological wonder. Adventure seekers can also opt for more rugged spelunking tours.
The Swartberg Pass, just outside Oudtshoorn, is a dramatic mountain pass delivering sweeping views of the surrounding landscape. Accessible by car, it requires a slow drive to fully take in the panoramas and stop at the designated viewpoints. While the road is unpaved gravel, it remains drivable for standard passenger vehicles. The area is a favorite for photographers and hikers alike.
Oudtshoorn is famous for its ostrich meat dishes, prized for being lean and flavorful. Restaurants like Karoo Pot and Jemima’s serve ostrich steaks, burgers, and even sausages. Local specialties like biltong (cured dried meat) and wine from nearby vineyards are also worth trying. The region suits food travelers looking to taste traditional Karoo flavors.
Oudtshoorn has a semi-arid climate featuring hot summers and mild winters. Spring months (September to November) and autumn months (March to May) bring comfortable temperatures for exploring the area. In April, the KKNK (Klein Karoo National Arts Festival) fills the town with art performances and music, drawing visitors from across the country.
Oudtshoorn is accessible by car from Cape Town (a 5 to 6 hour drive) or George, the closest airport hub, located about 1 hour away. Domestic flights connect George to Johannesburg and Cape Town, with fares generally ranging between $90 and $169*. Renting a car gives you the flexibility needed to explore Oudtshoorn and the surrounding area.
Durban sits on the eastern coast of South Africa, framed by the Indian Ocean. The Golden Mile stretches out along the waterfront with miles of boardwalk, dependable surf spots, and an easygoing energy. Subtropical weather keeps swimming comfortable nearly year-round. While the local sand doesn't rival the country's most dramatic coastlines, it works well if you want a sunny, accessible beach base.
Zulu, Indian, and colonial influences shape everyday life here. The Victoria Street Market brings these communities together under one roof, where stalls sell Indian spices alongside local crafts and jewelry.
For context on the region's past, the KwaMuhle Museum covers the apartheid era and the lives of migrant workers through a sober, educational lens. The Juma Mosque, the largest in South Africa, stands out for its detailed architecture.
Outdoor spaces sit right on the city's doorstep. The Durban Botanic Gardens, the oldest in the country, offer a quiet green escape inside city limits. For marine life, the uShaka Marine World aquarium runs educational exhibits and shows. Families make up much of the crowd, but it is worth a stop.
A thirty-minute drive inland brings you to the Valley of a Thousand Hills, where steep green ridges stretch out in all directions.
Durban is famous for its Indian-inspired cuisine, starting with the bunny chow, a hollowed-out loaf of bread stuffed with hot curry. You can pick one up at takeaway counters across town. Waterfront spots serve up fresh seafood like prawns and grilled fish. To try traditional Zulu dishes, places like the Mzansi Restaurant serve home-style meals.
Durban stays warm all year, but the winter months from May to August bring moderate temperatures and lower humidity. Sports fans will find the city charged around the time of the Comrades Marathon in June. December brings summer school holidays, filling the beaches with domestic travelers.
King Shaka International Airport sits about thirty minutes outside the city center. International itineraries usually route through Johannesburg or Cape Town. Round-trip flights from Europe average $680 to $900*, with total travel times running between 14 and 18 hours depending on connections.
It is pretty surprising, but the capital of South Africa is neither Johannesburg nor Cape Town, but Pretoria, a big city right next to Johannesburg. There is no particular point in visiting. Few touri…
It is pretty surprising, but the capital of South Africa is neither Johannesburg nor Cape Town, but Pretoria, a big city right next to Johannesburg. There is no particular point in visiting. Few tourists go there and there are no tourist attractions, except for a memorial to the Afrikaners who came from the Cape. It was actually a city of farmers originally, before becoming a city of white civil servants. Skip it!
Oudtshoorn is a pretty unique place in South Africa. Populated by descendants of Afrikaners, you will really get the feeling of being in another world. You should expect a population of white farmers…
Oudtshoorn is a pretty unique place in South Africa. Populated by descendants of Afrikaners, you will really get the feeling of being in another world. You should expect a population of white farmers who are quite rustic, but this allows for a different view of the country than the coast and helps you better understand the current issues of the country. Absolutely visit an ostrich farm. They made the reputation (and the wealth) of the city. It is a questionable pastime, but we tried the ostrich racing. Contrary to what you might think, it turns out to be very difficult.
Port Elizabeth is the main city between Cape Town and Durban. It is part of the South African wine route that stretches 850 km between those two cities. The architecture is very colonial. In my opini…
Port Elizabeth is the main city between Cape Town and Durban. It is part of the South African wine route that stretches 850 km between those two cities. The architecture is very colonial. In my opinion, this is not the most interesting area of South Africa for Europeans. It is better to enjoy Cape Town or head inland. During my stay, it was also considered a fairly dangerous city.
I have a special affection for India after having spent several months there. So, I really enjoyed finding the atmosphere and culture of the subcontinent in Durban. Durban is indeed known for its larg…
I have a special affection for India after having spent several months there. So, I really enjoyed finding the atmosphere and culture of the subcontinent in Durban. Durban is indeed known for its large Indian community that came to work there when the country was a British colony. The third largest city in South Africa turns out to be dangerous at night. Avoid traveling around because robberies are frequent. During the day, you can easily head to the market, stroll along the ocean, and enjoy the funfair.
A quick stay is enough for Johannesburg. It is often just a stopover for other excursions (Kruger, Drakensberg...). It is also an interesting city because of its sad Apartheid history, which is very w…
A quick stay is enough for Johannesburg. It is often just a stopover for other excursions (Kruger, Drakensberg...). It is also an interesting city because of its sad Apartheid history, which is very well told in the must-see museum dedicated to the city's segregation. Johannesburg, or at least its trendy neighborhood aimed at foreign tourists, seemed relatively safe to me with basic precautions. There is quite a bit of graffiti, improv shows, bars, flea markets, etc.
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