We love to show off our country to visitors, understandably, but we often forget to enjoy it ourselves.
Cable Car View/Miriam Kimvangu
Living in South Africa means you’re surrounded by world-class destinations. But when last did you actually stop and experience them, if at all? Here of a few of the obvious iconic choices that you recognise and still haven’t visited.
Table Mountain
Cape Town
This one is for the Capetonians. No matter which side of the city you live, you’ve likely seen Table Mountain from afar. It’s time to stop looking at it from a distance. Whether you hike to the summit or take the rotating cable car, the views from Table Mountain never disappoint. The city stretches out to meet the Atlantic Ocean and you’ll understand why tourists flock here daily. It’s a perfect reminder that sometimes the most incredible destinations are the ones right in front of us.
City Sightseeing Bus
Johannesburg / Cape Town
It might seem “touristy”. Actually, it is definitely tourist. However, the City Sightseeing Bus is one of the best ways to experience the highlights of Cape Town or Johannesburg. With hop-on, hop-off stops and audio guides in multiple languages, the route offers locals a chance to slow down and actually see their cities. It’s affordable, fun and more importantly, a way to see all the tourist hotspots in one go.
Spice Route
Central Durban
Durban’s Indian Quarter is an incredible sensory experience and the Spice Route Walk brings its flavours to life. On this guided tour, you’ll get to walk through markets and alleys filled with spice shops, temples and a wide choice of street food vendors. Your guide shares the history of Durban’s Indian community along, making each stop a chance to connect scent with living culture.
Robben Island/Moheen Reeyad/Unsplash
Robben Island
Cape Town
Robben Island is a place all South Africans know by name, but few have actually been to. It gained its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, only further solidifying its importance to global history. The ferry ride from the V&A Waterfront takes you across Table Bay to the former prison where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years. What makes this visit so powerful is that tours are often led by former political prisoners themselves, offering deeply personal stories that bring South Africa’s struggle for freedom into vivid focus.
Soweto
Johannesburg
Soweto is the heart of modern South African history. The iconic township is host to Vilakazi Street, where both Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu once lived and the Hector Pieterson Memorial. It is filled with vibrant local eateries that you need to visit at least once. There is a wide range of guided tour experiences, depending on your preference. No matter how you choose to experience it, you’ll be up close and personal with the people and culture that defines Soweto.
Sun City/Shreekar Lathiya/Unsplash
Sun City and Pilanesberg
North West
The proximity of these sites makes it easy to combine the unique experiences of Sun City and Pilanesberg. Sun City is a classic resort with activities for everyone to do. Between the waterparks, golf courses and the luxurious accommodations that Sun City offers, it is impossible to get bored. It is not impossible, however, to simply want a change of pace. Pilanesberg National Park offers the raw and wild beauty of the Big Five and their beautiful habitat. Why choose one, when you can do both?
The Cradle of Humankind
Gauteng
Located just outside Johannesburg, the Cradle of Humankind of the most important archaeological sites in the world. The Cradle of Humankind, like Robben Island, is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is home to some of the oldest human fossils have been discovered, including “Mrs Ples” and “Little Foot”. At the Maropeng Visitor Centre, interactive exhibits explain how early humans once lived in this very region, while nearby Sterkfontein Caves offer a hands-on look at where some of the world’s oldest hominid fossils were discovered. For locals, it’s a rare chance to walk quite literally in the footsteps of our ancestors.
It’s easy to forget that the things tourists travel across the world to see are already part of our everyday landscape. Don’t fall into the “I can go whenever I want” trap. Be the tourist.
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