From city to safari, from Table Mountain to Kruger National Park, South Africa is overflowing with sights to see and places to be. Let’s take a trip from one end to the other across the country, writes Joshua Kearney.
V&A Waterfront/Wikimedia Commons
Welcome to Cape Town
Wale Street/Wikimedia Commons
Delville Wood Memorial, Company’s Gardens/Wikimedia Commons
Cape Peninsula/Wikimedia Commons
As befits a nation’s capital city, our journey begins in Cape Town. Spend some time in urban luxury: visit the V&A Waterfront, hike Lion’s Head, explore the Castle of Good Hope, and end your days with the restaurants on Kloof Street.
Take some time to yourself in the Company’s Gardens, ride the Table Mountain cable car, or go splashing in Camp’s Bay. Then, once you’ve had your fill of metropolis, prepare for the next leg of your journey.
Next stop: Paarl
Paarl’s Skyline/Wikimedia Commons
60 kilometres to the northeast, past Brackenfell and deep into the Winelands, we find Paarl. First on the sightseer’s list is Paarl Rock, followed by shopping the Spice Route and countless wine-tasting opportunities. If you have any interest in linguistics, make sure to visit the Afrikaanse Taalmonument and the Language Museum.
Take your time and savour the more rustic charm of the town, then get ready for what comes next.
Worcester, Robertson, & Barrydale
Karoo Gardens, Worcester/Wikimedia Commons
Robertson from Afar/Wikimedia Commons
Coming into Barrydale/Wikimedia Commons
Moving further East, through the Huguenot Tunnel, our next destination is Worcester. Between the Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden and the Karoo Desert Hiking Trails, you won’t lack for beauty.
Still further east – and a little south – we come to Robertson. Perfect for anyone looking for a thrill, it’s home to Skydive Robertson. If you’d prefer to keep your feet on the ground, enjoy the heritage sites instead, from the Pink Church to the Powder House.
Continuing on, passing through Ashton and Montagu – both lovely towns laden with charms of their own – we arrive at Barrydale. A sleepy place, this gentle stop is home to the Diesel & Crème and the best milkshakes in South Africa by no small margin.
Oudtshoorn to Beaufort West
Oudtshoorn under Blue Skies/Wikimedia Commons
Oudtshoorn Ostriches/Wikimedia Commons
Old Public Library, Beaufort West/Wikimedia Commons
Our next leg is the longest one yet. Snaking up along the R62 all the way across the mountains – through Ladismith, Zoar, and Calitzdorp – we come to Oudtshoorn. A very old town with a very long history, its most stand-out features are by far the nearly half-dozen ostrich farms, game lodges, and wildlife ranches.
Once you’ve had your fill of flightless birds and succulents, our journey brings us further north to Beaufort West and the Karoo National Park. Take the time to unwind, explore, and prepare for the road ahead.
Up to Bloemfontein
Women’s Monument, Bloemfontein/Wikimedia Commons
Overhead Shot, Bloemfontein/Wikimedia Commons
We go on, into the Northeast. Past Richmond, past Hanover, past Colesberg and Springfontein and Trompsburg.
Finally, we reach Bloemfontein. If you’re still hungry for nature, look no further than the Free State National Botanical Garden. Or, if you fancy yourself a fisherman, Maselspoort Resort is a popular place to cast a line. If neither of these appeal to you, why not instead catch a play at the Sand du Plessis Theatre?
To cap off your trip through the city of roses, pay a visit to the National Women’s Monument and Naval Hill Planetarium – the latter the very first digital planetarium in the Southern hemisphere.
Into Johannesburg
Johannesburg Skyline, 2017/Wikimedia Commons
The Apartheid Museum, Gauteng/Wikimedia Commons
Mandela House, Gauteng/Wikimedia Commons
And now, we continue north, deep into the heart of Gauteng.
Johannesburg is a beautiful city, and it is the perfect chance to catch your breath and relax after the long drive across the country. Kick back, relax, and enjoy all the creature comforts of city life.
Go enjoy the Mzansi Happy Island Theme Park or splash about Wild Waters aquatic park. Visit Maboneng Precinct, Walter Sisulu Square, and Northcliff Hill. And, of course, pay your respects to the past at the National Museum of Military History, the Apartheid Museum, and Mandela’s House.
Grand finale: Kruger National Park
Panorama, Kruger National Park/Wikimedia Commons
Pride of Lions, Kruger National Park/Wikimedia Commons
Elephant, Kruger National Park/Wikimedia Commons
For one last, great hurrah, it’s time to head to our ultimate destination. Even further Northeast from Johannesburg, almost to the very border, there lies Kruger National Park.
Entering through one of its nine gates, you take one final step from civilisation and into true wilderness. Explore, observe, and enjoy. Here, you can find all of the Big Five animals – lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo – as well as countless other species of bok and bird and so many more besides.
There’s nothing in the world like hearing a lion’s roar. It’s impossible to fully capture the gracefulness of a leopard or the majesty of an elephant in film or photo.
Closing the circle
And now, at the end of this extraordinary trip, you need to go home. Take the easy way, this time, and simply fly home. After so long on the road, you certainly deserve it. See you next time!
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