Most Exotic Places To Visit In South Africa

South Africa is without any doubt one of the most beautiful countries in Africa. The country is quite popular for its scenic beauty, exotic safari as well breathtaking beaches. There are plenty of places to visit in South Africa and each place has so much to offer.

South Africa is often referred to as “The World in One Country” due to its geographical area and diverse culture.

In this article, we have mentioned the top 10 most exotic places to visit in South Africa along with things to do.

Top 10 Most Exotic Places To Visit In South Africa

1. Kruger National Park

Situated in Northeastern South Africa in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga district, the Kruger National Park is one of the oldest national parks in South Africa as well the largest wildlife reserve in the World. The Kruger National Park spans up to 20,720 sq kilometers.

The Kruger National Park is known for a variety of wild species including the big five i.e lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo. Apart from the big five, the park also has several other animal species such as Zebra, Giraffe, Hippopotamus and more than 500 bird species.

Visiting Time: 6:00 AM to 5:30 PM

Best Time to Visit: June to August

Entry Fees: R1500

2. The Garden Route

Known for its Scenic beauty, The Garden Route is one of the most popular places to visit in South Africa. It spans up to 300 kilometers and lies between Mossel Bay and Plettenberg Bay.

The place has so much to explore including sailing on lagoons, hiking at coastal forests, exploring caves as well bungee jumping into plunging gorges. The Garden Route is one of the top places to visit in South Africa, especially for animal lovers.

Some of the top tourist attractions at the Garden Route include bird sanctuaries, ostrich farms and whales. Apart from this, the place is numerous things to do including feeding or walking with elephants, cruise tour from Knysna,

Best Time to Visit: September to October

Ideal Duration: 4 Days

Entry Fees: Check the Complete Entry Fees Here

3. Kgalagadi National Park

Situated in the western region of South Africa, The Kgalagadi National Park spans up to 3.6 million hectares. Inhabitants variety of birds and animal species. The national park is one of the few national parks in terms of the area it covers. Also one of the top places to visit in South Africa for wildlife enthusiasts.

There are a number of things to do at Kgalagadi National Park including Mountain Biking at Hakseeenpan, Eco Trail at Nossob, exploring the Auchterlone Museum and many more.

VisitingTime:

March - 6:30 AM to 7:00 PM
April - 7:00 AM to 6:30 PM
May - 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Check the Complete Schedule for all seasons

Best Time to Visit: March to May

Entry Fees:

South African Citizens - R104 for Adults and R52 for Children
SADC Nationals - R208 for Adults and R104 for Children
International Visitors - R416 for Adults and R208 for Children

Also Read : Wildlife Areas In Bali For Exotic Experience Of Nature

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4. iSimangaliso Wetland Park

The largest protected wetland in South Africa spans up to 220 km, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park is one of the largest natural reserves. It was listed as the first World Heritage Site in 1999 by UNESCO. It is of the top places to visit in South Africa, especially for eco-tourists.

The Wetland is home to a variety of animal species among which among 1800 crocodiles, more than 800 hippopotami, Africa Leopards and bush elephants are the top tourist attractions.

VisitingTime: 24/7

Best Time to Visit: May to September

Entry Fees: Check the Complete Entry Fees Here

5. Robben Island

Another World Heritage Site in South Africa, Robben Island has a history of 500 years and it is regarded as a symbol of “the triumph of the human spirit over adversity, suffering and injustice”.

Your tour to Robben Island will begin from a graveyard where people who died from leprosy are buried. As soon as move forward, you will see the Lime Quarry, Robert Sobukwe’s house, army and navy bunkers and a prison where many South African freedom fighters were imprisoned for several years.

VisitingTime: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Best Time to Visit: November to March

Ideal Duration: 6 to 7 Days

Entry Fees:

Adults: R360 for a normal ferry trip and R1050 for a special tour
Children: R200 for a normal ferry trip and R600 for a special tour

Also Read: 5 Most Exciting Places In Belgium Which You Must Visit Atleast Once

6. Sani Pass

Situated in the Wast KwaZulu-Natal region of South Africa, The Sani Pass Mountain is one of the best places to visit in South Africa to experience off-roading. It is one of the most beautiful mountain passes in South Africa.

Though the route is short but it will surely give you an unforgettable experience as you can witness the scenic beauty while passing from Sani Pass.

VisitingTime: 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Best Time to Visit: November to March

Entry Fees: Not Required

7. Boulders Beach

Situated outside of Simon’s Town and a little far from the city of Cape Town, The Boulders beach is home to thousands of penguins. People usually visit Boulders Beach to witness these beautiful penguins. If you are looking forward to visiting the most unique or unreal places in South Africa, then you must visit Boulders Beach.

There are plenty of things to do on boulders beach including a number of watersports. While in Boulders Beach you can enjoy numerous water sports such

as surfing, kite surfing, scuba diving, or swimming with the penguins.

VisitingTime: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Best Time to Visit: October to March

Entry Fees:

Adults: R152 for foreigners and R39 for South African Citizens
Children: R76 for foreigners and R20 for South African Citizens

8. Cape Point

Cape Point is situated 60 km away from the city of Cape Town. Also listed among the best places to visit in Cape Town, are the places of the major tourist attractions because of huge stone cliffs, and breathtaking bays.

Cape Point has around 1100 plants row which gives it another level of scenic beauty. Apart from its scenic beauty, there are a number of things to do in Cape Point including walking the shipwreck trail, hiking, swimming or riding an electric bike towards the Cape of Good Hope.

VisitingTime:

Weekends & Public Holidays: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Weekdays: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Best Time to Visit: May to October

Entry Fees:

South African Citizens - R85 for Adults and R40 for Children
SADC Nationals - R170 for Adults and R85 for Children
Standard Entry - R340 for Adults and R170 for Children

9. Valley of a Thousand Hills

The Valley is situated in between urban areas of the city of Durban and the South African capital, Pietermaritzburg. A majestic valley combined with 1000 hills, thus named the Valley of Thousand Hills.

Here you can witness the true scenic beauty of South Africa along with several wild animals, African culture, history as well as the Zulu people. One of the most beautiful places to visit in Durban.

VisitingTime: 24 Hours

Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year

Entry Fees: Not Required

10. Storms River Bridge

Storms River Bridge is one of the top tourist attractions in South Africa. The Bridge is 77 meters long and stretches over the serene waters of Storms River. The Storms River Bridge was built in the year 1969 and connects to the Tsitsikamma National Park.

VisitingTime: 24 Hours

Best Time to Visit: Throughout the year

Entry Fees: Not Required