It is no secret that South Africa has an abundance of natural beauty, vibrant cities, and world-renowned historical sites. To all our visitors and holidaymakers – both local and international – we've got a curated list of nine lesser-known destinations for you to dig into. Yes, they are a bit off the beaten track and not listed in all the guides, but you will soon agree that they are well worth your time.
Want to learn about the San, South Africa’s first people, from the San themselves? Travel seventy kilometres north of Cape Town, on the West Coast, to !Khwa ttu.
This culture and heritage centre covers everything from San origins and art, archaeological findings, the impact of colonisation on the San, to full on immersion into the San’s hunter-gatherer life.
And, the centre is located on a large nature reserve, located in the Cape Floral Kingdom and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here you'll see an abundance of unique fona and flora.
Other unique experiences include accommodation in open-air camps, mountain bike trails, and trails led by San guides.
Whether the connection between Hogsback and JRR Tolkien is true or a marketing myth, no one will ever know. But, there is no doubt that you’re entering Hobbit territory when you walk in the fairy forests surrounding this village high up in the Amatola Mountains.
Hogsback might be small, but it has a lot to offer from hiking, swimming and abseiling to fine dining and serene relaxation and meditation.
Spend your days looking out for the last Cape parrots and colourful Knysna Loeries, before relaxing with a cold one overlooking endless vistas and sunset views.
In winter, you could even experience snow – a big deal for South Africans!
Did you know that 200 wild horses roam freely in the grasslands surrounding the historic mining village of Kaapsehoop – about 25 kilometres from Nelspruit. Bet you didn’t – can anybody say roadtrip?!
The horses have lived in the area for more than a century, and there are many different stories about their origins.
It is likely that today’s horses are descended from war horses or old abandoned human settlements. Today, you might even see the horses roaming through the streets of the village.
One of the best ways to see them is on horseback through a local eco-tour. You’ll also get to take in the breathtaking views of the Barberton Valley and the northernmost part of the Drakensberg mountains.
This trip is a must.
When you think of Johannesburg, you probably think of a vibey city, commerce and gold. But what many people don’t know is that in the heart of Jozi is 150 hectares of wild, rocky koppies (small hills in South Africa) teeming with indigenous plants and animals!
If you want to see what Johannesburg looked like before it was mined for gold, these are the last remaining ridges, with some of the rocks three billion years old.
It is the site of an ancient Iron Age furnace, a 360-degree view of the city’s skyline, and the best place to find some hills for hiking or trail running. It’s pretty special.
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Bonus secret location in Gauteng: Check out the Orlando Towers Bungee in Soweto. It has the world’s first tower swing between two power station cooling towers.
Home to one of the world’s most significant archaeological findings, the Taung Skull, the Taung Heritage Route lets you follow in our ancestors’ steps.
This iconic route (that few South Africans have probably explored) includes natural wonders such as a limestone waterfall and the Blue Pools, as well as streams and caves in a lush river valley.
However, the jewel in the crown is undoubtedly the Taung Skull Fossil Site, part of the UNESCO Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site. Here you can see the fossilized skull of the Taung Child, a young Australopithecus africanus, was discovered in 1924. The link to our common human ancestry.
This natural prehistoric forest hidden in the Limpopo province is home to the largest number of the rare cycad Encephalartos transvenosus in the world.
According to locals, it is located in the realm of the legendary Rain Queen – revered for her rain-making abilities.
The forest is ideal for a gentle hike between the cycads, some of which are 13 metres tall with cones weighing 34 kilograms! There is also a massive waterfall that you can hike to and enjoy.
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You can also keep an eye open for wild game, including Blue Wildebeest and around 170 other species that call the area home.
The Free State isn’t just a province to drive through on your way somewhere else. The entire province offers much in the way of natural beauty, fauna, and flora. And, one of our capital cities, Bloemfontein, is more than just a stopover on the way to the coast.
The Rose City is home to the University of the Free State, and the famous Odeion School of Music. Throughout the year the music school offers a series of public concerts – often with free entry.
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Whether you are a classical music buff or want to increase your knowledge, this is a great way to expose yourself to this fascinating aural field.
Thrill seekers growing bored of the beaches of KwaZulu-Natal’s South Coast would do well to road trip to this dramatic 400-metre-deep gorge.
The less adventurous can take in the eye-watering scenic views from the edges of the canyon, while the adrenaline junkies will be drawn to the 165-metre gorge swing over the waterfall.
Not for the faint of heart, but it's well worth adding the world’s highest gorge swing to your bucket list.
Did you think you’d read that wrong? Surely the wine routes are in South Africa’s Western Cape!
For something a bit less curated, you can plot your own route along the wine farms located along the Orange River, South Africa’s border with Namibia.
This is definitely a white wine lover’s paradise, with everything from sweet, to sparkling, to lush dessert wines.
But there is something for everyone. Most of the main wine varietals are on offer and often at extremely affordable prices.
A good place to start is Orange River Wines in Upington, where you can taste the wines and learn how innovative irrigation makes wine in the desert possible.
So by all means, tick the regular destinations like Table Mountain and the Kruger Park off your bucket list. But don’t overlook some of these lesser-known, but equally beautiful and important destinations across the breadth of South Africa.
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