Choose from 133 Fun Things to Do in South Africa
ShowingFilter 41-60 of 133 listings.
Hartbeespoort Aerial Cableway
Gauteng’s answer to the Table Mountain Cableway, the suspended gondolas at Hartbeespoort, just under 50 miles from Johanessburg’s downtown, lift riders to a scenic overlook with hiking, dining and even shopping at the top.
The historic and recently restored cable sports fourteen completely-enclosed green gondolas, each capable of ferrying six passengers ¾ of a mile up the slopes of Magaliesberg Mountain. Wrap-around windows show the impressive lake created by the nearby Hartebeespoort Dam, the surrounding mountains and, on a clear day, all the way to Pretoria. Sharing the airspace are black eagles, endangered Cape vultures and more than 300 other species of birds.
At the top, the short Dassie loop, named for the fluffy rodents found amid the rocks, includes signage at lookouts of interest including the Coca-Cola Dome in Johannesburg, 34 miles to the south. The cableway also operates a pair of restaurants – a fancier sit down place at the bottom and a summit restaurant with Lookout Bar offering customizable baskets for scenic picnics – a jungle gym for kids at the top and an Adventure Centre selling paragliding and abseiling packages near the
base station. Upper and lower curio vendors, including the aptly named ‘Little Shop at the Top,’ sell cableway souvenirs, toys, apparel, jewelry as well as home décor and art.
Practical Info
The Hartbeespoort (Harties for short) Aerial Cableway base station is located off Route 511 just past the high school in Hartbeespoort. It’s open daily, weather permitting, from 8:30 a.m. with the first ride starting at 9 a.m.; closing times vary based on season. It’s worth it to wait for sunny weather – clouds and fog can obscure the full experience. Return tickets cost R 195 for adults and R 115 for kids ages 4 to 14. Many visitors combine a trip to the top with other Hartbeespoort attractions such as the Elephant Sanctuary, the Bush Babies Monkey Sanctuary and the Vulture Rehabilitation Centre.
Address: R511, Hartbeespoort, South Africa
Hours: Ticket office opens at 8:30am and the first car up is at 9:00am. Ticket office closes at 4:00pm, outlets at the top close at 4:30pm and the last car down for guests is at 4:45pm.
Admission: Adults: R195; Children (4-14): R115; Under four: free
From $ 305
Khayelitsha Township
Khayelitsha is thought to be not only the largest township in South Africa but also the fastest-growing. It was established in 1985 as part of a 1950 law assigning difference racial groups to different residential areas, when black residents were forcibly moved to the new township, sometimes violently.
Today, Khayelitsha has a population of more than 390,000 people. Living conditions in the township have improved a great deal since the fall of apartheid, but even as recently as 2001 most of the residents still lived in shacks and did not have easy access to fresh water. Tourism to Khayelitsha is increasing, with visits to the craft market and township tours on offer.
Practical Info
Khayelitsha is about 15.5 miles southeast of Cape Town. As with any township, it's best to visit with an official guided tour, as navigating townships can be extremely confusing if you aren't familiar with the layout.
Address: Khayelitsha, South Africa
From $ 46
Johannesburg Zoo
You don’t have to head for the big game reserves to see the amazing variety of South African wildlife – it’s all on display at Johannesburg Zoo. On a sprawling 54 hectare (133 acre) site you’ll see evidence of an enlightened zoological program, with majestic lions, playful monkeys and distinctive horned oryxes all given room to roam.
Additionally, you’ll find non-native animals including polar bears, Siberian Tigers and camels. While enjoying the green expanse of one of Jo’burg’s great outdoor spaces you can watch crocodiles being fed, handle (non-venomous) snakes and visit a real farmyard.
Practical Info
Johannesburg Zoo is north of the city center in the Parktown district. Take the M1 South motorway and follow the signs.
Address: Jan Smuts Avenue, Parkview, Johannesburg 2122, South Africa
From $ 16
Himeville
The KwaZulu-Natal town of Himeville is near the dramatic Drakensberg mountains, roughly 132 miles from Durban. It's a gateway to the Sani Pass en route to Lesotho. Himeville was settled in the late 1880s, and the city's museum is housed in a building that dates from 1900. There are exhibits about the area's agricultural history and rural life in this part of South Africa.
The Drakensberg area near Himeville is popular for outdoor sports of all kinds, including rafting, horseback riding, and fly fishing. The nearby Sani Pass links South Africa with the enclave of Lesotho, though the road is difficult enough that 4x4 vehicles are required.
Practical Info
The small population of Himeville belies the town's popularity with visitors, primarily those on their way to or from Lesotho or anyone on holiday in the Drakensberg. There's also an annual music festival that swells the population by several thousand each April.
Address: Himeville, South Africa
From $ 218
Iziko South African Museum
One of the oldest museums in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Iziko South African Museum is home to more than half a million unique artifacts. Visitors can explore the halls of this historic place, which was founded in 1897, and learn more about the history and the people of the continent’s most-southern country.
Fossils dating some 700 million years back and tools fashioned by natives more than 120,000 years ago are just some of the unique—and archaic—items that make Iziko a destination for history lovers.
Fossils dating some 700 million years back and tools fashioned by natives more than 120,000 years ago are just some of the unique—and archaic—items that make Iziko a destination for history lovers.
Practical Info
The museum is located at 25 Queen Victoria Street. It’s open daily from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Admission is R30 for adults, R15 for children, seniors and students.
Address: 25 Queen Victoria St, Cape Town, South Africa
Hours: Daily 10am - 5pm
Admission: Adult: R30; Child: R15
From $ 52
Jumma Mosque
With space for up to 5,000 worshippers, the Jumma Mosque (also known as the Juma Masjid) is the largest mosque in the southern hemisphere. It is also one of its oldest, its impressive minarets having dominated Durban’s Indian Quarter for over a hundred years, its sheltered ground floor-level shops forming an intercultural dialogue with the rest of the city.
The building is a fascinating mix of Mughal Indian and colonial South African styles, distinguished by the archways and decorative plasterwork of the off-white exterior and the serene marble of the surprisingly spacious interior, which offers an oasis from the bustling commercial activity of the area.
The Jumma Mosque is on the corner of Grey and Queen Streets in the centre of the Indian Quarter.
Address: Grey Street, Durban, South Africa
Hours: Open for visitors weekdays and Saturday mornings
From $ 41
Jordan Winery
Because of the climate that’s needed to grow wine, vineyards are often located in areas with exceptional natural beauty. In the case of the famous Cape Winelands, however, the rolling hills and jagged mountains provide an awesome sense of wonder that’s stronger than most other wine regions. Of all the wineries in Stellenbosch, the Jordan Winery is one of the more scenic, luxurious, and storied places, and has been family-owned since 1982 well before the area had become famous.
In addition to the spectacular natural surroundings, Jordan Winery owes much of its success to the area’s mineral-rich soil, which tour guides discuss and explain in depth while strolling the vineyards before heading down to the impressively engineered cellar. As a winery that focuses on blending methods from the New as well as Old worlds, Jordan Winery has stainless steel tanks as well as wooden barrels, which along with the fresh, flavorful grapes and decades of winemaking knowledge, help create the distinctive flavors that Jordan Winery is known for.
Practical Info
Jordan Winery is 15 minutes from Stellenbosch and 45 minutes from Cape Town. There is also an exceptional restaurant on site, which is frequently named as one of the best places to dine when visiting Cape Town. The restaurant seats lunch guests from 12-2pm, and dinner guests from 6:30-7:30pm. Advance reservations are absolutely essential, and all diners must be 13 or older.
Did You Know? The land where Jordan Winery is situated has been used for farming and agriculture for over 300 years.
Address: Jordan Wine Estate, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa 7604, South Africa
Hours: Tastings and tours are available from 9:30am-4:30pm daily, and until 6:30pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings from December-February.
Admission: A tasting of six wines begins at 50 Rand ($3) with higher prices for cheese trays and tours.
From $ 128
Howick Falls
Howick Falls is a waterfall in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, some 63 miles from Durban. It falls roughly 310 feet from the river into a pool before the river continues on.
The Zulu name for the falls is KwaNogqaza, and legend is that a huge serpent lives in the pool beneath the falls. Sangomas, or fortune tellers, are said to be the only ones who can go near the waterfall safely.
Whether you believe the stories or not, the truth is that many people have died attempting to cross the Umgeni River just above the falls. Howick Falls remains a popular tourist destination, perhaps as much due to the legends as to its natural beauty.
Practical Info
You can make Howick Falls one stop on a scenic drive through the Midlands Meander, as this scenic route is known, or you can head for the falls to hike around the base. The hike to the pool below the falls takes about an hour.
Address: Falls Dr., Howick, South Africa
Hours: Daily
From $ 218
Johannesburg Botanical Gardens and Emmarentia Dam
The Johannesburg Botanical Gardens are a popular escape from the busy city, and the adjacent reservoir created by the Emmarentia Dam provides an additional space for outdoor recreation.
The Emmarentia Dam opened in 1912, and its reservoir is used for boating and fishing. On its western shore, the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens cover more than 308 acres and include an herb garden, a succulent garden, and the rose garden from which the rest of the property grew. The rose garden was started in 1964.
The eastern side of the Emmarantia Dam is also good for picnics, barbecues, and outdoor recreation, primarily consisting of woods and grassy meadows.
Practical Info
The Johannesburg Botanical Gardens are just over 3.7 miles from the city center, and a popular spot for weekend picnics when the weather is nice. The grounds are open year-round from sunrise until sunset, and entry is free.
Address: Olifants Road, Johannesburg, South Africa
Hours: Daily sunrise to sunset
From $ 65
Hluhluwe Game Reserve
Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve, in the north of KwaZulu-Natal state, is the oldest in South Africa, drawing visitors for over a hundred years. Careful conservation ensures an amazing array of wildlife such as rhinoceroses (including the rare white rhinoceros), elephants and Cape Buffalos, as well as big cats including lions, leopards and cheetahs.
The landscape ranges from flat savannah to steep hills, criss-crossed by rivers and dotted with water holes, where you may well spot the Nyala, or South African antelope. There is also a huge range of birdlife, with many species unique to this area.
Practical Info
Hluhluwe Game Reserve covers almost 1,000 square kilometers (380 square miles) and lies 280 kilometers (174 miles) north of Durban; follow the signs from the town of Mtubatuba to reach the entry gate.
Well signposted roads allow self-drive expeditions, though guided driving and walking tours will ensure you get the most out of your trip. There are lodges for overnight stays within the Reserve, but bear in mind that it lies in a malarial area and appropriate precautions should be taken.
Address: South Africa
Hours: Open year round
Admission: R80
From $ 192
Hillbrow Tower
Africa's tallest structure is in the skyscraper-rich city of Johannesburg, in the suburb of Hillbrow to be exact. The Hillbrow Tower stands at 883 feet and has held the title of Africa's tallest tower for 40 years.
The Hillbrow Tower was completed in 1971, and was at one time the tallest structure in the Southern Hemisphere. It lost that designation in 1978 when a chimney in Queensland, Australia was built to be two feet taller. The structure is technically called the Telkom Jo'burg Tower, after the telecommunications company for whom it was initially built.
The distinctive Hillbrow Tower is one of the symbols of Johannesburg – it was decorated with an enormous soccer ball during the 2010 World Cup. The tower was closed to visitors in 1981, which is too bad for anyone who appreciates soaring views – the tower was once one of the city's top tourist draws, and one of the top floors even had a revolving restaurant.
Since the Hillbrow Tower was closed, the furnishings in the high-end restaurants and observation deck in the upper floors have been removed and are in the Telkom buildings in Pretoria. Some of the building is now used by Telkom for office space.
Address: Johannesburg, South Africa
From $ 65
Hartbeespoort Dam
Built in the 1920s, the Hartbeespoort Dam is located between two mountain ranges in an area that was once popular for hunting a type of antelope called the hartebeest. A farm known as Hartbeespoort was on the site and purchased by the government in order to build the dam. The result was the Hartbeespoort Reservoir, created from the Crocodile River.
The dam stands more than195 feet tall and stretches 490 feet across the valley. The reservoir behind it is nearly 150 feet at its deepest point and has become a popular recreation site for residents of Johannesburg and Pretoria. The water quality is generally considered to be poor, but there are lots of opportunities for boating excursions and picnics along the water's edge.
Practical Info
The Hartbeespoort Dam is roughly 28 miles from Pretoria, and just under 60 miles from Johannesburg. There are vacation lodges in various spots around the reservoir.
Address: South Africa
From $ 141
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999 (the first in South Africa), iSimangaliso Wetland Park encompasses 820,389 acres (332,000 hectares) of lakes, estuaries, beaches, swamps, coastal dunes and coral reefs extending for some 125 miles (200 kilometers) along the coast of the Indian Ocean.
This wide variety of interlinking ecosystems has yielded incredible biodiversity in the area — the park is home to more than 6,500 plant and animal species, including 521 species of birds, as well as African elephants, humpback whales, loggerhead and leatherback sea turtles, Nile crocodiles and hippos.
The best way to explore the vast wetland park is by boat, which allows visitors to observe the park’s wildlife from relatively close up. Diving, snorkeling, kayaking, camping and horseback riding are also on offer within the park.
Practical Info
Accommodations within the park include self-catering safari tents and cabins, a few up-market catered lodges and nearly a dozen campgrounds.
Address: Saint Lucia, South Africa
Admission: Entrance fee required
From $ 217
James Hall Museum of Transport
This giant brick warehouse divided in to seven sections is dedicated to all things transportation. From ox carts to early bicycles and modern day cars and trains, the James Hall Museum of Transport is a showcase of the implements that have propelled the people of South Africa for more than a century.
Most self-guided tours begin in the North Hall, home to motorcars from before and after the South African War. This area includes the museum’s oldest car, a green Edwardian Clement-Panhard (1900), as well as unusual artifacts like the minuscule 1957 MBW Microcar Isetta. Locomotives and retired city vehicles, like a double-decker bus, are on the open-air porch, and examples of buses and trolleys, including Johannesburg’s last electric powered Tram and a traveling library bus still filled with books, can be seen in the West Hall.
The two floors of the South Hall showcase a plethora of animal drawn vehicles from ox-carts to private carriages… there’s even an old horse-drawn Zeederberg Company mail coach and a Voortrekker wagon used by Afrikanners during the Great Trek to Johannesburg from the Cape Colony. From there, it’s about motorcycles and bikes in front of the East Hall where the silly- looking penny farthing bicycle, tricycles, scooters and rickshaws are on display. The back of the East Hall is a devoted garage for a suite of red fire engines. The courtyard is home to steam-powered vehicles, some of which regain their steam (so to speak) once a year, offering rides for a museum fundraiser. A wander through for most takes between one and two hours.
Practical Info
The museum is located off Turf Road opposite Rand Stadium in Wemmer Pan – Pioneer Park in southern Johannesburg. Many of the sightseeing bus routes navigating the city stop here. The museum is run as a non-profit and admission is free but donations are happily accepted. It’s open Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. til 5 p.m., and weekends from 9 a.m. til noon and from 1 til 5 p.m. For a guided tour, book ahead via the contact on their website.
Address: Turf Rpad, Johannesburg South 2197, South Africa
Hours: Open Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. til 5 p.m., and weekends from 9 a.m. til noon and from 1 til 5 p.m.
From $ 16
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens
The Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, established in 1913 to protect indigenous flora, were the first of their kind in the world. The main garden covers five of the six South African biomes, most of which are found inside an indoor greenhouse. The Kirstenbosch gardens are also home to various exhibitions of sculpture ranging from Zimbabwean stone sculptures to the world-famous bronze animals of Dylan Lewis.
Nature lovers and hikers both enjoy the gardens, as there is series of nearby trails that lead to Table Mountain and the pass at Constantia Nek, the site of the oldest restaurant in Cape Town. From Constantia Nek, hikers can reach the mountain of Constantiaberg, the back table reservoirs of Table Mountain and Cecilia Forest. Following the same path north leads to the Rhodes Memorial and the slopes of Devil's Peak.
Practical Info
The Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens are regularly visited on tours of the Cape Peninsula. The site often host concerts and other outdoor performances, many of which are part of art and performance camps for children. By car, the gardens are about about 13 miles (21 km) from Cape Town's city center, where travelers can take De Waal Drive (M3) in the direction of Muizenberg, hang a right at Rhodes Drive (M63) toward the mountain and follow the signs to Kirstenbosch. There is free parking at gates 1, 2 and 3.
Address: Cape Town, South Africa
Hours: Daily 8am–7pm (until 6pm April–Aug)
Admission: R37
From $ 16
Iziko Slave Lodge Museum
The Slave Lodge Museum, housed in one of the city’s oldest buildings, is today an informational capsule and memorial dedicated to the difficult history of slavery in Cape Town and around the world.
The refurbished two-story edifice once described as a “shameless fortress of human misery,” was formerly owned by the Dutch East India Company and housed hundreds of slaves between 1679 and 1811. They worked in the adjacent Company’s Gardens, awaited auction on nearby Spin Street, and, some – as many as 20 percent – also died here.
Visitors to the museum learn about the routes that brought slaves to Cape Town via Indonesia, India-Ceylon, Madagascar and Mozambique and the slaving era through exhibits of period artifacts, audio-visual shows, maps depicting the uses of the building’s rooms, and other experiential displays like a reconstruction of the cramped conditions of a slaving ship. A light-infused memorial lists names of known slaves held here. Traveling exhibits on global human and civil rights issues occasionally appear and in the past have put a spotlight on segregation in schools in the United States and the role of women during the South African apartheid.
Also worth visiting: The building’s interior courtyard, which houses the tombstones of the city’s founder Jan van Riebeeck and his wife. Though the museum is expansive, many visitors find even a short visit of an hour or two to be both enlightening and emotional.
Practical Info
The Slave Lodge Museum is located on the corner of Adderley and Wale Streets in Cape Town’s City Center. It’s open from 10 a.m. til 5 p.m. Mon. through Sat. Admission is R 30 for adults and R 15 for children. There is limited dedicated parking, but the building is accessible by taxi or via the Groote Kerk bus.
Address: Corner of Adderley and Wale Streets, Cape Town 8000, South Africa
Hours: Open from 10 a.m. til 5 p.m. Mon. through Sat
Admission: Adults: R 30; Children: R 15
From $ 44
Hout Bay
This quaint harbor on the western side of the Cape Peninsula has a seaside charm that attracts both travelers and locals to its sheltered shores. Whether it’s sampling ocean-fresh seafood from one of the restaurants lining its harbor or exploring the shelves of world-class antique shops, Hout Bay has proved itself a worthy destination despite its small size. Visitors love wandering along the bustling docks where commercial fishing boats unload their daily catch, and its close proximity to Seal Island and World of Birds makes it a perfect lunch stop on a tour of the Cape.
Practical Info
Hout Bay is a 20-minute drive from the center of Cape Town, halfway between Cape Town and Cape Point. A number of tours stop at the Bay as they travel along the Cape Peninsula, but there’s also plenty of parking in the harbor, too.
Address: Hout Bay, South Africa
From $ 16
Heart of Cape Town Museum
Modern medical advances are remarkable things – so much so that there is a museum in Cape Town at the site of the first human heart transplant, Groote Schuur Hospital.
The Heart of Cape Town Museum is in the still-working hospital, in the actual rooms where that heart transplant took place in December 1967. Exhibits in the museum including features on the man who received the heart transplant, the woman whose heart was donated, and the doctor who performed the historic surgery. The guided tour of the museum lasts about two hours.
Practical Info
The museum is open daily, with guided tours leaving at 9am, 11am, 1pm, and 3pm. Tickets are SAR100 for South Africans, SAR 200 for non-South Africans, and SAR50 for students.
Address: Groote Schuur Hospital, Groote Schuur Dr, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
Admission: South Africans: SAR100; Non-South Africans: SAR200
From $ 22
Isandlwana Battlefield
One of the worst defeats in British military history occurred on January 22, 1879 during the Battle of Isandlwana. The battle, fought near a hill in Zululand of the same name, took place early in the Anglo-Zulu war when a British invasion column of some 1,300 soldiers under the command of General Lord Chelmsford was attacked by a 20,000-strong Zulu army, resulting in a humiliating defeat.
Today Isandlwana Battlefield is dotted with stone cairns indicating the resting places of soldiers killed in the battle. A small on-site museum and visitors center showcases artifacts, relics and background information on the battle — a bonus particularly for those visiting the battlefield without a guide.
Practical Info
It’s possible to visit Isandlwana Battlefield and Rorke’s Drift Museum on a single day trip from Durban.
Address: Nqutu, South Africa
Hours: Open from 8:00 am - 4:00 pm on weekdays and from 9:00 am - 14:00 pm during weekends and public holidays.
Admission: Entrance fee required
From $ 180
Imizamo Yethu Township
Set near Cape Town, the Imizamo Yethu Township in Hout Bay Valley is relatively small when compared to some other South African townships, with just over 33,000 people calling it home. Living conditions are slightly better than they were under apartheid, but not as much as one might think.
Many of the houses in the township are simple metal shacks, little changed since the apartheid era, and certainly not ideal as housing. Others are new and sturdy homes, built by Irish volunteers in 2002.
Practical Info
It's a relatively short half-hour drive from Cape Town to Imizamo Yethu. Residents of the township give tours a few times a day for a fee. If you're lucky, you'll have a chance to let a sangoma read your future.
Address: Cape Town, South Africa
From $ 18