Best Travel Guide – Capital for South Africa & Surroundings

Best Travel Guide - Capital for South Africa & Surroundings

The Republic of South Africa (RSA) is a country in southern Africa. It is the most developed economic area on the African continent. The Republic of South Africa has three capitals: the government is in Pretoria, the parliament in Cape Town and the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein. The largest metropolises in the country by population are Johannesburg and Cape Town  and the capitals for South Africa are: Cape Town, Pretoria and Bloemfontein.

South Africa capital for south africa

Table of Contents

South Africa Map

Informations

Temperature: The best time to visit South Africa’s parks is from May to September. This is the Dry season and animals congregate around waterholes and rivers.

Language: The most common language spoken as a first language by South Africans is Zulu, followed by Xhosa , and Afrikaans . English is the fourth most common first language in the country .

Currency: South African Rand (ZAR) aprox. 1€=16,4 ZAR 1$= 13,5 ZAR

Food Prices: Meal in a cheap restaurant=9 USD, Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant=41 USD

You can find more information about the visa here.

Things to do

Kruger National Park

The Kruger National Park is the largest game reserve in South Africa. Its area extends from the Crocodile River in the south to the Limpopo, the border river to Zimbabwe, in the north. The north-south extension is about 350 km, in an east-west direction the park is on average 54 km wide and covers an area of ​​around 20,000 square kilometers. This makes it one of the largest national parks in Africa.

Table Mountain

Table Mountain is located in South Africa, in the northern part of a mountain range on the approximately 52 km long and up to 16 km wide Cape Peninsula, at the southern end of which is the Cape of Good Hope. It shapes the silhouette of Cape Town, on whose territory it extends. The highest point of Table Mountain is Maclear’s Beacon at the northeast end of the rock plateau at 1087 m. Table Mountain covers a total area of ​​around 6500 hectares.

The Cape of Good Hope

The Cape of Good Hope is a very striking, formerly feared cape near the southern tip of Africa because of its cliffs. Politically, it belongs to the Western Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa. It is located in Table Mountain National Park.

Victoria & Alfred Waterfront

The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is a waterfront consisting of a restored shipyard and harbor district around the two historic basins of the port of Cape Town in South Africa.

Boulders Beach

Boulders Beach is a stretch of beach that is located in Simon’s Town on the Cape Peninsula in South Africa. A colony of African penguins is at home here. There is a visitor center at Boulders Beach that provides access to Table Mountain National Park. Two footbridges, which protect the African penguin colony there from visitors, lead to the beach of Foxy Beach. About 3000 African penguins live there. The beach at Boulders Beach itself can also be used by visitors for swimming.

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

The Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is a botanical garden in the Newlands district of Cape Town. It is located on the eastern slope of Table Mountain and is considered one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the world. At 36 hectares, it is the largest of nine National Botanical Gardens operated by the South African National Biodiversity Institute.

Table Mountain,National Park

Table Mountain National Park is a national park in the Western Cape Province of South Africa and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The narrow headland with its valleys, bays and beaches is framed by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the warmer waters of False Bay to the east. Two world-famous sights are located within the park area: Table Mountain and the Cape of Good Hope.

Cape Point

Cape Point is about two kilometers east of the Cape of Good Hope, with which it is often confused. Cape Point forms the eastern end of the Cape Peninsula, but is not the southernmost point, as some photos or maps suggest. The Cape of Good Hope is two arc seconds to the south. Cape Agulhas is the southernmost point of Africa.

Sun City

 Sun City is a leisure complex in the Northwest Province of the Republic of South Africa. It is located about 150 kilometers northwest of the metropolitan areas Johannesburg and Pretoria. The Sun International resort has a wide range of entertainment venues such as casinos, shows, luxury hotel complexes, man-made waterfalls, golf courses and other sports facilities. It was boycotted by many international artists during the apartheid period.

Addo Elephant,National Park

The Addo Elephant National Park is located in the Sarah Baartman District 70 kilometers northeast of Port Elizabeth in the Sundays River Valley. With 1640 km², the Elephant National Park is the largest national park in the Eastern Cape.

Tsitsikamma National Park

The Tsitsikamma National Park was an independent national park in South Africa until 2009. Since then it has been part of the Garden Route National Park. It is located in the Sarah Baartman district in the western part of the Eastern Cape Province.

Bo-Kaap

Bo-Kaap is a neighborhood in Cape Town. A popular daytime destination, Bo-Kaap is known for its narrow cobbled streets lined with brightly colored houses. Local Cape Malay culture is represented by buildings such as the Auwal Mosque dating from the 1790s and the Bo-Kaap Museum, with exhibits that evoke the achievements of Muslim immigrants. Nearby, modest restaurants serve curry, roti and other Cape Malay dishes. On Signal Hill is the Noon Gun, which fires a salvo at noon each day.

God’s Window

Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve is located in the Drakensberg escarpment region of eastern Mpumalanga, South Africa.

Cango Caves

The Cango Caves are a cave system in the South African province of Western Cape and are counted among the most beautiful cave systems in the world.

Castle of Good Hope

The Castle of Good Hope is a bastion fortification built in the 17th century in Cape Town, South Africa by the Dutch East India Company

Garden Route National Park

The Garden Route National Park is a national park in South Africa. It was created on March 6, 2009 through the amalgamation of Wilderness National Park, Knysna National Lake Area, Tsitsikamma National Park and other state lands.

Bourke’s Luck Potholes

Bourke’s Luck Potholes are a rock formation on the German Panorama Route in the Mpumalanga Province of eastern South Africa near Graskop on the R532. At the confluence of the River Treur with the River Blyde, the erosion of the flowing water in the red sandstone has created a canyon that merges with the Blyde River Canyon. Due to the subsequent runoff, especially due to the whirling movement of the stones, deep holes and cauldrons were ground into the rock.

Augrabies Waterfalls

The Augrabies Waterfalls National Park is a nature reserve located 120 kilometers west of Upington in South Africa, which extends over 220 km² along the River Orange. The central attraction is the Augrabies waterfall, which plunges 56 m down to a width of 150 meters, and the 18 km long and up to 200 m deep rock canyon that the river has eroded here.

The Big Hole

The Big Hole of Kimberley in South Africa is the open pit of the former Kimberley mine, from which diamonds were mined until 1914. The hole is often referred to as “the largest hole ever dug by human hands”. The Big Hole competes for this record status with Jagersfontein, an open pit 110 kilometers southwest of Bloemfontein.

Where to stay

A good night’s sleep is particularly important when you are travelling. South Africa offers its guests a host of luxurious, charming and also out-of-the-ordinary accommodation.

Whether in the heart of the city, near the lake or surrounded by nature – South Africa‘s hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses guarantee a relaxing and invigorating stay.

We managed to find the best three companies that offer hotels, holiday homes and transportation. These are: Booking.comTrip.com and Vrbo. We have already tested these companies and we warmly recommend them. As a result this will just bring you good deals for your next vacation in South Africa.

Vrbo

Top hotels we recommend in Johannesburg: 49-on-Cherry, The Oasis Residency, Shepherd’s Corner Guest House

Top hotels we recommend in Port Elisabeth: Splendida, Forest Hall Guest House , Amery House

For a unique experience in South Africa we recommend the restaurant Delaire Graff, Stellenbosch.Here you can enjoy the traditional cuisine and enjoy the best wine and views.

What to eat

  • A typical braai in South Africa consists of a variety of meat like beef, pork, lamb, chicken, ostrich, seafood, boerewors (sausage), and sosatie (skewered meat) barbecued on a grill.
  • Roosterbrood or roosterkoek refers to a type of grilled bread made with flour, yeast, salt, sugar, and water.
  •  Braaibroodjie Grilled cheese sandwiches
  • Tomato bredie refers to a type of stew made with mutton or lamb.
braai, Roosterbrood, Braaibroodjie, Tomato bredie traditional food South Africa
  • Vetkoek (Fried Donuts Stuffed with Minced Meat)
  • Samoosa
  • The word potjiekos literally means “small pot food” and refers to a traditional South African dish cooked in a round cast-iron cauldron called a potjie.
  • Denningvleis refers to a South African stew made with meat simmered with onions, garlic, tamarind paste, and different spices like cloves, allspice, and bay leaves.
Vetkoek, Samoosa, potjiekos, Denningvleis traditional food South Africa
  • Koeksister – African pastry made with braided fried dough coated in a sticky sweet syrup.
  • Melktert Meaning “milk tart” in Afrikaans, melktert refers to a classic South African custard dessert made with milk, flour, sugar, and eggs.
  • Peppermint Crisp Fridge Tart
  • Lemon Meringue Pie
Koeksister, Melktert, Peppermint Crisp Fridge Tart, Lemon Meringue Pie traditional food South Africa (1)

Restaurants

  • La Colombe, Constantia
  • The Restaurant at Waterkloof, Somerset West
  • La Petite Colombe, Franschhoek
  • Salsify, Camps Bay
  • Chefs Warehouse at Beau Constantia
restaurants in South Africa
  • The Test Kitchen, Woodstock
  • FYN Restaurant, Cape Town City Bowl
  • Eike, Stellenbosch
  • Restaurant Mosaic at The Orient, Pretoria

Saving Tips

  • Hiring a car in South Africa is definitely the best way to get around.
  • Booking the flight beforehand with quite some time always ensure you to find cheaper flights.
  • renting a car is best if you want a better experience, such as going on road trips and convenient moving around.
  • If you plan to stay in South Africa for an extended period, it is worth investing in a local sim card. 
saving tips in South Africa
  • the restaurants in the National Parks are overpriced, and you’re much better off packing picnic lunches.
  • plan your trip during the non-peak season. This is typically April through August or September/October.
  • When traveling on a budget, the best and safest options are vacation rentals, Airbnb, or a hostel, as a hotel is expensive.
  • learn to Negotiate When You Go Shopping

If you do not go by car and need to know more informations about the tours, things to see and do, we recommend this two companies that are offering tours for any kind of activity you want to do and where you can buy trips much cheaper than if you buy them when you arrive at your destination. It is always good to be able to save some money! 

Viator and Get Your Guide : the best activities in town!

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Shopping

  • Victoria & Alfred Waterfront- Everything from the big fashion brands, to local markets are part of this center which is the best for shopping in Cape Town, South Africa.
  • Melrose Arch- it has multiple shops, boutiques, and showrooms offering exquisite items of fashion, body care, and even jewellery.
  • Sandton City – brands like Gucci, Armani, Lacoste, and Mont Blanc have found solid ground at this centre. 
shopping in South Africa
  • Fourways Mall is a wonderful place to enjoy, relax, as well as rejuvenate.
  • Gateway Theatre of Shopping is a catalogue of more than 380 elite stores
  • Riverside Mall
  • Cavendish Square is one of the fancy shopping areas with the top international as well as national brands showcasing their best in the sparkly glass showrooms.

Getting Around South Africa

Despite the large distances, traveling around most of South Africa is fairly straightforward, with a reasonably well-organized network of public transport, a good range of car rental companies, the best road system in Africa, and the continent’s most comprehensive network of internal flights. The only weak point is public transport in urban areas, which is almost universally poor and often dangerous.

getting around South Africa

Urban South Africans who can afford to do so tend to use private transport, and if you plan to spend much time in any one town, this is an option seriously worth considering. It’s virtually impossible to get to the national parks and places off the beaten track by public transport; even if you do manage, you’re likely to need a car once you’re there.

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Getting to South Africa

As sub-Saharan Africa’s economic and tourism hub, South Africa is well served with flights from London and the rest of Europe. The majority of these touch down at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International, but there are also frequent flights into Cape Town. From North America there are a relatively small number of nonstop flights into Johannesburg.

getting to South Africa

Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg is the air transport hub of southern Africa. Onward travel is mostly by car. Because of excellent roads and facilities in South Africa, some people choose the self-drive option. In most other cases, your local tour operator will arrange pick-up from the airport and further transportation as part of your tour package. Other international airports are located in Cape Town and Durban, but few flights from Europe or America fly directly to either destination.

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Best Travel Guide - Capital for South Africa & Surroundings

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