https://https://au.trip.com/toplist/tripbest/recommend/south-africa/best-things-to-do/10070100049090
Best Things to Do
Top 50 Best Things to Do in South Africa [2025]
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Cape of Good Hope
4.7
/5
521 reviews
9.7
Based on 7,013 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +27217809526
Address: Cape Point Rd, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Selected for 2 years in a row
Highlights:
See the Vasco da Gama Monument and wild baboons
Close view of wild baboons at ease
169 positive reviews
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The beauty of Cape of Good Hope made me thoroughly intoxicated with the magnificent pictures of nature. Standing on the shore, I was deeply attracted by the moving movement of the waves and reefs, and the shouts of seagulls added infinite vitality to the charming scenery. All this beauty is undoubtedly the most precious gift from nature. This trip to the Cape of Good Hope made me feel the magic of nature. It is indeed an unforgettable experience. It is highly recommended to everyone who loves the beauty of nature.
Traveling with a group in South Africa, we came to the world-famous Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and checked in at the southern tip of the earth. The Cape of Good Hope is intended to be a route to the rich East, so it is called the Cape of Good Hope.
Before the Suez Canal was opened to navigation, ships traveling between Asia and Europe passed through the Cape of Good Hope. Extra-large oil tankers cannot enter the Suez Canal and still need to take this route. This place still retains its original appearance. Here you can see the huge waves and whirlpools caused by the confluence of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In 1919, the Cape of Good Hope built the brightest lighthouse in Africa to guide passing ships. Visitors climbed to the top of the 238-meter-high Cape Point and overlooked the confluence of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, where the water and sky are one color and the smoke is vast.
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Table Mountain
4.8
/5
418 reviews
9.1
Based on 18,572 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +27217127471
Address: Table Mountain (Nature Reserve), Cape Town, South Africa
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-4 hours
Highlights:
Visit 1843 McClear Lighthouse ruins
Unique mountain journey via cablecar
170 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
The magnificent embrace of Table Mountain gave me a wonderful journey that will never be forgotten. Walking in it, every inch of land is like a carrier of the mystery of life, and people sigh the magic of nature. Picturesque, as if entering a dreamy world, every step is full of surprises and expectations. This journey has made me deeply feel the greatness of nature and the wonder of life, and I am full of gratitude and awe. It is undoubtedly a deep dialogue between the soul and nature, a baptism of the mind.
I went to Cape Town with a tour group in South Africa and took a 360-degree revolving cable car to the famous Table Mountain. The weather was not good and there was heavy fog. Table Mountain, also known as "God's Table", is the most eye-catching symbol of Cape Town. There are many small animals in the mountain, and fossils of sea creatures have been found at the foot of the mountain. When white clouds float over the table, Cape Town residents call this scene "white towels covering the table."
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Boulders Beach
4.7
/5
350 reviews
8.3
>100 km from downtown
Phone +27217862329
Address: Simon's Town, Cape Town, 7995, South Africa
Recommended sightseeing time: 2 hours
Featured in 2024 Global 100 - Best Things to Do
Highlights:
East Cape Town coast with beach views
Watch penguins handle ocean threats
123 positive reviews
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We traveled with a group to South Africa and came to Penguin Beach in the South African Penguin Ecological Reserve in Cape Town. Penguins are extremely precious animals in Africa and have recently been listed as protected animals by the World Animal Protection Association. The penguins on Penguin Beach stagger on the beach every day facing the rising sun. Their cute appearance attracts bursts of laughter from tourists. It is really a place that makes people linger.
[Cost-effectiveness] Very high
kids will love to see this place. The environment is clean, the beach and water is also clean. Quite a popular place for tourists so it can get crowded.
No.
4
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Duiker Island
4.7
/5
210 reviews
8.3
Based on 221 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +27217907278
Address: South Africa
Recommended sightseeing time: 1 hour
Highlights:
Guided tour on seals' habits
Wild seals & stunning seascapes
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Travel with a tour group to Cape Town, South Africa, and take a yacht to Hout Bay to see seals. Seal Island is also a famous tourist attraction on the Cape Peninsula, with thousands of seals living on the island. In order to protect the seal habitat, tourists are prohibited from going to the island. There are special yachts at the pier to take tourists to watch, slowly circling very close to the island, allowing us to watch the seals hunting, playing in the water, and living up close. The bottom of the yacht's interior is equipped with glass to view the underwater world.
Seal Island in Cape Town, South Africa is a famous local attraction and a must-do item when traveling to South Africa. You need to take a cruise to the island. When we went to the island, there was a strong wind and some of the group members were seasick. This requires good weather.
No.
5
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Tsitsikamma National Park
4.7
/5
37 reviews
8.2
>100 km from downtown
Phone +27422811607
Address: South Africa
Recommended sightseeing time: 1 day
Highlights:
Hike South Africa's wild trails
Bridges over a raging river
37% positive reviews
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Traveling with a group in South Africa, we came to Tsitsikamma National Park, the first coastal national park on the African continent. Steep rocks and the Storm River estuary can be seen everywhere along the way; dolphins and whales can sometimes be seen looming in the waves in the area of Storm Bridge.
[Scenery] The sea on one side and the mountain shore on the other.
[Cost-effectiveness] High
[Fun] Hiking and canoeing.
It is STUNNING here! I don’t know what else to say! The place where the river meets the sea, the experience of going up the river and feeling the ocean’s tides affect it. Beautiful.
No.
6
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Gold Reef City Theme Park
4.7
/5
86 reviews
8.2
Based on 1,903 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +27112485000
Address: Northern Pkwy & Data Cres, Johannesburg, 2159, South Africa
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5-1 day
No.1 of Family-Friendly Attractions in South Africa
Highlights:
Experience early gold rush challenges
1880s Gold Rush theme park
51% positive reviews
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I have been there twice , and wish to go back again …. did not explore it enough. it’s easy to navigate and find things around
South Africa was once the world's largest gold mining area, so it also attracted many gold diggers from all over the world. The gold mining city witnessed the rise and fall of the South African gold industry, but now it has become a tourist area, which is also very beautiful.
No.
7
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Kruger National Park
4.8
/5
91 reviews
8.0
Based on 2,809 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +27137354000
Address: South Africa
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5-1 day
No.2 of Family-Friendly Attractions in South Africa
Highlights:
Campsites & luxury tent areas
Big Five & monkey watching
48% positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Join a tour group in South Africa and visit the largest wildlife reserve in South Africa - Kruger National Park. Depart from the hotel early in the morning and take the hotel breakfast. Take an open-top off-road vehicle to look for elephants, rhinos, lions, antelopes, giraffes, wild buffaloes, zebras, crocodiles, hippos, leopards, wildebeests, impalas, birds and other exotic animals and rare birds in the bushes and lakes. Have a picnic at noon.
I have consistently visited the Kruger National Park and have never been disappointed. Every visit has offered different types of sightings. The rest camps are great. Prepare for losing cell phone signal in certain parts of the park which is honestly a blessing in disguise. Always take some snacks and extra water.
No.
8
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Twelve Apostles
4.7
/5
50 reviews
8.0
Based on 1,103 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Address: Oudekraal (Nature Reserve), Cape Town, 8005, South Africa
Recommended sightseeing time: 5-6 hours
Highlights:
Indigo sea & red roofs
Land of the Twelve Apostles
36% positive reviews
Verified user reviews
I traveled to Cape Town in South Africa with a group and visited the Twelve Apostles. The Twelve Apostles is a side view of the famous South African attraction "Table Mountain". It is named "Twelve Apostles" because there are twelve raised peaks. The mountains are winding, like 12 saints lying on the edge of the bay.
I saw this beautiful mountains using city sight seeing cape Town bus it was a good experience.
No.
9
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Union Buildings
4.6
/5
92 reviews
7.9
Based on 1,402 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +27123005200
Address: Government Ave, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-3 hours
Highlights:
Watch South African band performance
Capital's panoramic viewpoint
27% positive reviews
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"Visited the iconic Union Buildings in Tshwane, and I was absolutely captivated by its grandeur and history. As the seat of South Africa’s government, the architecture is a breathtaking blend of classical and Cape Dutch styles. The panoramic views from the hilltop are unmatched, and the beautifully landscaped gardens add to the peaceful atmosphere. A must-visit for anyone in Pretoria, it's a powerful reminder of South Africa’s journey towards democracy and unity.
The Presidential Palace is one of the must-see attractions in South Africa. The interior of the palace cannot be visited at will, and you can only check in at the exterior. It feels very ordinary and there is nothing special to point out. The statue of Mandela is spectacular. I can only say that you should come here to take pictures!
No.
10
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Iziko Bo-Kaap Museum
4.7
/5
43 reviews
7.8
Based on 2,743 reviews
Bo'Kaap | >100 km from downtown
Phone +27214813938
Address: 71 Wale St, Schotsche Kloof, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Highlights:
Colorful houses repainted annually
17th-century Malay slave settlement
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Travel to South Africa with a group and check in at the Malay Quarter in Cape Town.
The history of the Malay Quarter is as colorful as its houses. In the 17th and 18th centuries, slaves brought by the Dutch from Malaysia, Indonesia and Sri Lanka lived here.
During the apartheid period, the South African government tried to expropriate the land at a high price, but in order to defend their place in Cape Town, the Malay villagers collectively resisted the demolition, gave up the high expropriation compensation, and saved their homes. The government demolished the houses but failed, but it did not recognize the legality of their houses. Therefore, the Malay houses on this land have never been given legal house numbers. The smart Malays creatively painted their houses in various bright colors to distinguish their house numbers, and renewed them once a year to keep them bright and beautiful. Over time, tourists from all over the world have regarded this as a sightseeing tour of Cape Town, and it has become a colorful shooting base.
I came to this check-in place alone, it is worth seeing! The colorful houses witnessed history! I also saw many paintings of residents in the Gaza Strip, which shows the feelings of local Muslims for their distant relatives! The hotel I stayed in was not far from here, so I couldn't come back! I encountered several scammers asking for passes along the way, everyone be careful!
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