Country guide
Nine provinces and 2,798 kilometres of coast, running from the South Atlantic round to the Indian Ocean, wrap 1,221,037 square kilometres and more than 63 milli...
Photograph · Dietmar Rabich · CC BY-SA 4.0
Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor
Nine provinces and 2,798 kilometres of coast, running from the South Atlantic round to the Indian Ocean, wrap 1,221,037 square kilometres and more than 63 million people. It has three capitals rather than one, which is fair warning about how spread out everything else is. Cape Town sits under a mountain in the southwestern corner and is the reason most first visits happen; Johannesburg inland is the economic centre and the airport nearly everyone arrives through; Durban on the Indian Ocean coast is the warm-water city. The game reserves are a separate journey again, hours from any of the three.
Checked 2026-08-25
Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.
Photograph · Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photograph · Mark Hillary · CC BY 2.0
Seasonal closures come from recorded opening hours.
Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.
5 places match
Category
Typical visit duration
Interests
Cape Point S.W. Lookout
Cape Point is the dramatic headland at the southern tip of the Cape Peninsula, within the Table Mountain National Park. It forms part of the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and represents one of Cape Town's signature natural landmarks.
Lion's Head is a compact mountain peak overlooking Cape Town, South Africa. It stands adjacent to Table Mountain and forms part of the dramatic backdrop to the city.
Signal Hill is a prominent low ridge located immediately beside Lion's Head in Cape Town, South Africa. It forms part of the dramatic mountainous backdrop that defines the city's skyline.
Devil's Peak is a prominent mountain summit forming the eastern flank of Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa. It rises dramatically above the City Bowl and the university precinct, creating one of the most recognisable skylines in the city.
Kloof Corner is a short, steep hiking route on the lower slopes of Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa. It serves as a viewpoint hike offering elevated perspectives of the city, coastline, and mountain terrain.
Ten to sixteen days is suitable for one South African region or a two-hub trip. Cape Town, Johannesburg, safari areas and the Garden Route are far enough apart that flights or long road days must be part of the plan.
South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs publishes visa-exempt country information. Confirm the passport-specific rule, allowed stay and any transit requirement there before travel.
Johannesburg and Cape Town are the largest air hubs, with domestic flights connecting major regions. Parks and rural routes often require driving or arranged transfers, and urban public transport differs substantially by city.
March to May and September to November are broad shoulder periods, but Cape weather and inland safari seasons do not follow one calendar. Wildlife goals, road conditions and the chosen coast should determine dates.
South African rand (ZAR) is the recorded currency. National figures for visitor card acceptance and transaction fees are Not recorded; confirm payment and deposit terms with lodges, rental firms and remote operators.
From a mobile phone, 112 is the general emergency route; police use 10111 and ambulance services 10177. South Africa uses Type M and N plugs at 230 V, and tap-water guidance is Not recorded nationally here.
,_Table_Mountain_--_2024_--_2762%2B64%2B66%2B68%2B70%2B72.jpg){kind=link}
