Daisies, Canyons and Panoramic Views | Tourist Destinations

5 Places Everyone Should Visit in South Africa

By Koketso Mamabolo

The Wildflower Route in the Northern Cape

There’s no better time to visit the Northern Cape than at the start of spring when the Namaqualand daisies and the 3 500 other floral species call the usually arid landscape home. At the Namaqualand National Park the dry landscape changes to a kaleidoscope of the oranges and yellows, while Dwarskerbos boasts fascinating pink salt flats, stunning flamingoes and white daisies lining the road.

The Wildflower Route is part of the Succulent Karoo Biome, one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots and is home to what is known as the bulb capital of the world, just outside Niewoudtville at the Hantam National Botanical Garden.

Magoebaskloof In Limpopo

Named after the Lobedu chief Makgoba, Maogebaskloof is a family friendly destination with a host of outdoor activities from gecko-tubing and hiking to bird watching and horse riding. Spring time visitors are treated to the wonderful sight of azaleas, cherry blossoms and crab apples in the place fondly known as the ‘land of the silver mist’.

Situated between Tzaneen and Haenertsburg, the mountain pass features lush, green afro-montane forests which cover less than 1% of the country’s land mass. The valley was carved by the Politisi river which flows into the Letaba and leads to the Tzaneen dam.

The Blyde River Canyon In Mpumalanga

After Namibia’s Fish River Canyon, and America’s Grand River Canyon, the third largest canyon in the world is found in the Mpumalanga province. The Blyde River Canyon forms part of the Panorama route, which begins at Graskop, the home of God’s Window - famous for its panoramic views which have inspired awe in artists and leisure travellers alike.

Covered in subtropical vegetation, making the canyon green unlike its counterparts, the Blyde River Canyon sits below the iconic peaks known as the Three Rondavels and offers a view of Marieskop. A must-see is the ‘weeping face of nature’ - the Kadish Tufa Waterfall and visitors could be lucky enough to spot hippos and crocodiles as they take in the wonderful landscape. lucky enough to spot hippos and crocodiles as they take in the wonderful landscape.

Golden Gate Highlands National Park In The Free State

At the foot of the Maluti Mountains the light from the sunset hits the sandstone cliffs and outcrops, giving off the golden colour which gave the Golden Gate Highlands National Park its name. Spread across are caves featuring San rock paintings and while the place is known for the beauty of its landscape it also boasts over 100 bird species, eland, Burchell’s zebra, oribi, springbok and more.

Next door to the park is the town of Clarens where visitors can go shop for art, go game driving, trout fishing and indulge in the selection of restaurants. Visitors can also go back in time, around 200 million years to be exact, when Africa and South America where one continent and dinosaurs roamed the land by exploring fossils and a visit to the popular Basotho Cultural Village offers a fascinating learning experience.

The Magaliesberg In The North West and Gauteng

Formed over 2 billion years ago and stretching 120km across two provinces, the Magaliesberg starts near the Bronkhortspruit Dam and ends in Rustenburg, featuring a mix of bushveld savannah, grassland and forested kloofs which are home to hundreds of tree species. The Magaliesberg has been one of the 631 biospheres in UNESCO’s network since 2015.

Gone are the days when the giants of nature, elephants, giraffes, rhinos and buffaloes roamed the land. Visitors can see klipspringers, leopards, Vervet monkeys, porcupines and more. Things to do include canopy tours, aerial cableway rides, hot air balloon safaris, paragliding, abseiling and more.

Sources: Magoebaskloof | SANParks | The Happy Traveller | SA Venues | Blyde River Canyon | South African Tourism | Magaliesburg Info