The more I travel around South Africa, the more I realise just how many beautiful destinations there are yet to discover. Choosing the next new holiday spot can be a little daunting so, instead of pulling names out of a hat, we’ve asked some of South Africa’s travel bloggers to share their favourite adventure, chill, family, and romantic holiday destinations.

Tyson Jopson, Getaway Magazine

• Adventure: Matroosberg

It’s home to some of the country’s coolest 4×4 trails and hikes. Plus, in winter (weather obliging) its slopes are the perfect battlefield for an extreme snowball fight.

• Chill: Tankwa Karoo National Park

There’s a little bit of everything and also a whole lot of nothing. Perfect.

• Family: Benoni

Because that’s where my family live and it’s close to the airport.

• Romance: Cathedral Peak, Drakensberg

I imagine the Drakensberg to be the kind of backdrop to which two people find true love. Hopefully one day I’ll find it too.

Ishay Govender-Ypma, Food and the Fabulous

• Adventure: Blyde River Canyon

Mpumalanga’s Blyde River Canyon sounds amazing. And even if you’re not up for anything too risky, the views will take your breath away.

• Chill: Radisson in Cape Town

I’m a city girl, so my idea of taking it easy is scoping out small town markets or vintage sales in the lesser known parts of city centres, followed by a lovely long lunch or a massage if I’m really lucky. I like Armani spa at the Radisson in Cape Town – they’ve got a couple’s hydrotherapy centre that locks off from the rest of the world. You leave scrubbed and polished, clean and revitalised.

• Family: Drakensberg

The Drakensberg is great for hikes to see bushman paintings, strolls along rivers and streams, and fishing expeditions.

• Romance: Wilderness or Rheenendal

Both Wilderness and Rheenendal on the Garden Route have quaint accommodation and rustic eateries. Plenty of reading and cuddle time is my idea of romantic bliss. A few scented candles are always in my weekend bag.

Di Brown, The Roaming Giraffe (Jabedi Mapping)

• Adventure: Storms River

My top adventure spot would have to be Storms River in the Garden Route. Not that I am particularly brave or adventurous, but I do enjoy watching others doing heart stopping activities. Tree top canopy tours and Segway forest trips are as bold as I can get, but the area offers the highest bungee jump in the world, a bridge walk, as well as natural beauty, plenty of accommodation, and tame pursuits for the not so brave.

• Chill: Olifantsrus

Situated on a citrus farm just before Citrusdal, Olifantsrus Guesthouse has lovely gardens to laze in, log fires to snooze at, mountain views, and lots of lovely silence.

• Family: Garden Route National Park – Wilderness Camp

The SANParks Garden Route National Park Wilderness Camp has a river to swim in, canoeing, walks, hikes, a beach, and river mouth 5 minutes away. It’s only a short drive to George, Sedgefield, or Knysna for a change of scenery or a day out.

• Romantic: Naries Namakwa Retreat

For romantic nature lovers nothing can beat a mountain suite at Naries Namakwa Retreat outside Springbok. Bright stars and candle light complete this tranquil, secluded hideaway.

Jonker Fourie, FireflyAfrica

• Adventure: Tsitsikamma

The first adrenalin activity that comes to mind in the Tsitsikamma is the often bucket list topping Bloukrans bungee jump. There’s also the popular Canopy Tour zipline through the forest – slightly lower than the bungee jumping, which I don’t mind – and the equally exciting Tsitsikamma Falls zipline. There is also black water tubing down the Storms River gorge or kayak and lilo tours from the Tsitsikamma National Park. My favourite is a Segway tour into the forest. Are none of these for you? Then have a milkshake at Marilyn’s 60’s Diner in Storms River Village. You may just spot Elvis.

• Chill: Addo Elephant National Park

The Addo Elephant National Park is on my doorstep (I’m from Port Elizabeth) with the southern entrance only 30 minutes away. Daily sightings include elephant, buffalo, lion, hyena, caracal, and more with over 450 species of birds as a bonus. You can book a guided game drive, but I prefer to take my car, park at a waterhole or sighting, and take pictures at my leisure. The perfect “chill out” is the tented camp at Spekboom, which is in a fenced off area with a waterhole just outside. With only 5 tents it never gets overcrowded. You can sit by the fire and watch the stars (city folk don’t know stars like this) while listening to jackals and nightjars. Perhaps even a lion roaring.

• Family: Trennery’s Hotel on the Wild Coast

The Wild Coast hotels are brilliant for family holidays and Trennery’s is my favourite. The adventure starts on the way there when you cross the Kei River on the pontoon. The kids love short hikes and the walk along the coast to the wreck of the Jacaranda is a must.  So is a trip up to The Gates and, even more stunning, the mythical Nongqawuse’s pool. The resort is next to a lagoon, ideal for swimming, fishing, and canoeing. The kids love the typical Wild Coast scene of cattle relaxing on the beach. The resort also has a beautiful tropical pool and volleyball court, while rainy days are spent in the play room.

• Romance: Hogsback

My ideal romantic getaway is a winter’s weekend in Hogsback with its magical forests and waterfall. Why winter? Well, what is more romantic than cuddling the one you love? They say the forests inspired JJ Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. You expect fairies and gnomes to peek out from every corner and magical figures to appear in the waterfall pools. What’s more romantic than that? Perhaps snow…

I couldn’t resist sharing my favourites too…

• Adventure: Sodwana Bay

One of my top “to dos” in South Africa is a scuba diving holiday in the coral reefs of Sodwana. The bay forms part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park – a World Heritage Site that is home to 3 major lake systems, 8 interlinking ecosystems, and countless wildlife. With snorkelling, kayaking, game drives, and horse riding, it sounds like an adventurous nature lover’s dream!

• Chill: KZN South Coast

The overgrown vegetation, tropical temperatures, and warm waters of the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast oozes laziness and there never seems to be any frantic do-this-do-that agendas. My favourite spots are Scottburgh, Ramsgate (home of the incredible Waffle House) and Port Edward.

• Family: Magaliesburg

I spent many years in Joburg with my favourite family trips being to the Magaliesburg – first with my parents and then with my own kids. It’s a great dose of country living, animal attractions, adventure activities, and places to chill less than an hour away from the city. Here are my top 10 things to do on the Magalies Meander.

• Romance: Hazyview

We honeymooned in Hazyview and loved the combination of beautiful landscapes (this isn’t the Panorama Route for nothing), cosy cabins, laid back lifestyle, and fun activities. There’s no better way to bond than with some hair-raising adventure thrown into the mix.

What are some of your favourite holiday spots in South Africa?

 Feature image by Jonker Fourie