We’re always being asked to recommend attractions and activities in South Africa. It’s tough making a “Top 10” or even “Top 20” list, because there are so many fantastic things to do and see in Mzansi. So to shake things up a bit, we decided to bring you an A-Z South African travel guide.
A
See: Augrabies Falls
Taste: Amarula on ice at sundown
Animal to spot: African Black Oystercatcher
Stay: Arniston
B
See: Big 5
Do: Bunjee jump off Bloukrans Bridge
Taste: Biltong and boerie rolls
Animal to spot: Blue crane
Stay: Bela-Bela
C
See: Cango Caves
Taste: Chakalaka
Animal to spot: Cheetah
Stay: Cape Town
D
Do: Diepwalle Forest trails
Taste: Durban Curry
Animal to spot: Dung beetle
Stay: Dullstroom
E
See: Elephant Whispers
Taste: Ears of corn braaied on the roadside
Animal to spot: Elephant (Big 5) and elephant shrew (small 5)
Stay: East London
F
See: Fancourt Golf Estate
Do: Fishing
Taste: Frikkadelle
Animal to spot: Flamingos (an unexpected surprise at Kamfers Dam in Kimberley)
Stay: Franschhoek
G
See: God’s Window
Do: Geckoing
Taste: Gatsby
Animal to spot: Great white shark
Stay: Garden Route
H
See: Hole in the Wall
Do: Hiking trails (we have plenty of suggestions)
Taste: Harrie’s Pancakes
Animal to spot: Hornbill
Stay: Hoedspruit
I
See: iSimangaliso Wetlands Park
Do: Iziko Museum tours
Taste: Ice-cream on the beach
Animal to spot: Ibis
Stay: Illovo Beach
J
See: Just Nuisance statue in Simon’s Town
Taste: Jam – homemade in a small dorpie
Animal to spot: Jackal
Stay: Jeffrey’s Bay
K
See: Kalahari desert
Do: Kite-surfing
Taste: Koeksisters
Animal to spot: Knysna seahorse
Stay: Kruger National Park
L
See: Llandaff Oratory Chapel in Van Reenen (the smallest church in the southern hemisphere)
Do: Lion Park self-drive and pet a lion cub
Taste: Lamb – especially if it’s from the Karoo
Animal to spot: Leopard (Big 5) and leopard tortoise (Small 5)
Stay: Langebaan
M
See: Midlands Meander
Do: Microlight flights
Taste: Malva pudding
Animal to spot: Meerkat
Stay: Magaliesberg
N
Do: Night game drives
Taste: Nuts – fresh from the nut farms
Animal to spot: Nile crocodile
Stay: Nelspruit
O
See: Oribi Gorge
Do: Otter Trail
Taste: Oysters – especially in Knysna
Animal to spot: Oribi (one of the most endangered antelope that roam the South African plains)
Stay: Oudtshoorn
P
See: Panorama Route
Do: Pony trekking
Taste: Potjiekos
Animal to spot: Penguins
Stay: Prince Albert
Q
See: Qolora River mouth and “The Gates” gorge, a popular swimming and birding spot on the river.
Do: Queen’s Fort Military Museum
Taste: Quesadillas (we have plenty of Mexican-inspired restaurants)
Animal to spot: Quagga (This extinct animal is seeing a revival with The Quagga Project)
Stay: Queenstown
R
See: Rock Art
Do: Robben Island tour
Taste: Rooibos tea…with a rusk of course.
Animal to spot: Rhino and Riverine rabbit
Stay: Robertson
S
See: Sardine Run
Do: Stargazing
Taste: Skilpadjies
Animal to spot: Southern Right Whale
Stay: Southbroom
T
See: Tugela Falls
Do: Train rides
Taste: Tomato bredie
Animal to spot: Turaco
Stay: Tsitsikamma
U
See: uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Do: Unreal zip slide at Sun City
Taste: Umngqusho (a Xhosa dish made from white maize and sugar beans)
Animal to spot: Urocolius indicus (Red-faced Mousebird)
Stay: Umhlanga
V
See: Valley of 1000 Hills
Do: V&A Waterfront day outing
Taste: Vetkoek
Animal to spot: Vultures
Stay: Vaalwater
W
See: West Coast fishing villages
Do: Wine tasting
Taste: Waterblommetjies (the flower of the Cape Pondweed is often used in stews)
Animal to spot: Wild dog
Stay: Wild Coast
X
See: Xhora River mouth with cows on the beach
Do: Xhosa cultural village tours
Taste: Xacuti – especially in Durban
Animal to spot: Squirrels…of the genus Xerus (you try find an animal beginning with an “X”)
Stay: !Xaus Lodge
Y
See: Yellowwood Forest in Morgan Bay
Do: Yoga
Taste: Frozen Yoghurt
Animal to spot: Yellow-breasted pipits
Stay: Yzerfontein
Z
See: Zulu cultural village
Do: Zoo tours
Taste: Any meal at Zucchini Restaurant in Wilderness
Animal to spot: Zebra
Stay: Zeerust
What South African favourites would you add to this A-Z list?
Feature image: Sundowner game drive at Gorah Elephant Camp
