Outdoor Adventure

River trips range from mostly scenic to grade five white water washing machines. There are over a hundred listed paragliding or hang gliding launch sites.

Thousands of kilometres of hiking trails wind around the country, in desert, forest, mountain or coast, and many have mountain bike trails as well. There are wonderful easy horse trails through vineyards, on the beach or in the mountains and, for the adventurous, horseback safaris in big game country.

We have the highest commercial bungy jump in the world, lots of pretty abseiling and bridge swinging. For something combining adrenalin, peace, tranquility, and sheer beauty, try the tree-top canopy tour in Tsitsikamma. The art of canyoning, known as kloofing in South Africa, is a hot favourite with self-guided and escorted trips.

Surprisingly, for such a sunny country, we even have a bit of skiing in winter! Search our database for listings of a variety of adventure activities countrywide!

Wildlife
South Africa is famous for its national parks, where tourists can see Africa's Big Five legendary mammals - the lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhinoceros. The parks also contain many other species of plant and animal life as well as many different kinds of comfortable accommodation.

Small Towns of South Africa
South Africa is well known for its gold and diamonds, but if you want to discover its real gems, head for the country's small towns and villages that lie just off the beaten the track. Often a haven for artists and creative people who need peace and quiet to flourish, they offer travellers the opportunity to meet colourful local characters who still have the time to talk and settings that can take your breath away. Accessible by car, bus or train, they are South Africa's heartland.

Best Beaches
South Africa boasts some of the finest beaches in the world. From the pristine coastal stretch of Kwa Zulu Natal's Cape Vidal to the Eastern Cape's wildest Wild Coast….from the penguin colony of Boulders Beach in the Western Cape to the sun-drenched shores of Camps Bay - when it comes to beaches, we win, hands down.

Entertainment
When it comes to the real entertainment in South Africa then you should not miss the Night Life at Durban, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Port; the art galleries of Elizabeth, Museums, Music shows and festivals and also the glamorous casinos at various places.

Beauty Salons
Just because you're on holiday, doesn't mean you have to change your usual routine. You'll find many salons where you can have your usual facial, manicure or other procedure and - of course - most of the better hotels have hair and beauty salons on site.

Fitness
The joy of a holiday in sunny South Africa is that you'll have plenty of opportunity to get outdoors and get active, but if you still need your gym fix, there are plenty of facilities on offer. Many hotels either have gyms on site or have arrangements for guests to use local gyms.

Spas and Wellness Centres
With our fantastic climate and wonderful scenery we have so many perfect settings for real rejuvenation and 'decompression'. We have many excellent spas and wellness centres scattered all around the country from mountain hideaways, beach retreat to game lodges and even a wellness centre located on a golf course.

Sports
South Africa is the perfect destination for the sporting tourist. Extreme sports, which have taken off in the past decade all over the world, are particularly popular. We have the world's highest bungee-jump, off the Bloukrans Bridge in the Western Cape, between Plettenberg Bay and Uitenhage. You can't beat our cliffs for rock climbing, from the Drakensberg to the Cederberg to the outcrops near Waterval Boven in Mpumalanga Province. Our rivers are perfect for all grades of rafting, and trips north to the legendary Zambezi River can be organised. Flying sports such as paragliding and microlighting are extremely popular, and most of the country's provinces offer superb launch sites.

Wine
South African wine is worth travelling halfway round the world for. Most of the wine growing areas are centred around Cape Town, heading up the West Coast towards Darling, along the East Coast as far as Hermanus, inland as far as de Rust, near Oudtshoorn, and straight north as far as Upington. If you're into wine, the only decisions you will have to make is which few hundred wineries you'll have to leave out because you just won't have time for them all, and how you are going to get your purchases home. Actually, the second one is a lot easier than the first, most wineries and merchants will ship wine home for you, so it will be awaiting your return.

Shopping
Shopping is a South African pastime. Whether it's in a mall, at the roadside or at a market, the many colourful, creative and local wares are decidedly a part of our lives. On every corner in Johannesburg there is a street vendor, plying his wire creations and ethnic designs. Take a road trip and discover the exotic craft villages that are a consistent feature of every country road. Fill your car with pineapple beer, hand woven baskets, colourful bead necklaces and intricately carved wildlife statues.

Designer boutiques, major shopping malls, international brands and foreign decorative brands are also available in South Africa but it is the local products that reflect the cultural diversity. Over the past two and a half years, the Proudly South African campaign has promoted various pioneers in different industries. These are companies that have contributed to the economy through job creation and by supporting local products.

Quirky shops line the village type areas of Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Pretoria. In Johannesburg areas like Melville, Parkhurst, Kensington and Greenside have interesting second hand furniture and clothing shops, art galleries, decorative stores, bric-a-brac shops, and antique dealers. You can pick up many bargains in these areas and hunt down elusive items like door knobs, window frames and Cape Dutch tables, kists and desks.