South Africa Attractions

The Anglo Boer War Museum and Battlefields, located in Bloemfontein represent one of the most significant events in the history of South Africa (the Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902). Although the protagonists were Great Britain and the two Boer Republics, the whole of the South Africa population became embroiled in the war either directly or indirectly. The War Museum not only gives the visitor insight into the Boer War through it`s unique art collection, dioramas and exhibits it also gives the visitor a closer understanding of the background against which the war took place. The course and development of the war unfolds in front of the visitor as they progress through the museum. Visitors are also afforded a glimpse into the life in the concentration and also prisoner-of-war camps.

Kruger National Park is one of the largest game parks/reserves in Africa. It covers 18,989 square kilometres (7,332 sq mi) and extends 360 kilometres (220 mi) from N to S and 65 kilometres (40 mi) from E to W. The park is part of the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere, an area designated by the United Nations Education and Scientific Organisation (UNESCO) as an International Man and Biosphere Reserve (the "Biosphere"). The park has 9 main gates that allow entrance to the different camps. The names of these gates are Paul Kruger Gate, Numbi Gate, Malelane Gate, Crocodile Bridge Gate, Punda Maria Gate, Orpen Gate, Phalaborwa Gate, Phabeni Gate and Pafuri Gate.

Table Mountain is a flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town in South Africa, and is featured in the flag of Cape Town and other local government insignia. It is a significant tourist attraction, with many visitors using the cableway or hiking to the top. The mountain forms part of the Table Mountain National Park. Hiking - on Table Mountain is popular amongst locals and tourists, and a number of trails of varying difficulty are available. Because of the steep cliffs around the summit, direct ascents from the city side are limited. Platteklip Gorge, a prominent gorge up the centre of the main table, is a popular and straightforward direct ascent to the summit. Par for the course is about 2.5 hours but is done between 1–3 hours depending on one's fitness level. Rock climbing - on Table Mountain is a very popular pastime. The...

Robben Island is an island in Table Bay, 7km off the coast of Cape Town. The name is Dutch for "seal island". The Island itself is roughly oval in shape, 3.3 km long, and 1.9 km wide, with an area of 5.07 km². It is flat and only a few metres above sea level. Robben Island is of particular note as it was here that future President of South Africa and Nobel Laureate Nelson Mandela and future South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, alongside many other political prisoners, spent decades imprisoned during the apartheid era. Current South African President Jacob Zuma was also imprisoned there for ten years. Used as a prison as far back as 1525, Robben Island has also housed the mentally ill and lepers. The island's long history as a place of cruelty and isolation has turned it into a world symbol of the triumph of the human spirit over oppression...

Boyden Observatory is a South African astronomical research observatory and science education centre. Visitors are allowed to explore the southern skies under dark and clear Free State conditions. The telescopes that are present at the observatory are: Alvin Clark Telescope A 13 inches (33 cm) refractor named after Alvin Clark. The telescope is over a century old. Metcalf Triplet Telescope A 10 inches (25 cm) refractor Nishimura Telescope This 16 inches (41 cm) reflector was commissioned by the Nagoya University and constructed by Nishimura Co. Ltd. in 2000. Watcher Telescope Watcher is a 40 centimetres (16 in) F-number|f/14.25 robotic telescope developed by the University College Dublin and the University of the Free State. The primary function of the telescope is visual spectrum observation following Gamma-ray bursts. Other Telescopes A ...

Open 8AM to 5PM Monday to Friday and 10AM to 5PM on Saturday, the Oliewenhuis Art Museum is an outstanding art museum in a beautifully restored Cape-Dutch style house and gardens. Oliewenhuis hosts ever changing temporary displays of contemporary art and photography, whilst upstairs is a more traditional permanent exhibition. There is a very nice cafe in the sculpture garden at the back and is the ideal retreat from the city's sterile shopping malls. Admission is Free.

The Soetdoring Nature Reserve is a pleasant Free State nature reserve close to Bloemfontein. What sets it apart are the lions in the small enclosure in the middle of the park – although the enclosure is big enough to mean that you are not guaranteed to see the cats. The rest of the reserve is pleasant with open plains, wooded areas and a dam – there are no dangerous animals in the main park so walking is allowed. There is a one-day hiking trail which follow the Modder River, easy enough for families with young children.

The Castle of Good Hope is a star fort which was built on the original coastline of Table Bay and now, because of land reclamation, lies nearer to the Cape Town city centre in South Africa. In 1936 the Castle was declared a national monument. Extensive restorations completed during the 1980s make the Castle the best preserved example of a VOC fort. The Castle acted as local headquarters for the South African Army in the Western Cape, but today houses the Castle Military Museum and ceremonial facilities for the traditional Cape Regiments. The Castle has extensive displays of historical military paraphernalia, a history of the castle, an art collection and the William Fehr Collection (including old Cape Dutch furniture).You can eat and buy wine inside the Castle at the restaurant or café. Tours are offered Monday through Saturday at 11:00AM, 12:00PM, and 2:00PM. Horse ...

Kirstenbosch is the name of a famous botanical garden nestled at the foot of Table Mountain in Cape Town. (It is on the eastern slopes of the mountain, not on the northern side normally depicted in the standard tourist snapshots). The garden is one of eight National Botanical Gardens covering five of South Africa's six different biomes. When Kirstenbosch, the most famous of the gardens, was founded in 1913 to preserve the country's unique flora, it was the first botanical garden in the world with this ethos. Furthermore, what makes the Gardens so famous worldwide is that (with minor exceptions) only indigenous plants are cultivated. The garden includes a large, indoor greenhouse exhibiting plants from a number of different regions, including savanna, fynbos, karoo and others. Outdoors, the focus moves to plants native to the Cape region, highlighted by the spectacular collect...

The memorial is situated in recognition of Cecil John Rhodes. It's built in his favorite spot on the lower slopes of Devil's Peak. Rhodes's own wooden bench is still located below the memorial. The memorial is part of the Table Mountain National Park which is a great spot for picnicking. The memorial is also a start for the hiking along Devil's Peak.

Cape Town is the legislative seat of South Africa (the Presidential seat is in Pretoria and the Supreme Court is at Bloemfontein). A tour of this compound will acquaint you with South Africa's recent history and its political system. The tour includes visits to the National Assembly, the National Council of Provinces and the old apartheid-era assembly which is now only used for caucus and committee meetings. Tours are offered a few times per day in various languages. Free entrance and tours.

The Two Oceans Aquarium is an aquarium located at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. The aquarium opened on the 13 November 1995 and comprises seven exhibition galleries with large viewing windows: Atlantic Ocean Gallery Holcim Activity Centre Cape Fur Seal Exhibit I&J Predator Exhibit Indian Ocean Gallery Kelp Forest Exhibit Sappi River Meander Exhibit It is possible to scuba dive with ragged tooth sharks at the Aquarium if you hold a Padi Open Water Certificate.

The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in the historic heart of Cape Town's working harbour is South Africa's most-visited destination, having the highest rate of foreign tourists of any attraction in the country. Situated between Robben Island and Table Mountain and set against a backdrop of sea and mountain views, it offers a variety of shopping and entertainment options to visitors, intermingled with office locations, the Somerset Hospital, hotels (such as the historical Breakwater Lodge - once a 19th century prison) and luxury apartments in the residential marina. It houses the Nelson Mandela Gateway which offers boat trips to Robben Island, as well as the Two Oceans Aquarium and Chavonnes Battery museum. The SAS Somerset is used as a museum and moored within the inner basin.

The museum, which dates back to the 1760s, is the oldest house in the area still in its original form. The museum highlights the cultural contribution made by early Muslim settlers, many of whom were skilled tailors, carpenters, shoe makers and builders. It contains 19th century furnishings which include a fine Cape drop-leaf dining table, Cape Regency-style chairs and a bridal chamber decorated to match the bride's dress. The museum is distinguishable by its voorstoep—a type of front terrace with a bench at each end emphasizing the polarizing aspect of Cape Muslim culture. Open 9:30AM to 4:30PM Monday to Saturday. Around R5 entrance fee.

District Six is an area near downtown Cape Town which remained multiracial well into the 1960s against all attempts by the government to declare it a "white only" area. Eventually the residents were all evicted and the buildings were bulldozed. The area remains uninhabited. The museum provides information about the area, the eviction, the Group Areas Act, and the people who used to live there. The director of the museum is a former resident. There is a small bookstore with an excellent selection of books on South Africa's history, District Six and apartheid.

This Museum displays include evidence of the early seafarers round the Cape Of Good Hope. Small craft, locally made and a wide variety of maritime artifacts displays are also offered.

The South African National Gallery is the national art gallery of South Africa located in Cape Town. The collection began in 1872 with the donation of Sir Thomas Butterworth's personal gallery. Various other patrons have contributed over the years and the assemblage today consists largely of Dutch, French and British works from the 17th to the 19th century. This includes lithographs, etchings and some early 20th century British paintings. Contemporary art work displayed in the gallery is selected from many of South Africa's communities and the gallery houses an authoritative collection of sculpture and beadwork.

Ratanga Junction is a theme park in Cape Town featuring more than 30 rides/attractions ranging from Kids Rides to Family Rides and Thrill Rides for the more intrepid adventurers. There is also a scenic Train Ride and Boat Ride on offer. The theme park features all types of rides including white-knuckle thrills and spills mixed with more family orientated rides and attractions. Open 10AM to 5PM, but not open all year round. Usually open during summer, Easter and winter holiday periods. Prices vary from around R25 to R100 depending on what rides you want to do.

The Durban Botanic Gardens is situated in the City of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is Durban’s oldest public institution and Africa's oldest surviving botanic gardens. The gardens cover an area of 15 hectares in a subtropical climate.

The Golden Mile is the name given to the popular stretch of beachfront in the city of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, including the promenade that runs along with it. It runs roughly from South Beach (where the uShaka Marine World is located) to the newly-constructed Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World in the north. It abuts the central business district of the city to its west. It is one of the main tourist attractions in the Durban area. The wide stretch of golden sands, artificially separated by various piers, provides excellent opportunities for sun-worshippers and swimmers to enjoy the sub-tropical sunshine and warm waters of the Indian Ocean. Most of the Mile's beaches are protected year-round by lifeguards and shark nets. The Mile is also a well-known surfer's haven. The South Beach end, in particular, is well-known as a safe beach for neophyte surfers. The beachfr...

The Tsitsikamma National Park is a coastal reserve on the Garden Route in South Africa. It is well known for indigenous forests, dramatic coastline, and the Otter Trail. On 6 March 2009 it was amalgamated with the Wilderness National Park and various other areas of land to form the Garden Route National Park. The park covers an 80 km long stretch of coastline. Nature's Valley is at the western end of the park, and the main accommodation is at Storms River Mouth. Near the park is the Bloukrans Bridge, the world's highest bungee jump at 216m. The word tsitsikamma is a Khoisan phrase meaning place of abundant water. Trails The Otter Trail starts at the Storms River camp and the South African National Parks has laid out several short trails for day visitors. Set in the Garden Route, the trails lead through coastal and forest scenes, as well as various waterfalls, streams and r...

The Outeniqua Choo Tjoe was the last remaining continually-operated passenger steam train in Africa, ending operation in June 2009 and exists now as a museum and tourist train along the garden route between George and Mossel Bay. The 3 hour journey also stops in the towns of Wilderness, Goukamma, and Sedgefield. The scenic 67-kilometre (42 mi) route hugs the rugged coastline of the Garden Route before ending by crossing a bridge over the lagoon in Knysna. It was declared an officially preserved railway in 1992, carrying about 40,000 passengers per year at the time. A decade later, it carried 115,000 passengers per year, 70% of whom were foreign tourists. The trains are usually pulled by SAR Class 19D steam locomotives, of 4-8-2 wheel arrangement with Vanderbilt-like "torpedo" tenders, although the task is occasionally handled by SAR Class 24 steam engines.