South Africa is a tremendously accessible way to visit some amazing wildlife in a tourist-friendly and budget-friendly country. Not only that, but the big five can be found in a variety of national parks and private game reserves, so you can see them all on a single safari - or, if you're really lucky, on a single game drive! Do you know what the big five animals are? The African Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Leopard, Lion, and Rhinoceros were dubbed "the big five" by hunters because they were thought to be the most difficult and deadly African creatures to kill while hunting on foot.

Because it is associated with an African safari, the lion is undoubtedly the most sought-after of the Big Five. Everyone wants to see the properly titled 'King of the Beasts,' who is charismatic, powerful, and attractive. Hundreds of thousands of lions formerly roamed the planet, but environmentalists estimate that just between 25 000 and 30 000 remain, with the majority in Sub-Saharan Africa. Lion sightings are common in South Africa, whether in national parks or private game reserves.

Perhaps the African elephant should be known as the "King of the Beasts", as it is the world's largest and heaviest land mammal. Its ears alone may measure up to 2m × 1.2m (about the size of a double bed's surface area) and weigh up to 20kg (44lb), and it can grow to a height of more than 3m. Elephants are abundant in South Africa, with large herds of over 100 in the Kruger National Park and smaller breeding herds in private reserves.

Buffalos are sociable creatures that travel in big herds - often hundreds of them - munching long grass as they move and feed together. During the dry season, a cloud of dust frequently signals the arrival of a herd. Buffalos must drink on a regular basis, and seeing a big herd approach a waterhole - usually in the early morning or late afternoon - is a remarkable and loud event. The name of the second-largest land animal, the white rhino, has nothing to do with its color. Early Dutch settlers referred to the animal's big lips as 'wyd' (wide), which was eventually misconstrued as 'white'. Its heft and size will be your first impression. Then you would ask how such a prehistoric-looking animal could have survived for millions of years. Unfortunately, the violence and intensity of modern-day poaching pose a severe threat to the species' existence.

Everyone wants to see this gorgeous, charming, sensual, and dramatic animal, yet it is also the most elusive. The leopard is a solitary animal (until mating or a mother with children) that will aggressively protect its own hunting zone from other leopards, whether male or female. The leopard is a skilled stalker and is regarded as one of the most successful, if not the most successful, of all African predators. If you're lucky, especially if you're on a night drive (since leopards are nocturnal), you could watch a leopard stalking its target - stealthily, mercilessly - before approaching within 5m of the prey and releasing itself with a strong spring.

The Namaqua National Park lies within this vast landscape, 495 kilometres from Cape Town, and close to the little town of Kamieskroon, just off the N7 route to Namibia. Most of the year, the isolated region known as Little Namaqualand is arid, an apparently sunbaked wasteland in South Africa's Northern Cape. However, during a brief period in July, when winter rains begin to fall, the landscape explodes with billions of blooms. Endless carpets of flowers of various colors cover its varied geography, which ranges from deserty plains to rich valleys to towering mountains.

But it is the sheer diversity of flowers that truly distinguishes this show; over 3500 species bloom here, with more than half of them being rare or endemic, meaning they exist nowhere else on Earth. The Arctotis, often known as the African daisy, is the most well-known. Carpobrotus, often known as pigface, crawls along the ground and shines with fiery yellow and orange flowers.

Richtersveld, with its yawning canyons and jagged mountains as a backdrop; Skilpad Wildflower Preserve west of Kamieskroon, part of the larger Namaqua National Park, a fantastic spot to gaze at the famed Nama daisies; and the 14,973-hectare (37,000-acre) Goegap Nature Reserve outside Springbok, with 600 indigenous plant species. Accommodations in the park (mainly campsites and chalets) are in great demand during this brief flowering season. Either book reservations as soon as they open (typically 11 months in advance), or you may find somewhere to stay in the adjacent towns of Kamieskroon and Garies.

Hike up Table Mountain for a decent exercise, an amazing view (if the weather cooperates), and bragging rights for having conquered one of the Seven New Wonders of the World. However, a walk-up Table Mountain should not be taken lightly. The weather is rapidly changing, and the ascent is difficult. Table Mountain, a 1085m (3560ft) natural monument of sandstone and granite, sits watch over Cape Town, adored for its stunning views from the top: sparkling Table Bay, ancient Robben Island, and all of Cape Town's City Bowl sprawl at your feet.

Several routes snake up the sides of Table Mountain, revealing valleys of fynbos (the indigenous floral kingdom), shady woodlands, and waterfalls. The most popular (and most frequented) is the Platteklip Gorge Trail, a 2.8km (1.8 mile) uphill climb that is nature's equivalent of the StairMaster, providing beautiful vista after spectacular view as you go.

Avoid the crowds by taking the 1.5km (0.9 mile) Kloof Corner hike, which rewards with spectacular views of Lion's Head, the 12 Apostles, and the Cape Town City Bowl. The tough 2.5km (1.5 mile) India Venster Trail climbs the mountain's frontal face beneath the aerial cable vehicle. Of course, you may use the cable car, which takes only five minutes to reach the summit. Many South African trails limit the number of hikers who may be on them at the same time, so plan ahead of time and hike with a group for safety (some lengthier routes really demand that you're not alone).

The ideal months for whale viewing in South Africa are June to November, while the season begins as early as May. The months of July and August are the busiest for calving. The three most common varieties of whales seen in South Africa are the southern right whale, the humpback whale, and Bryde's whales. Whales may be viewed from Doringbaai on the western shore, all the way down the coast of the Cape Peninsula. Whale viewing is also available throughout the Garden Route, at Cape Agulhas (Africa's southernmost point where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet), and as far east as the border with Mozambique. The west coast with the Western Cape and Garden Route is better known for spotting whales than the east coast.

But here's a twist for you: if you're looking for a unique way to express yourself, here is the place to be. View whales from the beach in Lambert's Bay, Yzerfontein, and Plettenberg Bay, although Hermanus, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) east of Cape Town, is the most famous. Southern right whales visit by on their yearly migration from Antarctica between June and November, and they splash, breach, and lobtail just off the coast (slap their flippers and tail against the water). When whales approach the shore, the town even has a whale crier who blows a kelp horn.

When the Dutch East India Company arrived in South Africa 350 years ago, it constructed a provisioning depot for ships, which required wine of course! The enterprise collaborated with the French, and vines rapidly covered the valleys in the lush region that is today known as the Cape Winelands. Winemaking has evolved over time, including the perfecting of pinotage, South Africa's hallmark red wine that is a rustic hybrid between pinot noir and cinsault.

With its patchwork of vineyards and hundreds of wine estates, farm markets, little museums, gastronomic restaurants, and three main wine towns dating from the 17th century: Franschhoek, founded by French Huguenots; Stellenbosch, filled with Cape Dutch architecture; and Paarl, founded by 23 families from Stellenbosch. Delheim, on the slopes of Simonsberg Mountain outside Stellenbosch, and Lanzerac, built in 1692 in Stellenbosch with spectacular vistas of mountains, vineyards, and oak-shaded gardens, are two excellent spots to try pinotage. Take a drive (or bike ride) outside of Paarl on Bainskloof Pass if you need a break from all the wine tastings. This picturesque mountain route offers about 30 kilometers of breathtaking views and a caravan site at the halfway point.

Durban's beachfront promenade boasts a golden mile of alternatives, whether you start in the north or south, prefer the early sea wind to the evening's beautiful sunset, walk, run, amble, stand, or sit. The Durban Golden Mile is one of South Africa's most popular beachfront areas. Durban, with more than 320 sunny days a year, is a popular playground of golden-sand beaches lapped by the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. The Golden Mile (really more like four miles) extends from uShaka Beach in the south to Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World in the north and offers beaches and beachy activities for everyone.

Surfers may learn to surf at South and Addington beaches, while fishermen can cast a line at Bay of Plenty Beach. Other areas of beach, such as Umhlanga Rocks, just north of the Golden Mile, exude a vibrant holiday mood. Blue Lagoon is an excellent alternative for a picnic or simply relaxing with your vacation buddies. Much of the Golden Mile is lined by a promenade where Zulu craftsmen sell their goods as runners, walkers, bikers, and skateboarders soak in the rays.

The paddling pools, slides, and fountains will delight parents with little children. The Rachel Finlayson salt-water swimming pool is also available. Vetch's Pier in the south is ideal for snorkeling. The neighboring protected area is popular with kayakers, windsurfers, jet ski riders, and stand up paddle boarders.

Sea breezes, roaring waterfalls, verdant valleys and footprint-free, cliff-fringed beaches define the untrammeled domain of the Wild Coast, a suitably called, 250km-long sweep of coastline fronting the Indian Ocean in the Eastern Cape. This is the spot to get away from it all, to absorb in the quiet of unspoiled nature, where cows outnumber people. Be warned: the roads are riddled with potholes, and petrol stations are few and far between, but that's what keeps the less daring away.

Hike, swim, ride horses, canoe, surf, or simply relax on your own own beach. The three-hour journey to Hole in the Wall along the coast winds through rolling hills and tiny communities before arriving at the famed rock arch with its bathing lagoon. With dazzling clean waters and vibrant Xhosa cottages along its banks, the Xhosa River is a canoeing heaven. SUPers, kayakers, and canoers flock to the mirror smooth Jbay Lagoon. For millennia, the Xhosa people have lived in this enchanting country, and you can see their turquoise rondavels dotting the lush green hills.

This is also where anti-apartheid revolutionary leader Nelson Mandela was born, and numerous small museums in Mthatha and Quno are available to the public. Hike through beautiful woods, meadows, and shoreline on one of Dwesa Nature Reserve's walking routes. It provides a haven for a diverse range of animals, including over 290 bird species.

South Africa has begun to atone for its apartheid history via teaching make several locations. The Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg is a somber yet enlightening place to begin. Exhibits use movies, papers, and images to take you through the history of apartheid. Apartheid in South Africa was one of the most heinous in the country's history, leaving millions of people with traumatic and unforgettable memories. Apartheid's influence, on the other hand, was far from done. Despite making up just 10% of the country's population after the end of apartheid, white South Africans held approximately 90% of the land.

Spoken testimony, movies, and images recount the terrible story of a 13-year-old student who became the first casualty of police fire in 1976 when students protested their Bantu (black) school system at the Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum in Soweto. Nearby, Nelson Mandela lived in a modest four-room house that is now the Mandela House Museum, displaying family photos and personal belongings and providing insight into the beloved anti-apartheid leader who became South Africa's first democratically elected president after serving 27 years in prison.

Cape Malay food reigns dominant in Cape Town. The Dutch landed in the Cape in 1652 to build a harbor for their ships to halt at on their journey to the East Indies. The Dutch needed laborers for the expanding port, so they began bringing in slaves from Indonesia and other regions of Africa. These slaves were the first to introduce Islam to the Cape, and they included political dissidents who were hostile to the Dutch presence in Southeast Asia. Cape Malay has arisen from sad origins as a separate culture different from the Asian, African, and Dutch civilizations that have affected it.

A parade of cultures has taken root in Cape Town's lengthy history of colonialism and immigration, each bringing its own traditions and customs. The city's diversified, inventive food is the most visible - and appreciated - outcome. Many consider Cape Town to be South Africa's gastronomic capital. Dishes influenced by the British, French, Indians, Dutch, Asians, Africans, and others are available.

The Cape Malay population, for example, is inspired by African, Asian, and Dutch traditions; they're famed for their spice-infused bredies (stews), curries, savory appetizers, and porrings (a warm pudding). Braai - originating from the Dutch term braden, which means to roast - has spread throughout the country. But braai is more than just grilling meat: it's a social gathering of friends and family. A typical braai experience is available on many township trips. This rich cultural legacy is being recognized by local chefs. With their unique takes on classic dishes, Chef Luke Dale-Roberts' three award-winning Cape Town restaurants - Test Kitchen, Pot Luck Club, and Shortmarket Club - are ideal examples. If you avoid going during the high Christmas and Easter seasons, making restaurant and accommodation bookings will be considerably easier.

The Zulus ruled much of present-day KwaZulu-Natal as one of Africa's most violent empires from 1816 until 1897. Despite their tremendous fighting ability, the British overcame them in the 1870s, and their kingdom was absorbed into the South African Union. The Zulu royal family is still alive, governing (but not ruling) in KwaZulu-Natal, and their culture is robust.

A Zulu cultural trip, where one of the tour guides will drive you to a local hamlet and expose you to a traditional Zulu house, is highly recommended. Discover the interesting ways in which civilization evolved in reaction to this one-of-a-kind setting. You will be shown the instruments used in food production, the building style, as well as the sleeping arrangements and cultural practices relating to interpersonal dynamics. Inquire about traditional means of exhibiting 'hlonipha' (respect), which are sometimes diametrically opposed to Western techniques of displaying respect. Learning about the value of decency and honour will provide insight into your relationships with the kind people from this wonderful region of the globe.

Shakaland, a restored Zulu homestead, allows visitors to immerse themselves in Zulu culture. Some believe Shakaland to be a Zulu Disneyland, although its traditional activities, such as dancing, visiting with a witch doctor, sipping handmade beer, and seeing spears and shields being built by hand, provide a reasonably realistic opportunity to experience - and even join in - the culture. Visitors may stay in deluxe beehive huts overnight. In the province's northwest, you may also visit the Battlefields Region, where the Zulus fought 63 engagements against a succession of invading troops. These fights are commemorated by monuments and museums like as Blood River and Isandlwana.

The gradual process of human adaption over millions of years is referred to as evolution. The origins of mankind are said to be in South Africa, where the first evidence of hominids was discovered. Fossil data from East Africa has also shed information on our evolutionary past. South Africa is significant in the history of paleoanthropology. Anthropologists and other scientists throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries scoffed at the idea that Africa was the cradle of humanity—that is, until an old hominid was discovered in South Africa in 1924. Africa has now been the epicenter of human evolution fieldwork, with South Africa producing a number of notable hominid fossils and artifacts.

Deep beneath Gauteng's highveld (high plateau), 20th-century researchers discovered two distant relatives of all humankind: Mrs. Ples, a 2.1-million-year-old Australopithecus Africanus (a precursor to the genus Homo) skull, and Little Foot, a nearly complete three-million-year-old Australopithecus skeleton. Then, in 2015, a new species of human related, Homo naledi, was discovered, with no idea where it fits in the evolutionary tree. This notable archeology may be explored in the Cradle of Humankind, about an hour northwest of Pretoria. At the Maropeng visitor center, engaging, world-class displays give context, and you may journey beneath the soil to the excavation site at Sterkfontein Caves.

Sit back and relax onboard the Blue Train, a five-star hotel-on-wheels that ranks as one of the world's greatest - and most sumptuous - rail experiences. Warm birch paneling, luxurious leather seats, and full silver service at gourmet five-course dinners befit the 19th-century British diamond and gold magnates who expected the highest level of luxury, and this train voyage remains one of the most opulent.

The Blue Train runs between Pretoria and Cape Town, staying on board for two nights. While the service and furnishings are excellent, the sight outside the windows will take your breath away: cactus-dotted desert, rugged mountains, vineyard-dotted slopes, verdant valleys, and a front-row seat to Africa's legendary sunsets. Meals, beverages, Monte Cristo cigars, and even a personal butler are all expensive. For those on a tight budget, the Trans-Karoo Express provides a comparable experience at a lower cost, missing the golden hues and soft leather upholstery. Book your Blue Train trip during the low season (November-August) to get drastically discounted rates.

The southernmost section of the African continent is the historic clipper route, as termed by sailors, but it is now known as Cape Agulhas. This region is not only Africa's southernmost point, but it also marks the beginning of the boundary between the Atlantic and Indian seas. Until the twentieth century, the region was generally referred to as the Cape of L' Agulhas. Nonetheless, the cape borders the town of L' Agulhas. The national park within Cape Agulhas is South Africa's most popular tourist destination. The beach of Agulhas and the cape itself have some of the most magnificent scenery in South Africa.

The Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet at historic Cape Point, often known as the Cape of Good Hope, about 65 kilometers (40 miles) south of Cape Town. It's amazing to stand on this wind-blown, craggy peninsula protruding into the sea, Africa's southwesternmost point, and look out over seething seas and azure waters as far as the eye can see. For decades, these perilous waves have been the misery of mariners, causing hundreds of shipwrecks. Take the Flying Dutchman Funicular or ascend the steps to the 86m (285ft) lighthouse-topped pinnacle for excellent views. But don't be in a hurry to get here. A trip from Cape Town exposes stunning beaches, cliffside panoramas, fishing communities, and miles and miles of isolated bushveld home to zebras, ostriches, and baboons. Boulders Beach's African penguin colony is one of only two land-based penguin colonies in the world.

The Garden Route is a tiny strip of coastal plain lasting 196 kilometers between Mossel Bay and Storms River Mouth and can be traveled in little over two hours along the excellent N2 road. The path runs through an enticing combination of woodland and sand dune bordered lagoons with some wonderful beaches, and it's easy to see why early Dutch immigrants dubbed it the Garden of Eden.

Take a gorgeous drive through the Garden Route, which some refer to as the Garden of Eden, past seaside towns, dazzling beaches, and misty mountains. You may drive the 200km (125 miles) from Mossel Bay to Storms River straight through, but this is one to take your time with. Scuba dive for Knysna seahorses, surf smashing waves, travel through shady forests to observe elephants in the wild, bungee jump into a chasm, or simply relax on an empty beach. Plettenberg Bay and Knysna are good starting points. A minimum of four days is suggested, although you could easily spend weeks here. Just 1.5km east of Sedgefield, make a Saturday morning pit stop at Wild Oats Community Farmers Market for fresh vegetables, baked goods, breakfast, and more. The market, which is nearly 15 years old, is a popular Garden Route stop.

Discover worlds within worlds of wildlife thundering, swooping, and running free across vast national parks and game reserves. Witness the tides of time at the Valley of Desolation, find your slice of wild across the rolling plains of the Karoo Heartland, and discover worlds within worlds of wildlife thundering, swooping, and running free across vast national parks and game reserves. Walk in thunderous quiet while listening for bird calls, gasp in awe at the sight of a rhino, lion, or elephant, and retire beneath the vast dome of a brilliant Karoo night sky.

The Karoo's sparsely inhabited landscapes are enormous during the day, and its sky are as so at night. The stars penetrate some of the Earth's darkest, purest sky in this spectacular semi-desert territory, which spans roughly 500,000 square kilometers (1.9 million square miles) across the Western Cape, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, and Free State. It's no surprise that the South African Astronomical Observatory, the largest in the southern hemisphere, is located here. A guided tour is available during the day, but the evening stargazing excursions are the main attraction. The lovely, ancient town of Prince Albert is an excellent location for stargazing.