Best Places to Visit on your South Africa Holidays

Nicci Kimmel

Now, we all know that holidays in South Africa are something special. With the wildlife, the culture, the magnificent landscapes, the beaches, the wine and so on and so on, how could they not be? It is a country that offers the kind of adventure that leaves you begging for more, a vibe that is impossible not to love, AND its got lions and elephants for goodness’ sake!

In this blog we’re going to be a little bit cheeky and give ‘South Africa Holidays’ a slightly wider meaning and share with you the best places to visit on your southern Africa holidays, because there are other places in the region that you really don’t want to miss. Whether you want to add them onto your tour of South Africa or explore them as destinations in their own right, places like Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe offer the same spectacular safari experiences, the same incredible natural sights, the same rich, indigenous culture but with that little bit of extra adventure.

Here are our best places to visit on your South Africa holidays…

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

View from above of waterfall cascading into a gorge, creating lots of spray and a rainbow.
Victoria Falls, made by the Zambezi River cascading into the Zambezi Gorge, is one of the world’s largest waterfalls and a must visit on any holiday to southern Africa.

Stretching a whopping 1,708 metres Mosi-oa-Tunya (‘the Smoke that Thunders’), or Victoria Falls, is one spectacular sight and UNESCO World Heritage Site to boot. The waters of the Zambezi River plummet 100 metres into the Zambezi Gorge, creating both the famous thunder and smoke, really a mist, that have been mesmerising travellers for centuries.

Sossusvlei, Namibia

View of skeletal trees in a salt pan backed by orange sand dunes and blue sky.
Not only is Deadvlei Namibia’s most evocative sight, it is one of the best places to visit on your holiday to South Africa! A salt pan surrounded by the orange dunes of the Namib Desert, it is full of haunting, skeletal trees.

Among the ochre-hued dunes of the ancient Namib Desert there are many hidden secrets. See some of the world’s tallest sand dunes, stand in the otherworldly salt clay pans of Sossusvlei and Deadvlei and walk through the atmospheric Sesriem Canyon in an incredible, timeless setting.

Panorama Route, South Africa

View over a gorge and cliffs with a river running through the middle and the blue sky above.
Often overlooked on the ‘typical’ South Africa holiday, the Panorama Route offers some of the country’s most magnificent scenery, particularly over the Blyde River Canyon. It’s handily en route to Kruger National Park.

Not to be confused with the coastal (and ever popular) Garden Route, if you’re look to add some truly spectacular scenery to your holiday in South Africa, the Panorama Route should be on your itinerary. Think towering mountains, canyons and forests and you’ll have an idea of some of the enthralling views that await you.

Chobe National Park, Botswana

Close up view of young hippo in the shallows of a river, with partial views of two adult hippos behind it.
Running through the Chobe National Park, the Chobe River is one of the most exciting ways to safari through this Botswanan gem on a tour of southern Africa.

Considered one of the best wildlife destinations in the world, the Chobe National Park and is particularly well known for its huge population of elephants. Set around the Chobe River, as well as game drives, taking a river cruise gives excellent access to the huge array of wildlife that calls the park home.

Cape Winelands, South Africa

Looking down rows of vines in South Africa's Cape Winelands with hazy looking mountains in the background.
South Africa’s most prolific wine country, the Cape Winelands offers picturesque vineyards where you can learn about viticulture and taste world-class wines. What more could you want on a holiday?

The Cape Winelands is South Africa’s most prolific wine region, ready and waiting to fill your holiday with celebrated vineyards and exceptional gastronomy. Surrounded by mountains that help maintain the perfect microclimate for grapes, you can enjoy wine here in the most spectacular setting, made all the more charming by the old Cape Dutch architecture.

Zambezi River Safari, Zimbabwe

Tourist boat cruising down the middle of the Zambezi River with a tree covered bank in the background.
The mighty Zambezi sounds like a place where adventure unfolds – cruise its waters close to Victoria Falls to spot the incredible wildlife that leaves along its banks.

There are many stories of the adventures had on the mighty Zembezi – one of those adventures is to cruise its waters at sunrise or sunset and spot the glorious array of wildlife that frequent it. Exploring the river’s islands and channels you’re likely to spot hippos and crocodiles wallowing in the shallows and elephants on its banks.

Kruger National Park, South Africa

Two female lions sit side by side on a rock looking off into the distance in South Africa's Kruger National Park
Kruger isn’t only South Africa’s best known national parks, but one of the world’s – there’s a good reason it appears on most tours here, and that’s its incredible array of wildlife and habitats.

One of the largest and best-known national parks in Africa and an essential element of any holiday in South Africa, Kruger is iconic for its sheer numbers and diversity of wildlife. Exploring its vast wilderness on safari, there are over 500 bird species and 147 mammal species to spot, including the ‘Big 5’ – lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffalos.

Meet the Himba people, Namibia

Two women of the Himba people sit in the foreground with traditional Himba huts in the background.
A people who have long lived in the harsh conditions of Namibia’s Kalahari and Namib deserts, visiting the Himba is a fascinating glimpse of an entirely different and age-old way of living.

The semi-nomadic Himba tribe live as their ancestors did, cattle herding, hunting and gathering in the harsh conditions of northern Namibia. Getting to experience this ancient way of life and the community’s age-old culture and traditions is a privilege that this warm and friendly people are only too happy to share with visitors.

At Wendy Wu Tours, we know all about the glorious adventures that southern Africa has to offer because we’ve been there, done them and created the tour. Our Kruger to Cape Explored and Christmas in South Africa tours, our Journey Through Southern Africa cruise & tour, Namibia Adventure tour and Wonders of Botswana & Zimbabwe private tour contain all of the above destinations and activities and so much more.
Book an incredible holiday to southern Africa now, we dare you!

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