Discovering the Top Hidden Gems of South Africa
- By Karim Hassan
- Reviewed by Sophia Rose
- June 11, 2024
- Adventure
One thing about going on an adventure or traveling to have fun and relax is that you’ll always be eager to discover the hidden gems that not many people know about.
You would want to see these places, enjoy yourself, take pictures, and share them with your family and friends.
In this blog post, I’m going to take you through some hidden gems in South Africa that you would love to see.
Gear up for your South African adventure and let’s go through these hidden gems.
Table Of Content
Western Cape’s Wonders
Darling
Darling is a neat little village in the Western Cape. It’s known for its craft beers, so if you’re a fan of beer, you’re in for a treat.
But there’s more to it, Darling has lots of theaters and art galleries filled with fascinating works by local artists.
If you visit in the spring, you’ll see a sea of wildflowers everywhere. It’s like a giant natural painting with yellow, pink, and purple flowers.
Elgin Valley
This is a place where they make some of the best wines in South Africa. If you like wine, you’ll love it here.
You can go mountain biking on some really fascinating trails. And if you want some quiet time, there are cabins in the middle of nature where you can chill and forget about noisy city life.
Northern Cape’s Novelty
Tankwa Karoo National Park
Tankwa Karoo National Park is like a desert, but it’s really beautiful and has lots of different plants and animals.
It’s one of the driest places in South Africa, with some parts getting less than 100 mm of rain in a year.
What’s special about this park is that there’s no light pollution. So when the sun goes down and the sky gets dark, it turns into the best place for looking at stars.
The sky is so clear and clean, it’s perfect for stargazing and taking pictures of the night sky.
KwaZulu-Natal’s Keepsakes
Drakensberg Amphitheatre
The Amphitheatre is this massive cliff in the Drakensberg mountains. It’s so big, it’s like three times the size of all the cliffs in Yosemite’s famous El Capitan put together, and even 10 times bigger than El Capitan’s most famous face.
It’s long too, over 5 kilometers (that’s about 3.1 miles), and its cliffs go up about 1,220 meters (or 4,000 feet).
It’s part of the Royal Natal National Park. And guess what? It’s where the Tugela Falls are, which is one of the highest waterfalls in the world.
The water fall is a huge 948 meters (or 3,100 feet) from the top of the Amphitheatre’s cliffs.
Pongola Game Reserve
Pongola Game Reserve is a special place in Northern KwaZulu-Natal. It’s right by the beautiful Lebombo mountains.
The reserve has the White Elephant Lodge and is famous for taking really good care of nature.
One of the coolest things about Pongola Game Reserve is the space for Elephants program.
This program helps orphaned elephants by giving them a safe and caring place to live. It shows how much the reserve cares about protecting wildlife.
Mpumalanga’s Marvel
Pinnacle Rock
Pinnacle Rock is a huge tower of rock that’s as tall as a story building. It’s made of quartzite and it sticks up from the ground, standing taller than the thick forest of Driekop Gorge.
It’s covered with bright, colorful aloes that are stunning to behold. The local birds and insects adore them, and they make the rock look even more amazing in photos.
Other Hidden Gems
Franschhoek
Franschhoek is a pretty valley where they make lots of delectable foods and wine, and it’s surrounded by beautiful mountains.
It’s a small town in the Western Cape Province and it’s one of the oldest towns in South Africa. It’s not too far from Cape Town, just about a 45-minute drive.
Sedgefield
Sedgefield is a town that’s near the beach and in a forest. It’s on a path called the Garden Route. People know it for its great places to surf.
The town is all around lakes and sand hills that have a kind of plant called fynbos on them. It’s in the middle of an area in South Africa called the Lakes District.
South Africa Awaits
From the artistic haven of Darling to the stargazer’s paradise of Tankwa Karoo National Park, from the majestic Drakensberg Amphitheatre to the gourmet capital of Franschhoek, each place has its unique charm and story to tell.
These hidden gems are a testament to the beauty and diversity of South Africa. So, pack your bags, put on your explorer’s hat, and set off on an adventure to discover these hidden treasures.
Remember, if you’re looking to explore the unexplored and uncover the hidden gems across the African continent, Gold Coast XP is here to make that happen, with our amazing tours, fun-packed activities, wonderful events, and more.
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