Herd of Burchell's Zebra, Kruger National Park.

South Africa, Lesotho & eSwatini (Swaziland)

South Africa, Lesotho and eSwatini (Swaziland) are a microcosm of the African continent, containing dramatic mountain ranges, golden crescent beaches, wildlife-stalked wildernesses, vibrant cities and centuries of history. The incomparable city of Cape Town, where Table Mountain overlooks markets, museums and the townships sprawling towards the vineyard-clad mountains and grand Cape Dutch estates of the Winelands, tops most travelers' lists alongside Kruger National Park, legendary home of the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino).

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • Flowers in the Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens below Table Mountain.

    Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

    Cape Town

    Location and unique flora combine to make these 5.28-sq-km botanical gardens among the most beautiful in the world. Gate 1, the main entrance at the…

  • Constitutional Court on Constitution Hill.

    Constitution Hill

    Johannesburg

    Do not leave Jo'burg without visiting Constitution Hill. One of South Africa's most important historical sites, the deeply moving and inspirational…

  • Leopard (Panthera pardus) crossing road with tourists in jeep in background 20s, 30s, 40s, adult, adventure, africa, animal, block, camera, casual, caucasian, crossing, excitement, full length, green, group, horizontal, jeep, kruger, leisure, leopard, men, national, nature, offroad, outdoors, panthera, pardus, park, people, photography, recreation, reserve, road, safari, singita, sitting, south africa, spots, tourism, tourist, track, transportation, trees, vacation, vehicle, watching, wildlife, women, young

    Kruger National Park

    South Africa

    In terms of wildlife alone, Kruger is one of the world's greatest national parks. The diversity, density and sheer numbers of animals is almost…

  • 28 OCT 2017: the District Six Museum, a museum in memory of apartheid, located in Cape Town. 788479459 segregation, white, black, memorial, history, labor, slavery, forced movement, apartheid, district six, six, district, building, collection, exhibition, exhibit, art, museum, landmark, tourism, travel, cape town, capetown, architecture, african, africa, south african, south africa, sa, editorial

    Apartheid Museum

    Johannesburg

    The Apartheid Museum illustrates the rise and fall of South Africa’s era of segregation and oppression, and is an absolute must-see. It uses a broad…

  • A river flowing through a forest with dramatic mountain in the background at the Blyde Nature reserve.

    Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve

    Blyde River Canyon

    This stunning 260-sq-km reserve centres on the 30km-long Blyde River Canyon, where epic rock formations tower above the forested slopes and eagle-eye…

  • Table Mountain Aerial Cableway in Cape Town

    Table Mountain

    Cape Town

    Around 600 million years old, and a canvas painted with the rich diversity of the Cape floral kingdom, Table Mountain is truly iconic. You can admire the…

  • view of three rondavels and the blyde river canyon at sunset in south africa; Shutterstock ID 1536002621; your: Sloane Tucker; gl: 65050; netsuite: Online Editorial; full: POI 1536002621

    Three Rondavels Viewpoint

    Blyde River Canyon

    The area's highlight, with a staggering view of these enormous rounds of rock, their pointed, grassy tops resembling giant huts carved into the side of…

  • Landscape in Mapungubwe National Park, South Africa.

    Mapungubwe National Park

    Limpopo

    Stunningly stark, arid, rocky landscapes reverberate with cultural intrigue and wandering wildlife at Mapungubwe National Park. A Unesco World Heritage…

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Articles

Latest stories from South Africa, Lesotho & eSwatini (Swaziland)

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A fantastically bright mural covers one of two remaining stone walls of a ruined home in Kylemore. A large tree climbs into the sky behind it, with the mountains looming in the distance © Simon Richmond / Lonely Planet

Art

Cycling the mission villages of the Cape Winelands

Aug 29, 2018 • 5 min read

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South Africa, Lesotho & eSwatini (Swaziland) and beyond

Beyond South Africa, Lesotho & eSwatini (Swaziland)