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South Africa, Lesotho & eSwatini (Swaziland)

Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2025

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Herd of Burchell's Zebra, Kruger National Park.

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Overview

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…

  • District Six Museum

    District Six Museum

    Cape Town

    It's impossible not to be emotionally moved by this museum, which celebrates the once lively multiracial area that was destroyed during apartheid in the…

  • 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…

  • Groot Constantia manor house in Cape Town, South Africa.

    Groot Constantia

    Cape Town

    Simon van der Stel’s manor house, a superb example of Cape Dutch architecture, is maintained as a museum at Groot Constantia. Set in beautiful grounds,…

  • Landscape of Meerendal Wine Estate.

    Meerendal

    Cape Town

    Although it was established in 1702 and has some of South Africa's oldest pinotage and shiraz vineyards, as well as a handsome Cape Dutch homestead,…

  • Freedom Park in Pretoria, South Africa.

    Freedom Park

    Pretoria

    This stunning park and museum honours fallen South Africans in all major conflicts and adopts an integrated approach to African history. It is a place of…

  • "An old Colonial Farm and vineyard near Cape Town , SouthAfrica"

    Vergelegen

    Stellenbosch

    Simon van der Stel’s son Willem first planted vines here in 1700. The buildings and elegant grounds have ravishing mountain views and a ‘stately home’…

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