South Africa offers a wealth of choices during holiday time, but what places are there other than Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth? Here are eight unique treasures that you can visit with confidence!
Magersfontein battlefield
Definitely worth a visit is the Magersfontein battlefield south of Kimberley, about 31,5 km on the Modder River road. The open plains often tell more than a book, and with the trenches that are still visible, history becomes a reality. The Battle of Magersfontein was one of the Boers’ most famous victories during the Second Boer War. It is also one of the three British defeats known in Britain as the Black Week. Memorials for the Scots and Scandinavians can be seen on the grounds and in addition to have a look at the uniform and weapon display, you can do an audio tour for more information.
Boulders Beach Penguin Colony
Near Simon’s Town you can visit Boulders Beach. Large rocks divert the waves and make it a safe place for children to swim. It is also always clean and safe because it is part of the protected area of the Table Mountain National Park. With thousands of African penguins relaxing on the rocks, it’s no wonder that the beach attracts about 60 000 visitors a year.
Coffee Bay and the Hole in the Wall
Mdumbi Beach near Coffee Bay is one of the most beautiful beaches on the Wild Coast. Nguni’s grazing freely on the hills and unspoilt views in all directions definitely make it an unforgettable experience. The Hole in the Wall is about 8 km from Coffee Bay. It is an extraordinary natural phenomenon of a hole formed in a rock in the sea. The hole is big enough for a sailboat to sail through and the locals refer to it as the “place of the noise”.
The Big Pineapple
Visit the world’s largest artificial pineapple in the small town of Bathurst. Just 12 km off the R67 between Port Alfred and Grahamstown is the place where the 1820 Settlers settled. The pineapple is on the Summerhill Farm and is an impressive 16,7 m high.
Annandale Wine Estate
Hempies du Toit, a former Springbok lock, is a fifth-generation winemaker. His wine farm Annandale in the Helderberg Mountains in Stellenbosch is a wine tasting experience that you should not miss. Taste wine in an old barn, complete with uncle Hempies’ Springbok jacket against the wall. Nothing has been commercialised, and Stellenbosch students regularly visit the farm to clink glasses with uncle Hempies. If you want, you can even take a bag of wood and braai meat and have a braai under the trees which were planted by Simon van der Stel.
Kaapsche Hoop
Kaapsche Hoop (or Kaapsehoop) is a small town in Mpumalanga, about 35 km outside Nelspruit. Kaapsche Hoop is known for the wild horses wandering in and about the village and providing a mystical experience in the foggy weather that often occurs there. The Royal Coach is a railway truck used by Queen Elizabeth II of England in 1947 during her official visit to South Africa. Today, it offers tourist accommodation. There is a waterfall that you can visit and beautiful hiking trails with breathtaking views. If you want to know more about this village, you can go on a ghost tour and listen to stories and tales from the town’s history.
Valley of Desolation
The Valley of Desolation outside Graaff-Reinet consists of giant cliffs of up to 120 m high, formed by volcanic movement. It is part of the Camdeboo National Park, which covers about 15 000 hectares and extends around the 200-year-old Graaff-Reinet.
Along the cliffs is a giant flag project where 2,5 million red, yellow, blue and green desert plants are planted in the form of the South African flag. After completion of the project, the flag will be large enough to be seen from space! The marked area is as large as 66 rugby fields.
Whether you are touring along the West Coast or visiting the Lowveld, there is always a treasure just around the corner! Visit the unique attractions that our beautiful country offers during these holidays.
