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

  • June 16 Memorial Acre

    June 16 Memorial Acre

    Gauteng

    Opposite one of the schools from which students marched on 16 June 1976 is this stunning open-air memorial to the bloody events that presaged the Soweto…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Big Hole

    Big Hole

    Northern Cape

    Although the R50 million that turned the Big Hole into a world-class tourist destination came from De Beers, touring the world’s largest hand-dug hole…

  • 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…

  • Simondium near Paarl Western Cape South Africa, Vineyard of the Babylonstoren wine estate.

    Babylonstoren

    Winelands

    This 2.5-sq-km wine and fruit farm is on the north slope of the Simonsberg mountain between Klapmuts and Paarl. Its highlight is an 800-sq-metre, formally…

  • 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…

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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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Go Beyond

South Africa, Lesotho & eSwatini (Swaziland) and beyond

Beyond South Africa, Lesotho & eSwatini (Swaziland)
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