Southern Africa constitutes a fascinating beauty, with a rich variety of landscapes, cultures, experiences to offer, which can make one spend several memorable moments in the place. The Okavango Delta with its well-known wildlife of Botswana and urban Cape Town with urban hustling and bustling life attract a very diverse range of natural beauties, historical places and adventure pursuits. Provided that you are going to this region of the world, you should be aware of the highlights that will make your journey really extraordinary.
This article will be taking you on the sightseeing tour of the top-destinations-in-southern-africa, highlighting the must-see locations in the region, which represent the rich cultural diversity as well as unique wildlife and stunning landscapes. Southern Africa is a destination that no traveler would leave without having. There is a choice of safaris, immaculate beaches, or exciting cities.
1. Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Town is certainly a best-destinations-in-southern-africa; having amazing scenic landscape and various cultural background. The city is situated at the end of the African continent in the south where it is bounded by the great Table Mountain, clean white beaches and a rich history. It has numerous popular sights to explore and this has made it a destination of tourists worldwide.
A visit to Table Mountain is one of the best in Cape Town. You can walk up the mountain top or board a cable car where you will be rewarded with some of the best views of the city, the Atlantic Ocean, and the peninsula there. Cape Town beaches are globally known, and beaches such as the Camps Bay and Clifton Beach are excellent locations to have leisure and water sports.
There is also Robben Island in Cape Town where Nelson Mandela, the former South African President served several years. The island visit offers an understanding of the bitter past of South Africa. Diverse cultures blended together in the city, with vibrant food scene, and a busy waterfront in the V&A attracts are also key attractions one should not overlook. Cape Town is among the top-destinations-in-southern-africa, and anyone in history, culture and also the admirer of nature beauty should visit this place.
2. Victoria falls, Zimbabwe/Zambia.
Being one of the most impressive natural phenomena in the world, Victoria Falls is a place that cannot be left out when one is sightseeing the best destinations-in-southern-africa. Developing on the Zambezi River, which crosses the line of countries between Zimbabwe and Zambia, the falls are a UNESCO world heritage site and one of the largest and most powerful waterfalls on Earth. The fall of the water into the ravine is tremendous and the fog that spreads on falling days frequently produces bright rainbows on a sunny day.
In addition to the falls, Victoria Falls is a mecca of exciting things. You will have the ability to have a scenic helicopter or white-water rafting adventure along the fallen Zambezi River, or even bungee jump off the Victoria Falls Bridge. To get a less strenuous adventure, river sunset cruising offers amazing sceneries of the animals around the river such as hippos, crocodiles and elephants.
A visit to Victoria Falls does not only concern viewing one of the greatest natural marvels but also adventure activities in that area and the exclusive wildlife found in the region. It is certainly among the best-in-southern-africa attraction sites of the nature lovers and thrill seekers.
3. Kruger National Park, South Africa.
Kruger National Park is a well known game reserve in Africa and a favourable destination when an individual wishes to see the marvellous fauna that Africa offers. Kruger is a creature reserve of 19,000 square kilometers of northeast South Africa that boasts of numerous animal species, among them the Big Five (lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and rhinos). The park is a great habitat due to the variety of habitats available such as savannas, forests, and wetlands which accommodate a great deal of wildlife and birds.
Kruger has self drive and guided safari opportunities as visitors choose to move in the vast network of roads and trails which are available in the park. To have a more personal experience, a visit to one of the lodges in the park gives you close view of the wildlife, and most of the lodges have night games where you can see creatures such as the nocturnal ones in the wild. The park is also reputed to be having great bird watching experiences and there are over 500 species that can be spotted.
Kruger National Park, as one of the top-destinations-in-southern-africa, is a place where, without a doubt, a person can get a real memory in the form of a truly memorable safari experience, as well as a place that should be kept in mind as a destination among wildlife lovers.
4. Okavango Delta, Botswana
Okavango Delta is a superb and very pure natural marvel which is one of the leading attractions in the category of best-destinations-in-southern-africa among the nature enthusiasts, wildlife admirers. One of the largest and most biodiverse wetland ecosystems in the world, this in layout is a huge inland delta found in the northern part of Botswana. Seasonal flooding creates the delta and makes the land look like a green paradise filled with wild animals. It is also a UNESCO world heritage site, and one of the only untouched natural environments on earth.
Okavango Delta Safari is different. Exploration is best done in the area by mokoro (traditional dugout canoe), where you will be able to silently sail through the waterways and sightsee animals such as elephants, hippos, lions and different birds. Safari camps and lodges of diverse nature are found on the delta, providing a conventional and personal with nature experience. You would also be able to venture out into the nearby dryland and savanna scrubland, where one can find bigger predators like lions and leopards.
The Okavango Delta is one of the best-destinations-in-southern-africa and other individuals visiting this region will have the opportunity to enjoy the serenity and thrill of the African wilderness.
5. Sossusvlei and the Namib desert in Namibia.
Namibia has landscape contrasts like no other, it has massive desert sceneries, rocky mountainous landscapes and a coastline that have made it one of the best-in-southern-africa. Sossusvlei is one of the most recognisable locations of Namibia and is located in Namib desert. Sossusvlei which is home to some of the tallest red dunes with an average of more than 300 meters is a dream place to a photographer.
The Namib desert is also said to be the oldest desert on the earth and it is an out of the world experience. Tourists are allowed to scale the dunes to enjoy the best panorama, tour the ghostly Deadvlei (a clay section that contains old, dead trees) or even have an airborne tour over the dunes to explore the terrain at that level. The wildlife is also quite diverse and many species of animals can be found in the area such as oryx, springbok, and desert adapted elephants.
A trip to the Sossusvlei and the desert around Namibia is one of the best-destinations-in-southern-africa to those seeking a truly distinctive and off-the-road adventure.
6. Swakopmund, Namibia
Swakopmund is a town on the Atlantic Ocean in Namibia, and a pleasant contrast to the dry desert scenery inland. German colonial structures of Swakopmund and its location next to the oceans make it a lovely place to visit. The town enjoys a relaxed ambiance and thus it is the best location to spend time after visiting the Namib Desert.
Swakopmund also has diverse adventure activities besides the rich cultural heritage. Tourists have the option of sand boarding or playing the quad bikes on the adjoining sand dunes or use water resources such as kayaking, fishing and to appreciate seals and dolphins by taking boat trips. Close to the desert and perfectly situated alongside the beach side, Swakopmund is a heat spot in planning the next trip to the country; as a top-destinations-in-southern-africa.
7. Durban, South Africa
Durban is a diverse city with great beaches and cultural mix in its eastern coast of South Africa. Durban has good surfing beaches which are regarded as the best in the world, and some of the best such beaches are Umhlanga rocks and Durban golden mile in which great waves and vibrant environment are available.
Durban also remains hugely Indian as depicted in the food, culture and architecture in the city. Victoria street Market is a busy place to visit where one would enjoy the Indian culture with shopping and food. There is also the uShaka Marine World, an ocean theme amusement park and aquarium apartment in Durban. It does not matter whether you are looking to relax on the beach, visit cultural sites, or have fun in outdoors activities; Durban is one of the best-destinations-in-southern-africa.
8. Botswana – Chobe National Park.
Chobe National Park, in the north Botswana, is one of the most effective locations in Southern Africa to view wild elephants. The park is recognized by huge numbers of elephants, besides a variety of wildlife, lions, leopards, buffalo among other bird species. Another uniqueness of the park is that various types of habitats such as floodplains, forests, and rivers are present which have led to diverse animals.
One of the most popular methods to view wildlife is to go on a boat safari along the river of the Chobe since it is highly inhabited by hippos, crocodiles, and numerous bird species. The park has easy accessibility in both Zimbabwe and Zambia and therefore, the park is a common inclusion to any Southern African safari itinerary. The Chobe National Park is located in the top-destinations-in-southern-africa since it is a favorite destination by wildlife lovers.
9. Lesotho
Lesotho is a concealed treasure in Southern Africa and in this capitalist nation, the mountain kingdom lies wholly in the midst of South Africa. Lesotho is a beautiful country with great hiking, trekking and horseback riding spots due to its beautiful mountain landscapes. The nation is known to have rough land, Drakensberg Mountain whereby there are some of the tallest mountain ranges in south Africa.
Lesotho also boasts of rich culture with Basotho people preserving their culture and way of life in very isolated and distinct setting. The people seeking to avoid the masses and have a more tranquil and picture-esque location will do well in Lesotho which is among the best destinations-in-southern-africa.
10. Madagascar
Madagascar is not a part of the mainland Southern Africa, yet it remains an essential destination that one cannot ignore in case he or she wants to have a unique experience. Madagascar, with its unbelievable biodiversity, hosts the type of species that cannot be found anywhere in the world in addition to lemurs, the chameleons and the well known baobab trees. The island provides exotic beaches, tropical rainforests, and rare wildlife experiences which cannot be found anywhere in the world.
Madagascar is a heaven on earth to nature and wildlife enthusiasts due to its amazing views that start at the Avenue of the Baobabs down to the rainforests of Andasibe-Mantadia National Park. In case you are interested in a unique and off-the-beaten-path experience, then one of the best-destinations-in-southern-africa is Madagascar.
Conclusion
The southern part of Africa is a lively and multicultural area with one of the most spectacular travelling experiences worldwide. The best-destinations-in-southern-africa include an unbelievably diverse array of dramatic scenery, extraordinary wildlife and are as diverse as they are intriguing, should we start with the deserts of Namibia to continue on to the rich flora of Botswana and South Africa. As an adventure-seeker, an eco-tourist, or a person willing to have an experience of another culture, Southern Africa is a place that will leave memorable moments that will last forever.
