Things to Do & Must-See Attractions in South Africa

Located on the Victoria & Albert Waterfront in Cape Town, the Two Oceans Aquarium is - as the name suggests - a celebration of the unique collection of marine life that lives off the coasts of South Africa. The Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet off the country's southern shore at Cape Agulhas, 138 miles from Cape Town.

There are two galleries in the aquarium, one for each of the two oceans in the name, among seven total galleries with large windows to see the sea life. Among the creatures in the Atlantic Ocean Gallery, there are rare Knysna seahorses, and in the Indian Ocean Gallery you'll see clownfish. There is also a penguin exhibit, an activity center for kids, and a predator exhibit with sharks and stingrays. Certified divers can even dive in the tank with the sharks.

The Cape Point Nature Reserve sits on Cape Point, at the tip of the Cape Peninsula, and features a great variety of animal and plant life. The reserve occupies more than 19,000 acres of Cape Point, including nearly 25 miles of coastline. The old lighthouse, built in 1859, was replaced in 1911, but it still remains standing and is a popular attraction. The Cape Point Nature Reserve is part of the larger Cape Floral Kingdom, the smallest floral kingdom in the world.

Contrary to popular belief, Cape Point is not the southernmost point of Africa – nor is it the point off which the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. Still, the point is an absolutely beautiful spot to visit, offering spectacular views, great hiking, and excellent bird-watching.

Perhaps nowhere is South Africa’s transition to democracy more vividly apparent than on Constitution Hill. For over a hundred years, buildings here functioned as a much-feared prison complex, holding everyone from common criminals to activists Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, even Winston Churchill (briefly) during the Boer War.

Since 2004, this site has been home to South Africa’s Constitutional Court, partially built with bricks from one of the old prison buildings, complemented with lighter contemporary elements. Visitors can see the court in session after a tour which takes in Mandela’s cell as well as a permanent exhibition dedicated to Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violent protest.

Once known as “Lion’s Rump,” Signal Hill is a relatively flat peak next to Lion’s Head and Table Mountain. The summit of this landmark once flew flags to signal changing weather and anchoring directions for ships that came to port. A well-paved road takes visitors to the top of Signal Hill, where spectacular Cape Town views await.

Along the way, travelers can stop at the impressive tombs of several Muslim missionaries or spend the night at Appleton Scout Campsite. Those venturing to Signal Hill for a mid-day trip will likely hear the Noon Gun—two massive cannons signaling the strike of twelve—fire, too. In addition to its incredible views, Signal Hill is home to the last bit of the endangered Peninsula Shale Renosterveld vegetation in Cape Town, which means it is one of the few places nature lovers can find the extremely rare Moraea aristata flower and Medusa’s Head succulents in the wild.

When people talk about wildlife in Africa, they usually mean the Big Five: Elephants, rhino, buffalo, lions and leopards. But World of Birds, a unique park just outside Cape Town that’s home to more than 400 different species of wild birds, proves there’s more to this diverse continent than just its massive mammals.

More than 3,000 birds and other small animals call this aviary home. Visitors can explore their well-kept habitats, which spread over a generous four hectares of land. The scenic backdrop of Table Mountain, Little Lion’s Head and the Twelve Apostles makes it an ideal spot for photos, too.

Originally a jetty built in 1654 to refresh sailors for the Dutch East India Company, the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is now one of the most-visited attractions for foreigners in South Africa. The area is a development consisting of two harbors, retail shops and museums, seascapes and mountain views, and plenty of places to bed down, drink up or eat away.

The V&A Waterfront describes itself as a "Haven for Sailing Enthusiasts" and offers full amenities alongside historical charm. Walking and bus tours, sports and mind-blowing boats are sure to cast a hook for visitors of all types.

The Cape Wheel of Excellence is a huge observation wheel in Cape Town, opened in 2010 just in time for the South Africa World Cup.

Standing at just over 164 feet tall, the giant observation wheel has 36 fully-enclosed pods (called gondolas), each with room for six adults. A complete revolution of the wheel takes about 2.5 minutes, but during one ride passengers get to go around four times. This gives everyone a chance to see the spectacular views over Cape Town multiple times.

When the Dutch East India Company arrived in the area of what is now Cape Town in 1652, one of the first things they did was create a garden to help feed the settlers. The Company's Garden still exists, today as a public park.

Company's Garden covers a whopping 19.76 acres in the middle of Cape Town, near the parliament building, and includes a fish pond, rose garden and multiple statues and monuments. There's a tea room restaurant on the grounds, and an 18th-century sundial. Attractions near the garden include the Iziko South African Museum, St. George's Cathedral and South Africa's National Library. Of particular note among the many historic trees is the oldest cultivated pear tree in South Africa, planted around 1652.

A former Cape Town neighborhood is remembered in the District Six Museum, built in the neighborhood itself.

District Six was created in the 1860s, but by the mid-1960s the government began forcibly removing the non-white residents to a slum-like township miles away in order to make the neighborhood whites-only. In all, some 60,000 people were relocated, and their homes destroyed. Very little development was ever started in the area, however, and post-apartheid the government said they would recognize property rights of former residents. The District Six Museum was founded in 1994 to honor those who were forcibly removed from their homes. Some fragments of the former neighborhood are on display, and there is a district map on the floor where former residents have noted where their houses once were. The museum and District Six Foundation also exist to help people moving back to the neighborhood develop the area into a thriving community again.

Johannesburg has most of Africa's tallest buildings, and the building that's held the title of Africa's tallest office building for nearly four decades is the Carlton Centre.

The Carlton Centre is a combination office building and shopping center. The 50-storey building stands at 732 feet, but almost half of its floor area is below the ground level – that's where the majority of the shopping is located, in an underground shopping mall that's one of the city's top shopping destinations. Until 1997, the Carlton Centre was connected via this underground mall to the luxury Carlton Hotel. The top floor of the Carlton Centre is known as the “Top of Africa,” and offers some of the best views overlooking Johannesburg.

This iconic peak in Table Mountain National Park stretches some 2,000 feet above sea level and its Lion-shaped apex is visible from almost anywhere in Cape Town. Visitors can make the challenging hour-long climb to the top and enjoy epic views of Table Mountain and the city skyline, and those seeking a high adventure can use the slopes of Lion’s Head as a launching point for paragliding.