A note from Jack and Jess

We might be bias but South Africa is one of the most beautiful and culturally diverse country in the world! For our outdoorsy friends, we recommend the grand peaks of the Drakensberg, surfing at the world-famous waves at Jeffreys Bay and exploring the trails of Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve. For our wildlife lovers, a Big-Five safari will most definitely be on your agenda! However, don’t neglect the African penguin colonies in the Cape or whale watching, September is a great time to see migratory southern right or humpback whales! If you’re interested in history, South Africa has excellent museums and important sites to visit, including the District Six Museum and Robben Island, both of which are in Cape Town.

Known as the “City of Gold”, Johannesburg is South Africa’s largest city and built on a long history of gold mining. The city offers exciting indoor and outdoor activities, here are some of our recommendations!

Sun City

Sun City offers an unmatched array of experiences for families. The Valley of Waves is a water lover’s paradise with exhilarating slides and a stunning beach. For our avid golfers, challenge yourself on two world-class golf courses designed by Gary Player.

The Cradle of Humankind

The Cradle of Humankind covers an area of 47 000 hectares with fossilized remains of ancient animals, plants, and, most interesting, hominids can be found in the area’s dolomitic limestone caves.

Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens

The nature reserve is home to an abundance of wildlife with about 240 bird species recorded on site, namely a breeding pair of Verreaux's Eagles.

Gold Reef City

Built on the site of a former gold mine, Gold Reef City is a theme park which provides entertainment for both children and adults

Soweto Towers

For our adventurous friends, the towers are used for extreme sports such as bungee jumping, abseiling, zip-lining, pendulum swinging and SCAD falling.

Magaliesberg

Drive an hour north from Johannesburg along the R512 and you will find the Magaliesberg mountain range. There you can admire the Hartbeespoort Dam by aerial cableway or on foot, stroll around curio markets and visit an elephant sanctuary which provides a safe haven for African elephants. We highly recommend the Bill's Harrop's hot air balloon flight over the Magalies River Valley, it's one for the bucket list!

Kruger National Park

The Kruger National Park is world-renowned and a family favourite for the Penman's, not to mention the location of where Jack proposed to Jess! Kruger is South Africa’s largest wildlife sanctuary with 4.9 million acres of unrivalled wilderness and wildlife land, and home to, not only the Big Five, but more species of large mammals than any other African game reserve. Jess and Jack recommend staying around and entering the reserve at Crocodile Bridge Gate, the most eastern entrance. Our accommodation recommendations include Ngwenya Lodge, Buckler's Africa or Airbnb properties in Marloth Park, see links below. Please note, Kruger is a 5 hour drive from Johannesburg.

Accommodation at Ngwenya: Ngwenya Lodge

Accommodation at Buckler's Africa: Bucklers Lodge | Tingana

Airbnb properties in Marloth Park: Airbnb | Marloth Park – Holiday Rentals & Places to Stay - Mpumalanga

Pilanesberg National Park

The Pilanesberg Park is within 2 hours of Johannesburg in a malaria-free zone. The Pilanesberg's accessibility and captivating scenery make it must for nature enthusiasts wanting a safari experience a little closer to Johannesburg. The park is home to lions, elephants, black rhinos, white rhinos, Cape buffalo, leopards, cheetahs, zebras, giraffes, hippos and crocodiles! Accommodation in the Pilanesberg ranges from camping sites and caravanning to luxury private lodges. Note, Jack and I stayed at Shepherd's Tree in January 2024 and we couldn't speak higher of the luxury experience.

We highly recommend a visit to Cape Town, the city has a wealth of historical sites, natural wonders, cafes, hikes, beaches, diverse cuisines, lively nightlife not to mention plenty surfing opportunities! Some of our must do activities in Cape Town include:

Table Mountain

There are multiple hiking routes up Table Mountain but the quickest way up is via the cable car. The views from the top outlook over the Atlantic, the pointed peak of Lion’s Head, Robben Island and across the city.

Lion’s Head

One of the more popular hikes in Cape Town is Lion’s Head. It’s a challenging but rewarding climb and is an excellent sunset spot!

The Garden Route

The Garden Route is a scenic, coastal stretch of road spans around 124 miles from Mossel Bay to Storms River.

Visit the Vineyards

Take a drive to Stellenbosch or Franschhoek, between 1 to 2 hours outside of Cape Town, and have a delicious lunch accompanied with wine tasting at any of the beautiful farms or wine estates. There are dozens of wine farm's to visit, from luxury estates to rustic tasting rooms in old Cape Dutch farmhouses. Logistics are easier in Franschhoek, where we would recommend the Wine Tram which means no one needs to be a designated driver! Note, we have pinned Delaire Graff Estate below, it's a firm family favourite and a must for anyone visiting Stellenbosch.

Robben Island

Robben island is home to a prison that held anti-apartheid activists, famous names such as Walter Sisulu and Nelson Mandela, as well as many hundreds of people who risked their lives in the struggle for freedom. Note, ferries leave from the V&A Waterfront and the journey takes about 45 minutes.

Whale watching

Hermanus is considered the whale-watching capital of South Africa. Grab a boat trip from the V&A waterfront or watch the southern right whales from land! Often during mating and calving seasons, whales come so close to shore that they can seen from land, this is typically between June and November.