Discover South Africa: Top Outdoor Adventures Awaiting You

South Africa is a spectacularly diverse country that boasts plenty of incredible outdoor adventure opportunities. Due to its southerly location and unique terrain, it has the most diverse weather and scenery of any country on the whole continent.

Among the aforementioned activities that adventure tourists flock to the country to participate in, rock climbing is among the most popular.

The top spots for the sport are generally in the southerly Cape Fold Mountains. Heading out to Magaliesburg (near Johannesburg) for fantastic trad and sport climbing; or the Cederberg Mountains (near Cape Town) are two of the most popular spots.

Hiking can be done throughout the country, but is especially popular on the Cape of Good Hope and around Table Mountain, both of which are close to Cape Town.

Along with these well-established and popular activities, there are also plenty of less orthodox ones as well. These include ziplining through the forest canopies in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands and in the Central Drakensberg region.

Exploring the Congo Caves, near Oudtshoorn, is another popular half-day attraction that is unl;ike any other adventure you’ll find in the country.

Stunning scenery

Boasting plenty of interesting and unique landscapes to explore, South Africa is full of immense natural beauty. Climbing in the southerly Cape Fold Mountains yields incredible views both up into the arid Karoo region as well as out over the ocean. The central plateau and associated highlands also yield a variety of scenic terrains, gorges and forests to explore.

So much to do

To match the numerous different topographical features and terrains available to explore in South Africa are myriad different activities. Rock climbers love heading to the Drakensberg escarpment or Cape Fold Mountains to put their skills to the test. Along the coast, hiking and paragliding are also two popular pastimes. Farther inland, wildlife discovery programs and zipl ining are popular activities.

Go on safari

South Africa is world famous for its biodiversity and ecotourism. It is widely considered to be one of the most biodiverse countries on earth. While you’re here, it is highly recommended to Kruger National Park or Sabi Sand Game Reserve to see the lions, cheetahs, elephants, rhinos wildebeests, hippos and giraffes that call the country home.

South Africa has an interesting mix of climate zones. The central plateau has a continental climate, with hot summers and cold winters, while the coast has a distinctly Mediterranean climate and is mild throughout the year. Most of the country experiences rainfall in the summer.

Depending on where you go in South Africa, it is likely you will fly into one of various international airports. However, the most popular starting points are generally Cape Town International Airport (CPT), the King Shaka International Airport (DUR), in Durban, or the O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), in Johannesburg. Most guides will opt to meet you at one of these airports or provide details about how to get to the start of your trip.

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