In 2026 we rented a car and spent three months driving around South Africa. While most first time visitors tend to focus on Cape Town and Kruger National Park, this is barely scratching the surface and omits some of the countries true gems. Below are our favorite destinations in South Africa, which really exemplify to diversity of the country.
Highlights: Cape Town, the Kalahari and the Northern Cape, the Garden Route, the Drakensburg Mountains, Kruger National Park, and some of South Africa’s most beautiful and outstanding national parks often missed by international tourists.
You have to start somewhere, and if you’re going to fly into one city, it needs to be Cape Town. This beautiful city warrants at least a couple days, and more if you can spare it. From the views off Table Mountain, to the scenic drive to Chapman's Peak, and a trip to the Cape of Good Hope, the scenery is amazing. In summer the beaches are a stunning place to enjoy some time, and if you’re a wildlife lover the penguins at Boulders Beach might actually be the highlight.