Activities

South Africa boasts a vibrant outdoor lifestyle offering hiking trails, hot-air ballooning, bungee jumping, river rafting, surfing, all water sports and eco-adventures. Take a guided tour of the famous Soweto township - a melting pot of old and new. You can even experience the ancient Africa of traditional healers and tribal villages. Other activities for the more butch include abseiling, canyoning, caving, cycle tours, foot safaris, four by four driving, hang gliding, horse-riding, gliding, mountain bicycling, paragliding, rock climbing, kayaking, shark-cage diving, skydiving, snorkelling, and whale-watching.

Clubbing

South Africa has a vibrant gay club life, although limited to the major cities (Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town). Clubs/bars range from township venues to house/hardcore dance spots. Visit our Hotspots or What's On sections for more details.

Eating Out

There is no shortage of restaurants, especially in the larger centres. Menus are cosmopolitan, including everything from McDonalds to Indian or Thai food, Portuguese cuisine and traditional African fare. The nightlife is vibrant with theatres, cinemas, bars, casinos and nightclubs in the cities to keep you awake into the early hours.

Wildlife and Nature

The world renowned Kruger National Park is run by the South African National Parks , and one of twenty in the country. It offers a wildlife experience that ranks among the best in Africa. Established in 1898, the Kruger Park covers nearly 2 million hectares. It is regarded as the flagship of South Africa's national parks and is home to 336 tree species, 49 kinds of fish, 34 amphibian species, 114 reptile species, 507 bird species and 147 mammal species.

Another notable national park is St Lucia which is positioned on a rich estuary bursting with wildlife including crocodiles, hippos and many others and is an official World Heritage site. Table Mountain, is another World Heritage site and national park. It can be reached by hiking or via a hi-tech cable car and overlooks the city of Cape Town, offering one of the most breathtaking vistas on earth.