Things to do in South Africa
Hop on Hop Off Cape Town14 optionsHelicopter Cape Town9 optionsRobben Island Tour24 optionsWine Tasting Cape Town29 optionsSafaris from Johannesburg22 optionsSafaris9 optionsTwo Oceans Aquarium Tours9 optionsCape Town Safari Tours17 optionsStellenbosch Wine Tour6 optionsSoweto Tours23 optionsBoulders Beach Tours68 optionsBoat Ride Cape Town32 options
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Knysna Heads & Lagoon cruise: 1.5-hour sightseeing tourA 1.5-hour sightseeing cruise from Knysna takes you across the lagoon, through the Knysna Heads passage, and out to the sea caves and coves of the Garden Route coastline. Your local guide points out the geology, estuary life and marine habitat as the boat moves through the water; groups stay under 25 people, and you pick from three departure times when you book. Marine life sightings are possible but not guaranteed.Is it for me?The boat moves through open water for the full 1.5 hours with no walking or land stops, so book this if you want to stay seated and let the coastline come to you. Early starts are available if you prefer to be on the water before midday.
Soweto & Apartheid Museum Tour: Mandela House & Historic SitesA full-day guided tour of Soweto and the Apartheid Museum in South Africa, starting with the museum's main exhibition and Mandela display, then moving into the township to visit Nelson Mandela's former home, historic sites and the Hector Pieterson Memorial. The tour includes a guide, lunch in Soweto, bottled water and snacks; you travel in an air-conditioned vehicle and can choose between a group or private departure.Is it for me?Book the group rate if you're comfortable sharing the vehicle and want to meet other travelers; choose the private option if you prefer a dedicated guide and vehicle for your group. Either way, the fixed itinerary and included lunch mean the day holds together without you arranging stops or meals separately.
Cape Town: District 6 Museum, Langa Township & Robben IslandYou start at District Six Museum to learn how apartheid displaced an entire neighborhood, then walk through Langa township with a local guide who shows you how people live today, buy handmade crafts directly from makers, grab lunch at the Waterfront, and finish with a 40-minute ferry to Robben Island for a bus tour and ex-prisoner-led prison walk before returning to your hotel or staying for dinner.Is it for me?Book this if you want to understand Cape Town's apartheid history and present-day township life in one day without arranging separate transport and tickets—the fixed itinerary connects three sites that tell one story, and local guides who lived through it do the explaining.
Addo Elephant Park & Kragga Kamma Safari: Big 5 combo tourA full-day safari tour through Addo Elephant Park and Kragga Kamma Game Park in the Eastern Cape, led by a local guide in a closed air-conditioned vehicle. You see the Big 5 at Addo, then giraffes, white rhino and other species at Kragga Kamma that don't roam the larger park. Hotel pickup and cruise ship terminal service are included, with lunch at a local farm stall and binoculars provided. The tour runs 9 to 10 hours and suits all fitness levels; children from age 5 are welcome.Is it for me?Book this combo to see the Big 5 at Addo plus giraffes, white rhino, and bontebok at Kragga Kamma—two parks in one day with a closed vehicle and expert local guide who positions you for wildlife viewing without the larger group sizes.
Cape Town: Cape of Good Hope & African Penguins Private TourYou spend the day in a private vehicle with a licensed guide, moving through five distinct coastal towns and two major nature reserves without arranging transport, entry fees or timing yourself. The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off, bottled water, Chapman's Peak tollgate, and a lunch stop; you choose whether to add the seal boat trip at Hout Bay or spend time in the harbor markets instead. The full loop takes most of the day and covers the peninsula's most photographed stretches in one arc.Is it for me?This works well if you want to see the Cape Peninsula's main sights in one day without renting a car or arranging your own transport and entry fees — the private vehicle means you move at your own pace and can linger at stops that matter to you, while the guide handles the winding coastal roads and knows where the light is best for photographs.
Cape Town: V&A Harbour cruise with guide & live commentaryYou’ll board near Cape Town’s Two Oceans Aquarium for a 30-minute V&A Harbour cruise with live local commentary and seal spotting. Listen in clearly with your own headset as you pass working docks, luxury yachts, and city landmarks — all from a fresh perspective you’ll remember long after you’re back on land.
Cape Town Table Bay: Small-Group Ocean Safari with GuideYou’ll set out from Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront on a small-group ocean safari led by an experienced local skipper. Feel the wind as your RIB zips across Table Bay searching for dolphins, seals, penguins—even whales if you’re lucky. With expert guidance and time to drift quietly among marine life, this is one hour you won’t forget.
Eastern Cape: Pumba Game Reserve Safari & Big Five WildlifeYou spend two and a half hours on an open Land Rover with a trained ranger spotting Big Five and white lions across the Eastern Cape bushveld, stop for lunch and refreshments at the lodge, and return to your transfer point by early afternoon. The reserve operates daily in all weather, includes a welcome drink on arrival, and suits families with kids eight and older who want wildlife without arranging their own transport or timing.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see African wildlife without arranging your own transport, timing the stops, or navigating the reserve alone — the ranger's expertise and the fixed schedule handle all three, leaving you to focus on what's actually out there.
Pretoria City Tour: Voortrekker Monument & Union BuildingsA six to seven hour guided tour of Pretoria covers the Voortrekker Monument, Church Square, the Paul Kruger House, and the Union Buildings with a driver-guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, and all entry fees included. The tour moves through the city in an air-conditioned vehicle and includes a live English-speaking guide.Is it for me?Book this if you're staying in Pretoria and prefer not to drive—your guide navigates between the Voortrekker Monument, Church Square, Union Buildings, and Melrose House while you sit in an air-conditioned vehicle.
Pilanesberg Safari Tours: 2 Days with Big 5 & LodgeYou get picked up from your Johannesburg hotel, driven to the Pilanesberg Game Reserve, and spend two days on four game drives with a professional ranger — two at sunrise and sunset, two during the day. Meals, lodge accommodation, and all park entry are included. You're back in the city by evening on day two.Is it for me?Right for travelers with a tight schedule or couples wanting a quick escape from Johannesburg without the hassle of arranging transport, park entry, or meals. Expect to be out early on both days — the sunrise drives are what make the Big 5 sightings possible.
Cape Town: Table Mountain, Penguins & Cape Point private tourYou’ll ride a rotating cable car up Table Mountain for panoramic views, drive Chapman’s Peak with its cliffside curves, watch African penguins at Boulders Beach up close, and stand where oceans meet at Cape Point—all with a local guide handling every detail. It’s a day full of wild scenery and small surprises you’ll remember long after you’re home.
Cape Town: Shark Cage Diving with Transfers & Hot LunchYou’ll start your day with pickup in Cape Town before heading to Gansbaai for breakfast by the sea. Dive into Shark Alley with expert guides and all gear provided, then warm up with a hot lunch while watching footage of your adventure. Expect nerves, laughter, and an up-close look at sharks that’ll stick with you long after you’ve dried off.
Cape Town City Tour: Bokaap, Table Mountain & Slave LodgeA guided city tour of Cape Town with private transportation, English-speaking guide and hotel pickup covers the colored houses of Bokaap, the Slave Lodge museum, Company Gardens, St. George's Cathedral, Green Market Square, the Long Walk to Freedom bronze sculpture museum, a scenic drive through Camps Bay and Greenpoint, a diamond factory tour, and Table Mountain. Half-day and full-day options are available.Is it for me?Your guide speaks English, so you follow the commentary and the history without translation. The private vehicle and guide pace the stops so you're not rushed through the Slave Lodge or the Long Walk to Freedom museum—the places that carry the weight of the day get the time they need.
Cape Town City Tour Half-Day: Castle, Bo-Kaap & Table MountainA half-day guided city tour of Cape Town starting with hotel pickup and covering the Castle of Good Hope, Bo-Kaap, Company's Garden, the South African Museum, and Table Mountain, with an experienced guide providing commentary on the city's landmarks and history. The tour includes museum entry and runs three and a half hours; children from age 2 are welcome, and a live guide speaks English, Portuguese, French or German depending on the option you choose.Is it for me?Choose the Schedule Tour if you want a fixed departure time and shared group experience, or the Private Tour if you prefer a dedicated guide and flexible timing around your own schedule. The Marine Eco & City Tour Combo pairs this route with a separate boat excursion if you want to see the coastline from the water as well.
Penguin tour Cape Town: Half day with Chapman's PeakYou get picked up in Cape Town, driven through the Atlantic seaboard's best scenic route, and spend unhurried time swimming with or watching African penguins at Boulders Beach. Entry fees, water, and the vehicle are all included. Two photo stops — Bo-Kaap's colored houses and Muizenberg's surfing beach — break up the drive back.Is it for me?Right for travelers in Cape Town with a few hours free who want to see the penguins without committing to a full day. The half-day format means you're back by early afternoon, which works if you have other plans or limited time in the city.
Cape Town: Boulders Beach Penguins & Cape of Good Hope Private TourYou spend the day moving between Cape Town's most recognizable landmarks — from the colorful streets of Bo-Kaap through Clifton and Camps Bay, then along Chapman's Peak Drive with its ocean views and wildlife spotting, into Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve where you walk among zebras and baboons, and finally to Boulders Beach where you stand a few meters from 3,000 wild penguins. The private vehicle and guide handle all navigation and timing, and bottled water is included throughout.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Cape Town's main landmarks in one day without arranging your own transport or timing between sites — the private vehicle and guide handle the logistics, and the stops are planned so you see penguins, coastal cliffs, wildlife, and botanical gardens without backtracking.
Soweto & Apartheid Museum Guided Tour: Township & HistoryA guided tour of Soweto and the Apartheid Museum combines a morning drive through the township's upper-class, middle-class and lower-class sections with stops at Nelson Mandela's house, Winnie Mandela's house, Hector Petersen Memorial, Chris Hani Baragwaneth Hospital, Freedom Square and Regina Mundi Church, followed by afternoon entry to the Apartheid Museum. The tour runs five hours with a registered, English-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport and bottled water; children from age 3 are welcome and all areas are wheelchair accessible.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want a structured introduction to Soweto's role in anti-apartheid history and the museum context in a single morning and afternoon—the guide's knowledge and the museum entry remove the need to navigate the township alone or buy tickets separately.
iSimangaliso Wetland Park Night Safari: Leopard WildlifeA 3-hour night drive safari through iSimangaliso Wetland Park takes you into the Western Shores to search for nocturnal wildlife including leopard, hippos, buffalo, elephants, giraffe and rhino. A live English-speaking guide leads the drive, blankets are available on the vehicle, and conservation levies are included in the price. The park operates under only two concession holders, so the experience is rarely crowded after dark.Is it for me?Book the May-to-October window if you want cooler evening temperatures and the dry season's clearer visibility; the November-to-March dates offer warmer nights and different animal activity patterns tied to the wet season. Both seasons deliver nocturnal sightings—your choice depends on when you're traveling and which weather suits you better.
Night Safari Pilanesberg from Sun City: Leopards After DarkAn evening open-vehicle safari departing from Sun City explores Pilanesberg National Park after dark, when leopards, hyenas, owls and civets emerge. The guide uses spotlights to locate animals and explains their nocturnal behavior while the park settles into quiet. Hotel pickup from Sun City and nearby lodges is included, and the full outing takes around four hours from start to return.Is it for me?The four-hour round trip leaves your morning and afternoon free, so you can enjoy Sun City's other attractions or rest before the evening departure. Book this if you want to see Pilanesberg's nocturnal residents and don't mind an open vehicle after sunset.
Soweto Tour: Mandela House & Apartheid Museum HistoryA half-day guided tour of Soweto and the Apartheid Museum starting with hotel pickup, taking in Mandela House, the township's landmarks and Vilakazi Street, then moving through the museum's 22 exhibition areas that document South Africa's apartheid era. The guide briefs you on the day's program and walks you through both sites; you explore the museum at your own pace after the guided portion. Wheelchair accessible throughout; suitable for all fitness levels.Is it for me?Book this if you want a guided route through Soweto's key struggle sites and the museum's full exhibition in one morning—the guide provides context at each stop and the five-hour pace lets you finish by early afternoon.
