South Africa has plenty of fantastic cities to explore, with all sorts of exciting activities and attractions on offer. Whether you’re after cultural, wildlife, recreational, food & wine, or sightseeing tours, you will find all you need and more in the sprawling plains of Mzansi. Read on to find out about the top 25 tours you can take to discover the magic of South Africa today!
TOWNSHIP TOURS
1. Camissa Township Tours
Camissa Township Tours offers a glimpse into township life in Cape Town, visiting informal settlements like Langa, Gugulethu, and Bonteheuwel. The half-day outing begins in District Six and includes a walking tour of Langa.
2. Half day tour of Soweto
The Soweto Tour from Themba Day Tours explores this infamous Johannesburg township. Highlights include the Hector Pieterson Memorial, Regina Mundi Church, Freedom Square, and a visit to a local shebeen.
SIGHTSEEING TOURS
3. Citysightseeing Cape Town
The hop on hop off tours with Citysightseeing travels the Mother City and Joburg on an open top double-decker bus. Running 2 major routes, travellers can disembark and jump back on at any of the stops. The Red City Tour in Cape Town includes landmarks like Table Mountain and District Six while the Blue Mini-Peninsula Tour visits sites like Kirstenbosch Gardens and Imizamo Yethu Township.
4. Citysightseeing Joburg
Citysightseeing Joburg open top bus travels through Johannesburg to attractions like the Apartheid Museum, Carlton Centre, Gold Reef City, and Constitution Hill.
5. Wow Cape Peninsula Tour
Wow Cape Town Tours stops at numerous tourist attractions along the Cape Peninsula like Cape Point, Chapman’s Peak Drive, Boulders Penguin Colony, and the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve.
6. Sightseeing tour of Joburg
Julnic Tours offers a city tour of Johannesburg where you can see highlights like Hilbrow, the Carlton Centre, and the Nelson Mandela Bridge. They also offer tours of Pretoria, Cradle of Humankind, Lesedi Cultural Village, and Cullinan Diamond Mine.
7. Full Day Walk to Freedom Tour
Explore Cape Town with an exciting Walk to Freedom tour. The itinerary includes a trip to the Bo Kaap Malay Quarter, District Six, V&A Waterfront, a stop at a shebeen, and a ferry trip to Robben Island.
8. A Walking Tour of Central Cape Town App
Create your own itinerary with a free app that guides you to over 60 points of interest in Cape Town, including museums, historical attractions, and restaurants.
RECREATIONAL TOURS
9. Namaqualand Spring Flower Tour
The Namaqualand region in the Northern Cape abounds in a plethora of colour during spring. Namaqua Tours has 3, 4, and 5 day tours that include a journey through Nieuwoudtville, known as the bulb capital of the world, the local waterfalls, and the Quiver Tree Forest with over 3000 trees. The tours run from early August – early September.
10. Dune Surfing with Sandboarding Cape Town
Tackle a sandboarding expedition with Sandboarding Cape Town to either the Atlantis Dunes (40km from Cape Town) or the giant sandy peaks at Betty’s Bay (85km away). Pretty much anyone who’s reasonably fit can give it a go.
FOOD AND WINE TOURS
11. Cape Winelands Tour
Explore the beauty of the Cape Winelands with Wine Flies. You will visit 5 wine estates, learn about the history of wine, meet some of the local wine makers, and enjoy a substantial lunch.
12. Cape Fusion Tours
Cape Fusion Tours offers the chance to experience the local cuisine and meet the people who cook it. Enjoy walking tours like from Bunny Chow to Babotie, Artisan gourmet Cape Markets Tour, or the Cape Peninsula Tour which includes a lunch at the home of Chef Bruce Robertson in Simon’s Town.
13. Bike and Wine Tours
Experience the Cape Winelands with Bikes ‘n Wines Tours. This unique Winelands exploration by bicycle is suitable for all fitness levels.
14. Cape Town Beer Route
Coffeebeans Routes offers the chance to sample Cape Town craft beer, learn about traditional African beer brewing, sample various beers at Banana Jam Café, and a tour of Newlands Brewery. The tour includes 3 tasting sessions, beer-inspired snacks, and mineral water.
CULTURAL TOURS
15. Apartheid Museum Tour
Explore the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg with Africa Explore and browse exhibitions portraying the struggle through photographs, film footage, artefacts, and more.
16. Shakaland Zulu Experience Tour
Learn about the Zulu culture with a full day Shakaland Zulu Experience Tour. Nomad Tours takes you along the Dolphin Coast to Zululand and offers a chance to participate in a cultural programme of Zulu traditions, such as viewing an authentic Zulu kraal, watching traditional beer brewing, spear making, pottery, weaving, and beading work, as well as tasting a traditional meal.
17. Valley of 1000 Hills Tours
The Valley of 1000 Hills between Pietermaritzburg and Durban is the heart of Zulu village life. Southern Circle Tours runs a 4 hour tour that will take you deep into the valley to learn about the history of the village and the legends and myths behind the surrounding rocks. Meet a traditional healer and local chief, engage with Zulu customs, and share a homemade meal with a local family in their rondavel.
18. Sani Pass/Lesotho Tour
Take a trip to the Sani Pass and Kingdom of Lesotho with Springbok Atlas, well known for its winding roads which require a 4×4. You’ll visit Underberg at the foot of the Drakensberg escarpment, travel up the Sani Pass (the highest road in South Africa), and visit a traditional Sotho village.
19. Garden Route Tours
African Eagle Day Tours offer a choice of Garden Route tours ranging from 2 – 4 days.
20. Panorama Route Tours
A tour with African Safari Adventures takes you to the Blyde River Canyon, past scenic landmarks such as God’s Window, Wonder View, the Pinnacle, The Three Rondavels, and Mac Mac Falls.
21. The Forgotten Route Tour
The Forgotten Route Tour offers the chance to explore the Karoo. The tour includes a trip on Shosholoza Meyl train, an overnight stay in the historic Lord Milner Hotel, a stop at a boutique winery in the Breedekloof Valley, a bus tour of Matjiesfontein, a night out with the locals at the Laird’s Arms pub, and a visit to an old Anglo-Boer War fort.
WILDLIFE TOURS
22. Midnight Turtle Tours St Lucia
Join a St Lucia Midnight Turtle Tour with Eurozulu, running from November to January to experience the magic of one of nature’s most amazing circles of life – the egg laying process of the leatherback and loggerhead sea turtles along the coastline of iSimangaliso Wetland Park. St Lucia Turtle Tours take place after sunset, when the turtles emerge from the sea to lay their eggs.
23. Big 7 Safari Tours
Alan Tours offers a Big 7 Safari Tour, commencing in Port Elizabeth. The tour incorporates a marine safari excursion to see dolphins, seals, sharks, and the seasonal humpback and southern right whale, as well as guided tours of the Addo Elephant National Park, a tour of the local dune fields, and the Khoikhoi middens.
24. Boat based whale watching tour
Oceans Africa runs a whale watching trip that allows you to approach whales within 50m! The boats depart from Hermanus. Waterproofs and life jackets are supplied.
25. Shark Cage Diving Tours
Book a cage dive with the White Shark Diving Company to see these fascinating creatures of the deep in Gansbaai. White Shark Diving Company takes only 15 passengers per trip so that everyone gets to spend as much time in the cage as possible.
What other tours do you recommend in South Africa? Let us know in the comments below!
Main image credited to Sandboarding Cape Town
