Cape Town, with its natural beauty, bustling city atmosphere and beautiful beaches, is one of the star attractions in South Africa. There is a wide range of restaurants and bars to be explored along with the exciting district of Bo-Kaap, great shops, botanical gardens and the likes of Clifton Beach and Camps Bay for sunbathing.

Just east of Cape Town are the Winelands. Along with some wonderfully preserved Dutch architecture dating back to the 17th century, the region is known for its wine tours. The towns of Stellenbosch, Wellington and Paarl are all known for their amazing wine tasting tours. There are also some great restaurants throughout the towns, so visitors can enjoy a meal with their wine.

Knysna, on the Garden Route, is one of the best places to visit in South Africa. There are a number of activities to enjoy here, as the lagoon is perfect for many water sports. The surrounding forests are great places for strolls and there are plenty of nice bars and restaurants to enjoy of an evening.

South Africa has plenty of wildlife to see, and Kruger National Park is the oldest wildlife park in Africa. Established in 1898, it offers some of the most amazing safari experiences as hippos, cheetah, crocodiles and giraffe can all be seen here, along with lions, rhino and elephants. It’s even possible to stay in the park, as there is a range of accommodation options, from camping to cottages.

Hermanus on the Western Cape is a major tourist destination. One of the main reasons for this is that it is the best place in the world to spot whales, particularly the Southern right whale. The best time to see these creatures is August to November. However, the town is still a popular resort with a pleasant, small town vibe throughout the rest of the year.

For those wanting to learn about the history of South Africa, Robben Island off Cape Town’s coast is a must-visit. From the 17th to 20th century, it was a place of imprisonment. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Nelson Mandela spent 27 years incarcerated here during apartheid as a political prisoner. The former prison is now a museum dedicated to the history of apartheid.

Soweto is an important and interesting place with regards to the history of South Africa. This town, just outside of Johannesburg, was the site of most of the struggle against apartheid. It’s now a mix of rich suburbs and poor shantytowns that are home to some of the most vibrant music and theatre in the country.

The Drakensburg Mountains stretch around 600 miles along the length of KwaZulu-Natal’s western boundary. They are ideal for hiking and bird watching, along with game viewing and trout fishing. Here, visitors can take the Karkloof Canopy Tour and zip-wire from one platform to another at heights of around 30 metres. It’s also a great place to see bushman rock art. The San Bushmen who originally inhabited the mountains left behind some stunning cave paintings, the best of which can be seen in Kamberg National Park.

The Royal Natal National Park can also be found in these mountains and encompasses the Mont-aux-Sources, one of the highest mountains in the Drakensbergs. It is the source of the stunning Tugela Falls, which tumble over 3,000 feet across five separate tiers.

The Amotola Mountains are a wonderful site, with Hogsback is an amazing spot to visit here. The lush, green landscape of this area is dotted with a number of waterfalls and streams that are suitable to swim in. There’re many different species of birds that call this great place for walking and horseback riding home.

South Africa has a lot to offer in the way of entertainment, from theatres and nightclubs, to live music venues and even drive-in cinemas if the weather permits. Comedy clubs are also extremely popular and can be found in just about every city and town across the country.

Cape Town is known for its nightlife and has a number of big nightclubs, while the Nico Theatre Centre is the performing arts hub of the city. There’s an opera house, a large-scale arena and a coffee shop here. Shows are performed throughout the year, with a diverse range of genres on offer.

Maynardville Open Air Theatre, also in Cape Town, has a number of seasons, such Shakespeare and ballet, but for rock and popular music concerts, most people head to Plumstead, a venue in the city centre that has something for all music tastes.

Johannesburg has plenty to offer visitors, too. There are many bars and nightclubs, and a number of theatres, such as the Alhambra Theatre and the Market Theatre. For a late night, Roxy’s club is well known for its rock and pop nights, often going on into the early hours of the morning.

Gambling was made legal in South Africa in 1994, and since then many small casinos have opened up. However, it’s best to stick to the large ones in the big cities. Sun Coast in Durban and the Grand West Casino in Cape Town are popular spots for those looking to get lucky.

There are cinemas in all cities and towns, and all show the latest Hollywood blockbusters. Menlyn Park Drive-In in Pretoria is a great place to experience a drive-in movie for those visitors who have a car, but there are also a number of IMAX and art house cinemas across the country for those travelling without wheels.

South African cuisine is extremely diverse and has been influenced by British, Dutch, Indian and German foods, along with of course, native African flavours. This has created a fusion of tastes ranging from classic British dishes, to an array of spicy meats, and thanks to the Indian influence, curries are extremely popular across the nation.

However, there are a number of local dishes to sample as well. Braaivleis is meat roasted in an open charcoal or wood fire. This is a common dish at social events. Potiekos is a meat and vegetable stew, cooked in an iron pot over an open fire.

Boerewors, spicy sausage, is often found in cafés and is typically served as boerewors rolls. Similar to hotdogs but with boerewors instead, this snack is topped off with a tomato and onion relish. Bilog, seasoned meat, either beef or ostrich, dried and seasoned, is a popular dish at sports events.

Bunny chow is traditional to KwaZulu Natal. Half a loaf of bread filled with either beef or lamb curry, it can be found in many restaurants. In terms of desserts, melktert, a milk tart, and koeksisters, a sticky, deep-fried dessert, are both worth trying. They are good ways to round off a meal.

For those wanting a taste of the familiar, British restaurants serving traditional sausage and mash can be found in most cities and Italian cuisine and American style diners are common. The usual fast food outlets are also represented.

South Africa is renowned for its wines and almost all restaurants serve this local produce. A wine tour is recommended to fully appreciate the way that the grapes are grown and the wine is created, and obviously a few samples are a must.