In this article, I will post photos of the South African landscape and comment on them. The goal is to show you the different landscapes of South Africa because they are very varied.
South African Landscape: what you will see there.
If you want to go to this country, feel free to read my review of South Africa. I talk about my 2-month stay in South Africa and mention certain points. I have a lot of photos but I will limit myself to between 5 and 10 photos per part of South Africa.
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Landscape of South Africa in Cape Town and around the west of the country:
Photo of Cable Beach in Cape Town
Photo of the sunset at Lion’s Head in Cape Town
Photo of the sunset over Cape Town or the Cape
On the way to the Cape of Good Hope, you can see penguins
On the coast of Cape Town in South Africa.
30 minutes south of Cape Town.
View north towards Table Mountain during the ascent of Lion’s Head.
On the road to the Cape of Good Hope.
At the Cape of Good Hope, the southernmost point of Africa
Panorama of the city at sunset from Lion’s Head.
Here are the photos of the Cape and its surroundings. I did not include photos of water activities because I do not have a waterproof camera.
My opinion on this part: It is the most touristy part and one of the prettiest, however, it is one of the most expensive parts of South Africa.
It is rather suited for mass tourism or for people who like their comfort. You will be able to see and find what you desire: good hotels, good food, beaches or mountains.
The region is superb, you can go to the Cape of Good Hope or also to vineyards in Stellenbosch.
The Cape is really a place where one can easily stay for a week but it was my arrival and departure city for my trip to South Africa. It is one of the cities I liked the most in the world with its beaches and mountains.
It has different beaches and the best hotel accommodations in town or beachfront hotels in the country.
There are many activities at the Cape such as going to the Cape of Good Hope, you can take a guide to go to Robben Island but you must book in advance, a place that is part of South Africa’s national heritage because it is here that Nelson Mandela was imprisoned along with members of the apartheid regime.
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Landscape between Cape and Port Elizabeth in South Africa:
Here is a map to guide you:
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Mossel Bay
My hostel hotel in Mossel Bay
Mossel Bay, view from breakfast in the morning.
Mossel Bay up close
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Oudtshoorn, the Ostrich town
Landscape of the Oudtshoorn valley
An ostrich and me
There are not only ostriches or wild animals but there is a stalagmite cave
In George, a bit of sport and a good place for lunch!
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Krysna, Plettenberg Bay, Storm river and Nature Valley:
Photo of the town of Krysna and the island
Photo bank at Plettenberg Bay
Plettenberg Bay and the town
Tree climbing and Ziplining at Storm river
Bike Hiking break at Stormriver with a beautiful view of the mountains
Hiking at Nature Valley, a national park with a lagoon
My opinion on my trip along the Cape coast to Port Elizabeth:
It is more for people who want to do sports activities, hiking or cycling. There are a lot of outdoor activities, you can even go horseback riding, speed boating, water sports. The landscape is simply magnificent with far fewer tourists than in Cape Town.
Krysna can also be the starting town for many nature attractions, swimming with seals, canoeing, surfing, like in Cape Town but less glamorous.
There are many animals in the wild or in natural reserves.
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African landscape between the road from PE Port Elizabeth to Durban:
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Port Elizabeth and surroundings Addo National Park:
Safari photo at ADDO park elephant park
A lion at ADDO National Park.
The Addo park is really nice and it is much cheaper than a safari at Kruger park which requires several days. Of course, Kruger park offers many more activities.
A bit of fun in a clearing near Port Elizabeth
The jump (a swing) at Uzumbe
Another view of the Uzumbe swing
A hike at Coffee Bay with a view of the road
The South African coast at Coffee Bay
My opinion on this section from Port Elizabeth to Durban:
This part is even wilder than the previous one, it has other activities such as surfing, meeting people from KwaZulu-Natal which is very interesting culturally. There are even fewer tourists in this area and you get more into the African side of the country. The attractions are more spread out compared to the other part.
The KwaZulu-Natal region is one of my favorites, we have dinner every night at Coffee Bay, it’s very friendly and easy to meet people. As an anecdote, I even went there to get an African-style haircut and people were surprised to see an Asian, and several women wanted to go have a drink with me.
There are quite a few excursions with an African guide for a very low price, I even took a surfing lesson there.
I went out at night in Port Elizabeth because I lived near the busy street in the heart of the city, otherwise I would have avoided doing so. Avoid staying near a township, you could get robbed.
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Landscape in South Africa from the region between Durban and Johannesburg in the north of the country:
Landscape in the heart of the Drakensberg
Another landscape of the Drakensberg in a canyon
One of the highest waterfalls in the world is located in the Drakensberg, view from a canyon
I am going to cross the border to go to Lesotho, a zigzag road, a landlocked country in the heart of South Africa
Lesotho is difficult to access but you can book with a guide to go there. I received many very interesting explanations about African life there.
I did not include photos of Johannesburg because it is a city where you don’t necessarily stay unless it is a stopover to go to Soweto, Kruger Park, or to catch a flight. In my case, I left Johannesburg to go to Zimbabwe to see Victoria Falls north of Johannesburg.
The African city looks like a township and at night, it is better not to go out because there are many places without lighting.
My opinion on this part:
You enter the South African landscapes on the Lesotho side, very mountainous, with gorges, chasms, canyons, waterfalls, and cascades. It is rather intended for people who want to hike for several hours, to be peaceful in nature. To do multi-day trekking in the mountains.
The cities in South Africa are as nice to visit as the natural parks or landscapes.
You can find everything you desire here just before arriving in Johannesburg in the north where the atmosphere is gloomier.
What I missed:
I obviously missed Kruger Park but I was satisfied with Addo Park near Port Elizabeth, I was even invited to dinner by my guide after the visit. Kruger Park is a must for a safari if you are going for a few weeks in South Africa but it was only the second country of my 2-year world tour so I did not go for budget reasons.
I missed an important part such as the Soweto suburb, the apartheid museum, or Swaziland but I stayed 2 months here so I cannot do everything and I am very satisfied with my trip, I will be able to see more cultural heritage on my next visit.
Since I did not go to the western region of the country, I did not go to Blyde Canyon, it was too long to make a round trip.
This article is a complement to a more complete article on what to do in South Africa and Cape Town.
And you? What part did you like best? Have you been to Blyde Canyon or Swaziland?
