Our Top Five / Most Visited / Other >>

Here is our list of the other top places international tourists visit in South Africa and Swaziland. In no particular order….

Sun City and Pilansberg National Park (Northwest Province)

The Pilansberg region is few hours interesting drive from Johannesburg and Pretoria. The National Park is actually situated around an extinct billion year old volcano, and has a lot to recommend it if you are in the region (including all the big cats and wild dogs), although not as a safari destination in it’s own right – Madikwe and Kruger are superior. The only reason to go, then, is to visit Sun City. Sun City is a surreal man-made construction created in a former black ‘homeland’ under Apartheid when the National Party’s party-poopers banned gambling from South Africa ‘proper’. The similarities with Las Vegas don’t stop there... extravagant hotels, cavernous rooms full of one-armed bandits, good golfing options and a general atmosphere of reckless sleaze prevail. This is where South Africans let their hair down. As far as we’re concerned, what happens in Sun City should stay in Sun City and there's no good reason to go find out what it is!

Namaqualand (Northern Cape)

The annual explosion of colour in the normally dry desert of the Northern Cape is the stuff of postcards and nature documentaries. Almost over-night the barren landscape is covered in a carpet of amazing variety and colours that assault your senses. It is so extraordinary that those in the know flock from all over the world to see it and are seldom disappointed (the timing can vary, but happens normally between mid-August and mid-September). No-one really knows, but the estimate is that more than 4,000 species of plant grow in the region. It’s a long drive from the nearest centre you’re likely to visit – Cape Town is up to eight hours away, although the region is large and some flowers can be seen as far south as the north end of the Western Cape. If you are a floral buff, this is a must-see.

Ezulwini Valley (Swaziland)

Ezulwini Valley in the tiny, mountainous kingdom of Swaziland is renowned for its woodwork, weaving and candle-making. The popular Reed Dance when the Swazi King reviews his kingdom’s finest dancing virgins with a view to selecting a new wife is a unique cultural experience. Situated in a beautiful valley that runs between the main cities of Swaziland, Malzini and Mbabane, some international tourists stop at Ezulwini Valley on the way to the KwaZulu-Natal beaches or Mozambique. We believe Swaziland should be a lot more than a commuter trail – its unique culture, stunning scenery, hospitable people and wilderness areas should make this a destination in its own right.