Read on to learn more about the most spectacular nature experiences across South Africa, bringing you closer to the natural world than ever before.
Many international tourists make the trek to South Africa for an opportunity to witness the Big Five wildlife on a traditional safari adventure. However, many of these visitors are unaware of the numerous national phenomena that happen throughout the year across these beautiful lands.
For nature lovers and scenic photographers alike, a visit to the wild and wonderful regions of South Africa offers the prime opportunity to break out their favorite DSLR cameras to capture some of the most unique and breathtaking scenery in the world.
Whales in Hermanus
Very few places in the world offer a better opportunity to whale watch than the coastal town of Hermanus, situated in the western cape. Its low cliffs provide visitors with a spectacular view across Walker Bay and the neverending Atlantic Ocean that stretches as far as the eye can see.
While these scenic views will mesmerize you at any time, it is the latter half of the year, particularly from August to October, that the waters come to life when massive, 50-ton Southern Right whales enter the area for calving season.
In late September, the town is transformed with the Hermanus Whale Festival, which is filled with street parades, foot markets, and plenty of whale-watching opportunities from land and sea. From July to November, Southern Right whales frequent the bays, while humpback whales arrive with their calves in early November.
Turtles of Sodwana Bay
It is a lifecycle that dates back to prehistory. Every year, between November and January, female loggerhead and leatherback turtles emerge from the warm waters of the Indian Ocean to secure a prime spot along the beaches of Sodwana Bay to lay their eggs in the safety of the sand. Roughly 60 days later, hundreds of tiny hatchlings reveal themselves in the night air, scurrying their way to the shore.
Located along the northern stretch of the Kwazulu-Natal coast, protected by large sand dunes and dense forest, it is most famous for its prime scuba diving conditions, but many visit the area for an opportunity to see nesting turtles.
Tours around the region are conducted on foot, typically lasting two to four hours, to ensure no human intervention or disruption and the safety and protection of the mothers, nests, and hatchlings.
The Kalahari Night Sky
Since 2019, the Kalahari Heritage Park has been the official location for the International Dark Sky Sanctuary, a one-of-a-kind location in Africa. Situated close to the borders of Namibia and Botswana, with little to no light pollution, it is one of the best places in the world to enjoy an uninterrupted view of the dazzling night sky and world-class stargazing.
The park covers roughly 193 sq miles, and Xaus Lodge offers prime accommodation during your stay. It is best to visit between May and October when the skies are at their clearest and the constellations at their brightest.
The Sardine Run
The great annual migration across the Serengeti may be one of the most iconic natural wonders in the world, but the yearly trek of billions of sardines up along the east coast of South Africa is a site that needs to be seen to be believed.
Sardine migration traditionally occurs between early June and late July. Fish head north towards warmer waters off the KwaZulu-Natal coast, attracting large numbers of natural predators looking for an easy snack. Lively pods of dolphins, squadrons of Cape gannets, majestic whales, and looming sharks occupy these waters.
Desert Blooms in Namaqualand
When you think about what a desert typically looks like, you are unlikely to picture beautifully blooming flowers across vast shrublands. But that is precisely the scene you will encounter when visiting the majestic lands of Namaqualand in the Northern Cape.
The star of the show is undoubtedly a vibrant orange wildflower known as the Namaqualand daisy, which floods the remote Namaqua National Park. Smaller pops of color are introduced with purple, yellow, blue, and pink wildflowers, drawing in droves of butterflies, bees, and other pollinators.
To enjoy the best of the season, visit during spring, from early August to late September in the southern hemisphere.
The Richtersveld
On the northwest border with Nambia, visitors will stumble across an extraordinary desert landscape home to the highest diversity of succulents in the world. The Richtersveld National Park is the traditional land of the Nama people, who continue to live and graze their livestock in the northern section of the area.
This incredible, unique landscape constantly changes, from flat, sandy coastal plains to dramatic, sharp mountains of volcanic rock interspersed with lush vegetation fed by the Orange River. The Richtersveld is regarded as the only arid biodiversity location in the world and is listed as an official UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Waterfalls of the South
Considering South Africa’s natural beauty and vast terrain, it should come as no surprise that the country is home to impressive cascading waterfalls. While the Tugela Falls in the Drakensberg mountains are the highest, standing at a spectacular 3,225ft, there are many other cascades to discover across the country.
The majority of waterfalls in South Africa are found in and around Blyde River Canyon, a daunting deep gorge stretching for over 15 miles. The canyon is located in the mountainous province of Mpumalanga, along the eastern coast, which receives summer rainfall from November to January. At 300ft, the Lisbon Falls will undoubtedly be the biggest highlight of the region. However, the 99-mile-long Panorama Route offers the ultimate road trip to see the area’s many offerings.
