The battle of which city or province is better is a long-standing South African argument. Those from Johannesburg will tell you why the City of Gold is better than Slaapstad, while those from Cape Town will insist that the cold waters of the Mother City are infinitely better than the warm Indian Ocean of KwaZulu Natal. But why do we have to choose? Everywhere you go in South Africa, there’s something beautiful to be discovered. Below are some of the top things to see and experience in SA’s top destinations this spring and summer.
Jacaranda trees in Johannesburg
Johannesburg is home to the biggest man-made forest in the world. With over 10 million trees dotted around the city, the City of Gold looks a lot like a rainforest when viewed from the air. And, when seen at this time of the year, it’s filled with different shades of purple and lavender as the Jacaranda trees, imported in the 1800s from South America, start to bloom
There are a number of great locations from which to take in this sight, but the best is from on high. Head over to Radisson RED Rosebank and go straight to the Red Rooftop Bar & Terrace. Here you will not only experience delicious cocktails, but also stunning views of the city from above.
Sunsets in Cape Town
There is nothing quite like a sunset in Cape Town over the Atlantic Ocean. The sky lights up in hues of orange and pink and many a photo is taken to capture this moment on various social media channels. A quick search on Instagram for #capetownsunset will bring up no fewer than 17 000 results showing you the beauty of the Mother City.
The best part of experiencing a Cape Town sunset at this time of year and into late summer is that the sun only sets after 7pm, closer to 8pm. This means you can comfortably wrap up your work day, head to a location such as Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront and enjoy the sunset at a leisurely pace over dinner and drinks.
Sunrises in Umhlanga
While those in Cape Town can relish the sunsets, it’s in Umhlanga and Durban where you can bask in the morning light of beautiful sunrises. The golden morning sunlight across the beaches in this area is something truly magical.
With the sun rising early in the morning, you are able to watch it before you head off to work. Better yet, look for a morning running group that takes you out to the popular Bronze Beach and get those endorphins going to start the day. If you prefer a slower pace, there are a number of yoga classes that you can enjoy in the morning as the sun rises. Doesn’t this sound like an amazing way to start the day?
Waterfalls in Mpumalanga
Heading a bit more inland, there are the majestic waterfalls in Graskop. Graskop is an attraction in itself. The town is lush and green and sits on the Drakensberg escarpment. It is close to the well-known attractions such as God’s Window, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, and the Blyde River Canyon.
It’s the waterfalls of the area that you should definitely make a plan to visit, though. There are a number of waterfalls to take in. This includes the Berlin Falls close to God’s Window, the Lisbon falls – the tallest waterfall in the area -and the Mac Mac Falls, which are en route to Sabie if you’re driving from Graskop, and Forest Falls, which you can only get to by walking through a forest. These waterfalls are not exclusively found at this time of the year, but with many people making their way across South Africa and looking for things to do and see, it has to be added it to this list.
With beauty in every corner of South Africa, there’s really no need to fight about which city or province is the most beautiful of all. Each one has something to offer and everyone can enjoy it all in their own way.
