South Africa is the place of picturesque landscapes. With its various coastlines, grassy plains and impressive mountains and ranges, there is no shortage of views around the country to marvel at. Here are seven national parks that celebrate and showcase our nation’s unique beauty.
1. Royal Natal National Park, KwaZulu-Natal
If hiking, horse riding, fishing, swimming, and climbing are up your alley, a visit to the Royal Natal National Park is a must-do. While there is plenty to do and see, one of the highlights of the park is the world-famous Amphitheater, standing at 500m tall and over 5km long. Spilling over the face of this spectacle is the Thukela River. The cascading waters create one of the world’s highest waterfalls, an extremely spectacular sit, while the hiking and horseback trails are sure to captivate you.
There is a variety of accommodation options available for those looking to plan a trip, for more information read here.
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2. Golden Gate Highland National Park
Getting its name from the shades of gold that the sun casts onto the park’s sandstone cliffs, Golden Gates Highland Park is nestled in the north-eastern Free State on the slopes of the Maluti Mountains. The park is home to an array of wildlife, including the oribi, springbok, blesbok, and eland. If you’re a keen twitcher, the rare bearded vulture and the bald ibis are among some of the bird species living in the area and spotting one of these will make your fellow birders green with envy. Getting to the highest point of the park, Generaalskop, is a must-do for those wanting to witness a dazzling view. Sunset is the optimum time to be up here – the warm hues combine with the mountain’s shadows before the sun disappears, leaving the plains engulfed in darkness.
There are plenty of accommodation options to choose from for your visit, read here for more information.
3. Bontebok National Park
Just a two-and-a-half-hour drive outside of Cape Town, Bontebok National Park in Swellendam is a peaceful, charming hideout from the hustle and bustle of city life. With the Langeberg mountains in the background and exquisite flora, this park has plenty to explore and makes for an ideal place to spend a long weekend. Families, friends and couples can braai or picnic alongside the banks of Die Stroom or enjoy a self-driven safari and go in search of bontebok, grey rhebuck, red hartebees or some of the 200 bird species that call the park home.
A camping trip to Bontebok National Park can also be planned for those looking to get off the grid. For more information on staying at the park, read here.
4. West Coast National Park
The Langebaan Lagoon, with bright blue waters that make you feel as if you’re on a Bahamian island, is one of the main attractions of this beautiful national park, which bursts into colour during wildflower season.
West Coast park is perfect for a day trip or weekend stay. A one hour and five minutes’ drive from Cape Town City Centre, getting to this national park is effortless. Upon pulling up to the entrance, you’ll be surrounded by rolling hills of flora, and may find it hard to believe you’ll be able to have a beach day here, with the lagoon just out of sight. Be on the lookout for all kinds of antelope such as duiker, springbok, eland, cape grysbok, and many more, as well as angulate tortoises. You may even be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a caracal or African wildcat. As you meander on down, you’ll finally come across a scene of blue water and white sands, marking your arrival at the secret lagoon paradise inside the West Coast National Park.
Accommodation options are available as well as a selection of houseboats – read here for more information.
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5. Augrabies Falls National Park
Located in the Northern Cape, with panoramic viewpoints, a gigantic gorge and the Orange River running along it, Augrabies Falls National Park calls to adventurers. For the hiking enthusiasts, there are two trails to embark on. One, the Klipspringer Hiking Trail, needs to be pre-booked and takes hikers on a three-day, two-night expedition. The other, the Dassies Nature Trail, is a 5km self-guided hike, leading hikers in a circular route from the Rest Camp to three designated spots and back. Night drives are also available but need to be booked in advance. Visitors are also welcome and encouraged to go on self-driven safaris to explore the park’s fauna and flora.
For information on where to book accommodation, read here.
Image source: Jonathan Gill
