South African hunting trips are what dreams are made of with excellent and varying game hunting conditions and locations, exceptional hunting trophies, fantastic experiences, gracious hospitality, and picturesque landscapes, culminating into an unforgettable African hunting trip.  These are just some of the reasons that set South Africa apart from many other African countries and why so many hunters bring their families with them on their South Africa hunting expeditions.

But what to do and where to go when the game hunting safari is over? South Africa is a melting pot of cultures, experiences, tourist attractions, and destinations to enjoy for individuals and families. Yes, you may want to explore this diverse destination, but it is a large country, with many options from which to choose!

The country offers visitors a range of tourist attractions to enjoy. From KwaZulu-Natal’s golden beaches to the Eastern Cape’s range of exquisite private and national game reserves, or the Free State’s cultural monuments, each of South Africa’s nine provinces offers a magnitude of tourism experiences to indulge in and enjoy and are all well worth exploring, should you have time on your hands. But nothing comes close to the Western Cape in terms of sheer beauty, the variety of attractions and tourism activities, and the sheer wonder of the destination itself.

Let’s take a closer look at what makes this province such a popular tourist destination for both local and international tourists, and why, after your South Africa hunting experience, you need to visit this beautiful region of the country.

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The Western Cape: At A Glance

Area:                    49 986 square miles

Population:        7,43 million (2022) (Cape Town Metropole – 4,7 million)

Capital City:       Cape Town

Main Towns:      George, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Oudtshoorn, Knysna, Mossel Bay, Worcester

Major Industries: Manufacturing, Finance, High-Tech Industries

Located on the country’s southern-western coast, the Western Cape is one of South Africa’s tourism meccas, combining adventure, cuisine, heritage, and culture into an exciting tourism experience not to be missed! It is a vibey, modern region alive with heritage, cultures, arts, and attractions to indulge and intrigue tourists of all ages. If, sadly, there is only time enough to visit one region of South Africa as part of your African hunting trip, my suggestion would be the Western Cape.

It is easily accessible from anywhere in the country, with daily or extremely regular flights between the larger local cities, including Johannesburg (from both OR Tambo and Lanseria), Durban, Port Elizabeth, George, and Bloemfontein.

For those who just cannot escape another game hunting adventure and want to indulge in some further African hunts, the area is also known for some beautiful African plains game species, including the endemic Cape Grysbok. The Western Cape is also a great area to pursue the famous Springbok Grand Slam, targeting the White Springbok, Common Springbok, Black Springbok, and Copper Springbok.

Let’s take a close look at some of the more popular destinations and activities in the Western Cape province.

Cape Town

Cape Town is South Africa’s oldest city, the seat of parliament, and the second-largest city in the country.  It plays host to numerous exceptional tourist attractions to intrigue, indulge, and enjoy for tourists of all ages.

Table Mountain

No tourist should leave the city without at least a photograph of the stunning Table Mountain, especially if you are lucky enough to be there and witness the table-shaped mountain with its “cloth” (clouds) over it! But the first prize would be to experience the fun of taking the cable car to the top of Table Mountain for a unique experience.

Historical & Cultural Experiences

Cape Town itself is home to a range of cultures, each with its own rich heritage.

• The District 6 Museum is well worth a visit as well as the Bo-Kaap, where you can experience and learn about the Cape Malay culture.
• A trip to Robben Island, which is a World Heritage Site, also gives visitors a glimpse of South Africa’s past, as this was where Nelson Mandela and other anti-apartheid activists were incarcerated for 67 years.
• Cape Town is renowned for its theatrical shows, with a diverse range of theatres and performing arts groups active throughout the city.
• Visit the Castle of Good Hope, South Africa’s oldest surviving building. It has been the center of civilian, political, and military life in the Cape since 1666. In its current state, the Castle is one of the best examples of preserved 17th-century DEIC architecture worldwide.

V&A Waterfront

For those interested in shopping, the V&A Waterfront complex has more than 450 retail outlets that include items such as curios, souvenirs, leather goods, and audiovisual goods. The Waterfront is home to many restaurants offering tasty and varied cuisine. While in the waterfront, stop in at the mesmerizing Aquarium or enjoy a harbor tour or tour to Robben Island.

A wide array of diverse activities and attractions are available in the Waterfront and other attractions include:

• Shopping at the local stores
• Mini Golf, numerous playgrounds, and a trip around the harbor for the little ones in Tommy the Tugboat
• Helicopter Trips
• Sunset Cruises
• Kayaking around the harbour

The Cape Winelands

If wine tasting sounds intriguing, then a visit to the Cape Winelands should be on the cards during your African hunting trip. The Winelands region consists of four majestic old towns, renowned for their excellent wines and showcasing numerous vineyards in the area. The towns of Paarl, Franschhoek, Somerset West, and Stellenbosch offer wine connoisseurs the best of South African wines, pared with exceptional cuisine options.

Stellenbosch is one of South Africa’s oldest towns and is renowned for its traditional Cape Dutch architecture, while Somerset West is situated just outside of Cape Town with its own vineyards. Franschhoek is often referred to as the food and wine capital of South Africa, with delectable options to verify this statement, while Paarl plays host to some famous wineries and lovely guided tours of the area.

There is no place better to visit after a daunting African hunting safari than these laidback towns, where food and drink are in ample supply, and where gracious hosts allow you to indulge in some of South Africa’s finest wines and sumptuous cuisine.

Boulders Beach, Simons Town

Boulder’s Beach in Simons Town is one of the only mainland breeding grounds for African penguins. They wander freely on the beach, allowing visitors to get up close and personal with these charming little creatures.

The Garden Route

The Garden Route is a group of towns running from Mossel Bay through to Storms River and includes a magnitude of towns and experiences along the way. The area is known for its beautiful landscapes, along with breathtaking views. Towns along the way like George, Knysna, Wilderness, Tsitsikamma, Storms River, and Plettenberg Bay are famous for not only their gorgeous landscapes and scenery but also their wide range of activities that can be completed and enjoyed across the region.

Whether you start the Garden Route from Port Elizabeth (in the Eastern Cape) and travel through to Cape Town, or vice versa, you will be impressed by the diverse and interesting attractions on offer along this section of South African coastline.

From old-school craft markets with magnificent homemade items, delectable cuisine in various restaurants and coffee shops, to adventure activities such as skydiving, shark-cage diving, and zip-lining, the area ticks the boxes for many adrenaline-seeking junkies and laid-back tourists alike.  Take the time to explore these little towns, from the corner antique shop with its quaint offerings and the local craft markets for authentic African curios to the local delicatessen with its mouthwatering freshly baked goods, you won’t be disappointed with the time spent exploring the spectacular towns in the area.

Mossel Bay

Mossel Bay lies about 245 miles from Cape Town and is the start of the famous Garden Route. This town is known for its beautiful beach, Santos Beach, as well as an array of activities to indulge in, including Bartholomew Dias Museum Complex, as well as interactive gin masterclasses! Explore the local eateries, with a wide range of cuisine on offer, and numerous adventure activities (including shark cage diving if you are brave enough!).

George

George is a lovely town, just inland on the Garden Route that offers travelers a welcome respite from the world of African hunts and game hunting, with a delightful variety of tourist attractions including the famous Red Berry Farm, where visitors can not only pick strawberries in massive fields on the premises, but also indulge in a variety of strawberry culinary delights. Another highlight in the area is the traditional Saturday market, the Outeniqua Transport Museum, as well as the incredibly fun Outeniqua Power Van that sees passengers travel into the picturesque mountains on a traditional steam engine!

Wilderness & Sedgefield

These two sleepy coastal towns are a must-see on a garden route trip and are especially intriguing for adventure lovers!

Wilderness is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in South Africa, pristine, clean, and serene with powder-soft sand is what you can expect. This coastal town boasts the scenic Wilderness Lagoon, the perfect spot for a touch of kayaking or boating, or even camping in the area. Burn off some energy with horse riding or plan a visit to the Wilderness National Park, with its rivers, streams, majestic views, and abundant birdlife. Or even mix with the locals at the famous Hoeka-Toeka bar…I can definitely recommend their ribs!

When you arrive in Sedgefield, you’ll wish you had booked a longer stay in this little village. Apart from its legendary weekly Wild Oats Market, the area is the perfect stop on an African hunting trip, allowing you to refocus, rejuvenate, and enjoy what nature has to offer – with a wonderful skydiving adventure being just one of the activities to experience. The views as you glide down from the mountain are exquisite, the feeling sublime, and the experience will definitely be one of the highlights of your South Africa hunting tour!

Knysna

One of the more well-known towns in the Garden Route, Knysna is often a hustle-bustle of activity, with local markets and events keeping both locals and visitors well-entertained. Its wide array of superb beaches, lakes, rivers, and estuaries provide the perfect backdrop for various water-based activities in the region, including swimming, snorkeling, kitesurfing, sailing, and canoeing.

Plettenberg Bay

Plettenberg Bay, or “Plett” as the locals refer to it, is another sun-kissed destination well worth the effort of visiting. If you are looking for a destination where you can literally sit back, relax, and enjoy watching the world go by on beautiful beaches, then this is the destination for you!  For adventure junkies, enjoy swimming with the seal, or bungee jumping and ziplining adventures.

The area also has numerous family tourism adventure parks, such as Monkeyland, Birds of Eden, Lancewood Snake Park, and Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary.

Tsitsikamma & Storms River

The Tsitsikamma region is home to the majestic Tsitsikamma National Park, which allows you to experience nature at its best through various adventure activities in and around the area, including scooter tours, quad biking, walking and hiking trails, boat trip down the river gorge, tree canopy tours, mountain biking, diving, abseiling, and bungee jumping.

The Garden Route then continues into the Eastern Cape, with areas such as Jeffrey’s Bay and ending in Port Elizabeth.

Oudtshoorn

Oudtshoorn is well worth a visit, and only 37 miles from George! This town is truly something special to visit, but be sure to pack some winter woollies should you be visiting in the winter months, as it can get quite chilly! Apart from some spectacular star gazing, and the most mesmerizing scenery on the Swartberg Pass, this town is famous for the Cango Caves, and no visit is complete without a visit to them!

The Cango Caves are a system of limestone caves, tunnels, and chambers that are more than 4 miles long. Although the entire cave system is not open to visitors, there are daily guided tours for those wishing to explore the caves.

Known as the “ostrich capital of the world” Oudtshoorn’s ostrich industry is also well worth exploring. From experiencing the exhilaration and adventure of riding ostriches or shopping for some ostrich leather goods to tucking into a scrumptious ostrich steak at a local restaurant, these large flightless birds are the center of attention in this Little Karoo town. Although your game hunting safari may not have included these specialty Africa hunts, you will have the opportunity to engage with these large flightless birds.

Worcester

Worcester offers visitors the charm of old-school hospitality, combined with natural beauty, rich heritage, and spectacular scenery. The 154-acre Karoo Desert National Garden provides a haven for both arid and semi-arid plants and a lovely backdrop and surrounds for a hiking adventure.

South Africa: A Kaleidoscope of Experiences, Activities and Attractions

South Africa’s heritage and culture, along with the breathtaking scenery, range of activities, and colorful people make it the perfect tourist destination. While South African hunting expeditions may keep you busy chasing the perfect game hunting safari experience (not that we blame you!), remember to put aside some time to experience South Africa and take a trip to the Western Cape – and beyond.

Author: B. Hershensohnn