The Kruger National Park in one of the best known game reserves in the world, where you'll see a host of wild animals. Among them, you'll be able to spot the Big 5.

The Kruger, in search of the Big 5

Even though Robben Island and Mvezo provide poignant links to Nelson Mandela, spending time exploring his history in Johannesburg will also show you how Madiba spent several years.

Johannesburg, in search of Mandela

Stretching well over 200km, the Drakensberg range is a mind blowing blend of peaks and troughs. Numerous trails run along the length of this hiking paradise.

Hiking through South Africa's Drakensberg

Durban is the biggest town in KwaZulu-Natal. Sitting on the Sunshine Coast, by the Indian Ocean, its American/Australian beach culture attracts surfers and water sports fans from all over the world.

Durban and water sports in South Africa

Kruger National Park

Balule

Graskop

Hoedspruit

It's one of the main towns of the wine route, nearest to Cape Town. With Franschhoek and Stellenbosch, they form a golden triangle of South African wine production. 

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The town of Paarl is very pretty, but there isn't much to do there in the evening. To summarise: <a href="/south-africa/">Stellenbosch</a> is lively both day and night with its student population and its large size. However, <a href="/south-africa/">Franschhoek</a> is a smaller village and is very calm. The properties around Paarl are magnificent and there you will find the region's best red wines. I thought that the centre is nice, with its small, Cape Dutch style houses, its main church and its thatched roof brought by the French Huguenot 300 years ago. 
The Grande Roche organises classy musical brunches, mainly rock, in the summer, and its cellar and its setting are frankly unmissable. To get a balance in your purchases, stop at Fairview Estate, which sells homemade bread and delicious cheese to accompany your wines. The KWV is known for its brandy, if you like Cognac, go and try it, it's very good. 
I really liked the French names of properties, such as Montpelier (with a single "l"), a beautiful Cape Dutch farm build by protestants of the town who avoided perquisitions after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. And made-up names such as "Plaisir de Merle", which has really improved the quality of its bottles between the two times I've been there (2009 and 2015).

It's one of the main towns of the wine route, nearest to Cape Town. With Franschhoek and Stellenbosch, they form a golden triangle of South African wine production.

Paarl Holidays

Visit Paarl

Paarl: How to get there?

Paarl: See when to go?

Paarl: For how long?

Paarl: What to see nearby?

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