89 days and 9,722 kilometres across South Africa, including a good amount on dirt roads, through 4×4-only mountain passes, along wild coast trails, across the last bit of sand forest left on the planet, side by side with elephants and lions to bring you the best adventures of South Africa!

Beyond the Big 5, South Africa is a fantastic playground for the outdoor enthusiasts, and here are the Top 8 Adventures!

1. Wildlife / Safari
2. Multi-day Wild Coast Hike
3. Multi-day Horseback Riding Trek through Lesotho
4. Kloofing the Hidden Canyons of South Africa
5. Shark and Reef SCUBA Diving
6. Mountain Biking the Drakensberg
7. Outdoorsy Cape Town
8. Surfing

1. Wildlife / Safari

South Africa is consistently voted in the Top 5 safari destinations in the world. With a wide variety of ecosystems in stunning landscapes, it is home to the famous Big 5 (elephant, rhino, lion, leopard, buffalo). From safaris through world’s oldest desert,  woodlands, grasslands, savannas, fynbos, coastal wetlands, to wildlife spotting in the last remaining patches of the precious and slow-growing sand forest, South African safaris are a dream trip for many, sometimes a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and the reason to come to South Africa in the first place for most.

After spending weeks in the bush all over South Africa, our insider’s tip is to head to the Hluhluwe Imfolozi area in Kwazulu-Natal. Its rolling hills and winding rivers are a wonderful setting for an unforgettable safari experience. Its proximity to the coast and the iSimangaliso Wetland Park makes it a versatile destination. Don’t get us wrong, the Kruger National Park is also amazing, but it is very large and requires a minimum of three days, including hundreds of kilometres of self-driving to get the most of it. Its international popularity makes it very busy while the lesser-known Hluhluwe Imfolozi area offers a quieter experience with equivalent game viewing opportunities.

To make it a trip of a lifetime, go to andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve. In this exclusive park, you will hop on an open 4×4 Land Cruiser with an experienced tracker and a highly qualified and passionate safari guide to spot not only the Big 5 but also many more species (if you love check lists, try to spot the Ugly 5, the Little 5, or the Impossible 5!). Chances are you will have some one-to-one time with a cheetah, the fastest land animal, a pride of lions with cubs, an elephant herd with cheeky teenagers trying to impress, or rhinos maybe with a trimmed horn for their own protection… The sundowners in the African savanna, the delicious candlelit bush dinners in the outdoors, the divine moccha-choco-rula hot drink at sunrise, your own private swimming pool overlooking the park by your luxurious room hidden in the wild will just make you want to stay longer!

Observing wildlife from the pool, &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve Forest Lodge, South Africa

A ranger at &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve, South Africa

A lioness and her cub, &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve, South Africa

A giraffe under a fever tree, &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve, South Africa

Observing a cheetah family, &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve, South Africa

How to set up this adventure?

Please, refer to andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve to set up this trip of a lifetime!

2.  Multi-day Wild Coast Hike

Along this stunning 80-kilometre coastal hike far from modern lifestyle, wade across waist-deep rivers, jump into swimming holes formed by waterfalls, observe dolphins or whales at large, watch in awe 15-metre high spray displays, titanic waterfalls plunging into the Indian Ocean, and unique rock formations sculpted by millions of years of erosion. Above all, share the simple lifestyle of the hospitable Pondo people that is threatened by an international titanium mining project: savour home cooked meals prepared with their home-grown veggies, sleep in traditional rondavels, dance and play soccer with the kids, and exchange with your guide to learn more about the Pondo culture.

Cathedral Rock, Wild Coast hike, South Africa

Refreshing Mlambomkulu pools, Wild Coast hike, South Africa

Soccer game in Mnyameni, Wild Coast hike, South Africa

Sunset in Mtentu, Wild Coast hike, South Africa

How to set up this adventure?

Please refer to Active Escapes to customize your 5-day trek between Port Edward and Mbotyi (you can choose your accommodation between homestays, sleeping in a cave, tented camps, wooden lodges and the comfortable Mbotyi River logde!) and to help you plan this must-do adventure before it is too late!

3. Multi-day Horseback Riding Trek through Lesotho

Lesotho, or the kingdom of the sky is an enclosed country within South Africa and the sixth highest country in the world (by average elevation). Never conquered, its proud and kind inhabitants often live in bucolic villages that are best explored horseback riding, their main way of transport. After dominating the dreadful Sani Pass that defies every 4×4 and its driver with its track literally climbing up a cliff face, enter Lesotho. Trade your Land Rover for a local horse, short and robust: cut for the mountains! Reach the remote highland villages, meet the shy shepherds wrapped in their warm traditional woollen blankets, admire the breath-taking landscapes, and have fun with the welcoming youth who will engage you in spontaneous soccer games before you know it. At night, enjoy homemade dinners shared in a traditional rondavel, and starry nights by the fire in good company. Spending 3 days horseback riding Lesotho will make you travel through time, and appreciate a simple lifestyle: a truly life-changing experience!

Portrait of two Basotho children, Lesotho

Traditional village, Lesotho

Breakfast in Libibing, pony trek, Lesotho

Portrait of an old Basotho man at his rondavel, Lesotho

Writer Claire Lessiau galloping along the Orange River in Lesotho

How to set up this adventure?

Please refer to Drakensberg Adventures to book your multi-day horseback riding journey in Lesotho. This award-winning organization for its community-based sustainable tourism model is THE specialist of Lesotho.

4. Kloofing the Hidden Canyons of South Africa

Explore the remote evergreen canyons, home to the rare pristine primary forest with their roaring waterfalls, lush vegetation, large boulders, and shy wildlife: for many, South Africa’s secret gorges will always remain hidden. Take the plunge and descend them with an expert canyoning guide (or kloofing as the South Africans call it) as a small change in the water level can turn an easy canyoning outing into a life-threatening journey. Scattered throughout the whole country, from George – the upcoming outdoor capital along the famous Garden Route close to Tsitsikama National Park – to Sabie by Kruger Park or the majestic Drakensberg Mountains, and the Cape Town area, South Africa is a canyoning paradise. Jump off cliffs, rappel down waterfalls, slide down natural toboggans, swim through crystal clear waters or float down streams and explore an untouched nature… South Africa’s canyons are waiting for you to be discovered with great fun!

Mac Mac falls from a distance, Sabie, South Africa

Claire jumping into into the Mac Mac falls in Sabie by the Blyde River Canyon, South Africa

Marthinus Esmeyer is setting up the ropes to slide down, canyoning George, South Africa

The Lone Creek falls, Sabie, South Africa

How to set up this adventure?

The extreme-sport athlete and founder of Paradise Adventures Martinus Esmeyer is the expert of South Africa’s canyons (and part time Red Bull athlete…). He can safely guide you canyoning through gorges all across the country from half-day to multi-day expeditions customized to your specific fitness and technical levels.

5. Shark and Reef SCUBA Diving

Hush hush… we should keep this gem a secret: South Africa is a paradise for SCUBA diving! The African coral reef starting in the Red Sea stretches all the way to South Africa’s Northern corner in Sodwana Bay, a marine protected reserve. There is no better place to get PADI-certified than in these warm waters home to dolphins, whales, turtles, manta rays, moray eels, octopus… and hundreds of different colourful reef fish and 95 coral species. Besides the coral reef of Sodwana, there are plenty of other options to choose from such as the world-famous sardine run, ship-wreck diving or even shark diving! For an ethical shark dive, head to Umkomaas and drop the cage to meet hammerhead sharks, oceanic blacktips, tiger sharks and ragged tooth sharks for an adrenalin-packed experience!

SCUBA diving Sodwana Bay, Souh Africa

Emperor angelfish, SCUBA diving Sodwana Bay, Souh Africa

Honeycomb moray eel, SCUBA diving Sodwana Bay, Souh Africa

Diving with Oceanic Blacktip sharks at Aliwal Shoal, South Africa

How to set up this adventure?

For diving with sharks in Umkomaas (also known as Aliwal Shoal), the Blue Ocean Dive Resort is one of the very few SCUBA centres in South Africa ran by experienced passionate shark lovers who will make you understand why the cage is not needed.

For Sodwana Bay and its reef, refer to Coral Divers to stay and dive in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.

6. Mountain Biking the Drakensberg

Pick up some speed going downhill on a single track towards a small stream of crystal-clear waters. Cross a knee-deep river on your bike. Get up close with a mountain reedbuck. Hear the all-terrain tires of your mountain bike roll on a wooden bridge, breaking the silence of the dragon-like ragged mountain ridge of the Northern Drakensberg. Slalom your way up amongst blooming protea trees and their bright orange and red flowers contrasting with the evergreen slopes of the mountains: the setting is simply splendid with world’s second highest waterfall in the background. This is a mountain biker’s paradise!

Mountain biking the Northern Drakensberg, South Africa

River crossing mountain biking the Northern Drakensberg, South Africa

The amphitheatre, Northern Drakensberg, South Africa

Mountain biking the Northern Drakensberg, South Africa

How to set up this adventure?

All Out Adventures set up close to 200 kilometres of mountain biking trails with a reliable colour marking for all levels of bikers. A permit is required. Excellent suspension mountain bikes are available for rent onsite.

7. Outdoorsy Cape Town

Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities on the planet. Between Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean, outdoor enthusiasts have a vast and varied playground that starts in the heart of the city: trail running or mountain biking Table Mountain or Lion’s Head with amazing views, surfing, kiteboarding, sea kayaking, or snorkelling with seals, rock climbing one of the 200-plus multi-pitch routes in the city alone, road cycling Chapman’s Peak to the Cape of Good Hope, hiking and scrambling Table Mountain National Park, or paragliding at sunset to soak up the breath-taking views… You will not get bored in Cape Town! And best of all, the city offers plenty of ways to recover after a day of adventures with some of the best restaurants in the country. If this is not enough, the close-by Winelands with Stellenbosch and Franschhoek offer other great opportunities to run, mountain bike or horseback ride.

Paragliding Cape Town, South Africa

Lion’s Head Panorama, Cape Town, South Africa

How to set up this adventure?

Most of these activities can be set up on your own, and browse this website to find free downloadable tracks and inspiration. To get a bird’s eye view and apprehend the city better, go for a paragliding flight from Lion’s Head (preferred) or Signal Hill with Cape Town Tandem Paragliding.

8. Surfing

The water is clear, the coastline scenic, the sun often shining, and the surf world famous: South Africa is a world’s surfing hotspot for multiple reasons! Whether you are a pro coming to surf the famous super-tubes of Jeffrey’s bay (voted the 2nd best wave in the world) or a total beginner, the variety of waves and breaks guarantee some serious adrenaline-packed hours out on your board. From the legendary Jeffrey’s Bay to the remote and quiet beaches of the Wild Coast, the shark-protected coastline of Durban, the colder waves of the Atlantic Ocean in Cape Town, Hout Bay and Eland Bay or the lesser famous breaks of the picturesque town of Port Alfred, the choice is plentiful!

Trial and error, Shaka Surf School, Port Alfred, South Africa

Port Alfred’s beach at sunset, South Africa

Claire riding a wave on day two, surfing, Port Alfred, South Africa

The pier of Port Alfred at sunrise, South Africa

Surfing with champion David Macgregor from Shaka Surf School, Port Alfred, South Africa

How to set up this adventure?

Whether you are a total beginner or a pro surfer, the multiple times longboard champion and coach David MacGregor is your man. The lesser-known waters of Port Alfred are ideal as the surf is excellent and the spot less crowded than its famous neighbours. Don’t wait and surf with David at Shaka Surf School!

Marcella & Claire

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This article was published in the Beyond Boundaries e-magazine by Xtreme Adventure: