South Africa · best-of list
The 6 Best Outdoor Spots in South Africa
All 6 outdoor spots our route editors picked in South Africa, across 3 destinations, gathered in one list. Expect trails, beaches, parks and viewpoints, with Knysna & Plettenberg Bay contributing the most (3).
Our curated picks
6 outdoor spots in South Africa, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Knysna & Plettenberg Bay 3 picks
Brenton-on-Sea
Knysna & Plettenberg Bay · On our Cape Town, Winelands & Garden Route
Long, wild beach west of the Knysna Heads, good for walks below vegetated dunes.
Tip: Strong currents; swim only where lifeguards are posted.
Photo: Andreas Runge · Google
Diepwalle Forest
Knysna & Plettenberg Bay · On our Cape Town, Winelands & Garden Route
Old-growth Knysna forest in Garden Route National Park, with the Elephant Walk trails among yellowwoods.
Photo: Bruce McDonald · Google
Robberg Nature Reserve
Knysna & Plettenberg Bay · On our Cape Town, Winelands & Garden Route
Rocky peninsula in Plettenberg Bay with hiking loops, seal colonies and whale views in season.
Tip: The full 9 km loop needs care at high tide; check tide times first.
Photo: Robberg Nature Reserve · Google
Cape Town 2 picks
Boulders Beach
Cape Town · On our Cape Town, Winelands & Garden Route
Sheltered coves near Simon's Town home to a colony of African penguins, viewed from boardwalks.
Tip: Combine with Chapman's Peak Drive and Cape Point for a full peninsula loop.
Photo: Olga Ernst · CC BY-SA 4.0
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Cape Town · On our Cape Town, Winelands & Garden Route
Gardens of native fynbos on the eastern slope of Table Mountain, with a canopy walkway called the Boomslang.
Tip: Summer Sunday sunset concerts sell out; bring a picnic blanket.
Photo: Discott · CC BY-SA 4.0
Stellenbosch & Franschhoek 1 pick
Jonkershoek Nature Reserve
Stellenbosch & Franschhoek · On our Cape Town, Winelands & Garden Route
Mountain valley just outside Stellenbosch with trails to waterfalls and a scenic drive.
Tip: Buy a permit at the gate; trails close early in winter.
Photo: Neil Burger · Google
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the outdoor spots in South Africa?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 6 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of South Africa has the most outdoor spots on this list?
Knysna & Plettenberg Bay has the most (3 of 6), followed by Cape Town (2) and Stellenbosch & Franschhoek (1).
Are any of these free?
1 pick on this list is marked free in our route notes: Brenton-on-Sea. Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
More lists for South Africa
Best outdoor spots nearby
Destinations on this list
- Knysna & Plettenberg Bay 3 on this list
- Cape Town 2 on this list
- Stellenbosch & Franschhoek 1 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.