From left Prince Albert, Western Cape; Tree Canopy Walkway, Kirstenbosch; Wine Cellar, Babylonstoren
Author picks
Our authors have visited every corner of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland – from the vineyards of the Cape to baobab-dotted Limpopo, via the tumbleweed-strewn Karoo and the peaks of the Drakensberg – to bring you some unique travel experiences. These are some of their favourite spots.
Beach break A favourite family holiday spot is Nature’s Valley, with its lagoon and Tsitsikamma forests overlooking the beach. It’s quieter than more westerly parts of the Garden Route and its tree-lined lanes are reminiscent of an English village.
Best wine estate There are so many to choose from, but two outstanding wineries are Ataraxia, with its chapel tasting room near Hermanus, and Babylonstoren – a perennial favourite for its gardens and restaurants.
Go out on a limb The beautiful timber-and-steel “Boomslang” walkway twists through the forest canopy at Cape Town’s Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, providing stunning views of Table Mountain and the Southern Suburbs.
Love the dorp An unsung South African pleasure is road tripping through the Karoo to elegantly decaying dorps (towns), affectionately known as dorpies, to enjoy country hospitality, Cape Dutch architecture and hurl-your-phone-from-the-car relaxation. Meander slowly to the likes of Prince Albert and Nieu Bethesda.
Mountain marvels Built by intrepid colonials such as Andrew and Thomas Bain, South Africa’s mountain passes are engineering feats. Crowned by a nineteenth-century British fort, Montagu’s scenic Cogman’s Kloof Pass cuts through the wrinkly Langeberg Mountains to the Little Karoo.
Favourite park For scenery it’s KwaZulu-Natal’s Royal Natal National Park, which offers epic hikes in the Northern Drakensberg, and the nearby Golden Gate Highlands National Park in the Free State. For wildlife, it’s a tough choice, but spotting Kalahari lions purring between the dunes of Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is certainly memorable.
Our author recommendations don’t end here. We’ve flagged up our favourite places – a perfectly sited hotel, an atmospheric café, a special restaurant – throughout the Guide, highlighted with the 
symbol.