Places worth the detour in South Africa
South Africa has 288 places worth going out of your way for on Detourmap, across 15 kinds — the biggest group is parks, canyons & rock formations (76). The best known is Table Mountain. 242 of them are hidden gems most guides skip. Every place below has a photo and a Wikipedia article — click any of them to fly the map there.
Parks, canyons & rock formations in South Africa 76
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Vredefort crater
Natural wonders · Renowned
Largest verified impact crater on earth, dating from the Paleoproterozoic Era
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Addo Elephant National Park
Natural wonders · 20th century · Notable
National park in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
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Augrabies Falls National Park
Natural wonders · 20th century · Notable
National park in the Northern Cape, South Africa
Bridges & aqueducts in South Africa 37
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Vanderkloof Dam
Great structures · 20th century · Notable
Dam in Between Northern Cape and Free State
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Bloukrans Bridge
Great structures · 20th century · Hidden gem
Bridge on the N2 highway in South Africa
Museums & galleries in South Africa 33
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Satyagraha House
Museums & galleries · Notable
Historical house in Johannesburg - previous residence of Mahatma Gandhi
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Ditsong National Museum of Natural History
Museums & galleries · 19th century · Hidden gem
Museum in Pretoria, South Africa
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South African National Gallery
Museums & galleries · 20th century · Hidden gem
Art museum spread over several locations
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Johannesburg Art Gallery
Museums & galleries · 20th century · Hidden gem
Art museum in Joubert Park, Johannesburg
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Groote Schuur
Museums & galleries · Hidden gem
Estate: Dutch East India Company granary → Hester Anna van der Byl / Coetsee → Cecil Rhodes / Sir Herbert Baker → South African President official residence →…
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Pretoria Art Museum
Museums & galleries · 20th century · Hidden gem
Art museum in Pretoria, South Africa
Churches, temples, monasteries & shrines in South Africa 24
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Tolstoy Farm
Sacred sites · 20th century · Hidden gem
First ashram initiated and organized by Mohandas Gandhi
Towers & lighthouses in South Africa 18
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Cape Agulhas Lighthouse
Towers & lighthouses · 19th century · Hidden gem
Lighthouse at the southern tip of Africa in Western Cape, South Africa
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Green Point Lighthouse
Towers & lighthouses · 19th century · Hidden gem
Lighthouse in Cape Town, South Africa
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Seal Point Lighthouse
Towers & lighthouses · 19th century · Hidden gem
Lighthouse at Cape St Francis in South Africa
Monuments & statues in South Africa 16
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Voortrekker Monument
Monuments & statues · Notable
Monument in Pretoria, South Africa, to commemorate the Voortrekkers who left the Cape Colony between 1835 and 1854
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National Women's Monument
Monuments & statues · 20th century · Hidden gem
Monument in Bloemfontein, South Africa
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Houses of Parliament
Monuments & statues · 19th century · Hidden gem
Houses of Parliament of South Africa
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Rhodes Memorial
Monuments & statues · 20th century · Hidden gem
Memorial to English-born, South African politician Cecil John Rhodes
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Statue of Paul Kruger
Monuments & statues · 19th century · Hidden gem
Statue in Pretoria, South Africa
Caves & caverns in South Africa 16
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Rising Star Cave
Caves & caverns · Notable
The Rising Star cave system (also known as Westminster or Empire cave) is located in the Malmani dolomites, in Bloubank River valley.
Parks, gardens & arboretums in South Africa 15
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Pretoria National Botanical Garden
Parks & gardens · 20th century · Hidden gem
Garden in eastern Pretoria, Gauteng
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Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden
Parks & gardens · 20th century · Hidden gem
Botanical reserve in Roodepoort near Johannesburg
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Hantam National Botanical Garden
Parks & gardens · Hidden gem
Botanical garden just outside Nieuwoudtville in the Northern Cape, South Africa
Ancient & archaeological sites in South Africa 13
Waterfalls in South Africa 11
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Tugela Falls
Waterfalls · Renowned
Waterfall in South Africa and the second tallest waterfall in the world
Theme parks, zoos & aquariums in South Africa 9
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National Zoological Garden of South Africa
Fun & leisure · 19th century · Hidden gem
Zoo in Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
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uShaka Marine World
Fun & leisure · 21st century · Hidden gem
Aquarium theme park in Durban KZN, South Africa
Catacombs, shipwrecks & cemeteries in South Africa 8
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SS Oakburn and Bos 400
Macabre & curious · Hidden gem
Historic wreck and dive site at Duiker Point on the Cape Peninsula west coast
Beaches & coves in South Africa 5
Castles, palaces & forts in South Africa 5
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Castle of Good Hope
Castles & palaces · 17th century · Notable
17th-century bastion fort in Cape Town, South African
Volcanoes, geysers & hot springs in South Africa 2
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Marion Island
Volcanic & geothermal · Notable
Uninhabited, inhospitable sub-Antarctic volcano island owned by South Africa since 1947
