Google Maps is celebrating its 20th anniversary, marking two decades of helping people explore the world, navigate unfamiliar roads, and uncover hidden gems. South Africans have played a huge part in this journey, adding new businesses, sharing insightful reviews and photos, and exploring incredible global imagery with Street View.

To celebrate 20 years of mapping the world and South Africa, Google Maps has revealed a selection of the most popular and talked-about places across the country. These locations have sparked conversations and inspired the ‘explorer’ within South Africans.

Foodie finds:

SA’s vibrant culinary scene takes centre stage, with a diverse range of eateries topping the review charts. From bustling burger joints to serene farm cafes, here are some of the most-reviewed restaurants and cafes:

• Most reviewed restaurants: RoccoMamas Mall of Africa, Johannesburg; Wimpy King Shaka International, KZN; Irene Farm, Pretoria; Wimpy Oribi Plaza, KZN; Quay Four Restaurant, Cape Town.
• Most reviewed cafes: Truth Coffee Roasting, Cape Town; EL&N London – Mall of Africa, Johannesburg; Cubana Foreshore, Cape Town; Starbucks Florida Road, KZN; Baobab Cafe and Grill, Pretoria.

Crowd-pleasers:

It’s not just menus that have captured the attention of South Africans. These popular visitor attractions have also garnered significant reviews:

• Most reviewed visitor attractions: Gandhi Square Precinct, Johannesburg; Graskop Gorge Lift Co, Mpumalanga; God’s Window, Mpumalanga; Redberry Farm, Western Cape; Voortrekker Monument, Pretoria.
• Most reviewed museums: Maropeng – Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, Johannesburg; Constitution Hill Human Rights Precinct, Johannesburg; Apartheid Museum, Johannesburg; Iziko Bo-Kaap Museum, Cape Town; Mandela’s House, Johannesburg.
• Most reviewed parks: Table Mountain National Park, Cape Town; Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga; Green Point Park, Cape Town; Cape Point Nature Reserve, Cape Town; Zoo Lake, Johannesburg.

A full list of the top-reviewed places is available: Top 5 places and top 10 places.

To help users make the most of their travel adventures, Google Maps has also compiled a list of 20 top tips for using the platform. You can view it here.

A fascinating timeline of Google Maps history can be found here.

Also read: Watch: Google Maps images show harsh reality of Western Cape community