Today we celebrate South Africa’s Heritage Day, a time to ditch work and fire up the braai and spend some time in the sun with friends and family.
And with September also being Tourism Month, and travel options finally opening up again, this is the perfect time to take a ‘culture’ trip along some of South Africa’s most iconic tours.
Here’s a look at five of the country’s most renowned trips.
1. Wine and dine on Route 62
For those of you who enjoy a glass of South Africa’s finest wine, then Route 62 is for you! Stretching from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, Route 62 is considered the longest wine route in the world.
It’s 850 kilometres in length, and home to Robertson and Worcester wine valleys, charming small towns and really deluxe accommodation options.
South Africa is considered one of the world’s top wine-producing countries and is well worth a visit.
2. Take a sip in the Cederburg
If tea is more your style, then you might want to take a drive along the scenic Cederberg Valley in the Western Cape.
This is the only place in the world where Rooibos tea is grown – a drink synonymous with South Africa that has gained popularity worldwide over the past few years.
Rooibos, which is made from the plant Aspalathus linearis, is sold in 60 countries, all of which has to be grown in the Cederberg valley.
3. Get going on the Garden Route
The famed Garden Route is one of the country’s biggest tourism attractions, home to indigenous forests, freshwater lakes, golden beaches, majestic mountains and dotted with picturesque sea villages.
Extending 200km along the coastline from Mossel Bay through to Tsitsikamma, the Garden Route is rich with brilliantly coloured fauna and flora interspersed with semi-desert stretches of the Klein Karoo. A truly enchanting drive.
4. The bloomingly good Namaqualand Flower Route
Around five hours north of Cape Town is the tourism mecca – the Namaqualand Flower Route.
Flowers can be sighted from Cape Town, along the West Coast National Park and Langebaan.
However, the real flower show can be found along the towns of of Garies, Springbok, Kamieskroon and Port Nolloth.
Also included in the wild flower route are the Richtersveld National Park, Goegap Nature Reserve, and Skilpad Wild Flower Reserve.
5. Reach great heights along Sani Pass
Considered the country’s most epic mountain pass, Sani Pass outdistances all other climbs and remains one of the most challenging 4×4 drives.
Located between KwaZulu-Natal and Lesotho, it was built in the 1950s and climbs to an altitude of 2 874m. Conditions are often very treacherous, with snowfalls extending as late as October.
Besides the nail-biting climb, the Sani Pass has some of the most astounding scenery with the summit a really great introduction to Lesotho.
Even if you’re not getting to enjoy any of these cultural trips this long weekend, enjoy this celebration of South African heritage and start planning your African adventures.
