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Backpacking South Africa: 11 best places to visit

The most rewarding stops for backpackers in South Africa, ranked and mapped. Tap any place to drop it into a free, day-by-day route built around how you actually travel.

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  1. Cape Town, South Africa1

    Cape Town

    Western Cape

    Table Mountain over the sea.

  2. Kruger National Park, South Africa2

    Kruger National Park

    Mpumalanga

    The great safari park.

  3. 3

    Garden Route

    Western Cape

    Coast, forest, lagoons drive.

  4. Stellenbosch, South Africa4

    Stellenbosch

    Western Cape

    Winelands and Cape Dutch.

  5. Drakensberg, South Africa5

    Drakensberg

    KwaZulu-Natal

    Dramatic escarpment peaks.

  6. Johannesburg, South Africa6

    Johannesburg

    Gauteng

    Gritty, energetic, historic.

  7. Blyde River Canyon, South Africa7

    Blyde River Canyon

    Mpumalanga

    Vast green canyon.

  8. Hermanus, South Africa8

    Hermanus

    Western Cape

    Land-based whale watching.

  9. Cape Winelands, South Africa9

    Cape Winelands

    Western Cape

    Franschhoek estates and food.

  10. Durban, South Africa10

    Durban

    KwaZulu-Natal

    Warm Indian-Ocean beaches.

  11. Addo Elephant Park, South Africa11

    Addo Elephant Park

    Eastern Cape

    Malaria-free elephant safari.

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