Everyone has a bucket list of the things they want to do before they die.
Usually these include items like travelling to far off, exotic destinations – such as the Great Wall of China – or doing the near impossible like witnessing the aurora borealis, learning all the countries of the world and their capitals off by heart, giving up all attachment to ‘stuff’, and juggling with three balls (alright, not all of us have a penchant for juggling).
But what if we made the list not only desirable but achievable? And in our own back yard, in South Africa.
Photograph: Swim with Penguins at Boulders Beach in Cape Town
OUR BUCKET LIST: TICK THOSE YOU’VE ALREADY DONE
- Sleep overnight on top of Table Mountain in the Overseers Cottage
- Swim with penguins in Cape Town at Boulders Beach
- Dive with great white sharks in Gansbaai
- Ride in luxury on the Blue Train
- Canoe down the Orange River from Upington in the Northern Cape
- Stay in a treehouse in Sedgefield (see here) or in Hoedspruit (see here)
- Sway on the back of an elephant whilst on safari in Hazyview
- Hot air balloon over the Magaliesberg (see here) or the Pilanesberg, North West (see here)
- Learn how to surf in Jeffreys Bay
- Witness whales just metres from your boat
Photograph: Hike the Whale Trail in De Hoop
- Stay overnight at a lighthouse: Cape Columbine, Cape St Blaize, Great Fish Point or North Sand Bluff
- Visit the country’s labyrinths
- Bungi off the Bloukrans Bridge at Storms River (see here) or Gouritsmond (see here)
- Stay in a matjieshuis (traditional Khoi home meaning ‘house of mats’) in the Knersvlakte, Northern Cape
- Learn how to grow your own mushrooms for fun in Cape Town
- Visit Mini Town (again) on Durban’s beachfront
- Power swing at the Moses Mabhida Stadium
- Visit Durban’s Bangladesh Market
- Ride an ostrich in Oudtshoorn
- Stay at bulungula Homestay initiative – an authentic traditional village in the Transkei
Photograph: Power swing at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, KwaZulu Natal
- Abseil down Table Mountain
- Go on a silent retreat at Temenos or
- Ixopo Budhist retreat centre
- Learn how to sandboard in Bettys Bay
- Attend a latte art workshop at Stil. Coffee in Jo’burg
- Skydive in Mossel Bay
- Picnic with elephants in Little Brak
- Go on a guided bushveld walk in Addo
- Explore Suicide Reef in Noordhoek
- Hike the Fanie Botha Trail in Sabie
Photograph: Papiesfontein Beach Horseride in Jeffreys Bay
- Learn how to paint in Ficksburg
- Learn how to make chocolate truffles in De Waterkant
- Learn how to bake artisan bread with artist Niel Jonker in Baardskeerdersbos
- Ride a rickshaw along Durban’s beachfront
- Pray at the Juma Masjid Mosque in Durban
- Set up your easel at Kaapschehoop
- Abseil off Kurisa Moya, Houtbosdorp
- Experience the night sky in Sutherland
- Learn to fly a helicopter in Germiston
- Learn the principles of permaculture to grow your own food in the Klein Karoo
Photograph: Abseil down Table Mountain in Cape Town
- Go on a night time tour of the Jo’burg Zoo
- Power swing at the decommissioned cooling towers of Soweto
- Hike the Whale Trail
- Hike the Eden to Addo Trail from Knysna to Addo
- Run the Comrades Marathon
- Visit the Blyde River Canyon in Mpumalanga
- Watch a live soccer match in Gauteng
- Ride horseback on Noordhoek beach
- Escape to the nether regions of the upper Karoo, Northern Cape
- Bathe at the Long Street Baths in Cape Town
These are our suggestions of things to do in South Africa before you die! Start exploring – besides offering accommodation in South Africa, we feature over 4000 fabulous “Things to Do in South Africa” and hundreds of Attractions.
Let us know in the comments below what is on YOUR Bucket List!
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Hi Arthur
Thank you for the suggestions, all of which we think are great!!
The downloadable pdf is a really good idea – we will work on doing something like this and … you’ve given us a great idea for another “bucket-list” post! THANKS!
I think this is absolutely super!!! How about sending me the list or add it in say PDF format so we can copy it without the photos etc.
Actually I was looking for a list very similar to this but more of a bucket list with places to see rather than what to do.
A number of these things to do may be rather expensive to accomplish and/or may not appeal to some (Eg. I have no desire whatsoever to learn to bake or make chocolates!!)
Here are some more “Things to do”
Drive the Akkedispass in the Richtersveld
Have a snoek barbeque in the Westcoast National Park
Visit the Bosluis Basters in Lekkersing.
Visit the World Heritage sites in SA.
I do have some photos of these activities.
Awesome post.. I have a lot left on my bucket list.. I have only done the shark cage diving! It was spectacular
What an excellent list!