Walking along a river gives a hike a more measured pace, as visitors stop to observe the water, cross banks, navigate stones, or pause by an attractive water body. South Africa is rich in impressive rivers, and exploring them doesn't always require a canoe or raft; many of the most enjoyable aquatic adventures are done on foot, following the rivers through mountain valleys, gorges, forests, and increasingly rugged landscapes.
Routes range from a trail near Cape Town to a multi-day trek in the Northern Cape. Here are some places where the best way to experience the river is simply to follow it.
If you enjoy hikes with water underfoot, Kromrivier is a good starting point. This trail is located in the Limietberg mountains near the Du Toitskloof pass. It follows the Krom River through fynbos scrub, rocky terrain, and river sections before reaching waterfalls and clear stone pools. The focus here is not on summiting a peak, but on following the water upstream, with elements of jumping over boulders and crossing rivers that add an adventurous character.
The trail is relatively close to Cape Town, but once you are among the rocks and flowing water, the city seems distant. GETAWAY previously highlighted the Kromrivier trail as one of South Africa's lesser-known aquatic havens, emphasizing the combination of rocky ravines, pools, and waterfalls.
It is important to remember that river conditions can change rapidly after rain. Permits from CapeNature are required, and tourists should check conditions before setting out, rather than assuming a familiar route will have the same water level every time.
A day hike where the river is part of the adventure, not just a sight to be viewed from a viewpoint.
Near Durban, the landscape changes abruptly as the Molweni and Nkutu rivers cut deep into the Krantzkloof gorge. This creates a network of wooded ravines, cliffs, waterfalls, and pools, with trails descending from the gorge edges into cooler, greener areas. Instead of following one continuous river trail, the experience here is moving through the water-shaped landscape.
The wider Molweni area also features community-organized hiking routes, including the Nogxaza Falls and Granite Slide trails. A recent eThekwini biodiversity report notes that hiking is currently the primary ecotourism product in the Molweni area, and these trails were developed as part of the region's growing conservation offering.
Krantzkloof is particularly suitable for those who want a wilderness experience without venturing deep into the countryside. The rivers have carved out unexpectedly wild landscapes near one of KwaZulu-Natal's major urban centers.
A forest, gorge, and waterfall landscape without the need for a multi-day expedition.
The Blyde River is responsible for one of South Africa's most recognizable landscapes, but the best way to grasp the scale of the canyon is to get off the road and walk through it. In the Blyde River Canyon Reserve, there are several hiking options, including the day hike Belvedere and the longer Waterval Trail. The latter is approximately a three-day route running from Paradise Camp towards Bourke’s Luck Potholes, traversing various sections of the canyon landscape.
This route is designed as a self-contained hiking adventure, with basic accommodation available along the way. It is not the type of river trip where you spend the whole day by the water; rather, the river serves as a connecting thread to the landscape. You walk through high mountain canyons, forested areas, and dramatic terrain while Blyde shapes the surrounding scenery.
For experienced hikers, the longer route transforms a place often visited by car sightseeing into a full-fledged trekking adventure.
A multi-day river landscape experience and for those seeking more than just a viewpoint.
The Orange River looks completely different when it reaches the arid Northern Cape. In the Augrabies Falls National Park, it has carved a massive canyon, culminating in the 56-meter-high Augrabies Falls. The park's most serious hiking option is the Klipspringer Hiking Trail, a three-day, 35.8 km route divided into three days. SANParks describes it as a challenging hike, with the second day being the hardest. The trail requires advance booking and is closed from October 15 to March 31 due to extreme heat.
For a shorter experience, there is the 8-kilometer Dassie interpretive trail, which follows the gorge and then returns to camp. The appeal of this location is not lush vegetation or cool mountain pools, but quite the opposite. The Orange River cuts through a vast, dry landscape of granite, rock, and desert vegetation, making the contrast between water and wildlife particularly stark.
And if you arrive when the river is running strongly, you will understand why the name given by the Khoi people, Aukoerebis, translates to 'Place of Great Noise.'
Dramatic landscapes, long treks, and observing how the river shapes the arid environment.
Oorlogskloof is a place that rewards travelers willing to slow down. The harsh landscape of the reserve is dissected by rivers and gorges, and waterfalls and pools serve as natural attractions along the walking routes. What makes Oorlogskloof interesting is the sense of scale. The water here is not just a place to swim at the end of a trail; it is part of a much larger landscape of cliffs, valleys, and open wilderness of the Northern Cape.
In warmer months, the pools along the river sections can provide a pleasant respite, but tourists should never take the river for granted. Rainfall upstream can quickly alter conditions, even if the weather above seems clear.
Wilderness with a sense of solitude, dramatic rock formations, and travelers who prefer less-trodden paths.
This route is slightly different. The walk along the Karkloof River was not designed as a traditional tourist trail. In 2017, a team from Karkloof Conservancy, WWF-SA, Endangered Wildlife Trust, and GroundTruth traversed about 65 km of the Karkloof River over six days, moving from source to confluence. Their goal was to assess the river's condition, including its biological health, water quality, and surrounding riparian environment. Thirty-seven sections were assessed along the route. It is an interesting reminder that a river trek can be more than just recreation.
The Karkloof River is part of the uMngeni catchment basin and flows into the uMngeni River and the Albert Falls dam, which is a vital water resource for Durban. You do not need to replicate the entire six-day research expedition to appreciate the idea. The river can be the destination itself, but it can also serve as a way to explore the landscape.
Curious tourists, nature-conscious travelers, and those who want to see rivers outside the usual focus of adventure tourism.
Hiking along rivers requires attention. A mountain route may have a summit as an obvious reward, whereas a river route is more unpredictable. The landscape changes depending on rainfall; water levels rise and fall, rocks become slippery, and a crossing that was easy last week might be unsafe next week. This is part of the appeal, but it also means that river hikes require more preparation. Check the weather and trail conditions before heading out, especially after heavy rain. Wear shoes with good grip and expect them to get wet on crossing sections. Carry enough water and food, even when the river is running alongside you, as untreated river water cannot be automatically considered safe to drink. And never underestimate moving water. If the river floods or a crossing looks unsafe, turn back. There is no photograph worth risking your life for.
To have a true river adventure, you don't need to float down the river. Sometimes the best experience is walking alongside it, crossing it, climbing above it, and finally sitting by a pool with tired legs and wet boots. South Africa's rivers flow through some of the most dramatic landscapes, from the sandy and forested gorges of KwaZulu-Natal to the granite wilderness of the Northern Cape. So next time you are looking for a water adventure, leave the canoe at home. Find a trail, follow the river upstream, and see where it takes you.
Spring in South Africa is traditionally associated with the lush blooming of wildflowers on the West Coast; however, there is a more personal way to enjoy the floral season—by visiting working flower farms. Instead of merely admiring flowers from behind a fence, visitors can stroll through the farms, gather seasonal stems into a basket, and leave with a bouquet picked by their own hands.
Flower farms across the country, from Cape Winelands to Bloemfontein and Benoni, open their doors to guests throughout spring and summer. Many of these farms were originally family holdings or small flower cultivation businesses but have since transformed into venues that offer guests a unique experience celebrating local flora, sustainable development, and slow travel. These farms provide some of the most memorable spring excursions for those wishing to pick flowers themselves in South Africa.
Tal Florals in Bloemfontein
What began as a commercial cut flower farm has evolved into one of the most renowned flower-picking spots in the Free State. Tal Florals grows seasonal flowers for florists and events but annually opens certain fields to the public during the picking season. Guests can wander among rows of seasonal blooms before cutting their own bouquet. Spring flowers include sweet peas, ranunculus, anemones, carnations, and stocks, while warmer months bring dahlias, lisianthus, celosia, zinnias, and garden roses.
Best time to visit: September to April, with spring offering the widest variety of cold-hardy flowers. Saturday mornings are reserved for flower picking.
How to book: Tickets must be purchased on the Tal Florals website prior to your visit. Visitors are advised to bring their own gardening shears and basket.
Flower Haven Farm in Benoni
Located within Shed & Silo in Benoni, Flower Haven Farm was created to introduce visitors to the process from field to vase. This family farm has become a botanical attraction combining flower picking with educational workshops and seasonal events. Unlike traditional flower farms focused solely on harvesting, Flower Haven encourages visitors to slow down, explore the gardens, and learn about growing seasonal flowers. During the blooming season, guests are given cuttings before heading to the fields to create their own bouquet.
Best time to visit: The blooming season typically runs from August to April, with weekends open depending on weather conditions. It is recommended to visit early in the morning for the freshest flowers.
How to book: Visits are welcome without prior booking, although advance reservation is recommended for large groups. Opening dates and seasonal updates are published on the farm's website.
Adene’s Farm Flowers in Gauteng
Although Adene’s Farm Flowers is best known for its Western Cape flower farm, it also hosts its popular 'Pick Your Own' experience in Gauteng every spring at The Big Red Barn in Olifantsfontein. The farm, founded by gardener Adene Cronje, specializes in premium cut flowers, opening its gates on specific dates each year for beloved Open Days. Visitors are invited to walk through the flower fields, enjoy the beautiful scenery, and purchase fresh bouquets directly at the source. This experience is more focused on celebrating local flowers in peak season than on the act of picking itself.
Best time to visit: Spring, especially between August and October, when Open Days are usually held.
How to book: Open Day dates are announced on the Adene’s Farm Flowers website, and online booking is required before visiting.
Chart Farm in Stellenbosch
Long before flower farms became popular weekend destinations, Chart Farm was already welcoming visitors to its rose gardens. Established in the 1960s on the historic Klaasensbosch estate in Stellenbosch, it remains one of Cape Town's oldest rose farms. During bloom time, visitors can stroll among thousands of roses with Table Mountain rising in the background. Fresh roses can be bought directly on the farm, making it a favorite spot for photographers and gardeners.
Best time to visit: October – November, when the roses are in full bloom.
How to book: Advance booking is usually not required for general visits. Current operating hours are available on the Chart Farm website.
Akanaka Blooms in Johannesburg
Akanaka Blooms recently relocated to Walker Fruit Farms in De Deure, south of Johannesburg. This boutique flower farm focuses on organic seasonal flowers and offers visitors the opportunity to get closer to the flowers at their point of origin through workshops and seasonal events. Rather than large-scale tourism, Akanaka offers intimate experiences centered around flowers, creativity, and the changing seasons.
Best time to visit: Spring and early autumn, when seasonal flowers are in full bloom.
How to book: Workshops and seasonal events are posted throughout the year on the Akanaka Blooms website, and advance booking is recommended.
Flourish Urban Flower Farm in Cape Town
Flourish Urban Flower Farm proves that extensive rural land is not necessary to grow magnificent flowers. This urban flower farm was established to provide local seasonal flowers and promote sustainable floriculture within the city. Throughout the blooming season, Flourish hosts workshops and periodic open farm events where visitors can learn about cut flower cultivation, bouquet composition, and supporting local florists.
Best time to visit: Spring until early summer.
How to book: Workshop and visit dates are announced on the Flourish Urban Flower Farm website.
Femme Petale Flowers in Pretoria
Located near Pretoria, Femme Petale Flower Farm cultivates seasonal flowers, offering visitors a chance to see locally grown blooms in a tranquil rural setting. The farm is known for its floral workshops, events, and thoughtfully curated experiences dedicated to seasonal flowers. While primarily known for weddings and floral design, the farm also hosts seasonal events and workshops allowing visitors to connect with the flowers behind the arrangements.
Best time to visit: Spring and summer, when seasonal flowers are at their best.
How to book: Upcoming events and workshops are listed on the Femme Petale Flowers website.
There is a deep satisfaction in leaving a flower farm with muddy boots, tired hands, and a bouquet picked by your own hands. These experiences invite travelers to slow down, appreciate the rhythm of the seasons, and discover the people who cultivate some of South Africa's most beautiful flowers. As the blooming season has now begun in many parts of the country, these farms offer a refreshing alternative to typical spring trips. Whether you plan a road trip or a short weekend getaway, picking your own flowers in South Africa is one of spring's simplest pleasures.
Traveling with a small child is not about visiting the maximum number of attractions, but about choosing places where the pace of rest is calm, distances are short, and parents can easily adapt the day's plans to naps, snack breaks, and unexpected meltdowns.
Fortunately, South Africa offers several destinations that make family trips less stressful. Whether it's walking through vineyards, watching elephants, exploring boardwalks, or stopping at rustic cafes, these places provide practical convenience alongside unforgettable experiences for young travelers.
Babies do not need dense itineraries or full-day excursions. Instead, the best places offer flexibility: attractions are located close to each other, there are safe open spaces, clean facilities, and many opportunities to stop, play, and recharge.
When choosing a destination, consider:
Although the Cape Town Wine Regions are known for their wine, many estates have turned into welcoming places for families with small children. Wide lawns, shaded picnic spots, ducks on ponds, and farm animals provide enough entertainment for toddlers while parents enjoy a more relaxed pace.
Many wineries around Stellenbosch and Franschhoek offer special play areas for children, while family estates like Boschendal and Spier combine excellent cuisine with extensive open spaces. Nearby attractions, such as Giraffe House Wildlife Awareness Centre and Polkadraai Farm, offer gentle animal encounters, ideal for younger visitors.
The compact layout of the region also means that attractions are rarely far apart, simplifying the return to accommodation if an unexpected nap time arrives.
The Garden Route has long been popular for family holidays and is particularly suitable for those traveling with babies. Picturesque towns like Wilderness, Knysna, and Plettenberg Bay offer short distances between beaches, forests, and family entertainment.
Babies can enjoy feeding animals, birdwatching, and walking on simple boardwalks without needing long hikes. Places like Birds of Eden, Monkeyland, and Knysna Elephant Park offer engaging wildlife interaction experiences that do not require hours of walking.
Parents will also appreciate the abundance of lagoon-view cafes, quiet picnic spots, and accommodation with spacious gardens where toddlers can burn off energy after a car ride.
For families looking for a short trip without a long highway journey, Hartbeespoort is a practical choice. Located within easy reach of Johannesburg and Pretoria, it offers enough variety to fill a weekend without feeling rushed.
Taking the Hartbeespoort Aerial Cableway allows families to enjoy breathtaking views with minimal walking, and gentle boat cruises on the reservoir offer a relaxing way to take in the scenery. Animal attractions, family markets, and children's cafes provide many opportunities to stop when babies need a break. The compact size of the area means less travel time and more time relaxing outdoors.
The Midlands Meander encourages travelers to slow down, making it one of South Africa's most relaxing destinations for families with babies.
Instead of rushing between major sights, parents can stop at farm cafes, browse artisan goods, meet farm animals, and enjoy open gardens where children can safely explore the surroundings. Many cafes feature outdoor seating and grassy play areas, allowing toddlers to move while food is being prepared. With a variety of accommodation—from cozy cottages to family farm lodges—it is easy to create an itinerary that balances sightseeing with sufficient downtime.
Gqeberha combines coastal relaxation with family activities that are easily accessible for young children. Hobie Beach offers wide promenades suitable for strollers, calm stretches of sand, and nearby cafes for quick snacks.
The Boardwalk area includes restaurants, entertainment, and open spaces within walking distance, and the city's relaxed pace makes getting around relatively easy. One of the main advantages is that Addo Elephant National Park is about an hour's drive away. Families can enjoy a game drive, giving babies the excitement of watching elephants and other wildlife without leaving the car.
Traveling with babies becomes much easier when expectations are realistic. Instead of trying to fit everything into a schedule, you need to leave room for spontaneous stops and slower morning hours.
Several simple strategies can make a big difference:
Traveling with babies is less about covering long distances and more about embracing simple moments together. Feeding ducks at a vineyard, watching an elephant from the car, building sandcastles on a quiet beach, or having a meal together at a rustic cafe can become the highlights of a family vacation.
By choosing destinations that prioritize convenience, flexibility, and outdoor experiences, parents spend less time managing logistics and more time creating memories with their youngest companions.
Across the territory of South Africa, mountains, craters, caves, and canyons hold evidence of ancient volcanoes, meteorite impacts, continental shifts, and rivers that have shaped the landscape over billions of years.
These sites reveal extraordinary geological forces that formed South Africa long before humans appeared, whether you are fascinated by fossils, interested in plate tectonics, or simply enjoying dramatic natural scenery.
The Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains are among the oldest exposed rock formations on the planet, estimated to be about 3.5 billion years old. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, these mountains provide scientists with a unique window into the early Earth's crust and the conditions present during the dawn of life.
Unlike many ancient formations heavily altered by time, the rocks here are exceptionally well preserved. Visitors can hike the Barberton Makhonjwa Geotrail—a self-drive route featuring viewpoints and information boards explaining volcanic activity, ancient oceans, and some of the earliest known geological processes.
Approximately two billion years ago, a massive meteorite struck central South Africa, creating the largest confirmed impact structure on Earth. Although erosion has worn away much of the original crater, the Vredefort Dome still demonstrates the immense forces released during the collision.
The impact exposed deep layers of the Earth's crust, forming unusual mountain structures and impressive folded landscapes. Today, visitors can explore hiking trails, river routes, and participate in guided geological tours detailing how this collision permanently changed the surrounding region. This dome is also a UNESCO World Heritage site, underscoring its global scientific significance.
Pilanesberg National Park is known for Big Five safaris, but many tourists do not know they are driving through the remnants of an extinct volcano. The park is located within one of the world's largest alkaline volcanic ring complexes, which formed about 1.2 billion years ago.
Over time, erosion has removed the volcanic cone, leaving behind a ring of hills that now surrounds fertile, wildlife-rich valleys. This unique geology contributes to Pilanesberg's outstanding biodiversity, as varying altitudes and soil types support numerous ecosystems. It is one of the few places where wildlife viewing can be combined with a lesson in volcanic history.
The mighty Orange River plunges nearly 60 meters into a dramatic granite canyon in Augrabies National Park, creating one of South Africa's most impressive geological spectacles. Over millions of years, the flowing water has carved deep channels into the ancient granite bedrock, leaving polished stone surfaces, high cliffs, and amazing erosion patterns.
The name 'Augrabies' derives from the Khoi word Khoi Aukoerebis, meaning 'place of great noise'—a fitting description for the thunderous waterfalls, especially after seasonal rains. Panoramic viewpoints throughout the park showcase the colossal power of water in shaping the landscape over geological time.
Near Pretoria lies Cswaning Crater, one of the best-preserved meteorite impact craters in the world. It formed approximately 220,000 years ago when a meteorite fell to Earth. The crater is about 1.13 kilometers in diameter and once contained a salt lake that attracted both wildlife and early humans.
A hiking trail leads visitors down into the crater, where informational plaques explain the impact event, local ecology, and archaeological findings. The combination of geology, archaeology, and biodiversity makes Cswaning an engaging destination for curious travelers.
Hidden beneath the Swartberg Mountains near Oudtshoorn, Kango Caves demonstrate millions of years of slow geological transformation. Formed in thick limestone deposits, the caves gradually developed under the action of groundwater dissolving the rock, resulting in vast chambers adorned with magnificent stalactites, stalagmites, and delicate flowstone formations.
Tours showcase majestic caverns such as Van Zila Hall and Cleopatra's Needle, while explaining the geological processes responsible for these remarkable natural sculptures. The caves remain one of South Africa's most famous natural attractions, continuing to inspire visitors with their subterranean beauty.
South Africa's geological wonders tell stories spanning billions of years—from ancient volcanic eruptions and colossal meteorite impacts to rivers patiently carving canyons and caves beneath the surface. Visiting these sites offers more than just picturesque views; it is an opportunity to witness the forces that shaped not only South Africa but our planet as a whole. For geology enthusiasts, every rock, cliff, and crater reveals a new page in Earth's extraordinary history.
