11 Reasons Your Next Trip Should Be to South Africa

All over the country, you can do amazing and also easily accessible hiking. Cape Town, in particular, has a variety of trails right in the city that provide incredible views with minimal effort. Lions Head only takes about two hours to complete, and Table Mountain has a cable car if you want to skip the climb and enjoy some hiking trails at the top.

One of South Africa's — Cape Town's, in particular — most alluring features is its many stunning beaches. Whether you are sunbathing on the sand or simply relaxing at one of the many beachfront bars, you really can't go wrong.

Kruger National Park is one of Africa's largest game reserves. The park stretches over 7,500 square miles, making it larger than New Jersey! This natural reserve holds a high density of wild animals, including the sought-after big five: lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and buffalo.

Start planning your trip to Kruger with this guide.

One of the best things about South Africa is the wide choice of accommodations. This especially holds true for safaris. Kruger is one of the cheapest places in the world to experience a true safari, or you could choose to stay at one of South Africa's many private lodges.

Lion Sands Ivory Lodge in Sabi Sands Private Reserve is a popular choice, and for good reason. You can watch animals drink from the watering hole right from your plunge pool, or if you're brave enough, stay the night in one of its open-air treehouses.

If you pay $4 for a bottle of wine back home, you probably expect something rancid . . . or consider it a sure-fire way to wake up with an awful headache. Wine in South Africa is not only delicious but also ridiculously cheap. A bottle of good wine will cost you around $4 to $8. I'm serious.