The 50 Most Instagrammable Spots in South Africa
The Big 7 Travel team has created a list of the Top 50 Most Instagrammable Countries in the World. South Africa made it into the top 5, taking 5th place. They used a thorough system to select the countries, with hashtag popularity plus votes from a panel of travel experts.
Our country’s excessive photogenic beauty inspired the team to compile an in-depth article with the most Instagram-worthy spots. Epic hiking terrain, serene beaches, vibey cosmopolitan cities… What more can we ask for?
Without further ado, the 50 Most Instagrammable Spots in South Africa.
#50 Kagga Kamma Nature Reserve (Cederberg)
Situated two and half hours from Cape Town, this rugged reserve is the perfect weekend escape from city life. During the day you will be mesmerized by the strange rock formations scattered across the desert-like terrain. At night you can enjoy the wonder of a night sky filled with stars.
Visit kaggakamma.co.za for more information.
#49 Umhlanga Lighthouse (Umhlanga)
#48 Nelson Mandela Bridge (Johannesburg)
#47 Four Seasons Hotel (The Westcliff)
#46 Knysna Elephant Park (Plettenberg Bay)
This one will be a bit of a longer road trip from the city, 6 hours on the coastal route and 7 hours inland if you want to drive there or back via Oudtshoorn. The expansive Western Cape reserve is home to rescued elephants.
Visit knysnaelephantpark.co.za for more information.
#45 Boulders Beach (Cape Town)
Situated on the False Bay side of the city, close to Simons Town, a visit to the home of cute penguins should definitely be on your to-do list. A unique South African Instagram experience. Read more about the beach’s adorable inhabitants.
#44 Babylonstoren (Stellenbosch)
Within an hour’s drive from the city, near Klapmuts, lies a historic farm that was transformed into a stylish hotel. The Cape Dutch architecture has Instagram-worthy written all over it. The grounds feature rustic gardens, a vineyard, as well as a spa. Read our post to find out more about it.
#43 Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden (Roodepoort)
#42 Moses Mabhida Stadium Durban (Durban)
#41 Hermanus Whale Watching (Overberg)
Less than two hours’ drive from the city, is the whale watching capital of the Western Cape. From June to December you can even spot the migrating whales from the shore including Southern Right whales, Humpback whales, and Bryde’s whales. Read our post 5 of the Best Ways to See Whales around Cape Town if you want to see whales closer to the city.
#40 Muizenberg (Cape Town)
Situated in False Bay, it’s a popular surfer spot, about 30 minutes’ drive from the CBD. The main Instagrammable feature is the cute little wooden colourful beach huts.
#39 Namaqualand in Spring (Cederberg & West Coast)
As winter turns into spring, the Western Cape celebrates with a kaleidoscope of colours. From the end of August till early October (weather dependent) brightly coloured flowers pop up everywhere. Read our post Where to See the Wildflowers in the Cape to plan your trip.
#38 The Richtersveld (Northern Cape)
#37 The Silo Hotel (Cape Town)
Imagine a hotel in an old grain silo. Does it sound boring and ugly? You will be pleasantly surprised by this architectural feat. Pop in at the Zeitz MOCAA art museum as well to admire the innovative design.
Visit The Silo Hotel website for more information
#36 Elands River Falls (Waterval Boven/Emgwenya)
#35 Inanda Mountain (Durban)
#34 Otter Trail (Tsitsikamma Coastal National Park)
Another great excuse for a road trip! Travelling via the coast will take 6 and a half hours, inland it will take you 8 hours. The route is five days long in total, but you can do shorter sections if you don’t have the time or stamina for it. It is nature on steroids, with rugged shore scenery.
Visit www.tsitsikamma.info for more information
#33 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (Upington)
#32 Cape of Good Hope (Cape Town)
The rocky headland brings together two oceans, the Atlantic and Indian. Its other name is “the Cape of Storms”. For centuries it has challenged the navigational skills of sailors. Finding a beautiful scene for an epic Instagram pic, won’t be a challenge.
Click here for more information.
#31 Hole in the Wall (Coffee Bay, Eastern Cape)
#30 Father Coffee (Braamfontein, Johannesburg)
#29 Drakensberg Mountains (KwaZulu-Natal)
#28 Buffels Bay (Garden Route)
If you feel the need to drive and soak up the Western Cape beauty, head here. It’s 5 and a half hours via the coast, 6 and a half inland. You can find an outstretched, clean beach closer to the city but there’s just something special about this one. And the little town is fun to explore as well.
#27 Robben Island (Cape Town)
The island is tainted with South Africa’s tumultuous political past. Visiting the former prison is a sombre experience. But this one is on the Instagrammable list because of its important role in the country’s history.
Visit robben-island.org.za for more information
#26 Union Buildings (Pretoria)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BOxKZfXlrPW/
#25 Durban Natural Science Museum (Durban)
Related: Cape Town’s Top 10 Most Instagram-Worthy Spots
#24 Nourish’d (Cape Town)
There are now two branches of this stylish sustainable café, one in Observatory and the other in Gardens. First you can feed your eyes and then your tummy! The restaurant has achieve zero waste level, quite impressive.
Visit nourishd.co.za for more information.
#23 Bloukrans Bridge (Nature’s Valley, Western Cape)
Just over 6 hours’ drive from the city, it’s a must to stop here while you are exploring the Garden Route. Whether you jump or just admire the view across the valley, you will most likely gasp either way. It’s the world’s highest commercial and natural bungy jump bridge, at 216m high.
Click here for directions.
#22 Hoyo Hoyo Safari Lodge (Kruger Park)
#21 Augrabies Falls National Park (Northern Cape)
#20 Diving Board, Table Mountain (Cape Town)
Of course Table Mountain is on the Instagrammable list! This rock created a natural diving board that hangs across the city. It has become one of the favourite mountain spots for an iconic Instagram shot. Just don’t venture out onto it on a windy day…
#19 Cape Vidal Beach (St. Lucia)
#18 Chapman’s Peak Drive (Cape Town)
You will search hard to find a more scenic drive. It’s rated at the top of scenic routes around the world. Imposing cliffs, outstretched ocean, and beautiful beaches. What more could you ask for? Stop at one of the vantage points for the ultimate Instagram shot! Read our post to find out more about this amazing route.
#17 Sodwana Bay (KwaZulu-Natal)
#16 Tsitsikamma National Park (Knysna)
#15 Bo-Kaap (Cape Town)
The suburb just off the city centre has Instagram painted all over it. The vividly coloured houses will challenge your compositional skills. Read more about the area.
#14 De Hoop Nature Reserve (Cape Agulhas)
Drive three hours from Cape Town to reach to the most Southern point of Africa, in the Overberg region. Enjoy the whiter-than-white sand, which seems to stretch out as far as the eye can see.
Click here for more information.
#13 God’s Window (Blyde River Canyon)
#12 Valley of Desolation (Camdeboo National Park)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BrlA_QGHSRN/
#11 Mapungubwe (Limpopo)
#10 Sani Pass (KwaZulu-Natal)
#9 Lion’s Head (Cape Town)
You’ll have to work hard for the epic Instagram shot awaiting you. But when you reach the top of the mountain, you will forget about all the effort it took. A unique perspective on the city is guaranteed. Read our post What You Need To Know About Hiking Up Lion’s Head For The Full Moon for a monthly Instagram-worthy trek up the mountain.
View our Our Top 10 Pictures of Lion’s Head
#8 Stellenbosch (Western Cape)
Yup, the whole town and wine region surrounding it is Instagrammable! Old Cape Dutch buildings and majestic mountains, need we say more.
#7 Lion Sands Ivory Lodge (Mpumalanga)
#6 Blyde River Canyon (Mpumalanga)
#5 Orlando Towers (Johannesburg)
#4 Mandela Capture Site (KwaZulu-Natal)
#3 Jacaranda Trees (Pretoria)
#2 Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve (Kruger National Park)
#1 Bloubergstrand (Cape Town)
When you say “South Africa” to some foreigners, this is the picture that pops up in their head. The mountain is now part of the world’s new 7 wonders of nature, so it would make sense that it is at the top of the 50 Most Instagrammable Spots in South Africa list.
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