My Favourite Things To Do In South Africa
Any South African knows that there is so much to do in this beautiful country that it would be almost impossible to make a list of the best ones subjectively. Even so, I have put together a list of some of my person favourites!
For all the cycling enthusiasts out there, the Cape Peninsular Argus Race is one of the most hardcore there is. In South Africa, there are three top cycling events: the Momentum cycle challenge, the Cape Epic, and the Argus. Out of those three, the Argus is generally considered the biggest and best. So what is it? It’s a 109 km race that goes through Cape Town and the surrounding areas. It is also the world’s largest timed race (individually timed), with some 35,000 people taking part each year. The cyclists are picked at random from a huge list of entries.
Kaapse Klopse
Otherwise known as the Cape Carnival, the Kaapse Klopse is one of Cape Town’s premier events. Taking place on 2 January, the streets of the Mother City burst into life when 10,000 people take part in dancing, festivity and general celebration. There are hundreds of troupes that practice dance routines for months in advance, so you can always be sure that they will put on an amazing show.
Grahamstown Arts Festival
Grahamstown, the beautiful town on the Eastern Cape, is host to one of the world’s best arts festivals every July. The festival is a true celebration of the creativity of South African art in all forms. Grahamstown is an apt place to host such a festival, as the architecture of the town’s many buildings is nothing short of stunning. The festival lasts for 10 days, starting from a Sunday in July. You’ll find many different demographics of people at the festival, and most importantly many different types of art.
The Soweto Derby
Even if you’re not a fan of soccer, the Soweto Derby is still something that needs to be seen. The two biggest teams in South Africa, Kaizer Chiefs & Orlando Pirates, clash in what is without doubt the biggest soccer match every year. Expect a packed stadium of 80,000 or more, every person adorned in orange or black, the respective colours of the two teams. In recent years, both clubs have come together to play at least twice over the course of a season, so there are lots of opportunities to go and watch.
Knysna Oyster Festival
We South Africans love our food, and so it goes without saying that we love our food festivals! Knysna Oyster Festival attracts over 70,000 people each and every July. The 10 day event offers plenty of awesome experiences, including food & wine tasting, sports, and fun activities. Anyone interested in food should experience this annual festival at least once.
Article by Josh
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I’ll have to tick off these in the next five year. I am staying as a student from Mozambique and hope to experience everything south Africa has to offer me.
HI Hope
I agree, if you have the opportunity, then you have to experience all of these. I have only done the Knysna Oyster Festival, which is amazing, and I think the Grahamstown Festival is next on my list.
Good luck with your studies!