South Africa Must-Visit Places: Lion's Head, Mandela House

The view from Table Mountain. Peep Cape Town below. PHOTO BY Alyssa Marie Uy

(SPOT.ph) The other side of the world always seems so far and unimaginable. But there is one spot on this side of the map, 10,000 kilometers away from the Philippines, that definitely deserves a spot on your bucket list. With tons of charming neighborhoods, exotic wildlife, gorgous natural landscapes, unique destinations, and more, South Africa is literally a page out of National Geographic.

South Africa is at the southernmost tip of the African continent; it shares borders with Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, while also spilling out into the Indian and Atlantic oceans. What's interesting is that South Africa has three capital cities, with Cape Town as the legislative capital, Pretoria as the administrative capital, and Bloomfontein as the judicial capital. Johannesburg is its most populous city, and arguably the name that most people outside the country are familiar with.

The region boasts an intensely diverse wildlife. Even with just one percent of the Earth’s landmass, South Africa contains about 8% of the world’s land and aerial species, and about 2,000 different species visit their waters yearly. This country is where you can wake up right next to (or even in) wildlife, hike through a lush mountainside with views of a city surrounded by deep turquoise waters—and yes, learn first-hand about institutionalized racial segregation in the 1950s.

The events that happened in South Africa's history has left its mark worldwide. As a crash course on this complicated story, the British established a law called the Apartheid that sanctioned racial segregation from the mid-20th Century well into the '90s. This is where Nelson Mandela comes in. As the head of the anti-Apartheid African National Congress, Mandela was sentenced to life in prison in 1964. After 27 years of being in jail, he was freed by then South African president Frederik Willem de Clerk, whom he then succeeded as president. South Africa is thus not just a treasure trove of natural wonders, but also a lively nation whose people and communities have gone through rich and sometimes dark history.

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Here’s a list of the must-visit spots in South Africa:

Table Mountain National Park

Most of South Africa’s land consists of plateaus. One of the most popular is the Table Mountain National Park, recognized as a natural world heritage site and is one of the Natural New 7 Wonders of the World. The national park is one of 21 Parks in the South African National Parks (SANParks) list.

Picture this: Table Mountain National Park is series of mountains surrounded by white sand and the crystal blue seas of the Cape Peninsula, with an area that stretches 70 km from Signal Hill and Table Mountain in the north to Cape Point in the south. Table Mountain, one of the landmark sites to see in the park, provides a stunning view of Cape Town. Hoerikwaggo or "Mountain of the Sea" is the original name given to the mountains by the indigenous Khoisan people.

The first recorded climb was by Portuguese navigator Admiral Antonio de Saldana who anchored his ship by the bay and climbed to the top through Platteklip Gorge. Since then, it has become a go-to spot for people visiting the country, attracting 4.2 million tourists annually.

The park is also part of the Cape Floral Kingdom thanks to its unique flora and fauna. It is home to 8,200 plant species, many of which are endemic. There are seven trails you can take to get to the top of the Table Mountain, or you can hitch a ride on the Aerial Cableway and make your way up in only five minutes. Tickets cost about 420 South African Rand (P1,325).

Lion’s Head

Lion’s Head stands right beside Table Mountain in the Table Mountain National Park. Since it is 669 meters above sea level, the hike can be a bit of a challenge, but trust us when we say it's well worth it. The view at the top is spectacular! The route's difficult points are the start of the trail on Signal Hill Road where the slope is pretty steep and towards the end of the hike where you need to clamber over rocks. Getting to the summit can take between 1.5 to 2.5 hours depending on your pace.

There are two hiking trails to go up the Lion’s Head: the linear route and the circular route. The linear route is recommended for solo hikers and has the best views of Table Mountain, Twelve Apostles and Camps Bay. The circular route, on the other hand, is the longer route but gives you the stunning 360 degree views of Cape Town and Cape Peninsula. It provides the best views of the Lion’s Head Peak, Signal Hill, and Sea Point.

When you reach the summit, you will see pretty much all of Cape Town and its famous sights, including Table Mountain, Camps Bay, Clifton Beaches, V&A Waterfront, and Cape Peninsula. The best time to hike to see the city in its golden glory is during the sunset as the sun slowly disappears into the Atlantic Ocean. Sunrise is another good time as there are less people, and full-moon hikes are also getting more popular nowadays.

Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point

Also located at Table Mountain National Park, Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point is a rocky headland at the southern portion of the Cape Peninsula. It was first recorded by the Portuguese navigator Bartolomeu Dias in 1488 when he went to determine the limits of the African Continent. He named it the Cape of Storms but was later renamed by King John II to Cape of Good Hope. He believed that the discovery of this place meant that India could be reached by sea from Europe. Sir Francis Drake, a renowned English explorer, also called it "The Fairest

Cape in all the World". There is also a lighthouse found on Cape Point, about two kilometers east of Cape of Good Hope.

The flourishing wildlife of this area is a sight tourists shouldn't miss. Keep your eyes peeled for eland, red hartebeest, bontebok and zebra. If you’re an adventure-seeker, you can do hiking, surfing, angling, picnicking, beaching and cycling at this scenic spot.

Boulders Beach

Another site to visit within the Table Mountain National Park is Boulders Beach. This spot is home to a colony of the cutest birds—penguins. These unique and endangered African penguins are land-based and are the only penguins found in the continent. They were reclassified from being in vulnerable to endangered status in 2010. Because of habitat destruction, human activity and effects of climate change, the breeding pairs population rapidly dwindled, leaving only 20% of the population in just over 50 years.

There are boardwalks and a viewing area built around the area to keep these penguins safe from visiting humans. The prime time to visit the penguins is during summer, when you’ll see the most penguin action. It is also best to visit either early in the morning or late in the afternoon when these creatures are most active.

V&A Waterfront

V&A Waterfront is a hub found at the oldest harbour in South Africa, with the Table Mountain as its backdrop. Gathering more than 24 million visitors annually, it is a favorite destination of tourists because it is where they can shop, dine, work and play in more than 80 restaurants, over 500 retail stores and several hotels. Aside from these, you can also find heritage sites and museums such as the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA). Other things that you can do here include activities like a visit to the Two Oceans Aquarium, The Cape Wheel, sunset cruises, helicopter rides, stand-up paddling and live entertainment.

The Victoria Wharf is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. while the Alfred Mall is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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Mandela House

Located at 8115 Vilakazi St., Orlando West, Soweto, the Mandela House is home to the historical family heritage and legacy of the Mandelas. As mentioned earlier, Nelson Mandela led the movement against the Apartheid, a defining moment in South African history. The residence was part of a Johannesburg City tender for new houses in Orlando in 1945. In 1946, Nelson moved in with his first wife, Evelyn. Eleven years later, they divorced and he welcomed his second wife, Winnie Malikizela, into the house. For many years, Nelson’s life as an activist and

involvement in politics has led to his sentence of life imprisonment in 1964.

While in prison, Winnie continued his efforts on ground and thus, she was subjected to harassment, torture, and imprisonment. It was only in 1986 that Winnie was allowed to go back home to be with her daughters.

The heritage site was burned to the ground in 1988 and was rebuilt by the community. In 1999, it was finally awarded the status of a public heritage site, with Nelson Mandela as the Founder Trustee. The house was continuously preserved then underwent a major restoration project in 2008. The house is currently managed by the Apartheid Museum on behalf of the Soweto Heritage Trust.

Bo-Kaap

A historically rich neighborhood situated at the foot of Signal Hill is Bo-Kaap. The area was formerly known as the Malay Quarter when rental houses, called huurhuisjes, were leased to slaves. The people staying here are known as Cape Malays, who were originally from Malaysia, Indonesia and some parts of Africa, and came to work in Cape Town. Even with this history, the neighborhood is visually pleasing because its colorful houses have Cape Dutch and Georgian architecture. Before, when the houses were leased to the Muslim families living here, they were painted in white. When the slaves were eventually allowed to buy these properties, the owners painted the facades with bright colors to celebrate their freedom.

The other landmarks to see in this village are the Bo-Kaap Museum, which shows the blendedcultures of Cape Malay, Africa and Europe, and Auwal Masjid, the oldest mosque in South Africa.

Groot Constantia

Groot Constantia has been producing quality estate wines since 1685 and is South Africa’s oldest wine-producing farm. This World Heritage Site’s history goes way back to the time of Simon van der Stel when the Dutch East India Company appointed him governor of the Cape of Good Hope. Due to his loyal service, he was given the land of 891 Morgen, which he chose because of its good soil. Over the years, the farm has been known for its world-class quality wines and has caught the attention of influential people across the globe. It was even featured in Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility and Charles Dickens’ The Mystery of Edwin Drood. In 1709, Van der Stel was able to grow 70,000 vines that produced 5,630 liters of wine.

Through the years, the ownership of the estate has been passed on to different people. It was only in 1993 that the farm became the Groot Constantia Trust and it now belongs to a non-profit organization called The Nation’s Estate. Today, nine different types of soil exist here that allows for the production of superb quality wine. The vineyard produces wine varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Shiraz, Pinotage, Muscat de Frontignan (Grand Constance naturally sweet wine), Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Semillon.

The vineyard is open everyday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wine Tasting Experience costs 130 South African Rand (P410), the Chocolate and Wine Pairing Experience costs 200 South African Rand (P630), and the tour is at 155 South African Rand (P490) per person.

Camps Bay and Clifton

Found between Clifton and the Twelve Apostles Mountain Range, Camps Bay is one of Cape Town’s most charming suburbs. When the road from Sea Point to Camps Bay was completed in 1887, Camps Bay became a popular picnic site. The visitors flock here during the summer because of the nice beach lined with tons of restaurants where they can chill and enjoy the sunset. You can also get a massage here or play volleyball.

The four beaches of Clifton, which is in close proximity to Camps Bay, is part of the Cape Town beaches that is considered by National Geographic as number two in the world. The sand here is soft and the water is calm. Clifton boasts some of the most luxurious real estate in the country where celebrities spend their summer vacation in their prime beachfront locations. Property here costs tens of millions of rands.

Black Rhino Game Lodge

Have you ever imagined getting up close and personal to wild animals you'd only typically see on screen? If you’re in for that one-of-a-kind experience, then we

recommend that you stay in a game lodge to be as close to the lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and rhinos as possible. One luxury game lodge in the Big 5 Pilanesburg National Park is the Black Rhino Game Lodge, which has access to over 55,000 hectares of wilderness.

The top adventure to do here is to join a game drive. You will be riding an open-sided 4x4 vehicles to tour the wilderness as your experienced guides keep watch for possible sightings of wild animals in the area. The best time to do this will be in the early morning or late afternoon, when wildlife is most active. You can also learn more about plants and insects through a walking safari activity. You can likewise witness performances of African cultural dancing to know more about the country’s culture.