© Shutterstock

City of Gold - South Africa is one of the world leaders in gold mining. Johannesburg, which began as a gold-mining settlement, is nicknamed 'Egoli,' which means 'Place of Gold' or 'City of Gold' in Zulu.

© Shutterstock

Hole in the Wall - Hole in the Wall is one of South Africa's best natural sights, and offers an uncommon structure with a giant opening through its center. It is located in Coffee Bay on the Wild Coast. The locals call this place "Izi Khaleni," which means "place of thunder."

© Shutterstock

Moses Mabhida Stadium - The Moses Mabhida Stadium was specially designed and constructed for the FIFA World Cup in 2010. It was designed back in 2004 by Sibusiso Nene, an eleventh grader who later died after a short illness in 2009. However, in 2016 his father claimed that his son was never given any credit for his idea, and never received any payment.

© Shutterstock

Golden Gate Highlands National Park - The Golden Gate Highlands National Park in Free State encompasses some magnificent natural scenery, and was named after the golden color that the sandstone rocks get when the sun shines on them.

© Shutterstock

Jacaranda trees - No purple rain here, but there are purple trees! South Africa's majestic Jacaranda trees bloom from late September to November, and are mostly seen in Pretoria and Johannesburg. According to many, the flowers have a magic power: some university students in South Africa believe that if a Jacaranda flower falls on your head during exam time, you'll pass your exams!

© Shutterstock

Chapman's Peak Drive - Chapman's Peak Drive, situated on the western side of the Cape Peninsula, is one of the most beautiful coastal routes in the world, and offers a spectacular view of the Atlantic Ocean.

© Shutterstock

Royal Natal National Park - The heart of this KwaZulu-Natal nature reserve is a paradise for hikers and nature lovers. Other activities such as swimming, horseback riding, climbing, and fishing are also available.

© Shutterstock

The Amphitheatre, Drakensberg - The rock formation called the Amphitheatre is located in the Northern Drakensberg in KwaZulu-Natal. The dramatic cliff face measures more than 5 km (3.1 miles), and has cliffs rising about 1,220 m (4,002 ft). It is considered to be one of the most spectacular panoramas in the world.

© Shutterstock

Tsitsikamma National Park - The Tsitsikamma National Park, better known as one of the most beautiful natural parks in South Africa, is tucked between mountains and the sea. The reserve stretches along over 80 km (50 miles) of intact coastline.

© Shutterstock

Bo-Kaap, Cape Town - The Bo-Kaap is a picturesque part of Cape Town that was formerly known as the Malay Quarter. It is the most colorful district in Cape Town and one of the oldest parts of the city, located on the slopes of Signal Hill.

© Shutterstock

God's window - The splendid panoramic view of the Lowveld earned it the name God's Window. No idea if heaven looks like this, but one thing is for sure: you can observe the forests and hills as far as the eye can see, and that alone feels like paradise!

© Shutterstock

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park - The large wildlife preserve and conservation area was founded in 1931, and straddles the border between South Africa and Botswana. The park has a rich and diverse wildlife, encompassing an area of 38,000 sq km (14,672 sq miles).

© Shutterstock

Bourke's Luck Potholes -

The Bourke's Luck Potholes are rock formations formed by erosion centuries ago. They are situated 35 km (21.7 miles) north of the small town Graskop. The cylinder-shaped holes were created by millions of years of water flowing in fast circular motions, emerging from the confluence of the Treur and the Blyde rivers.

© Getty Images

Boulders Beach, Cape Peninsula - The big draw of this beach? Penguins! Yes, you heard it right. Boulders Beach is home to over two thousand African penguins, the only place on earth where you will get this close to these waddling visitors.

© Shutterstock

Skilpad Wildflower Reserve, Namaqualand - The Skilpad Wildflower Reserve lies within the Namaqua National Park, and is known for having the best wildflowers in Namaqualand. The protected area has been established in 1988.

© Shutterstock

Kruger National Park - This is without a doubt Africa's most exciting safari destinations. The park has a huge variety of wildlife within its borders, including the world renowned "big five" game animals and at least 500 species of birds.

© Shutterstock

Table Mountain, Cape Town - Want to feel on top of the world? How about taking a cable car and discovering the spectacular Table Mountain? The mountain offers a scenic landscape that will simply make your jaw drop!

© Shutterstock

Knysna - In the center of the Garden Route is a gem of a town called Knysna (pronounced "Nainsna"). Since the economy of the village is focused on tourism, there are many terraces and restaurants to be found. An important festival in Knysna is the Knysna Oyster Festival, which is one of South Africa's most popular festivals.

© Shutterstock

Knysna Lagoon - The heart of Knysna contains a lagoon surrounded by the imposing sandstone called The Heads. The lagoon is fed by the nutrient-rich water from the Indian Ocean twice a day and with fresh water from the Outeniqua Mountains. Don't let the breathtaking blue of the lagoon fool you, the entrance to this lagoon is considered to be one of the most dangerous harbor entrances in the world!

© Shutterstock

PheZulu village, Botha’s Hill - 35 km (21.7 miles) from Durban, you'll find the PheZulu village, where it is possible to immerse yourself in the Zulu culture and enjoy watching the Zulu dancers in their traditional gear.

© Shutterstock

Cape Point - Cape Point is a rocky area at the southernmost corner of the famous Cape Peninsula on top of massive sea cliffs. This pristine reserve has the most powerful lighthouse on the South African coast, with a range of 63 km (39 miles).

© Shutterstock

Whale watching in Hermanus - The seaside town of Hermanus is known for being a popular whale-watching site. The resort town is situated between mountain and sea, and has seen tremendous growth in the last few years.

© Shutterstock

Blue Train - If you have some money to spare, then take the luxurious Blue Train that travels 1,600 km (994 miles) between Cape Town and Pretoria in 27 hours. It is known as one of the most luxurious train journeys in the world.

© Shutterstock

Cape Agulhas - At Cape Agulhas you can see two oceans come together: the Indian and the Atlantic. The place was named Cabo das Agulhas by Portuguese navigators, which literally means "Cape of Needles," in reference to the compass needle.

© Shutterstock

The Cradle of Humankind - The secrets to the very existence of humankind lies in this paleoanthropological site. It was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1999 under the name Fossil Hominid Sites of South Africa.

© Shutterstock

The Cradle of Humankind - Some of the oldest hominin fossils ever found in the world have been discovered in this area. The fossils date back as far as 3.5 million years.

© Shutterstock

Robben Island - Robben Island is a South African island off the coast near Cape Town, and is best known for being the place where the late president Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 of the 27 years he served during Apartheid. Today, the island is accessible to tourists through tours leaving from Cape Town's waterfront.

© Shutterstock

Time to visit South Africa -

Now that you've read all about this beautiful country, it's time to start planning your next trip and get out there to see it for yourself!

See also: Discover the most astonishing beaches of Africa

© Shutterstock