The Best Things to Do Outside in South Africa

A colony of African penguins has claimed this beach near Simon's Town, and they have absolutely no interest in sharing the agenda. The giant granite boulders carve the shoreline into sheltered coves where the water runs warmer than anywhere else on the Atlantic side of Cape Town, making it a rare spot where swimming is actually inviting. Named among the World's 50 Best Beaches, it draws everyone from wildlife researchers to families who just want a penguin in their holiday photos.

Twin ginkgo trees grown from seeds of a tree that survived Hiroshima anchor a sprawling wine estate in the Stellenbosch hills, and that detail alone earns a detour. Vergelegen is a grand country estate open to visitors, with seventeen themed gardens running from roses to bamboo, Nguni cattle grazing alongside antelope, and guided tours that explain the conservation work behind all of it. Dress for walking.