16 Famous Cities in South Africa (And What Makes Them Famous)

If I had to pick one word to describe South Africa, this would be “diversity”. This applies to everything from the country’s natural landscapes to its cities, people, and languages. 

South Africa is a large country that truly has it all, which becomes evident as you travel through its cities. 

Let’s explore what makes them special! 

1. Cape Town

Cape Town is, without a doubt, one of the most famous cities in South Africa and one of the country’s best. In my opinion, it is even a good contender for one of the world’s best! It is very rare for an urban, modern city to also boast show-stopping nature, but Cape Town does just that. 

The city is defined by its spectacular landscape, dominated by the impressive flat-topped Table Mountain. At its foot, lies Kirstenbosch, known as one of the world’s greatest botanical gardens. On the west side of Cape Town, there is Boulder’s Beach, a stunning sheltered cove renowned for its African penguin colony. 

And that’s only the beginning of what makes Cape Town so special. The city is also important historically, as it is in close proximity to Robben Island. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it was where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for nearly three decades during the apartheid era. 

2. Johannesburg

Johannesburg, also referred to as “Jozi” or “Joburg” for short, is South Africa’s biggest city. Classed as a megacity, Johannesburg covers a massive area of over 2000 square kilometers, making it larger than cities like London and New York. 

The vibrant metropolis is one of the most important cities in South Africa. It is a business hub and is considered the economic center of the entire African continent. It’s a great place to enjoy the benefits of world-class city infrastructure and services. From excellent restaurants to shopping and nightlife, Joburg has it all. 

But what the city is best known for is perhaps its mining origins, which have earned it the nickname “City of Gold”. In the 19th century, the city was founded as a gold mining settlement. It is where forty percent of the world’s gold has been found. 

3. Durban

Durban is a coastal city located in the KwaZulu-Natal province in eastern South Africa. Even though it is not the first place that comes to mind when you think of the country, Durban actually has many claims to fame. 

It is most famous for its port, which happens to be one of the busiest container ports in the whole world. It is also popular for being a great vacation spot due to its “Golden Mile”. This is a 6-kilometer stretch of gorgeous beaches including Ushaka and the Blue Lagoon, which are ideal for surfing. 

Last but definitely not least, Durban is often referred to as the curry capital of South Africa. This is because it has the largest Indian population outside of India. In fact, Mahatma Gandhi began his political career in Durban! 

4. Pretoria

Given it is the country’s administrative capital, you would not expect much from Pretoria. During their travels around South Africa, many people dismiss it as being a dull political location: a place for the government and foreign embassies. The truth is you will not struggle to find things to do in Pretoria. 

Known as “Jacaranda City” due to its plethora of jacaranda trees, Pretoria is a beautiful place. Its many prestigious neighborhoods, like Waterkloof and Lynnwood, add a sense of old-world charm to the city. Additionally, Menlyn Park, which is the largest mall in Africa with over 500 shops, is located in Pretoria. 

5. Port Elizabeth

Port Elizabeth, colloquially referred to as P.E., is the most populous city in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province. It is one of the major cities in South Africa, as it is an important seaport location. P.E. also has the reputation of being the friendliest place in the country! 

P.E.’s beaches stretch across 40 kilometers and are considered world-class swimming spots. They render themselves perfectly to activities such as surfing, scuba diving, sailing, and whale watching. The city’s most famous attraction is the Donkin Reserve, a park that is home to many species of birds and features an iconic pyramid. 

6. Soweto

Soweto is a large urban settlement that borders the city of Johannesburg. The name “Soweto” stands for “South Western Townships”. Townships are underdeveloped urban areas the origin of which dates back to the apartheid era, which has become one of the main things the country is known for. That is when they were used as places of racial segregation, housing non-white people. 

Soweto is the most famous township in South Africa, as it played an important role in overthrowing the apartheid state. The Soweto Youth Uprising of 1976 was a pivotal moment in South African history that is now commemorated in the township, with various museums dedicated to it. 

Soweto is also famous for having been home to two of the most prominent figures in the country, Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. 

7. Stellenbosch

Affectionately referred to as “Stellies”, Stellenbosch is a town in South Africa’s Western Cape province that is most famous for its vineyards and delicious wine.

The mountain-surrounded town has more than 200 wine farms, which collectively form what is known as the Stellenbosch Wine Routes. Some of the world’s most prestigious wine estates, like Spier and Delaire Graff, are based in Stellenbosch. 

On top of that, Stellenbosch is a place with a rich cultural heritage. But while the 18th-century buildings that line the town’s streets are a nod to its Dutch colonial past, Stellenbosch gives off young vibes. As it is home to Stellenbosch University, the town is always buzzing with life in its many trendy art galleries, eateries, and boutiques. 

8. Bloemfontein

Bloemfontein is South Africa’s judicial capital, located in the center of the country. Its name translates to “fountain of flowers” in Dutch, which is apt given the city is known for its roses and the rose festival that takes place there annually. But Bloemfontein is not just for flower lovers. 

It is a location favored by history buffs for its many important museums and monuments. Among its most famous museums is the National Women’s Memorial and War Museum, which commemorates the Afrikaner women and children who died in British concentration camps during the Anglo-Boer War. Buildings of historical importance in the city include the Old Presidency, the Old Raadsaal, and the Dutch Reformed Tweetoringkerk Church. 

9. Vereeniging

Vereeniging is a city in the south of the Gauteng province.

It is a place known for major industry, being home to factories producing anything from cars to cables to farm equipment to steel and iron. Vereeniging’s motto is “Per Pacem Ad Industriam”, which is Latin for “Through peace to industry”.

Indeed, the city is so industrious that South Africans often joke that it is the place with the most car dealerships per square meter in the country! 

Thankfully, there is more to Vereeniging than that. It also happens to be home to the Klip River Quarry, an important archaeological site where many tools from the Stone Age were discovered.

10. East London

East London is a city on the Indian Ocean, in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province. Sandwiched between the Nahoon river to the north and the Buffalo river to the south, it is the country’s only river port city. It’s also positioned at the northern end of the Sunshine Coast, which is a long stretch of stunning beaches. 

East London’s beaches are its main attraction. Nahoon Reef is famous for being a world-class surfing destination comparable to Hawaii’s Sunset Beach, while Gonubie is a Blue Flag-rated beach. 

East London is also particularly popular with natural history enthusiasts. The East London Museum hosts the last remaining Dodo egg on earth, as well as the Nahoon Footprints, which are the world’s oldest human footprints.

11. Knysna

The Garden Route is a 300-kilometer-long stretch of coastline that runs along South Africa’s southern coast. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country and passes through many beautiful locations. One of them is Knysna, a vacation town known as the “jewel of the Garden Route”. 

Built on a natural lagoon, Knysna is enclosed by two brightly colored sandstone cliffs that separate it from the sea. These are known as the Knysna heads. On the west Knysna head sits a stunning park called Featherbed Nature Reserve. The town also has an elephant park where visitors can walk with the animals in Knysna’s large complex of closed-canopy forests. 

As if that wasn’t enough, Knysna is also famous for its oysters. The Knysna Oyster Festival is a 10-day annual event that takes place in July and attracts thousands of visitors. 

12. Plettenberg Bay

Another seaside town worth visiting along South Africa’s Garden Route is Plettenberg Bay. Also known as Plett, this is another one of the country’s popular vacation spots. As is the case with towns on the Garden Route, Plett is notorious for its natural beauty and diverse wildlife. 

There are six Blue Flag beaches in Plettenberg Bay, including Lookout and Central Beach, which attract surfing crowds. From Robberg Beach, one can spot the 1967 shipwreck, Athena. 

In addition to its stunning seaside spots, visitors to Plett can enjoy its animal and plant sanctuaries. The town is home to Birds of Eden, a free-flight bird sanctuary with 250 species of birds, and Monkeyland, which features 10 species of monkeys. There one can also find the Keurboom River Nature Reserve, a tree sanctuary that has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

13. Kimberley 

Kimberley is the capital city of South Africa’s Northern Cape province. Even though it is not that well-known around the world, Kimberley has been very important historically for the country.

This is because it is where the first significant diamond discovery took place in 1866. After that, many people moved to Kimberley hoping to become wealthy. The descent into the city and scramble for diamonds was so fervorous that it led to the deepest hand-dug crater in the world called the Big Hole. 

Today, the city is a great place to visit to get a feel of what life was like back during the mining boom. You can go to the Kimberley Mine Museum which is a recreation of the city in its heyday or have a drink in the Star of the West, the country’s second oldest pub, which was founded to cater to thirsty miners.  

14. Upington 

Another town in South Africa’s Northern Cape is Upington. It is located in the center of the Green Kalahari region. As the name of the region would suggest, it is a place of extremes, where green oases coexist along desert landscapes. Upington is a perfect representation of that juxtaposition.

On one hand, it is home to many vineyards that thrive on the northern banks of the Orange river. Winegrowers in the area have even formed one of the most famous wine cooperatives in the world, called Orange River Cellars. On the other hand, some parts of Upington are extremely dry, as it is the sunniest location on the planet from the months of November to January. 

15. Oudtshoorn

Oudtshoorn is a very special place in South Africa. Located in the Klein Karoo area of the Western Cape province, Oudtshoorn lies along the Route 62 wine route. The town is nestled in a beautiful verdant valley, surrounded by the Swartberg and Outenique mountain ranges. 

The climate in Oudtshoorn is ideal for what is the town’s claim to fame: ostriches. One can visit ostrich farms and learn everything about these impressive flightless birds in Oudtshoorn’s numerous museums and shows dedicated to them. 

The town also boasts the famous Cango Caves, a 20-million-year-old network of limestone chambers, which are one of the country’s oldest tourist attractions. 

16. Franschhoek

Just over an hour’s drive from Cape Town lies Franschhoek, a city known as the food and wine capital of South Africa. Boasting prestigious wine estates, posh restaurants and spas, and luxurious hotels, Franschhoek is a destination where one can enjoy the dolce vita.

Visitors to Franschhoek particularly enjoy the city’s famous hop-on/hop-off wine tram which takes you on a tour of the area’s wine farms. 

But Franschhoek is not without historical interest. Dutch settlers gave the French Huguenots some land in the area in exchange for their vinicultural knowledge, which helped shape the city into what it is today. 

Wrapping up 

Between its nine provinces, South Africa has many cities. From rich history to great wine and breathtaking nature, each of them has something unique to offer. 

What’s your favorite place in South Africa? Is it one of the bigger cities or one of its hidden gems? Let us know in the comments!