South Africa’s most visited tourist attractions: See here
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South Africa is a country with a diverse range of tourist attractions, both natural and manmade.
Tourists from inside and outside of the country frequent certain attractions more than others, as seen by visitor numbers.
We take a look at some of the most visited tourist hotspots in South Africa below.
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SOUTH AFRICAN TOURISM
International tourists travel to South Africa to experience among other things, its diverse cultures and exceptional attractions.
Tourism is an important part of SA’s economy. It contributes roughly 3.2% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), according to BusinessTech.
POPULAR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS:
V&A WATERFRONT
The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town, is one of the most popular attractions in the country.
The facility offers retail shops, restaurants, bars, hotels and an aquarium. It frequently plays host to many events and activities.
The V&A is visited by nearly 24 million visitors each year.
TABLE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
This 221-square-kilometer reserve in Cape Town is the most visited national park in South Africa.
Table Mountain National Park is divided into various sections. These include Table Mountain (a world heritage site), Cape Point, Boulders Beach (home to 3 000 African penguins), Signal Hill, and Lions Head.
The park is frequented by over 4 million visitors per year.
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KIRSTENBOSCH BOTANICAL GARDENS
These world-renowned botanical gardens were established over 100 years ago.
They are a World Heritage site, home to over 22 000 plant species.
Located on the slopes of Table Mountain, the 1 300 acre national park hosts 1 million visitors annually.
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
SA’s premier wildlife reserve welcomes approximately 1 million visitors each year.
There are caps on the number of visitors that may enter the park each day, to maintain its ecological authenticity.
The Kruger is located across two of the country’s provinces, Mpumulanga and Limpopo.
It is South Africa’s largest wildlife reserve, covering an area of 19 624 square kilometers.
It is home to a large collection of fauna and flora species, including the Big 5.
USHAKA MARINE WORLD
This marine-themed adventure park is home to the largest aquarium in the southern hemisphere.
The aquarium houses hundreds of marine animals including turtles, sharks, fish, penguins, seals and dolphins.
Ushaka includes a water park, a beach, restaurants, shops, a reptile park and an adventure park, all situated across 16 hectares.
Ushaka draws around 800 000 visitors per year.
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