Things to see and do in South Africa

The Anglo-Boer War began in 1899 with the British retaliation against President Paul Kruger's refusal to grant political rights to the mainly English outsiders in the gold- and diamond-rich Transvaal. In 1902, after three years of bitter fighting, the British claimed victory, having destroyed Boer farms and sent their occupants to concentration camps where 20,000 people perished. Today, various museums and memorial sites remember those bloody events. The main museum is the Anglo-Boer War Museum in Bloemfontein which displays artwork and artefacts and provides an insight into the horrors of the concentration camps. Talana Museum is located at Talana Hill, near Dundee, the site of the first battle of the Anglo-Boer War on October 20 1899; it is now an eight-hectare (20-acre) heritage park with a cemetery dedicated to those who fought and lost their lives there, and also features displays on local bush traditions.

Blyde River Canyon provides some of South Africa's most breathtaking scenery and is the third largest gorge in the world, after the Grand Canyon (USA) and Fish River Canyon (Namibia). The 29,000-hectare (71,662-acre) reserve is home to a rich variety of wildlife including rare birds and lichens. At the heart of the nature reserve is the Blyde Dam, which provides a natural habitat for hippo and crocodile, whilst further afield, in the Lowveld plain at the entrance to the canyon, blue wildebeest, waterbuck and zebra can be seen. Popular activities in the reserve include fishing and hiking to beauty spots such as God's Window, which offers unparalleled views across the canyon and the Lowveld. The town of Pilgrim's Rest is of particular interest as a former gold-mining town between 1873 and 1972.

Cape Town's famous flat-topped Table Mountain offers glorious views across the Cape peninsula and the city below. But you have to work for them because it's not a walk in the park. The lazy but equally rewarding way is to take the cable car (www.tablemountain.net).

More than a dozen wine routes tempt you with wine tastings and excellent cuisine in the wine estate restaurants. The views are splendid, with rolling hills and gorgeous old Cape-Dutch mansions. Foreigners love the prices too when they stock up on supplies (www.winelands.co.za)

The beautiful South African wilderness is excellent for hiking. Highlights include the Drakensberg mountain trails passing ancient yellowwood trees and Bushmen cave art, and the Otter Trail - a multi-day coastal hike through Tsitsikamma National Park. Several companies offer porters. (www.drakensberg.kzn.org.za) and (www.sanparks.org).

At the top of the spectacularly scenic Blyde River Canyon in the northern Drakensberg are waterfalls, dramatic mountains, plunging cliffs and gorges. Blyde River Canyon, God's Window and the astonishing Bourke's Luck Potholes are highlights, along with the Pilgrim's Rest, a restored gold rush town. (www.mpumalanga.com). Robben IslandA short ferry trip from Cape Town takes you to Robben Island (www.robben-island.org.za), where Nelson Mandela and other anti-apartheid activists were jailed. Tours are conducted by former political prisoners themselves for an accurate account of life at the time.

The KwaZulu-Natal coast offers superb conditions for underwater exploration. Stunning Sodwana Bay near Durban is a popular base for reef dives among turtles and tropical fish, while Aliwal Shoal and Protea Banks further south are superb for sharks and wrecks.

The arid Namaqualand region (www.namaqualand.com) explodes with colour between mid-August and mid-September, when wild flowers blanket the landscape. The West Coast National Park is one of the best places to see the phenomenon. Victoria and Alfred WaterfrontCape Town's main hub, the V&A Waterfront (www.waterfront.co.za) is a beautifully restored old Victorian harbour. It houses masses of shops, a craft market, an excellent aquarium, cinemas, a jazz club, bars and restaurants.

Join a guided tour of a township, the areas where blacks were forcibly relocated to during apartheid, to experience the vibrancy and sense of community. Tours run from most major cities; Soweto in Johannesburg and Cape Town's Cape Flats are most popular.