Cape Town is one of my favorite cities in the world, all thanks to its nature, climate, and people. You gotta love a city with a towering 1,000-m mountain right in the middle of it and the Western Cape sprawling all around!

So, you're thinking of skipping the usual touristy spots this year and you fancy a bit of real adventure, huh? Look to South Africa! It's that one destination where you won't feel like you've seen it all before.

I've put together a list of places, beyond Istanbul, that are worth seeing. This list started as just day trips, but some places a little further out are just too good to miss. What are these gems, you ask?