Over 295,000 travellers weighed in, and their verdict is clear: South Africa deserves a spot in the top 10 places you absolutely must visit.
South Africa (25 November 2025) – South Africans woke up to a bit of lekker global news today… the kind that makes you smile into your morning coffee. CEOWORLD magazine’s massive travel ranking has resurfaced online and guess who cracked the top 10?
Us.
Sitting pretty at number 6.
The article, first published in May this year, is trending again thanks to the “Statistics of the World” Twitter account. Their post has reignited global attention and sparked thousands of shares from travel lovers who can’t stop talking about the destinations worth seeing at least once in your life.
And right in the middle of some of the world’s most iconic travel spots… is South Africa.
CEOWORLD magazine’s list is no small feature. It’s based on feedback from over 295,000 readers, the highest level of participation in the publication’s history. That’s a massive group of travellers weighing in on the ultimate bucket-list destinations.
“Who doesn’t love the idea of exploring new places and meeting new people? I’m sure everyone does! Your choice of destination may depend on your preferences, such as whether you prefer the beach or the mountains, or whether you’re interested in shopping or experiencing different cultures. To help you decide on your next vacation spot… the rankings are based on feedback from over 295,000 readers, making it the highest level of participation in the magazine’s history.”
Here’s the full Top 10 Best Countries to Visit in Your Lifetime:
- 🇹🇭 Thailand
- 🇬🇷 Greece
- 🇮🇩 Indonesia
- 🇵🇹 Portugal
- 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
- 🇿🇦 South Africa
- 🇵🇪 Peru
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- 🇮🇳 India
- 🇦🇪 UAE
Not too shabby for our little spot at the southern tip of Africa.
The magazine didn’t hold back their praise, in fact, they captured exactly why so many travellers fall in love with Mzansi:
“The country with three capital cities offers stunning landscapes, including old and huge mountains, subtropical forests, long deserts, grasslands, wetlands, and bushes. Its capital city, Cape Town, is well-renowned for its picturesque beauty. The Cape Peninsula provides an epic backdrop for your Instagram profile. You can enjoy exemplary shopping, serene beaches, whale-watching, delicious food and wine, and wild nightlife. If you’re interested in learning about fossils, you must visit its Karoo region, which houses top-quality fossils of early dinosaurs, tortoises, and mammals.”
It’s basically a love letter to everything we already know: South Africa isn’t just one destination. It’s many. A mix of landscapes, cultures, flavours, adventures and stories, all bundled together in a way only this country can pull off.
And yes, it’s flattering. Yes, it boosts national pride. But this kind of global recognition actually goes a whole lot deeper.
It supports the tourism industry
Tourism is one of South Africa’s biggest job creators. Global lists like this attract new travellers, fill guesthouses, keep guides employed, and help small businesses thrive.
It reminds the world who we are
From wildlife to wine farms, mountains to markets… South Africa stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the most iconic destinations on Earth.
It sparks local travel too
Often, we need an outsider to remind us how incredible our own home is. Rankings like this encourage South Africans to explore their own backyard.
It fuels hope
Good news carries power, especially when people around the world recognise our beauty, our resilience and our uniqueness.
South Africa, you beauty. The world sees us… and we’re smiling right along with them.
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