COUNTRY - SOUTH AFRICA

Surprisingly the only African country to make this list, South Africa – which takes up the size of France and Spain combined – is undeniably beautiful. You’ll find the iconic Table Mountain and beaches where penguins roam just a stone’s throw from Cape Town. The wine-growing valleys of the Western Cape will enchant with their verdant hills (and delectable vintages). Durban is coming into its own as a must-visit destination, and of course, you’ll find some of the best safari experiences in the world in South Africa. One reader explained the best thing about South Africa: “Wherever you travel you will always see mountains.”