South Africa is a diverse country to vacation in. You can be in a cosmopolitan city one day, spend some time sunbathing on a pristine beach an hour later, and then within a 24 hour period you can be amazed while you enjoy yourself on a safari, looking for lions, rhino, leopards, giraffes and elephants.
They call South Africa the Rainbow Nation and it really is, because it is a mixture of cultures and races. With its diverse landscapes and wildlife a trip to South Africa is truly a lifetime experience. You’ll never get tired of the beautiful and amazing countryside views full of contrasts which blend so nicely in its’ own originality and exceptionality.
For our 3 week trip we hired a car from Jo’burg Airport and drove by the coast all the way down to Cape Town. This route is highly recommend, one can visit different regions and meet various African tribes such as the Xhosa in the wild coast and Zulu in the Kwazulu-Natal One can also find European settlers along the Garden route and the Dutch settlers in the Swellendam and Oudtshoorn region. Wildlife sightings in South Africa are very common. Be it in a national park or while driving, one can spot wildlife anywhere. From June to September a large number of Whales visit South Africa’s Coast to mate and give birth to their young ones. One of the best places to see Whales from the shore is Hermanus, one only needs to visit the cliffs, sit down and watch a natural spectacle of Whales Breaching and Courtship.
Top Tourist Attractions
- Panorama Route
- Kruger National Park
- Drakensburg Mountains
- Coffee Bay
- Addo Elephant Park
- Tsitsikamma
- The Garden Route
- De Hoop Nature Reserve
- Cape Peninsula
- Cape Town and Wine Land
Where to Go
If you ever visit South Africa’s Kruger Nation Park, you will have memories that last a lifetime. This is one of a handful of places where you can see Africa’s “Big 5″ in their natural habitat. The big 5 consist of the impressive lion, the towering African elephant, the dangerous Cape buffalo, the elusive leopard, etc.
Getting Around
A Self drive tour is highly recommended. It gives you freedom to explore South Africa’s Landscape on your own pace. Drive through scenic roads and stop along the road for snap shots. Come across children in their very bright uniforms on their way to schools or back.
It is very easy and convenient to rent a car. All major airports have their car hire facilities and you can find all class of cars for your personal needs.
It is not recommended to drive during the night. Organise your trip properly. South African roads are very well maintained but sometimes they seem endless, so calculate accordingly your travel time and distance to avoid disappointments.
A Travel Guide to South Africa for travelers
South Africa was once home to apartheid. A motion and a man, Nelson Mandela, changed it. Here is an overview of South Africa for travelers.
As late as 1991, apartheid rule in South Africa. The term means separate and effectively divided the country along racial lines in almost every element of society.
South Africa is a diverse country to vacation in. You can be in a cosmopolitan city one day, spend some time sunbathing on a pristine beach an hour later, and then within a 24 hour period you can be amazed while you enjoy yourself on a safari, looking for lions, rhino, leopards, giraffes and elephants.
They call South Africa the Rainbow Nation and it really is, because it is a mixture of cultures and races. With its diverse landscapes and wildlife a trip to South Africa is truly a lifetime experience. You’ll never get tired of the beautiful and amazing countryside views full of contrasts which blend so nicely in its’ own originality and exceptionalism.
For our 3 week trip we hired a car from Johannesburg Airport and drove by the coast all the way down to Cape Town. This route is highly recommend, one can visit different regions and meet various African tribes such as the Xhosa in the wild coast and Zulu in the Kwazulu-Natal One can also find European settlers along the Garden route and the Dutch settlers in the Swellendam and Oudtshoorn region. Wildlife sightings in South Africa are very common. Be it in a national park or while driving, one can spot wildlife anywhere. From June to September a large number of Whales visit South Africa’s Coast to mate and give birth to their young ones. One of the best places to see Whales from the shore is Hermanus, one only needs to visit the cliffs, sit down and watch a natural spectacle of Whales Breaching and Courtship.
Top Tourist Attractions
- Panorama Route
- Kruger National Park
- Drakensburg Mountains
- Coffee Bay
- Addo Elephant Park
- Tsitsikamma
- The Garden Route
- De Hoop Nature Reserve
- Cape Peninsula
- Cape Town and Wine Land
Cheap flights to South Africa with Jewellery
The Portuguese were the first to land in South Africa in 1488, but are not entitled to a colony. The Dutch East India Company arrived in 1652, with Dutch and Germans moving to the country. These were white Afrikaners and eventual dominate class of South Africa. In 1779, the British moved in on the matter and Afrikaners moved north. Known as the Great Trek, this shift put the Afrikaners into conflict with the Zulu tribes and warriors. The Zulu people won most of the conflict, as a result of their legendary leader, Shaka. In 1828, Shaka was assassinated and momentum turned.
Diamonds were discovered in 1870 and gold in 1886. Europeans immigrated like mad to the area. The British eventually took the Afrikaners land, but more or less gave it back to them when they were put in charge of the newly created Union of South Africa in 1910.
Kruger
Even native blacks had no power, apartheid was not officially begin until the 1948th In 1912 formed black groups any African National Congress. ANC was a problem and was eventually banned. One of its leaders, Nelson Mandela, was imprisoned and became a national symbol of the struggle against apartheid.
In February 1990, the ruling white party up the ghost of apartheid. ANC was recognized as a legal political group and Nelson Mandela was released after nearly 30 years in prison. He was eventually elected president in 1994.
The transition from white to black leadership has not been without problems. Crime and economic problems paralyzed the country for years. Johannesburg was a wild, wild west town at night with rape and other crimes are common. The country has recently seen better times, but it’s still rough going for most people.
Modern South Africa covering an area of about 470,462 square miles. The capital of South Africa, Johannesburg. The country has different geographical elements, but a moderate climate.
The population of South Africa is known as “South Africans.” Totally population is just over 46 million, with 79 percent black, 9.6 percent white, 8.9 percent colored and 2.5 percent Asian. The main languages are English and Afrikaans. Life expectancy is a relatively low 50 years for men and 52 years for women.
After 80 years of apartheid, it is hardly surprising that South Africa has had its problems. That said, the country is far more stable than it was 10 years ago. It is also a beautiful country, like most guidebooks will tell you.
When it comes to travel in South Africa, there are many things for you to see and do. The first thing however that you should keep in mind is that South Africa is a nation in which you might run into a lot of problems. Like any African country, you should check with your own home country to make sure that there aren’t any tourist restrictions on South Africa or on you from South Africa. Once you have checked with your home country, and everything is set to go, there are several things that you should know before you continue to travel to South Africa.
First of all the most important place for you to see is the biggest city, Johannesburg. While it isn’t the capital, it is a place that is full of much cultural diversity and many beautiful and historical sites. You are going to want to spend most of your time there, because this is where you can truly learn about South Africa and talk to people who know the history surrounding this beautiful country.
In Johannesburg, which is nicknamed Egoli, you can visit the capital of the province. You can see the mine dumps, which stand from South Africa’s richest past, and also look at the modern Architecture. In Sandton, you can visit a business, commercial and residential district. This is known as the richest square mile in all of Africa, so it is the financial hub of South Africa. About 50 KM north of Johannesburg you can visit Pretoria, where you will find that City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, which began in December of 2002. This is of great interest because it is a newly formed group of townships, an experiment that you can witness taking place. Don’t forget to visit Dinokeng, which is north east of Joburg and Tshwane. This is a region that has natural, cultural and historical attractions that you can visit.
There are other things that you are going to want to take in while you are in South Africa. You should definitely take in some of the local festivals. South Africa has one of the largest numbers of cultural festivals per capital, cause of the fact that they are a nation hugely seeped in cultures and diversity. These festivals, however, are not very well known. The best thing to do, if you are interested in witnessing one of the festivals, is to contact a local person who would know when and where they are going to be going on.
Accommodation
Most common accommodations are bed and breakfast, self catering, hotels and lodges. Depending on your budget one can choose to stay at a luxury game lodge, found in various protected parks, when taking a safari tour which includes all meals, game viewing on foot and game drives.
These lodges are more expensive but fully worth it. Bed and Breakfast are also highly recommended as they offer excellent treatment and rooms are clean. South Africans cook amazing food, especially meat and game dishes. Overall all, South Africans in the Hospitality Section offer an excellent service.