South Africa

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Why visit South Africa?

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Every country in the world displays some diversity, but South Africa, stretching from the hippos in the Limpopo River to the penguins waddling on the Cape, takes some beating. It befits its position at the southern end of the world’s most epic continent, with more types of terrain than photographers can shake their zoom lens at.

If you’re interested in another kind of wildlife, hit the nightclubs on Cape Town’s jumping Long St. When it is time to reflect on it all, do it over seafood on the Garden Route, or curry in Durban’s Indian Area. Of course, it's impossible for travelers to South Africa to remain unconscious to the fact that racial inequality persists here. Nonetheless, South Africans are some of the most upbeat, welcoming and humorous folk you will encounter anywhere. South Africa is fast becoming the adventure capital of the world. There is so much to do in this country that a person needs several visits just to scratch the surface.

What does South Africa bring in mind?

Garden Route

High on the must-see list of most visitors to South Africa, and with good reason: you can’t help but be seduced by the glorious natural beauty of the scenery. The range of topography, vegetation, wildlife and outdoor activity in this short space is breathtaking. The coast is dotted with excellent beaches, while inland you will find picturesque lagoons and lakes, rolling hills and eventually the mountains of the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma. The ancient indigenous forests that line the coast from Wilderness to Knysna offer adventure trails and hiking, bird-watching, canoeing on the rivers, sliding through the tree canopy or simply taking an easy walk through the forest to gasp at the size of a yellowwood tree over six hundred years old. Wildlife enthusiasts will enjoy spotting brilliant green and red Knysna in the forest or maybe even catching sight of one of the few remaining elephants there.

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park It is a long, hot jostle down dusty crimson roads to reach magical Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, one of the world’s last great, un-spoilt ecosystems. But once you step foot inside Africa’s first multinational park, tucked away between Botswana and Namibia in the country’s extreme north, you will understand why journeying to the end of the earth is well worth the effort. The Kgalagadi is a wild land of harsh extremes and frequent droughts, where shifting red-and-white sands meet thorn trees and dry riverbeds. Yet despite the desolate landscape, it’s teeming with wildlife... You will feel like you have entered the Africa of storybooks.

Cape Town Helicopter Tour: Indian and Atlantic Oceans

See two oceans in one helicopter trip on a scenic flight from Cape Town! On a route around beautiful Table Mountain, glide along the Atlantic coastline and cross the Cape Peninsula to reach the waters of the Indian Ocean. See contrasting landscapes around the different stretches of coast, from the craggy peaks of Signal Hill to the sandy shores and lavish houses at Camps Bay.

Golden Gate Highlands National Park Right before the darkness erases the remaining flecks of color from the sky, something magical happens in Golden Gate Highlands National Park. The jagged sandstone outcroppings fronting the foothills of the wild Maluti Mountains glow golden in the dying light before the sky explodes in a fiery collision of purple and red.

There are quite a few animals in the park though, including grey rheboks, blesboks, elands, oribis, Burchell’s zebras, jackals, baboons and numerous bird species, including the rare bearded and Cape vultures as well as the endangered bald ibis. The park is popular with hikers on long treks, but there are also shorter walking trails.

Cango Caves

The Cango Caves are the oldest tourist attraction in South Africa and one of the best cave systems you will ever visit.
The standard tour is an easy and beautiful walk through massive chambers, but if you are up to the challenge, take the adventure tour that will take you through narrow passageways with openings as small as 26 centimeters. Not for the faint of heart, but great bragging rights after the fact.

Ride an Ostrich When in South Africa, it is a must. Ostrich are not an endangered animal. To ride an ostrich, you have to weigh less than 65 kilos, so for the men out there who really want do ride one, go on a diet now! If not, the lady in your life will be able to hop on board and you have an embarrassing video to last a lifetime.

Dive with White Sharks

Cage Diving with White Sharks can be scariest thing! You don’t need to be a certified diver, you are in a cage attached to the side of a boat. It is the easiest diving, but it is also by far the most exciting. Watch the Shark over and over again as it jumps after the fish head used as bait to attract the shark. Sharks are an endangered species and the more people understand the shark and learn to love them rather than fear them, the better off the entire ecosystem will be.

Things you shouldn’t miss in South Africa

• A Safari is at the top of things to do in South Africa: on the Garden Route

• Go on safari in the the Hluhluwe & Imfolozi National Park

• Take a River Cruise

• Kayak with Crocodiles

• A tour in the Cango Caves

• Micro-light Flight near Durban

• Riding an Ostrich

• Cage diving with White Sharks

• Stay in a Tree-House

• Visit Victoria and Alfred Waterfront (a shopping and entertainment destination... a must and great for families too, with many free events, outdoor concerts and plenty of unique shopping).

Top Destinations in South Africa

Cape Town

Renowned as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, this seaside playground has it all. Home to the iconic Table Mountain, Cape Town offers a myriad of activities and attractions for all. Enjoy sun drenched beaches, nature trails, water sports, gourmet dining, award-winning wine estates, and more.
National Geographic Travel magazine has named South Africa's "capital of cool" in second place on its latest list of the top 10 best beach cities in the world.

Johannesburg

Founded on a gold rush; it’s the financial and entertainment epicenter of the country. Johannesburg rocks in more ways than one.
The modern African metropolis of Johannesburg has it all: vibrant nightlife, gourmet dining, live entertainment, couture shopping, arts and culture and plenty of tranquil retreats for a perfect all- round getaway.

Durban

If you are looking for a hot destination - Durban is it! From its hot nightlife, weather, beaches and heady cultural mix to its famous curries, Durban is sizzling. One of the most popular holiday destinations in South Africa, Durban boasts warm ocean waters, beautiful beaches, and great weather year-round. Enjoy activities like Gateway Theatre of Shopping, gondola rides, fishing, and water sports such as surfing and snorkeling. You will also find the best curries in South Africa. It's all happening at Durban beachfront, where traditional healers collect bottles of water for medicine, and even busy executives find time to catch a wave before or after work.

Pretoria

Seemingly stately with numerous international embassies, monuments and museums, this city, is sports- mad with plenty entertainment in theatres, music venues and nightclubs. Painted purple in a sea of Jacaranda trees, Pretoria is fondly known as “Jacaranda City”. It is also referred to as Johannesburg’s quieter sister, because of its more laid back atmosphere. Enjoy a number of natural and cultural attractions as well as significant old buildings and museums that are well worth exploring. Lined with purple blossom-bedecked trees, Pretoria is a lovely, quiet city with a fascinating history and some significant old buildings.

Sun City South Africa

Sun International’s Sun City Resort is as popular today, as it was when it was first built in 1979. There is nothing quite like it anywhere in the world and when you discover Sun City for yourself, you will agree that it’s a completely unique holiday experience for all ages. Sun City offers more than one hundred unforgettable family activities, a vibrant, enticing casino and a variety of accommodation options to suit all tastes and budgets. From the 3-star family-focused Cabanas hotel to the magnificent 5-star Palace of the Lost City, you will find the perfect place to enjoy your time at Sun City, whether it’s a romantic getaway with your partner, a wild weekend with friends or a memorable holiday with the whole family. Unleash the adventurer in you with a variety of water sports, from jet skis to parasailing or get your pulse racing with a trip on the fastest zip slide in the world or a 4x4 quad-bike experience through the game park.