SOUTH
AFRICA
POPULAR DESTINATIONS
A selection of
the more popular tourist destinations follows. These represent
just a few of the many highlights each region has to offer.
LIMPOPO
The breathtaking Magoebaskloof
and Duiwelskloof Mountains: Indigenous forests,
tropical vegetation, ancient and gigantic specimens of the
Baobab Tree, whose strange appearance has led to the legend
that God planted it upside down in anger, the Modjadji
Nature Reserve where 50 million year old cycads are
protected. The arts, crafts and culture of the fascinating
local people can be appreciated throughout the many villages
and workshops of the area.
The Hans Merensky
Golf Club and Nature Reserve. Bordering the Kruger
National Park, one can often share the golf course with some
of the local wildlife.
The Kapama Endangered
Species Breeding and Research Centre
and the Centre for the Rehabilitation of Wild Animals
Located in Hoedspruit, where one can also do a short elephant
back safari.
Mapangubwe National
Park. One of the richest archaeological
sites in Africa and a UNESCO World Heritage site, excavations
have yielded a royal cementery with a great number of gold
objects including a gold rhinoceros.
Nylsvlei
is a wetland bird sanctuary without equal, where 400 species
have been recorded.
MPUMALANGA
: "Land of the Rising Sun", also known as the Lowveld.
Botshabelo Mission
and the South Ndebele Cultural Village
A fascinating introduction to the traditional life of the
Ndebele tribe, their colourful clothes, metal rings and indigenous
houses decorated with bright motifs and geometric designs.
The Panorama Route:
Offers breathtaking scenery of the Drakensberg mountain range
and sites of historic, cultural and ecological importance
such as:
• Pilgrim’s Rest, where gold
was discovered in 1873, is full of anecdotes about the days
of the fortune seekers. Today, the entire picturesque village
is a living museum.
• God’s Window-Provides spectacular
views over the lowveld to Kruger National Park and beyond.
• The Blyde River Canyon is the third
largest canyon in the world and the only “green”
canyon. Extraordinary rock formations and vegetation caracterized
by tree ferns, aloes, cycads and proteas are found here.
• Bourkes Luck Potholes – Huge
potholes in the riverbed scoured by the passage of water over
millions of years.
Shangana Cultural Village
offers an introduction to the culture, history and traditions
of the Shangaan people.
Elephant back tours and interaction
Many adventure activities
such as abseiling, rock climbing, tubing, rafting, canoeing,
hiking, mountain biking etc
LIMPOPO
AND MPUMALANGA
Kruger National Park.
With a surface area of 2 million hectares, the Kruger National
Park is one of the largest parks in the world. Established
in 1898 it is also one of the oldest. It protects 147 mammal
species including the “Big Five”, elephant, lion,
leopard, rhinoceros and buffalo, about 500 bird species, 114
reptile species and 33 species of amphibian.
The Kruger National Park can
be visited year round and each season has its own attraction.
In spring/summer, the trees and bushes are in flower and a
great number of animals drop their young. In autumn and winter,
the climate is moderate and dry, the grass is shorter and
allows for easier game viewing. Many rivers are dry, leading
the animals to gather in the areas around permanent dams.
16 rest camps provide a wide variety of accommodation within
the park in thatched chalets, bungalows or rondawels (round
huts) as well as safari tents. They also offer restaurants
and cafeterias
A large number of private reserves
offer accommodation, usually in luxury lodges. Some of these
reserves border on the Kruger National Park. The main difference
between the private reserves and the national parks is that
in the private reserves, the 4x4 safari vehicles can leave
the roads to follow the animals through the bush which allows
for closer viewing.
KWA
ZULU NATAL
The Drakensberg Mountain Range.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, these mountains are renowned
for the many San rock paintings, found on the rocks, cliffs
and caves. Incredible geological formations such as the Amphitheatre,
a wide variety of fauna and flora and plentiful bird species
including the lammergeyer vulture, one of the world's rarest
birds of prey, inhabit the region. The area is a hiker’s
paradise, criss-crossed with numerous trails ranging from
several hours to several days. These pass through some of
the most dramatic scenery in the world, leading to waterfalls,
caves with rock paintings etc. Accommodation options are endless,
hotels, guest houses, thatched bungalows, all offer great
comfort and service.
The Natal Midlands,
was witness to bloody battles between the English, Boers and
Zulus in the 19 century. Near to the town of Dundee are many
battlefields such as Blood River, Isandhlwana, Rorke´s
Drift and Talana where the first battle of the Anglo Boer
War took place over 100 years ago.
Shakaland
This cultural village offers an introduction to the life of
the Zulu people, their history, legends, tribal dances, traditions
and the significance of their beadwork and clothing. The hotel
was the original film set of the film “Shakazulu”
The Game Reserves of Zululand
Hluhluwe and Umfolozi are
famous for saving the black and white rhinoceros from extinction.
The St Lucia Wetland
Park, one of the most important areas for the conservation
of wetland habitats was recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage
Site. With its lush tropical vegetation, this 60km lake is
actually an estuary and home to many species including hippopotamus,
antilopes, crocodiles, iguanas and of course birds.
Beaches
Kwa Zulu Natal has many beach resorts bathed by the warm Indian
Ocean, a paradise for surfers and scuba divers, (See Special
Interest Travel)
GAUTENG
Johanesburg : The economic centre of South
Africa. The Rosebank Rooftop Market offers the best selection
of African crafts from South Africa and the entire continent.
Soweto,
a vast, formerly black township, known for its active resistance
to apartheid. Places of interest include the house of Nelson
Mandela before he went to prison, the Regina Mundi church,
several museums and residential suburbs from shanty towns
to luxurious mansions.
The famous Sterkfontein
Caves, a World Heritage Site, house one of the most
ancient and plentiful concentrations of hominoid fossils in
the world, thus acquiring the title of “Cradle of Humanity”
The seat of government (Union Buildings),
in Pretoria was designed by Sir Herbert Baker, and have one
of the most stunning locations in the world.
The Cullinan Diamond
Mine, where the biggest diamond in the world was
discovered makes for an interesting visit
NORTH
WEST
Madikwe Game Reserve
in a malaria free area, offers a great variety of fauna and
birdlife.
Sun City
: A full service resort “city” with casinos, hotels,
entertainment, recreational activities and two golf courses
where the famous Million Dollar Classic is played. The impressive
hotel “The Palace of the Lost City”
is found here. Close by is the Pilanesberg National
Park which is in a malaria free area.
The De Wildt Cheetah
Research Centre is a conservation haven for the endangered
cheetah species.
NORTHERN
CAPE
One of the premier star gazing destinations.
The Richtersveld National
Park, a paradise for the outdoor
enthusiast, this is the only mountainous zone located in the
desert. The extraordinary beauty of the desolate scenery is
unique enhanced by its strange flora of mostly succulent plants.
Namaqualand:
In spring (August/September) after the first rains, a botanical
miracle occurs. A sea of flowers covers the arid desert plains
like a multicoloured magic carpet. More than 3000 floral species
have been identified in the region.
Augrabies National
Park: The waters of the Orange
River tumble in a series of spectacular waterfalls down an
18 kilometre canyon. The lush vegetation on the banks of the
river creates a sharp contrast with the starkness of the desert
just a few metres away. It is the habitat for a variety of
birds, baboons and small antelopes.
Kalahari Gemsbok National
Park: There is something unreal about the sight of
a gemsbok antelope on the red dunes of the Kalahari National
Park. The Park covers an area of 953 000 ha in the remotest
corner of South Africa and borders with the Gemsbok National
Park, forming the Kgalakgadi Transfrontier Park.
Apart from the Gemsbok and
the Springbok antelope, the park protects a wide variety of
wildlife including lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena and birds
of prey such as owls and eagles.
EASTERN
CAPE
Tsitsikamma National Park, situated
on the Garden Route and stretching 80 km along the coast,
is the premier marine reserve of the country and also includes
forests. It is home to monkeys, antelope and birds whilst
the waters shelter otters, whales, seals and dolphins. Numerous
hiking trails, including the famous Otter Trail are a great
way to explore the area. A suspension bridge crosses the spectacular
Storms River mouth.
The Addo Elephant
National Park is home to the Addo elephants which
belong to an isolated genetic group and for several decades
were in danger of extinction. The park also protects many
other species including lion, leopard, rhinoceros, buffalo,
a great variety of antelopes, meerkats, mongoose, tortoise
and the fascinating flightless dung beetle.
WESTERN
CAPE
Cape Town,
with the spectacular Table Mountain as its backdrop, this
is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. There are
numerous historical buildings, museum and the picturesque
Malay Quarter or Bokaap.
Table Mountain:
The view from the top of the Mountain is magnificent. The
visitor can choose to take the cable car or hike up. This
however is only for the fit.
Victoria and Alfred
Waterfront: The old port of the city has been renovated
and converted into an entertainment centre, with markets,
a shopping mall, restaurants, shows and an excellent aquarium.
Robben Island:
Out to sea, opposite Cape Town, lies Robben Island, where
Nelson Mandela was held prisoner for nearly two decades. A
tour of the prison is a moving experience.
The Cape Peninsula:
This route takes in the following sights:
• Chapman’s Peak Drive – a spectacular coastal
road, hugging the cliff edges provides breathtaking views
of the ocean below.
• The fishing village of Hout Bay, the picturesque harbour
is the departure point for the boats that visit Seal Island.
• Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve covering an area
of 7700 hectares and harbouring 1036 floral species. The Western
Cape Fynbos forms one of the 6 Floral Kingdoms of the world
and in relation to its size is the most prolific with 8.600
species including the protea family. Whilst the primary attraction
of the Reserve is not its fauna, it protects numerous species
including the rare Bontebok antelope. But perhaps the principal
attraction of the park is the dramatic panorama from Cape
Point, steep cliffs plunging into the sometimes calm, sometimes
stormy ocean below.
• Boulders Beach shelters a colony of African Jackass
penguins.
Kirstenbosch Botanical
Gardens: The Gardens are ranked amongst the top eight
in the world for variety, beauty of specimens and its magnificent
setting. The property covers an area of 525 hectares and protects
Fynbos and natural vegetation. The cultivated gardens only
exhibit indigenous South African plants.
The Whale Route:
Stretching all along the Cape Coast, this is the best place
in the world for land based whale watching. Between July and
December every year, one can frequently observe the courtship,
mating and birth of whales.
The Cape Wine Routes
offer the opportunity to taste fine wines, explore gracious
Cape Dutch homesteads and enjoy excellent cuisine. The historic
towns and vineyards of the Western Cape are surrounded by
spectacular mountains, unique in the world.
The Cape Dutch architectural style is characterised by towns
such as:
• Stellenbosch - The second oldest
city in the country with various museums and national monuments.
• Paarl : The KWV cellars and monument
to the Afrikáans language.
• Franschhoek : The French Huguenot
Monument
Other routes with an historic
interest include Wellington, Tulbagh and Montagu.
Oudtshoorn:
Visit one of the ostrich farms and learn about the breeding
and raising of the largest bird in the world.
Cango Caves:
Only 28 km from Oudtshoorn, these magnificent caves stretch
5.3 km deep into the Swartberg Mountains, offering an unforgettable
sight of glittering stalactites and stalagmites in various
shapes.
Knysna: The
picturesque city of Knysna is known for its two famous heads
at the mouth of the lagoon as well as the creative sculptures
made from indigenous wood.
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