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Cape Town, with magnificent Table Mountain as its backdrop, is a sophisticated and cosmopolitan destination with breathtaking scenery, exquisite beaches, rich history, two World Heritage Sites, world-class hotels, a buzzing nightlife and superb restaurants. The famous Winelands can be enjoyed on the Wine Routes; the coastal and mountainous beauty on various rides, trips and trails. Cape Point is where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet, quaint fishing villages provide excellent seafood, and the adventurous can abseil from Table Mountain. It’s also a great shopping destination, with the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, the country’s most popular tourist attraction for international visitors.
Rich wildlife diversity is found in South Africa, with many species indigenous to this country, like the flightless dung beetle - or endangered, such as the African wild dog, cheetah, Jackass penguin and black rhino. It’s no surprise that game viewing, whale watching, bird watching and cage-diving are favourite activities for international visitors and locals alike. It combines the best of adventure, education, nature and survival in one attractive package. The most famous wildlife in South Africa is undoubtedly the Big Five - elephant, lion, rhinoceros, buffalo and leopard. A recent development has been the addition of Southern right whales and great white sharks to the mix, making it the Big Seven. Then there’s the tongue-in-cheek Little Five - buffalo weaver, elephant shrew, leopard tortoise, ant lion and the rhino beetle.
Think of adventure, think of South Africa. The country has everything that those in search of the ultimate adrenaline rush crave, amidst the most dramatic landscapes. For extreme experiences, South Africa boasts the world’s highest commercial bungee jump and abseiling in the world! Get up close and personal with great white sharks, crocodiles or whales; get wet white water rafting or deep-sea fishing; go rock-climbing or spelunking; or swing from bridges or trees. There are so many ways to explore South Africa’s scenic beauty and wildlife, that the more faint-hearted can also be thrilled beyond belief. They can choose between hundreds of walking trails, 4x4 safari or wilderness trails, hot air balloon rides, helicopter or elephant rides… the list is endless.
One of South Africa’s best features is its sunny climate, making it a year-round destination. Combine this with being surrounded by the Indian and Atlantic Oceans on the east, south and west coast, and it’s only natural that South Africa boasts some of the finest beaches in the world. They extend the ultimate invitation to enjoy water sports such as surfing, lazing in the sun, strolling along endless stretches of pristine beachfront or enjoying the beautiful sunsets. Watch the whales, wildlife, penguins, turtles, sardines or cage-dive with the sharks; or combine beach bliss with cultural, historic, shopping, culinary or nightlife excursions. With 22 Blue Flag Beaches, you are guaranteed the right choices for your needs as well as clean, secure and environmentally safe beaches.
South Africa is well-known for its mountain splendour, with numerous, dramatic mountain ranges that can be enjoyed in various creative ways. The two most famous mountains are Table Mountain and the Drakensberg range, both World Heritage Sites. The most popular way for visitors to reach Table Mountain’s summit is by revolving cable car, which allows a 360 degree panoramic view of the Cape peninsula. Other popular activities include mountain biking and climbing, abseiling, 350 hiking trails, paragliding and helicopter rides. The Drakensberg is a place of extraordinary beauty and biodiversity, best explored on foot. It’s also home to one of the richest and best preserved “collections” of San rock art in the world.
South Africa is synonymous with scenic beauty and spectacular natural attractions can be found in each of the nine provinces. From mountains with their panoramic views to incredible floral displays and lush forests, towering waterfalls to dramatic coasts and deserts, you are spoilt for choice.
Some of the best are:
- Table Mountain and the Garden Route in the Western Cape
- the Tsitsikamma National Park and Wild Coast in the Eastern Cape
- the Namaqualand Desert’s wildflowers, Augrabies Falls and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in the Northern Cape
- the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, Sabie Waterfalls and Highlands Meander in Mpumalanga
- the uKuhlamba-Drakensberg park, Midlands Meander and Valley of a Thousand Hills in KwaZulu-Natal
- the Golden Gate Highlands National Park in the Free State
- Magoebaskloof, Venda and the Waterberg Savannah Biosphere Reserve in Limpopo
- Magaliesberg in the North West
- and even Gauteng’s two main cities, Johannesburg – the biggest man-made forest in the world and Tshwane, with its profusion of purple jacaranda blossoms.
When it comes to satisfying your taste buds, South Africa boasts a long list of award-winning, world-class restaurants, chefs and wines. Traditional and unique culinary combinations take diners on a delectable journey influenced by Malay, French, Dutch, Indian, African and many more cuisines. The Cape wine estates are world-famous for their whites, reds, sherries, ports and brandies. Wine routes and brandy routes can be explored and tastings enjoyed along the way. Vineyards are found in beautiful green valleys surrounded by mountain ranges and dotted with historic towns and villages, with their gracious gabled Cape Dutch homesteads, cask-lined cellars, oak-treed towns and excellent restaurants.
South Africa is one of the most important human history destinations. It’s here that you can discover the Cradle of Humankind, containing the world’s richest hominid fossil sites where a species of early man was found dating back 2.5 million years. Robben Island, with Nelson Mandela as its most famous ex-prisoner, was once a place of banishment, but became a symbol for the entire world of the triumph of the human spirit over enormous hardship and adversity. And then there’s Mapungubwe, a forerunner of the African dynasties that illustrates the flourishing trade and advanced social systems of the early African kingdom, which some experts believe to be the earliest site where gold-working took place. These attractions are all Cultural World Heritage Sites.
There are 21 South African National Parks, of which the most famous are the Kruger National Park and Table Mountain National Park. However, all of the parks have something unique to share with the visitor. Whether you are looking for a wide variety of wildlife or specifically elephants, mountain zebra, Cape vultures, bontebok or gemsbok; unique, rare or endangered species; forest adventures; walking or 4x4 trails; striking landscapes showing off spectacular waterfalls, rock formations or floral riches; wilderness or archaeological treasures - there is a park with its own natural wonders waiting for you. If you’d like to venture beyond South Africa’s borders, there are transfrontier parks, which allow for the natural migration of animals.
A welcome surprise for most visitors to South Africa is our incredibly friendly and hospitable people. Since the democratic elections of 1994, South Africa has adopted 11 official languages and seen a boom in cultural tourism, which appeals to those looking for an authentic experience of the diverse and colourful “Rainbow Nation”. Apart from informal encounters, visitors can experience the lifestyles of these cultures in traditional cultural villages. See how the people live, how their social structures work, buy their arts and crafts, taste their food, experience their rhythm, sleep in their huts, or even help them build their first real homes. No longer divided, South Africans are one nation, a proud people whose warmth, resilience and refreshing mindset make for the most memorable of meetings.
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