We often use the phrases “world class”, “international standard” and “top quality” to describe what South Africa has to offer. In some cases we can legitimately say we are “the best in the world”. Travel agencies in over 200 countries worldwide vote each year for their leading travel destinations. Thousands of votes are registered online on the official World Travel Awards website. At the 2006 award ceremony in London South Africa dominated the Africa segment and also won some major World titles, such as Best Boutique Hotel and Best Safari and Game Reserve.
We also have accolades from Condé Nast, the World Heritage Site Committee and for our Blue Flag Beaches.
A Blue Flag is an international award given to beaches that meet excellent standards of safety, amenities, cleanliness and environmental practice. South Africa currently has 22 Blue Flag beaches – the most in a country outside of the European region.
Phrases like “exceptional”, “breathtaking” and “the most spectacular” are often uttered when describing the scenic beauty or unique features in the environment of South Africa. South Africa has seven World Heritage Sites, determined by UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee as being of “exceptional beauty” or of “outstanding value to humanity”.
For the business traveller who does not have much time for leisure, most are within an easy day trip or less from one of our major cities.
Robben Island, near Cape Town
Famous as the place where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, Robben Island has become a symbol of South Africa’s triumphant transition to democracy and freedom. Find out more
iSimangaliso (Previously Greater St Lucia) Wetland Park, near Durban
This estuary system is one of the largest in Africa, acclaimed for its “exceptional biodiversity” and 521 bird species. For the non-birders – it’s also on the beautiful KwaZulu Natal coast, with hippos, crocodiles, turtles and excellent fishing. Find out more
Cradle of Humankind, near Johannesburg
Here is the richest evidence of human evolution over the past 3.5 million years. The Sterkfontein Caves in this area have yielded the remains of some of the oldest hominids – the early ancestors of the human race. Find out more
uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park, near Durban
South Africa’s highest mountain range, the “Dragon Mountains” or the “Barrier of Spears”, as the Zulus named it, has been acclaimed by the World Heritage Committee for its “exceptional natural beauty”, its diversity of habitat harbouring a number of threatened plant and bird species, and its concentration of rock art paintings. Find out more
Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape, Northern Limpopo
This Iron Age site shows evidence of a highly advanced indigenous society existing centuries before European colonialism spread across Africa. Find out more
Cape Floral Region (including Table Mountain), Cape Town
The Western Cape’s fynbos, its unique floral kingdom, is one of the richest and most diverse floral areas in the world. 70% of its floral species occur nowhere else. Table Mountain National Park, which is part of this remarkable wilderness area, has more plant species in its 22 000 hectares than the British isles or New Zealand. Find out more
Vredefort Dome, near Johannesburg
The world’s biggest meteor crater dates back to 2 billion years ago when a meteorite 10km in diameter hit the earth. Today this site is the oldest and largest clearly visible meteorite impact site in the world. Find out more
Source: SouthAfrica.info
The all-in-one official guide and web portal to South Africa.