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Cape Town
Cape Town is one of the most beautiful
cities in the world and a highlight of a visit to South Africa. It is dominated
by the 1000 metre-high Table Mountain, surrounded by the blue waters of
the Atlantic Ocean and offers superb beaches and vineyards. The oldest
surviving building in Cape Town is the Castle of Good Hope (1666-1679)
where a unique combination of history, traditional food, military ceremonies
and craftsmanship awaits you. The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, is
a world-class shopping destination within a working harbour environment
and offers a great variety of restaurants and entertainment. The Two Oceans
Aquarium gives a close insight to the marine life of Southern Africa and
the ferries to Robben Island, one of South Africa's essential heritage
sites, depart at the Nelson Mandela Gateway. The Kirstenbosch Botanical
Gardens is world famous for its bio-diversity and awaits the visitor with
shaded walks and stunning views. Groot Constantia is the oldest and
grandest vineyard and homestead in the Cape and built as early as 1692.
Cape of Good Hope, described by Sir Francis Drake as the "Fairest Cape
of all" stretches dramatically into the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
The Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve offers beautiful walks through the
unique flora of the Cape fynbos and a variety of wildlife. Other places
of interest: The Malay Quarter, Long Street, Company's Garden, South African
Museum, Sea Point, Camps Bay, Hout Bay and Simons Town. |
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Winelands
The Winelands region around Stellenbosch,
also known as the Boland, is only one of the important wine-growing regions
in South Africa, and it is the oldest and most beautiful, dating from the
18th century. Franschhoek, Paarl and Stellenbosch are all historically
important and attractive towns and each promotes a wine route through the
surrounding estates. The popularity of wine has extended the traditional
wine regions to the romantic town of Tulbagh in the north and along the
R62 from Worcester through Robertson to Montagu and to Calitzdorp in the East. |
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Little Karoo
Oudtshoorn is the tourist capital
of the Little Karoo and offers two of the most prominent tourist attractions
of South Africa. The town centres around the internationally renowned Cango
Caves, rated as one of the best limestone caves in the world and the Ostrich-feather
boom, during the Victorian era. Oudtshoorn is still the capital of
the Ostrich, as more than 70% of all ostrich products around the world,
generate from here. Visiting one of the many Ostrich Farms brings you close
to the biggest bird in the world. A scenic day drive over the mighty Swartberg
Pass to the little town of Prince Albert and back via the breathtaking
Meiringspoort Canyon is another highlight of the area. |
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Garden Route
The Garden Route encompasses a beautiful
bit of coastline between Mossel Bay in the west and the Tsitsikamma Coastal
National Park in the east. This narrow belt between the Indian Ocean and
the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma Mountains is bordered by lagoons running
behind dunes and superb beaches. Significant indigenous forests with giant
yellow wood trees and abundant wild flowers have given the name to this
beautiful area. Knysna is a bustling place, with a pleasant atmosphere
and known for its magnificent lagoon, its Oysters and the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe
train, a steam train that takes the traveller along lagoons, lakes and
coastlines. Plettenberg Bay is a beautiful seaside resort with that rare
combination of mountains, white sandy beaches and crystal blue water. There
are some great walks, especially at Robberg Nature Reserve. Whale watching
is popular during the winter months, when these giants move close to the
shore to breed. |
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Port Elizabeth & Sunshine
Coast
Port Elizabeth is South Africa's
fifth largest city and was founded in 1820 by British settlers. Today Port
Elizabeth, also known as PE, is a bustling city stretching along a large
bay with sandy beaches. PE known as the 'Friendly City' offers a large
variety of water sports, restaurants, shopping malls and a beachfront not
to be missed. It is also the starting point to discover the Sunshine Coast,
which reaches from the Tsitsikamma Mountains in the west to the Fish River
Valley in the east. 70 km north of Port Elizabeth, the well-known
Addo Elephant Park awaits the visitor with a dense population of Elephants
and other African game. Further to the north the historic town of Graaff
Reinet lies in the warm heart of the Karoo. The beautifully restored buildings
at Stretch's Court, the cultural history museum in the Reinet House and
many others are fine examples of early days of the fourth-oldest European
town in South Africa. Graaff Reinet is surrounded by the Karoo Nature Reserve
and the Valley of Desolation is a paradise to anyone who seeks natural
beauty. |
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Durban, South & North Coast
Durban is South Africa's third largest
city and Africa's busiest general cargo port. The city has a tropical climate
and stretches from the Point in the North to the Bluff in the South. The
Seaworld Aquarium and many cultural, historic and natural attractions can
be found around the city. It is also a city of firsts - South Africa's
first railway station and the first Rickshaw ride, an interesting form
of local transport, originated here. Descendants from labourers, brought
in to work Sugar Plantations, the Indian population are mainly of the Hindu
faith, a richly preserved ancient culture, which is reflected in its many
interesting temples, ceremonies and rituals. The South Coast stretches
from Durban to Port Edward. Scottburgh, a thriving coastal town on the
South Coast overlooks Scott Bay with sheltered beaches and was the first
town south of Durban as well as one of the most popular resorts on the
'Strelitzia Coast' with its beautiful beach being the main attraction.
Umkomaas, a friendly holiday town, offers diving sites on wrecks and the
Aliwal Shoal, a rocky ridge, 4km offshore, which is rated among the top
ten scuba-diving sites, in the world. The North Coast stretches from Durban
to Sodwana Bay. This coastline is well known for its angling, scuba diving
sites and game parks. The Greater St Lucia Park covers over 250 000 ha
and is the third largest park in South Africa. The park includes St. Lucia
Game Reserve, St Lucia Marine Reserve, Sodwana Bay National Park, along
with other wilderness areas. It is a very exciting natural area to visit,
with an abundance of bird life to see. There are over 1 200 Crocodiles
to be seen, especially at the river mouths. Hundreds of hippos occur in
the park and are often found wallowing in the water and basking in the
sun along the riverbanks. Hluhluwe Game Reserve has a variety of natural
habitats, from forest to dense bush and open grasslands, providing game
viewing opportunities at close quarters. |
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Drakensberg, Midlands & Battlefields
The magic of the Drakensberg
(dragon mountain range) stretches through four provinces and into Lesotho.
These majestic mountains, form awesome amphitheatres of spectacular scenery,
that will inspire any traveller. Mountain Climbing, Hiking, Horse Back
Riding and exploring waterfalls, in the various National Parks, are just
some of the activities available. In the valleys below, the Midlands stretch
from the slopes of the mountains in the west to the rolling grasslands
around Pietermaritzburg in the east. This area provides an interesting
journey through many historical Battlefields of conflicts fought between
the Afrikaners, the Zulu warriors and the British troops, which shaped
the history of this area. |
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Free State Province
Bloemfontein - this is the Judicial
Capital of South Africa and the seat of the Court of Appeals. It is the
most centrally situated city in South Africa, accessible by car within
12 hours from anywhere in the country. It is fondly known as the 'City
of Roses' with an annual rose show during October. Originally established
around a natural fountain, Bloemfontein has been a popular stop-over for
travellers through the decades, with about a dozen routes leading away
from the city. Kimberley is the home of De Beers Consolidated
Mines, some of the world's richest diamond mines. This is where Cecil John
Rhodes and the Oppenheimer family, amongst others, made their fortunes
and it is considered the capital of the world's diamond industry. The 'Big
Hole' of Kimberley is a silent relic to the boom in this industry and yielded
14,5 million carats of diamonds in its time. It was closed in 1914 and
reached a depth of 1 100m. A visit to the mine and the museum are a journey
of poignant remembrance. |
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Green Kalahari
The Augrabies Falls, the centrepiece
of the Augrabies Falls National Park, reaching a height of 65m. At the
falls, the Orange River plunges into a pool, 92 m across and 130m deep
and legend has it, that it is rich in alluvial diamonds. These are one
of the six largest falls in the world. Kuruman is the home of the mission
station founded by Robert Moffat and his wife. The Water to irrigate the
mission gardens, flowed via the first irrigation works in South Africa,
its source being the amazing 'Eye of Kuruman'. This natural fountain flows
from the dolomite formations, at a rate of 20 million litres of water a
day and presently supplies the town's water needs generously, even in periods
of drought. It is considered the largest natural fountain in the Southern
Hemisphere. The Kagalagadi Transfrontier Park crosses international
boundaries and consists of the South Africa’s Kalahari Gemsbok Park and
Botswana's Gemsbok Park, to form an unspoilt ecosystem, covering more than
a million hectares of semi-desert savannah. It provides a sanctuary to
endemic herds of antelopes, reptiles, birds and insect species as well
as a number of predators such as lions and hyenas. |
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Sun City, Pilanesberg and Tswaing Meteor Crater
Sun City 'the city that never sleeps' is one of South Africa's first casinos. This popular destination offers four luxury hotels including the Palace of the Lost City, a fantasy world designed to resemble a recently discovered, ancient metropolis. The resort is built around a massive entertainment centre, including shops, restaurants, a casino, movie theatres and video arcades. A huge concert arena, known as 'The Superbowl' hosts international shows, pageants and music concerts. The sporting facilities include a championship golf course, designed by Gary Player, which hosts a US$ 1million tournament annually. Pilanesberg National Park is just a short drive from Sun City. The park has been formed on the eroded remains of an extinct volcano. Although it is one of the smaller game parks, only 55 000 ha, the visitor can expect to see the 'Big Five' and other large species including a variety of antelope. Over 300 bird species will delight the avid bird watcher. A 'vulture restaurant' has been established to help prevent the regional extinction of the endangered Cape Vulture. Fascinating archeological sites, rock formations and San Rock Art, form part of the visitor's unique experience. The park was farmland until 1979 when 'Project Genesis' very successfully re-stocked the area with game. The best game viewing is during the cooler winter months, between June and August. 40 kms north west of Pretoria, the traveller can find the Tswaing Meteorite Crater, believed to be the result of a meteorite impacting with the earth, more than 220 000 years ago. The crater measures 1,1km in diameter and it is easily accessible. Tswaing means 'place of salt' due to the mineral salt deposits in the pond, at the bottom of the crater. The rim of the crater is well preserved and elevated 60 m above the plains, reaching a maximum elevation of 119 m above the crater floor. |
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Limpopo
Musina is the most northern town in South Africa. Known for its rich copper deposits and the legendary Boabab 'upside down' tree. A reserve around the town is dedicated to these magnificent trees, the biggest recorded at a whopping 26m tall and 19m in circumference and 4 500 years old. Experience these unique trees, but also some of the oldest rock formations on earth, named the Sand River Gneiss. These exposures in the river bed are dated at 3 850 million years. Tzaneen is the capital of the 'Letaba' region, home to the legendary 'Mojadje'(rain queen). Take a drive, along the escarpment through the Magoebaskloof Pass and following the Great Letaba River in the valley below. This area is rich in natural bush and wildlife and offers panoramic views and crystal waterfalls. |
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Drakensberg Escarpment
The escarpment is a place of legends, secrets and hidden gold mines. Sabie is a town set at the foot of the Long Tom Pass, which is the highest motor road in South Africa. The pass is set in enviable natural beauty and also winds through massive timber plantations. Historically, these plantations, provided timber for the props in gold mines and now they support a thriving timber industry. The Mac Mac Falls, split in two by a miner's blast, are one of many thundering falls synonymous with Sabie. Graskop, set up as a gold mining camp in the 1880's, is now the hub of a thriving timber industry. Just outside the town is 'God's Window' a cleft in the edge of the escarpment providing a unique view across the Lowveld. The Blyde River Canyon is part of some of the most unusual geological formations of the area, carved over the centuries, by erosion from the fast flowing waters of the Blyde River. The canyon has three viewing points, each with its own particular vista of the area. One of these spectacular sites is the odd shaped mountain feature known as 'the three rondavels', shaped like African huts. The Borke's Luck Potholes were named after the digger who found a considerable amount of gold close by. They were formed by the continuous swirling action of the waters, where the Blyde and Treur Rivers meet. Pilgrim's Rest, a small mining town was declared a gold field in 1873 and has been preserved as a National Monument. Today this quaint, nostalgic town is still full of the spirit of miners, who frequented 14 thriving taverns. Thousands of adventurers came here seeking their fortunes in the stream called 'Pilgrim's Creek'. |
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Lowveld & Kruger National Park
The Lowveld lies east of the escarpment, along the border of Mozambique. The climate is sub-tropical, perfect for the fertile production of a large variety of fruit, sugar cane, nuts, tabacco and timber. It is also an area of nature reserves and game parks, the most famous being Kruger National Park. With an abundance of fauna and flora, this vast and unique area, with its network of good roads and a choice of accommodation and other facilities, provides an experience never to be forgotten. Although the park is so popular, it is well conserved and has increased in size over recent years, when fences were dropped between the park and Mozambique allowing the animals free access to even more habitat. |
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Gauteng, Pretoria & Johannesburg
Pretoria - known as the 'Jacaranda City' is the Administrative Capital of South Africa and is one of the seats of Parliament - the other being Cape Town. Rich in interesting architecture, some of Herbert Baker's finest buildings such as the Union Buildings, can be found in and around the city. Artists such as Pierneef, Battiss and Anton van Wouw have their roots here. It is also home to several research institutes and 25 museums. Not to be missed is the Voortrekker Monument, a historic landmark, which gives insight into the strenuous past of the Voortrekkers and the white “Afrikaans” culture. It also offers breathtaking, panoramic views over Pretoria. Johannesburg, also called 'Egoli' or 'place of gold', is the capital of the Gauteng Province. The world's richest gold-reef turned the once rural backwater of Pretoria into a buzzing metropolis that is now the hub of the South African economy. Unfortunately there are no remnants of these bygone days, as this is the only city in the world to have been re-built 3 times in the last century. However, Gold Reef City, a museum like Goldmining town with lots of shops and restaurants on top of Johannesburg's first Goldmine gives insight on days gone by. Here you can “go down” underground to experience the harsh conditions under which goldminers earned their income. Please note that it is not advisable to visit the inner city of Johannesburg and Soweto except on guided tours but it will be an unforgettable experience for every traveller to experience the vibrant heart of Africa. |
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