South Africa – truly a World in one Country!

SOUTH AFRICA – TRULY A WORLD IN ONE COUNTRY!

At the far southern tip of the continent of Africa, lies one of the most amazing countries that you will find anywhere on Earth. With such diversity, it’s no surprise that it has earned itself the title ‘A World in one country’

Five times larger than the UK. South Africa has such breadth and depth to offer its visitors it’s difficult to know where to start.

Having been lucky enough to live in South Africa for 9 years I could wax lyrical forever. But think mountains, beaches, modern vibey cities, wilderness, vineyards, big 5 safaris, some of the worlds top restaurants and whale watching just to get you started.

Add in a fascinating if somewhat chequered history and the influence of a host of different cultures and it is easy to see why South Africa keeps visitors returning year after year.

Cape Town and Surrounds

Cape Town

Cape Town is a fantastic place to start your South Africa adventure. Stay at least 3 nights here or you will be disappointed.

Sandwiched between the imposing Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean, the best way to explore is to hire a car and hit the road.

Cape Town is a city of contrasts. In many ways, it is a modern vibrant city, full of both residents and visitors from all over the world. But around every corner, there are signs of it’s rich and varied history. It tells the story of how the post-apartheid new South Africa has tried to cross the racial divide and move forward as a rainbow nation.

Our visitor highlights would start with taking the cable car to the summit of Table Mountain and a visit to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned.

Also plan a day trip to Cape Point, stopping en route to see the Penguin’s at Boulders beach and the quaint fishing town of Kalk Bay with its quirky gift shops. Kalk Bay is also the perfect lunch stop, with some excellent seafood restaurants overlooking the harbour serving fresh fish from the days catch.

This is just scratching the surface, we will be happy to help you plan what to do when you book your trip.

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Winelands

Leaving Cape Town behind, South Africa’s vineyards with such well-known name as Franschhoek (“French Corner”), Paarl and Stellenbosch consistently produce award-winning wines. A stay to explore the region or even just a day tour to at least one of these areas has to be on your to-do list. Having a picnic with a bottle of local wine amongst the vines is the perfect way to take some time out from your busy schedule.

Whale Coast

If you are travelling between July-November, the South Coast towards Hermanus must also be on the list. It is the season for Whale watching and if you have keen eyesight and some patience it is not unusual to see these huge mammals from the land.

Often it is just a flip of a tail, or some spray from their blowhole but if you are incredibly lucky you may see one breaching, where they leap from the water before crashing back into the ocean, it is quite breathtaking. This experience has stayed with me as one of the most memorable of all my years in Africa.

The Garden Route

A popular option is to then drive your way down the Garden Route. There are two main ways to do this.

Following the N2 that mostly follows the coastline, this is a busier road and the main route from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth but gets you from A to B faster.

Alternatively, you can take the more leisurely but far more scenic route of the R62, this winds inland through the mountains towards the Karoo. If time allows I prefer this, stop off for a night in Oudtshoorn, it has a very traditional feel and is home to the main ostrich farms and also well known Cango Caves.

This road eventually takes you down to George and back on to the N2 where the main stopping off points of Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and TsiTsikamma Forest are all within 90 minutes of each other.

Knysna has a nice waterfront area and some wonderful scenery as it is set between mountains, forests and a large lagoon. It is a good base to explore the area.

If you want a more laid back beach vibe I prefer Plettenberg Bay, about 45 minutes further on. There are wonderful safe beaches, some great restaurants from flip flops in the sand style to fine dining.

It is also closer to the Tsitsikamma and natures valley area, home to a host of activities from hiking, horse riding, wine tasting, canopy tours and the famous Bloukrans bridge bungee jump which is definitely not for the faint-hearted!

Head right through to Port Elizabeth and beyond and the malaria-free game reserves await. If you don’t want to head up to Kruger we recommend doing your safari right here. Stay near the Addo Elephant Park and then combine it with one of the small private reserves such as the Amakhala. Hillsnek is our favourite camp.

Kruger National Park and the Panorama Route

A two hour flight from Cape Town will take you to Kruger Mpumalanga Intl Airport and another of the major pulls for visitors to South Africa – the Kruger National Park.

The park is the size of Wales and is surrounded by a number of unfenced private concessions to allow the huge numbers of game to roam freely. The Kruger has such varying topography that there is a habitat for the big 5 and host of smaller plains game and a spectacular array of birdlife. Because it covers a huge area, you get far larger animal herds than elsewhere in South Africa.

As a rule, the main Kruger park is home to self-drivers mostly residents with accommodation in basic rest camps. International tourists tend to stay in the more comfortable camps and lodges in the surrounding private reserves, which although more expensive offer better all-around experience, where you will benefit from the knowledge of being taken on safari by a knowledgable local guide.

For some relaxation after the early morning safari starts, head west for an hour or two and visit the area around Pilgrim’s Rest. The scenery of the area is simply stunning with hill walking, white water rafting, hang gliding and horse-riding just some of the activities on offer. It is also one of the only regions in South Africa to offer hot air ballooning.

Your bucket list in this region has to include visiting the Three Rondavels, Blyde River Canyon and God’s Window.

Kwa Zulu Natal

And finally to an area that can sometimes be overlooked, particularly by the first-time visitor. Simply known locally as KZN, Kwa Zulu Natal, is home to a national park with one of the largest rhino populations in Southern Africa, wild and unspoilt stretches of coastline and the Drakensberg mountains and battlefields area.

With stunning views and an area of such unique historical significance it would be a real shame not to consider a visit.

Hluhluwe Imfolozi National Park

This game reserve is claimed to be one of the oldest if not the oldest in Africa. Home to a wide variety of wildlife including the big 5 and quite unusually a healthy population of both black and white rhino.

Being fairly close to the coast; it is possible to have a game drive in the morning and dive into the Indian Ocean before the sun sets. What a superb day!

KZN Battlefields

This region is where most of the battles that forged the nation of South Africa took place between the Boers, the Zulus and the colonial British.

If you have any kind of interest in history, spend a couple of nights here, and stay at one of the lodges that offer the guided history tours such as Fugitives Drift. The passionate historians tell the stories in order over 2 days and really bring it all to life.

The Drakensberg

The Drakensberg Escarpment continues in an arc from Mpumlanga and provides a stunning backdrop to the hinterland of KZN, a place to take a picnic and hill walk, or horse-ride, or mountain bike or fly fish. Or just relax and breathe in the clear crisp mountain air. A trip to Cathedral Peak and Giant’s Castle is a day not wasted.

Northern KZN Coast

Moving to the coast KZN has some of the best beaches in Africa, stretching up from Richards Bay to the Mozambique border with names such as St Lucia, Kosi and Rocktail. These are wild and remote beaches with superb diving and space to relax – it is a wonderful secluded spot to enjoy the activities or simply relax after a whirlwind South Africa trip.

Hopefully this has given you an appetite for more. Please contact us to plan your South Africa adventure. Email on info@signatureafricansafaris.com or call 01342 811787

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rachel

South Africa – truly a World in one Country!