This vast country is undoubtedly one of the most culturally and geographically diverse places on earth. Fondly known by locals as the 'Rainbow Nation', South Africa has 11 official languages and its multicultural inhabitants are influenced by a fascinating mix of African, Asian, and European cultures.
Spend your days: discovering the gourmet restaurants, impressive art and nightlife scenes and fine beaches of Cape Town; enjoying a typical local braai (barbecue) in the Soweto township; browsing the bustling Indian markets in Durban; or sampling some of the world’s finest wines at the myriad wine estates dotted around the picturesque Cape Winelands.
Due to its rich and turbulent history there are plenty of historical attractions to explore including the Zululand battlefields of KwaZulu-Natal, the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg and Robben Island, just off the coast of Cape Town.
Above all else, South Africa’s attraction lies in its remarkably untamed wilderness with its astonishing range of wildlife roaming freely across massive game reserves such as the world famous Kruger National Park.
With all of this variety on offer, it is little wonder that South Africa has fast become Africa’s most popular tourist destination.
With its beautiful beaches, lively wining and dining scene, and rich cultural heritage, Durban is KwaZulu-Natal’s tourist hub. There is swimming and surfing available and because of the sub-tropical climate the water is warm all year round.(summer 25-28 degrees) Known as the Golden Mile, this stretch of beaches and amusement parks is Durban’s major attraction with the recently developed UShaka Marine World at the southern end providing a world class aquarium and other entertainments.
No trip to Durban is complete without having a Bunny Chow. This locally traditional meal is a hollowed out 1/4 or 1/2 loaf of bread, filled with curry (beef / lamb / chicken / vegetarian) and eaten with your hands. A true sample of local cuisine. (ITT)
The friendly farming town of Underberg lies at the feet of the mighty Drakensberg Mountains, in Kwa-Zulu-Natal’s Southern Drakensberg region. Surrounded by verdant swathes of green hills and plains, pretty mountain streams, and dramatic peaks, this is a popular destination among hikers, mountain bikers and photographers. There are also three pristine golf courses on offer. Underberg lies on the Sani Pass, also known as the ‘roof of Africa’, an incredible network of hikes winding into Lesotho from the Drakensberg Mountains (where thirsty travellers can also enjoy a drink at the highest pub in Africa). Arts and crafts enthusiasts will delight in the charming Underberg Pottery Studio and the quirky Funky Cow shop, where they can buy traditional Basotho blankets and souvenirs.
Situated in the lush hills of KwaZulu Natal, the Midlands Meander snakes through over 80 kilometres of lush subtropical landscape. This popular tourist route features quaint villages, verdant woodlands, and extensive farmlands covering the undulating hills of this spectacularly scenic area. Visitors can discover a range of historic landmarks, family-friendly farms, adventure activities, a large collection of arts and crafts shops selling locally-made goods. Other popular activities include treetop canopy tours, cycling, kayaking, hiking, picnicking, fishing, horse riding, wildlife viewing, wine tasting and Zulu cultural experiences.
The Drakensberg are an imposing wall of rock that rises to 3000 m, creating untold inspiring views and hikes. Known to the Zulus as the Barrier of Spears and to the first European settlers as the Dragon's Mountains.
The Ukhahlamba Drakensberg is 1 of 8 South African UNESCO World Heritage sites, for both its significance as a natural resource and for the heritage of the San Paintings. For thousands of years these mountains have hosted the San people and they in turn left their record on the walls on numerous sandstone caves. Today most of the Drakensberg is protected as a National Park and is a major attraction to the lover of the outdoors.
The most famous and probably most photographed rock feature of the Northern Drakensberg is a sheer cliff face which is aptly known as the Amphitheatre. It is located in the Royal Natal National Park, which has some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in South Africa. The Amphitheatre stretches for approximately 5 km in length and is roughly 500 metres high. The peak, Mont aux Sources, is the source of the mighty Orange River. This flows to the Atlantic Ocean in the west and forms the border between Namibia and South Africa near the end of its journey. Mont aux Sources is also the source of the Tugela River, which cascades down the mountain in 5 drops as the Tugela Falls. This is the second highest waterfall in the world.
The Northern Berg have a network of hiking trails from leisurely walks to challenging hikes. In the Royal Natal National Park trout fishing, horse riding and swimming in the mountain streams and pools are popular activities.
Several other adventure activities are offered in the Northern Berg, like Quad Biking, Mountain Biking, Bungee bouncing, flying trapeze, cable tours or swinging. (ITT)
As previously described
Situated 46 kilometres southeast of Dundee on the Battlefields Route in South Africa, Rorkes Drift is the site of one of the most famous battles of the Anglo-Zulu War. Today it is known for its rich history and majestic natural beauty. Visitors can look forward to learning about history of the region by visiting the Rorke's Drift Battle Museum, which has displays models and audiovisual depictions of the battles that were fought in the region.
Zululand is the unofficial name of the northern sector of the province of KwaZulu-Natal, and lies north of the Tugela River. The further north towards eSwatini, (formerly known as Swaziland) you travel, the drier it gets and the more you will find bush type vegetation characterized by the majestic, green barked Fever Trees. As you head south towards Durban there are numerous pine and eucalyptus plantations, followed by the sugar cane growing region. Richards Bay is a deep water port, and is the largest city in Zululand.
The well watered valleys have been home to the proud Zulu Nation, their beautiful Nguni cattle and an abundance of wildlife for centuries. Today Zululand is a fascinating mix of tribal lands, game reserves, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Isamangaliso Wetlands Park, with its vegetated dunes, and commercial agriculture.(ITT)
Situated north of Durban along South Africa's scenic coast, Kosi Bay lies only two kilometres from the Mozambique border. It encompasses a pristine lake system consisting of a series of four lakes that form part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and eventually drain via a sandy estuary into the Indian Ocean.
Beach-goers can enjoy a calm, quiet beach and a river mouth with exceptionally clear water that is home to an abundance of fish species. Snorkelling in the river mouth will show a tropical, colourful marine life. Other fauna in the area include duikers, hippopotamus, crocodiles, bull sharks, loggerhead and leatherback sea turtles – which lay their eggs on the beach – and a diverse bird life. An interesting fact about Kosi Bay is that it is home to the Kosi Raffia Palm, which has the largest leaf of any plant in the floral kingdom. (ITT)
As previously described
The Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park is in KwaZulu-Natal. Proclaimed in 1895, it is the oldest park in Africa. Initially two separate reserves, Hluhluwe and Umfolozi, they were joined to create a single 96 000 hectare "Big Five" reserve which is home to one-fifth of the world's black and white rhino population. Apart from the other members of the "Big 5" (lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo), its rich plant-life, grasslands and forests support a wide variety of other game animals.
The north of the park is known as the Hluhluwe area. It is more rugged and mountainous with forests and grasslands, whilst in the Umfolozi area, found to the south near the Black and White Umfolozi rivers, there are some deep valleys, but also vast stretches of open savanna.
It was here that the internationally acclaimed Operation Rhino started in the 1960's, successfully capturing and relocating white rhino to reserves within South Africa and abroad. The Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park was the first reserve to introduce walking safaris and its Wilderness Trails are internationally renowned.
The park offers a variety of accommodation and activities such as self guided walks, auto-trails and guided game drives. Being a national park, visitors are allowed to drive through the park in their own vehicle (a 4x4 is not required), but may only disembark at the official picnic sites. The viewing hides overlook pans and waterholes are particularly popular, as the enable visitors to see animals at close range and in an absolutely peaceful setting. (ITT)
Just north of Ballito on the north coast of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Salt Rock offers a laid-back holiday atmosphere for beach lovers. Once the home of King Shaka Zulu, the riches of this destination now lie in its irresistible golden beaches, turquoise tidal pools, and warm Indian Ocean waves, and cosmopolitan restaurants. Besides swimming and sunbathing, visitors can also look forward to microlight flights, skydiving, fishing, diving, snorkelling, and excellent hikes along the coast, as well as leisurely walks along the wooden boardwalks next to the ocean for gorgeous views. The wonderful Litchi Orchard Market is a great place to sample delicious local fare and browse through superb arts and crafts.
