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.
Oudtshoorn, a town in the Little Karoo, is famous for its ostriches and the fascinating Cango Caves. Located along the renowned Route 62 just an hour and a half from the Garden Route, Oudtshoorn is known as the Ostrich Capital of the World: these huge birds are almost as common as people in this charming town with its numerous "Feather Palaces", as the stately homes dotted around the town are called.
Other than ostriches and the feathers and meat they provide, the Oudtshoorn area also attracts visitors to the Cango Caves, the largest cave system in Africa, permeated with sparkling stalactites and stalagmites and captivating rock formations. It is also the gateway to the spectacular Swartberg Pass, which winds its way over the rugged Swartberg Mountains to the little Hamlet of Prince Albert. (ITT)
Sandwiched between the Outeniqua Mountains and the Indian Ocean in the heart of the Garden Route, Knysna is known as the ‘Garden of Eden’. Knysna is located on a vast lagoon, sheltered from the sea by two mountain ridges, known as the eastern and western “Heads”. In its vicinity are dense indigenous forests, lagoons and pristine beaches.
Visitors can look forward to an array of markets in the area, offering organic food and locally-made crafts, explore the town’s Waterfront and quaint streets, hike through the forests, hopefully catching a glimpse of the multi-coloured Knysna Loerie, take a ferry trip to the Heads or to the famed Featherbed Nature Reserve on the Western Knysna Head and sample the local oysters, which Knysna is famous for.
With Knysna as a base for a couple of days guests can visit Monkeyland, an extensive primate sanctuary and Birds of Eden, the biggest free flight aviary in Africa, the Tsitsikamma National Park, the Big Tree and a number of vineyards on the relatively new Garden Route Wine Route. A wide range of activities including surfing, swimming, yachting, jet skiing, boating, fishing, and golfing can also be enjoyed here. (ITT)
Backed by the Tsitsikamma Mountains’ mighty Storms River Peak and surrounded by swathes of indigenous forest, Stormsriver Village, in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, is a scenic adventure sports enthusiast's paradise. At the Tsitsikamma National Park and other parks nearby - characterised by wildlife-filled jungles, rivers, and sea - adrenaline-junkies can enjoy canopying, ziplining, tubing, kayaking, snorkelling, segway riding, cycling, and hiking. An especially popular attraction nearby is the Bloukrans River Bridge, the highest in Africa, where spine-tingling bungee jumping can be enjoyed. The famous Otter Trail begins here, and the surf mecca Jeffrey’s Bay lies just 80 kilometres away. Other highlights include luxury spas; charming craft stalls and boutiques; and a collection of interesting restaurants, such as Marilyn’s 60’s Diner, a retro eatery decorated with a jukebox, 1961 Dodge Lancer, and various other vintage cars.
