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.
Sandwiched between the Outeniqua Mountains and the Indian Ocean and set along South Africa’s world-famous Garden Route, the historic city of George is the sixth oldest town in the country. Once a woodcutter’s outpost, today it is the commercial hub of the Garden Route.
This idyllically set city has a rich history and is surrounded by scenery including beaches, mountains, and lakes, and is a haven for nature lovers and adventurers alike. Visitors can play a round of golf on a variety of championship courses, discover local history at the George Museum or visit the Garden Route Botanical Garden which features trails and local fynbos plants. (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)
