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.
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)
