South Africa is located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to reach the Cape of Good Hope, arriving in 1488. However, permanent white settlement did not begin until 1652 when the Dutch East India Company established a provisioning station on the Cape. In subsequent decades, the French, the Dutch, and Germans began to settle in the Cape. Collectively, they form the Afrikaner segment of today’s population. The British gained control of the Cape of Good Hope at the end of the 18th century, and subsequent British settlement and rule marked the beginning of a long conflict between the Afrikaners and the British.South Africa Safari Tours.
The discovery of diamonds and gold in the late 1800s brought an influx of Europeans and further strained relations between the Afrikaners and the British. In 1902 the British defeated the Afrikaners, or Boers, and incorporated the Boers into the British Empire.
Experience South Africa, one of the best safari destinations in Africa.
Table Mountain
Table Mountain is a flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town in South Africa, and is featured in the Flag of Cape Town and other local government insignia.
Table Mountain, standing at 3560ft high, is one of the world’s most recognizable natural icons, with its distinctive flat top (which gives it its name). Popular with tourists and locals alike, it offers a choice of either the five-minute cable car rides or a day’s hike up to the top. Riding up, you can appreciate the spectacular views as the cableway has rotating floors and enormous windows. Enjoy the magnificent panorama from the top, where you will also find a self-service restaurant.
Kruger National Park
Where nearly 2 million hectares of unrivalled diversity of life forms fuses with historical and archaeological sites – this is real Africa.
In terms of wildlife alone, Kruger is one of the world’s greatest national parks. The diversity, density and sheer numbers of animals is almost unparalleled, and all of Africa’s iconic safari species – elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, rhino, buffalo, giraffe, hippo and zebra – live out their dramatic days here, along with a supporting cast of 137 other mammals and over 500 varieties of bird.
Robben Island
For nearly 400 years, Robben Island, 12 kilometers from Cape Town, was a place of banishment, exile, isolation and imprisonment. It was here at Robben Island that rulers sent those regarded as political troublemakers, social outcasts and the unwanted of society.
On the island, tours are all guided by former political prisoners of the island, offering the visitor a truly unique insight into the island’s history and personal accounts of prison life. The tour includes a visit to the maximum security prison, with the most poignant stop reserved for Mr. Mandela’s former cell, prepared exactly as it was when he was imprisoned here.
Blyde River Canyon
Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve in Mpumalanga, South Africa forms part of the Greater Drakensberg escarpment and features on the scenic Panorama Route.
Blyde River Canyon Reserve is situated against the Greater Drakensberg escarpment and includes natural wonders such as the Bourke’s Luck Potholes, the Three Rondavels, Pinnacle Rock and God’s Window. Many visitors to this region enjoy the visual splendour of combining the Panorama Route with exceptional game viewing in the Kruger National Park to create a spectacular itinerary in Mpumalanga.
Cradle of Humankind
It’s a place that draws visitors from around the world for the fossil record that lies in the network of limestone caves beneath the surface.
The Cradle of Humankind is one of eight World Heritage Sites in South Africa. Here, the landscape is dotted with subterranean limestone caves that have turned up a rich fossil record for human evolutionary studies, which lend credence to the ‘Out of Africa’ theory of where our ancestors came from.
Voortrekker Monument
The Voortrekker Monument in Tshwane is a unique cultural and historic attraction. It was built to commemorate the Voortrekker pioneers and their journey.
The Voortrekker Monument with its marble floors, breath-taking views of Pretoria and Museum with a collection of original Groot Trek antiques also offers a connecting road between the Monument and Freedom Park, which means you can visit both attractions simultaneously – It’s clear that the Voortrekker Monument is not only a must-see but a true experience of history and culture.
Getting Around
A Self drive tour is highly recommended. It gives you freedom to explore South Africa’s Landscape on your own pace. Drive through scenic roads and stop along the road for snap shots. Come across children in their very bright uniforms on their way to schools or back.
It is very easy and convenient to rent a car. All major airports have their car hire facilities and you can find all class of cars for your personal needs.
It is not recommended to drive during the night. Organise your trip properly. South African roads are very well maintained but sometimes they seem endless, so calculate accordingly your travel time and distance to avoid disappointments.
