South Africa lies on the southern most point of Africa and is rightly celebrated for its sublime scenery, world-class wildlife watching, cosmopolitan cities and rich vibrant cultures. South Africa’s attractions are so diverse that within the space of a few days you can travel from the chic waterfront attractions of Cape Town to Zulu villages and battlefields, the snow-capped peaks of the Drakensburg Range and the lush subtropical coast of KwaZulu-Natal.

The big cities of Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg are culturally diverse, fascinating places, beating along to their own rhythm. Cape Town’s spectacular location between the mountains and sea will satisfy nature lovers, where it’s possible to observe breeding colonies of African Penguins and get up close to buffalo, rhino and giraffe.

Kruger National Park is the most important wildlife reserve in the country and an area of unrivalled beauty. Home to the big five (elephants, rhino, leopards, lions and buffalo) and an impressive number of species of bird and plant life, it is the perfect place to safari and reside in luxurious safari lodges and camps.

The striking landscapes of South Africa make the perfect playground for outdoor sports enthusiasts with a multitude on offer from shark cage diving, whale watching and hang gliding, to surfing, hiking and golf, while others will fall in love with the Garden Route’s beauty and effortless bohemia.

South Africa is a wonderfully diverse country and is full of contradictions and contrasts. Living side by side the affluent suburbs and tourist attractions you’ll find poverty and hardship; rainforests and desert; tranquil beaches and mist-covered mountains; and the opportunity to experience African culture first hand.

Occupying the southern tip of Africa with the warm waters of the Indian Ocean to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, is the Western Cape, a region of outstanding beauty. With acres of vineyards, fertile valleys, wide beaches and majestic mountains, it is justifiably the most visited province in South Africa.

Lying stunning framed between the sea and mountains, is Cape Town, a cosmopolitan city so rich in attractions, you could easily spend your entire trip here. Table Mountain and both oceans provide a huge range of adventurous experiences such as surfing, sailing, hiking and shark cage diving.

Table Mountain National Park covers some 75% of the peninsular and is one of the most popular attractions in the region. The flat top can easily be reached by cable car where the views are spectacular, especially at sunset. Beyond the viewing platform are a number of trails and climbing routes which vary in difficulty.

Harbour cruises leave daily from the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront to Robben Island, recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A former prison and leper colony in the 15th and 19th centuries, the prison became most infamously known for its incarceration of Nelson Mandela for 27 years.

The rolling vineyards of South Africa’s wine producing heartland sit against a backdrop of snow capped mountains and welcome visitors for summer picnics, wine tasting and gourmet food. Most estates are clustered around the historic towns of Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franschoek, each of which is full of charm and well worth a visit en-route to your wine tasting.

The Garden Route, another area of remarkable natural beauty sprawls along the coastal route from Witsands to Plettenburg with a breathtaking range of terrain, vegetation, wildlife and outdoor activity. The endless stretches of beach interspersed with occasional rock promontories and bays offer sports enthusiast’s abundant opportunities to surf, swim, fish, windsurf and kayak.

Known as the Kingdom of the Zulu, KwaZulu Natal boasts rolling green hills, sugar cane plantations, game reserves and superb beaches. To the west lies the majestic Drakensberg Mountains, to the south, miles of subtropical coastline and north of Durban is an impressive collection of game reserves.

Durban is a sophisticated cosmopolitan city with miles of golden sandy beaches and exciting nightlife. It’s also a bustling port and business centre which makes it a hive of activity for businessmen and tourist alike.

Some of most important battles in South Africa’s history were fought on KwaZulu Natal’s battlefields. The area is rich in museums and historic towns providing a fascinating and some times spine chilling insight into South Africa’s past.

The Drakensburg Mountains stretch some 1,000 kilometres southwest to northeast, separating KwaZulu Natal Province from Free State Province. Drakensburg Mountains’ peaks are the highest in Southern Africa, rising to over 3,000 metres with distinct geographical formations. Within the Drakensburg Mountains are countless rock-shelters and caves featuring the most concentrated group of paintings south of the Sahara. Created by Bushmen over 4,000 years ago, they are beautifully preserved and reflect the daily life and culture of the San people who once inhabited this region.

Drakensburg National Park is an area of staggering beauty with its grassy valleys, high peaks and crystal clear rivers and streams, and comprises of a number of conservation areas such as the Cathedral Peak State Forest and Royal Natal National Park. The Ukhahlamba Drakensburg National Park is a prime eco tourist destination rich in birdlife and plants. Its soaring peaks are often covered with snow in winter and rise to over 3,000 metres, Champagne Castle and Giant Castle being are some of the highest.

Other regional highlights include the heritage city of Pietermaritzburg with its exuberant Zulu and Indian communities and KwaZulu Natal’s miles of pristine coastline, with year round sunshine, coral reefs, relaxed beachside towns and abundant outdoor pursuits.

Gauteng Province is the smallest province in South Africa and the economic centre of the nation. Despite being the most urbanised province there is still lots to see and do, including the multi-cultural Johannesburg, Pretoria, the townships of Soweto and The Cradle of Humankind.

Johannesburg’s sprawling urban cityscape, the largest in South Africa, is a city of contrasts, made rich by the gold discoveries of the 1800s. The city has become the economic powerhouse of South Africa with a rich multi-cultural population that pulsates to its own rhythm. Skyscrapers and gleaming department stores side bustling street stalls and bazaars and its vibrant restaurant scene dishes up a fusion of gastronomic delights.

The townships, Soweto included, lie to the southwest of the centre in contrast to the affluent suburbs to the north. Soweto sprung up as a dormitory town, housing black labourers for Johannesburg’s gold mines and then more infamously was used as a place of relocation during apartheid. Soweto came to the world’s attention in 1976 with Soweto Rising and became the focal point of resistance to apartheid during the 1970s and 1980s. Today the Soweto’s population exceeds four million and is a place of vibrancy and contrasts. Guided tours are available with plenty of politically significant landmarks to see, including the houses of some world-famous anti-apartheid activists.

Fifty miles north-west of Johannesburg is the UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Cradle of Humankind, a complex of limestone caves including the Sterkfontein Caves, Coopers Cave, and the Wonder Cave. Fossilised remains of ancient plants, animals and hominids have been discovered here. The hominid remains at The Cradle of Humankind are found in dolomitic caves and are encased in a mixture of limestone and other sediments fossilised over time.

North east of Gauteng Province is Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga Province. Covering an area of almost 20,000sq km it is one of the largest national parks in the world. All the big five game animals are found here (leopard, lion, elephant, buffalo and rhino) and Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa. The park provides a range of experiences including safaris, hiking, biking with experienced guides and a range of lodges and camps.

South Africa can be visited at any time of year with one of the most temperate climates in Africa. Summer arrives late November to March bringing rain and some uncomfortably hot days, although along the coast conditions are more sultry and tropical.

Winter from June to September is cooler and drier providing better conditions for outdoor pursuits. It is also the best time for wildlife watching as animals congregate around available water sources. Spring (mid September to November) and Autumn (April to May) are the most ideal months to visit South Africa.

O.R Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg is the air transport hub of South Africa, alongside Cape Town International Airport and Durban International. South African Airways is South Africa’s flagship airline.

The main routes into South Africa are from Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. Services run from the capital to neighbouring countries by major bus companies, Intercape, Translux and Greyhound.

South Africa is fairly well connected by a national rail service. There are also several celebrated rail routes operated by Blue Train and Rovos Rail which offer luxury travel services along some enchanting picturesque routes.

The three main bus companies, , Intercape, Translux and Greyhound run intercity express links across the country using modern air-conditioned coaches. The Baz Bus operates several key routes between Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg via Drakensberg and Swaziland. It’s a hop-on hop-off service which drops passengers at backpacker hostels.

There are eleven official languages spoken in South Africa. English is widely spoken and is the official administrative language. Zulu and Xhosa are predominant in many areas, while in the Western Cape you’re most likely to hear Afrikaans.

Hello – Goei more (Afrikaans), Sawubona (Zulu), Molo (Xhosa)
Goodbye – Tot siens (Afrikaans), Hamba kahle (Zulu), Hamba kakuhle (Xhosa)
Yes/No – Ja/Nee (Afrikaans), Yebo/Cha (Zulu), Ewe/Xha (Xhosa)