With fascinating attractions from the scenic Cape of Good Hope, the southernmost point of Africa, to wildlife parks, lovely beaches, and big cities full of cultural sights, South Africa is an interesting mixture of urban and rural environments. This Rainbow Nation offers you wildlife safaris and a wide range of outdoor sport activities as well as an excellent opportunity to get in touch with the spirit of modern Africa.
Places for city holiday. Explore the dynamic Johannesburg with its contrasts rising from economic power and miserable poverty, get enthusiastic about fascinating Cape Town with its stunning settings created by the Table Mountain and the Cape of Good Hope, visit the surrounding Cape wine region with its vineyards, or have the adventure of your life among the wild animals of Kruger National Park.
Beach and nature destinations. You might also be interested to see Durban, a beach city by the Indian Ocean with enjoyable water sport facilities, well-maintained tourist services, and active city life. If you want to do some touring in South Africa, the scenic coastal landscapes and adventure sites of the Garden Route as well as the beaches and wildlife parks around Port Elizabeth are worth testing, as are also the waves of Jeffreys Bay, a South African surfing mecca. Whatever your choice will be, your adventure in South Africa will most likely be memorable!
Flight connections to South Africa are good, with two major international airports located in Johannesburg and Cape Town. These two cities also have the unique pleasure of serving as two of South Africa's three capitals, of which Pretoria is executive, Cape Town legislative, and Bloemfontein judicial capital.
South Africa's attractions from wildlife safaris and nature wonders to big cities
In the southernmost corner of Africa where the continent ends and the Atlantic and Indian Ocean meet, where abundant economic wealth meets widespread poverty and ethnic diversity boosts the dynamic development of a complex but newly unified nation, and where wild animals roam in stunning settings of wide open African savanna, South Africa awaits you with its modern tourism infrastructure and beautiful nature.Places for city holiday. Explore the dynamic Johannesburg with its contrasts rising from economic power and miserable poverty, get enthusiastic about fascinating Cape Town with its stunning settings created by the Table Mountain and the Cape of Good Hope, visit the surrounding Cape wine region with its vineyards, or have the adventure of your life among the wild animals of Kruger National Park.
Beach and nature destinations. You might also be interested to see Durban, a beach city by the Indian Ocean with enjoyable water sport facilities, well-maintained tourist services, and active city life. If you want to do some touring in South Africa, the scenic coastal landscapes and adventure sites of the Garden Route as well as the beaches and wildlife parks around Port Elizabeth are worth testing, as are also the waves of Jeffreys Bay, a South African surfing mecca. Whatever your choice will be, your adventure in South Africa will most likely be memorable!
Practical information for your trip to South Africa
Weather conditions in South Africa are diverse, but mostly pleasant. With average monthly high temperatures ranging from 20 to 30 degrees of Celsius, but with the hottest extremes of Africa outside its area, South Africa is a suitable travel destination all year round. Especially the southern part of South Africa where most popular travel destinations are located enjoys friendly climate with warm temperatures and frequent sunshine.Flight connections to South Africa are good, with two major international airports located in Johannesburg and Cape Town. These two cities also have the unique pleasure of serving as two of South Africa's three capitals, of which Pretoria is executive, Cape Town legislative, and Bloemfontein judicial capital.
Photo: Exfordy, used under Creative Commons License (By 2.0)
Getting around in South Africa is easy using the efficient internal flight network.
Safety. Although the situation is improving, South Africa is not one of the safest countries of the world. AIDS and Malaria are quite common diseases in South Africa and precaution procedures to prevent these should be taken care of. Although the years of apartheid are long gone, high rates of crime cause danger to visitors especially in big cities of South Africa. However, much of the problems can be avoided with caution procedures such as staying away from the city streets after dark, avoiding getting around alone, and keeping your car doors locked and valuables hidden. English is commonly spoken throughout South Africa.
South Africa's history in brief
The site of some of the earliest archaeological findings made in Africa, South Africa has a history that can be characterized as long for a good reason. The written history of this African regional superpower starts from the 15th century, when the southernmost corner of Africa was found by Portuguese sailors and later settled by Dutch immigrants called Boers.Ethnic diversity. Since then, South Africa has mostly been under British influence, and a home to not only local Bantu tribes but also to Boers, British settlers, slaves brought from other African countries, as well as laborers from Eastern Asia. During the bygone decades, South Africa gained lots of publicity for its racist Apartheid policy, which finally ended in 1994. Today new, more liberal and multicultural times have come to this country also known as the Rainbow Nation that successfully hosted the FIFA soccer World Cup in 2010.
