South Africa – A World in One Country

South Africa with its 45 million population, 11 official languages, and 9 provinces, is a an unforgettable sensory treat. South Africa—land of lively rhythms, exotic delicacies, unique adventures…and the most gorgeous vistas on earth. Its cities have all the vibrancy of Rio and New York. And its people are warm and welcoming. Here the seasons are reversed.

In South Africa:

• View the Big 5 up close and personal
• Marvel at San Bushman cave paintings
• Visit the Cradle of Humankind
• Walk in the Footsteps of Nelson Mandla
• Dine on bobotie at your table in the treetops
• Visit the Apartheid Museum
• Relax on the opulent Blue Train

Favourite Places

Johannesburg – For music, dance, art and museums, head for the Newton Cultural Precinct. Shop in Sandton City for fashion design evening dresses, young hip fashion, luggage, fine crafts by local artists. Visit the Apartheid Museum. Visit Soweto where the actual struggle took place.

In Johannesberg –

• Take in a show at the famous Market Theatre
• Visit the Apartheid Museum
• Listen on site while an anthropologist explains the significance of the Cradle of Humankind
• Journey below: descend in the miners’ cage at Number 14 Crown Mine Shaft

www.joburg.org.za

Cape Town – Cape Town, located along the Atlantic Ocean with splendid Table Mountain as the backdrop, is enchantingly beautiful.

In Cape Town –

• Take the Table Mountain cable car
• Enjoy High Tea in style
• Visit the National Gallery
• Meander Kirstenbosch Gardens
• Stay at the popular Victoria and Alfred Waterfront
• Walk in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela

www.tourismcapetown.co.za

Mpumalanga – Kruger National Park – Take a safari in Kruger, home of the big five: lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant. You may also see cheetah, giraffe, springbok, among others. At the completion of exciting rugged game drives, luxuriate in your 5-star safari lodge.

Visit Blyde River Canyon and Bourke’s Luck Potholes . Mountain bike, horseback ride, river raft. Step back in time at Pilgrim’s Rest – a living gold rush village.

Adventure

South Africa teems with adrenelin pumping activities: Mountain bike; horseback ride; rock climb; swim; dive; bungy jump. Afterwards relax and enjoy being pampered at South Africa’s top spas.

South Africa is noted for its wildlife. In addition to the animals you will see on safari game drives and bushwalks, penguins, ostriches, dolphins, whales, seals, otters and sharks call South Africa home.

If you are a twitcher (bird watcher), in South Africa you will have a field day as more

than 790 bird species call South Africa home.

An Abundance of Sounds

From the roar of a lion, the wild dog calling to its mate, the warbling of exotic birds, to exciting tribal dancing accompanied by pulsating drumbeats, Afrikaans folk songs, Indian chants, and the inspiring sounds of gospel, South Africa pulsates with sound. Street performers, Broadway-style musicals, opera, outdoor concerts, symphonies, and jazz – South Africa will satisfy every music lover’s taste.

Cape Town is a major venue for African jazz, a fusion of elements of American jazz and traditional African rhythms. Clubs feature top local jazz artists.

The yearly internationally acclaimed Grahamstown Festivalis held over two weeks from June to July. The festival includes drama, dance, opera, music, visual art, lectures and tours. Here you will have an opportunity to view a nascent show prior to its touring throughout the country.

A Banquet for Your Palate

• Dine on grilled ostrich or springbok
• Nosh on an Indian samosa with an African flair
• Taste some local specialties: bobotie – curried lamb or beef mince; waterblommetjiebredie – water lily and lamb stew; koeksusters – braided pastry deep-fried and dipped in syrup
• Accompany your meal with delicious tasting Rooibos tea – said by many to have major health benefits

Exquisite seafood is often on the menu: crayfish (rock lobster), abalone, oysters, mussels, prawns, whitefish, hake, kingklip, and calamari. For tasty snacks try: a sosatie – a skewer of grilled meat, a bobtie – a Javanese-derived curried meatloaf served with a piquant fruit sauce, or a bredie – a mouthwatering vegetable meat stew.

At a braai (barbecue) enjoy grilled meats such as springbok, ostrich, chicken, or boerewors (sausage), accompanied by fresh salads, and South African specialties of tomato and onion puree and curried beans with potatoes. Rice, baked sweet potatoes, and pumpkin are featured as side dishes.

Unique Dining Venues

Climb the stairway at Spier’s Jonkershuis “treetop” restaurant: dine inside the 150 year old Jonkershuis. At the unique Moyos Restaurant go down, down, down to your table – each dining area has its own separate floor. Here you will be introduced to the South Africa custom of cleansing your hands before dinner. While at Moyos have your face painted in Zulu style.

Even take-away is special in South Africa. Bask outdoors in the warm South Africa sun while you dine outdoors at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront on fish and chips with a local beer listening to the exciting sounds of a local marimba band.

There's a dining venue and cuisine for everyone—from elegant five-star restaurants, many concentrated in the Johannesburg, Cape Town areas, to alfresco cafes, to splendid outdoor picnics replete with South African wines.

A Feast for Your Eyes

South Africa is blessed with stunning vistas: from its magnificent coastline, to dramatic mountain ranges, savannas, and scenic wine country with ornate Cape Dutch manor houses. image/caption – (Disc 8-33 – the inviting pool at Grande Roche in Paarl, the wine country)

The seas are rich and diverse ranging from Maputaland’s vibrant coral reefs to the Cape’s enchanting kelp forests. At Sodwana Bay, swim through myriad varieties of soft coral inhabited by 1,300 species of tropical fish, sea turtles, and dolphins.

South Africa is home to nearly 300 species of mammals, 870 species of birds. The country has 24,000 plant species and one-tenth of the world’s flowering plants.

Family Fun

Children, too, will enjoy South Africa.

Less than an hour’s drive away from Johannesburg is the Lesedi Cultural Village where your children can learn the traditions of a Xhosa, Zulu, Pedi, or Basotho family, and be entertained by their traditional dances, stories, and songs.

Although the ride to the depths in a miners’ cage may be a little daunting for younger children, there are plenty of other rides and interesting cultural dance performances at Johannesburg’s popular Gold Reef City.

The Palace of the Lost City is a fantasy world. Explore its mysterious jungles along winding paths among tumbling streams, waterfalls, and lakes. Frolic in amazing wave pools and slides of the “ Valley of Waves.” Bob along with your children on brightly coloured tubes floating on the ripples of the Sacred River Ride, an underground river which endlessly meanders around the Valley of the Waves for 500 metres.

Visit the Pilanesberg National Park, a malaria-free area that is home to almost all of the animal species in South Africa and more than 300 species of birds.

The Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in Cape Town is a fun place for children with its myriad beautiful plants and trees. In the summer evenings the Gardens offer a beautiful setting for outdoor concerts.

Your children will really enjoy a wildlife game drive set up specifically for them in one of the malaria free game reserves that caters to children.

At Grootbos specialized guides accompany children during exciting treasure hunts, excursions to the beach and rock pools. Children can feed the farm animals, enjoy riding lessons and ride through the fynbos. Babysitting services, special children’s menus and activities make a visit to Grootbos a thoroughly enjoyable experience for the entire family.

Ask us for details and about other South Africa family offerings.

Safaris

South Africa offers unsurpassed views of rare and exotic animals in the wild. It is considered one of the best places to observe the “Big Five”—elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos, and buffaloes. You may also see cheetah, zebras, giraffes, hippos, wildebeest, and antelope.

A South African safari can be as easy as a day trip to a nearby game reserve or as challenging as a two-week horseback trip into the wild.

(image/caption: Elegance at Shamwari)

Stay in one of South Africa’s opulent game lodges. Join your ranger and other guests on a game drive. Stop to watch the antics of baby lion cubs or adult lions on a kill. Marvel as a leopard stalks your range rover.

Journey by Rail

Relax onboard a classically restored train. South Africa is home to two of the most famous deluxe railroads: the Blue Train and Rovos Rail.

The Blue Train, a unique sybaritic experience, is a five-star hotel in motion. During your journey, gaze at some of the most breathtaking sights South Africa offers. Tantalize your taste buds with exquisite cuisine accompanied by choice South Africa wines. Onboard butlers indulge your every whim.

Onboard the famous Blue Train, as you sit in your carriage of rich gold, deep blues, and warm wood paneling offset by detailed marquetry, it’s easy to let your mind wander to the bygone days of the pioneers, ivory hunters, and gold prospectors who once roamed the region.

The Blue Train’s routes encompass some of the most dramatic scenery in South Africa. The “five-star” service onboard is incomparable.

Scheduled Blue Train routes:

• Pretoria to Cape Town (1 day and 1 night), and
• Cape Town to Port Elizabeth (1 day and 2 nights)

Enhance your rail journey: Stay at the Illyria House, a boutique property set in the exclusive Pretoria hills. Luxuriate in delightful accommodations with personalized white-glove butler service. What a prefect beginning or ending to your Blue Train experience.

Rovos Rail, too, offers several exciting journeys:

• Pretoria to Cape Town
• Pretoria to Victoria Falls
• Cape Town to George
• Pretoria to Durban.

The latest addition to Rovos Rail is a Class 25 NC locomotive that has been converted from a coal burner to an oil-fired engine

On the Rovos Rail journey, treat yourself to sybaritic luxury. The elegant Royal Suites take up half a carriage; each measures 16 sq. metres (172 sq. ft.) including a private lounge and full ensuite bathroom with bath and shower. Your suite is equipped with a writing desk and a personal safe, as well as a refrigerator filled with the drinks of your choice. Room service is available 24 hours a day.

A Cornucopia of Experiences

South Africa is more than safaris and incredible rail journeys. Hike the Drakensburg. Explore Pilgrim’s Rest and Blyde Canyon. Visit the Big Hole. Watch the antics of waddling penguins. Ride the waves at Sun City. Relax in a 5-star spa as your masseuse kneads your tired muscles. Witness the Big Whites breach. Or a leopard kill.

Sip exquisite South African shiraz in Franschoek. Visit a local shebeen. Attend an award winning South Africa drama. Enjoy a “fringe” production at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival. Walk in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela. Learn more about Mrs. Pies at the Cradle of Humankind.

See for yourself why South Africa is called “A World in One Country!” and why so many visit South Africa again and again and again.

Call now to book your South Africa holiday

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