South Africa Country Information

With post-apartheid optimism melding South Africa into a new society of energy and significance, travelers are returning to a place that has been off the trail for most of the century. Political violence seems to be a thing of the past and among the vast majority of people there is a desire to get on with building a new nation. It's an exciting time to visit.

For the first-time traveler to Africa, South Africa is not a bad place to start: the infrastructure is constantly improving, the climate is kind and there are few better places to see Africa's wildlife. But if you want to understand the country, you'll have to deal with the full spectrum. Poverty still exists alongside riches. It's necessary to take some precautions: keep money and valuables out of sight; take care when using local public transport and around railway stations. But balancing the downside is the almost tangible sense of pride and hope across all communities (rich and poor, black and white), particularly at the way South Africa has emerged from the nightmare of apartheid.

OVERVIEW OF SOUTH AFRICA

Mpumalanga
The Greater Kruger National Park provides the most spectacular game viewing , and is recognized as one of the worlds most prized "Garden of Eden's" , where over 147 species of game, including the “big 5” – lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo roam freely through landscapes where little has changed over the last hundred years.

Experience the thrill of close encounters with nature, & outstanding photographic opportunities! A stay in one of the luxury private game lodges is a unbeatable experience.

Steeped in the history of pioneers and fortune seekers, fascinating gold rush towns like Pilgrim's Rest abound. Attractions on the beautiful PANORAMIC ROUTE include the Bourke's Luck Potholes, 3 rondavels, Blyde River Canyon, stunning waterfalls, and God's Window.

The Cape
Explore the wonders of the Cape including :- Table Mountain, glorious beaches, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Point/ Cape of Good Hope, Seal Island, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Whale Watching Route, Robben Island, The Winelands and wine tasting tours, The Garden Route, Outeniqua Choo Choo train, Knysna, Tsitsikama forest, Cango Caves, Ostrich farms, and the Namaqualand Flower region

North - West Province
The Palace of the Lost City is a city reminiscent of an ancient era of grand and elaborate times. The architecture, sculptures and gardens is nothing less than incredible, and well worth a visit

The Sun City Complex provides luxurious accommodation, and endless entertainment- including water spots, cabarets, casino’s, golf, tennis, animal world , Kwena gardens ….

The Pilansberg Game Reserve adjoining the Sun City complex offers the “big 5” game viewing experience, and an abundance of game and bird species.

Zululand
Zululand has some of South Africa’s most important wildlife areas and fragile eco systems. Each of their reserves offer unique experiences to the traveler. No visit to Zululand is complete without experiencing the fascinating, and colourful Zulu culture. Visit Simunye, a traditional lodge, or Shakaland with its authentic re-creation of Shaka’s Great Kraal

HLUHLUWE-UMFOLOZI PARK. Established in 1895, this 96 000ha reserve is South Africa’s oldest protected wildlife area. The park is famous for its lush green vegetation and abundance of game, with outstanding game viewing and photographic opportunities. Game species include the Big 5 (lion, buffalo, elephant, rhino and leopard), hippo, giraffe and several antelope species.

Rhino is the parks main attraction, as it has one of the most important rhino populations in South Africa. The park offers an excellent range of accommodation from the most luxurious first class lodge to bush camps offering a true bush experience.
NDUMO GAME RESERVE. Woodlands and grasslands merge with pans, floodplains and fig tree forests in this 10 100 ha reserve. Over 420 different bird species occur here, offering one of the countries top birding spots. Game species include black and white rhino, giraffe, hippo, crocodile, nyala, blue wildebees, zebra, impala and the red duiker.

TEMBE ELEPHANT PARK. This 30 000 ha park has a population of over 100 elephants which occur together with both the black and white rhino, hippo, giraffe, zebra, waterbuck, blue wildebees and the rare suni

KOSI BAY NATURE RESERVE & COASTAL FOREST RESERVE. Kosi Bay, extends over 33 000 ha is situated along the coast, and consist of a string of pristine lakes and swamp forests. The 18km long lake system is separated from the pristine beaches by forested sand dunes. The reserve is popular for fishing , especially kingfish, barracuda and shad. . The mouth of the Kosi Bay estuary , Rocktail Bay Reef and Lala Nek offers snorkeling and scuba diving enthusiasts wonderful opportunity

MKUZI GAME RESERVE. Covering 36 000ha of savanna, thickets, sand forest, floodplains, grasslands and pans, this reserve is a favourite with many nature lovers. Offering excellent game viewing, this reserve has black and white rhino, blue wildebeest, giraffe, zebra, impala, reedbuck, kudu, common duiker and suni. Game viewing hides overlooking Nsumu Pan provide wonderful opportunities to watch hippos and crocodiles and prolific bird life. A highlight of a visit to Mkuze is the Fig Forest Walk where impressive sycamore fig trees hundreds of years old surround you.

Swaziland
The roads wind through eucalyptus and pine plantations, hills and lush valleys to small villages where you can browse through handicraft markets. Crafts include colourful fabrics with batik like patterns, grass mats and baskets, cowhide shields, bead necklaces and woodcarvings.

Down in the awe- inspiring Ezulwini Valley (Place of Heaven), the road descends to the Royal Village of Lobamba. A visit to the Swaziland National Museum is not to be missed, as its has fascinating displays depicting the culture and history of the Swazi people.

The Malalotje Nature reserve has lovely mountain scenery, with wildebeest, red hartebeest, impala, blesbok and the rare oribi. The Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary covering 45 000 ha is renowned for its white rhino, buffalo, hippo, crocodile, giraffe and antelope species.

Swaziland has some fascinating mines including Ngwenya Mine (where iron ore was mined 43 000 years ago, making it the oldest mine in the world), and Havelock Asbestos Mine (the largest of its kind in the world).

Have a look at our 22 Day South Africa Tour