South
Africa - Land of Diversity
Did you Know?
Tourism links
Travel Tips for South Africa
- Tips untuk Perjalanan ke Afrika Selatan
National Symbols
South African Folklore - How
the Mountain got its Tablecloth
Top Tourist Attractions
Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town
 Although
Cape Town's harbor still receives the whole range of shipping from
large modern tankers and container ships to the chunky fishing boats
which head into Atlantic waters for snoek and crayfish, the passenger
and mail boats which used to be the lifeline to Europe have faded
into history. Old unused docks have been transformed into the exciting
V & A development now one of Cape Town's main tourist attractions.
Restored buildings house the Maritime museum, pubs, restaurants,
craft and curio shops. There are harbor tours, ferry rides and two
moored historic boats to visit.
Cape Point The Cape Point promontory - the most southwesterly point
of Africa, which early mariners mistook for the tip of the continent.
It points a rocky finger across False Bay, near Cape Town.
Source: VEZA
Western Cape
Wine Routes From those first vine cutting of rather dubious origin
(Jan Van Riebeeck himself called them "Spaanse Druiwen",
for Spanish grapes), has developed an industry, which ranks with
the leading wine-producing countries in the world. There are some
302 million vines growing in South Africa, representing over seventy
grape varieties. Both red and white wine cultivators are grown in
the Cape. The winelands offer a glimpse of the rich history of the
Cape and should not be missed.
 The
Garden Route
The Garden Route stretches for 220 km on the southern coast of
South Africa from Mossel Bay in the west to the Tsitsikamma Forest
and the Storms River in the east. This is a green and flowered region
of charming bays and beaches, cliffs and pounding surf overlooked
by the not-too-distant Outeniqua Mountains (Outeniqua in the Hottentot
tongue meaning: "a man laden with honey.")
Source: Journey Through South Africa, by Gerald Cubitt & Peter
Joyce, Struik Publishers, Pty, Ltd,
Table Mountain
Over a thousand metres high, monolithic, misty, moody, ever-changing
with wind and season. Table Mountain dominates the horizon over
the city of Cape Town. It offers breathtaking views of the city
and the sea from its summit, reached either by walking, climbing
or by cable car. Table Mountain has been proclaimed a National Monument
and a sanctuary for, in some cases unique, flora & fauna.
Source: Journey Through South Africa, by Gerald Cubitt & Peter
Joyce, Struik Publishers, Pty, Ltd,
Durban Beachfront
Durban is South Africa's playground. It is the country's largest
port, thirdlargest city and paradise for pleasure-seekers. Its beachfront
is a three-kilometre trip of modern hotels, an aquarium, bowling
greens, playgrounds, amusement parks, gardens, paddling pools, tearooms,
some excellent restaurants, a mini-town, fishing jetties and magnificent
golden beaches sloping steeply into the warm waters of the Indian
Ocean.
Source: Journey Through South Africa, by Gerald Cubitt & Peter
Joyce, Struik Publishers, Pty, Ltd, 1997.
Kirstenbosch
The National Botanical Gardens were a gift to the nation from Cecil
Rhodes in 1895. On the southern slopes of Table Mountain the 560
hectares include formal gardens, a fragrance garden, natural forest
and an extensive section of fynbos (indigenous coastal shrub). Some
8 000 of South Africa's plant species are grown at Kirstenbosch
which, though attractive all year round, is most spectacular in
spring (mid August to October).
Ostrich farms in Oudtshoorn
 Oudtshoorn,
principal town of the Little Karoo, was the world's ostrich feather
capital, a thriving centre in the days prior to the First World
War when plumes (those of the male bird were most highly prized)
adorned fashionable headgear. Although the ostrich boom is long
past, prosperous ostrich farms are still in existence. Feathers
continue to be sold by public auction in the town.
Source: Journey Through South Africa, by Gerald Cubitt & Peter
Joyce, Struik Publishers, Pty, Ltd, 1997.
Blyde River Canyon
The splendour of the Drakensberg in Mpumalanga province. The GreatEscarpment
runs north to south for 300 kilometres, a jagged, majestically spectacular
range of mountains and chasms dividing the Highveld from the Lowveld.
The Blyde River Canyon is one of the natural wonders of Africa,
falling almost sheer for almost 800 metres to the river below. (The
word "Blyde" comes from the Afrikaans language and means
"joy").
Source: Journey Through South Africa, by Gerald Cubitt & Peter
Joyce, Struik Publishers, Pty, Ltd, 1997.
Robben Island
During the apartheid era Robben Island, just off Table Bay in Cape
Town,served as a maximum security prison, its most famous inmate
being Nelson Mandela, past President of South Africa. The island
can now be visited and thousands of tourists from all over the world
have taken the opportunity of taking the frequent catamaran and
ferry services that ply between the island and Cape Town's Victoria
& Alfred Waterfront. The island's prison is now a museum and
a memorial to victims of political injustice: the famous "no.
5" prison cell in which President Mandela was incarcerated
remains the most popular place to visit in the prison. Plans are
also afoot to create a natural & marine reserve on the island.
Source: Satour's Winter 1997 Survey of South African 's International
Tourism Market
Kruger National Park - A Palette of Eden
Inhale the clean, warm air of the African bush. Fall asleep to
the accom-paniment of the bush orchestra, which may include the
powerful roar of a lion, the laughter of hyenas, and the shrill
call of a jackal. Wake up to a chorus of birdsong and watch the
ebb and flow of animals coming to drink while a fish eagle swoops
down, intent on its prey. Be amazed by the sheer power and size
of ele-phant and buffalo.
 Become
an adventurer and discover the heart of southern Africa. Framed
by glowing sun-sets and a bountiful canopy of stars, lies the Kruger
National Park. The park, rich in biodiver-sity, was established
in 1898 and stretches for 350 km from south to north along the Mozambican
border before meeting up with the Zimbabwean border.
A paradise for the wildlife enthusiast, with close to 150 mammals
to be on the look-out for, amongst them six cat species, the park
also has more than 500 species of birds and over 300 species of
trees for the visitor to identify. With its subtropical cli-mate,
the large habitat variety and a surface area of 19 633 km2, the
park is home to a spec-tacular array of fauna and flora and is undoubt-edly
the world leader in dynamic environmental management techniques
and policies based on experience gained over more than a century.
At the ranger’s signal, everybody freezes. What has he seen?
As he points, all heads slowly turn. A stone throw away, expertly
camouflaged by a thick stand of lala palms, is a huge elephant bull.
As the magnificent animal peacefully feeds, everybody holds their
breath. After what seems like ages, the massive head lifts and gently
flapping its ears, the bull slowly lumbers away into the dense bush.
Such an exceptional encounter can befall those who make a book-ing
to venture forth on one of the Kruger National Park’s wilderness
trails. Seven trails, chosen for their unique scenic beauty and
diverse fauna and flora and each with its own special features,
provide an unforgettable experience for the more adven-turous traveller.
Armed trail rangers accompany groups of no more than eight on an
exploration of the African bush lasting three nights and two days.
Set out daily from your trail’s base camp and return at night
to a crackling campfire and a wholesome meal. Wash off the dust
and fatigue in a reed-walled shower and fall asleep in a rustic
hut to the sounds of the bush. This is Africa at her best.
Other national parks in South Africa
Addo Elephant National Park
Mountain Zebra National Park
Tsitsikamma National Park
Golden Gate Highlands National
Augrabies Falls National Park
The Karoo National Park
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Namaqua National Park
Knysna National Lake Area
West Coast National Park
Source: VEZA
Top Tourist Activities
Game and nature reserves
A total of 17 national parks offer visitors a rich variety of landscapes
and wild-life, unrivaled anywhere on the African continent. The
most famous of the reserves is the Kruger National Park, which alone
has no less than 15 rest camps, ranging from the inexpensive to
the ultra-luxurious.
Historical sites
 The
Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town is the oldest building in South
Africa and is a symbol of the birth of Western civilization on the
subcontinent. The castle was completed in 1697 with the aim of protecting
the new settlement from possible attack. (It never materialized).
This is just one example of the many sites that exist throughout
the country ranging from exquisite historical homes to monuments
that have been erected to commemorate wars and battles that have
shaped South African history.
Museums
Almost half of the approximately 1000 museums in Africa are situated
in South Africa. They range from museums of geology, natural history,
archaeology ,history and art to mining, agriculture and many other
disciplines. The South African Museum in Cape Town is the oldest
in the country.
Art galleries
Some of the best known art galleries in South Africa that are visited
by foreign tourists include: the South African National Gallery
in Cape Town, the Johannesburg Art Gallery and the Pretoria Art
Museum.
Cultural villages
Most tourists visiting South Africa are keen to explore the country's
cultural diversity. Of special interest are the lives of people
who were separated by the Apartheid system. The most popular cultural
villages visited include: the Basotho Cultural Village, the Botshabelo
historical town and the Lesedi Cultural Village near Johannesburg.
Casinos
 Several
theme resorts throughout South Africa, as well as in the neighbouring
states such as Swaziland and Lesotho, owned largely by the Sun International
Hotel & Resorts group, operate casinos. Most famous among these
is Sun City & the Lost City theme resort (the latter being the
largest resort of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere).
Adventure activities
South Africa offers the foreign tourist the full gamut of adventure
activities: mountain/ rock climbing, fishing, horse-back riding,
golf, biking, hiking, scuba diving, snorkeling, para-gliding, bungee
jumping, etc. Many European visitors (especially in the 25 - 34
age group) visit South Africa during the Northern Hemisphere Summer,
when they take advantage of these activities that South Africa has
to offer.
Theatre/concerts
The performing arts industry in South Africa is internationally
acclaimed. Both theatre and musical productions cover the range
from African to European. Famous theatre complexes in South Africa
include the Alhambra in Johannesburg, the Nico Malan and Baxter
in Cape Town, the Playhouse in Durban and the State Theatre in Pretoria.
Conferences
The impressive International Convention Center in Durban is the
focal point of a booming conference industry. It is situated between
the city center and three large sports stadia, just two blocks from
the beach. A new high-rise Hilton Hotel has been built alongside
to accommodate conference delegates.
Backpacking
 For
the avid adventure traveller, the most common spots for hiking include:
the Drakensberg Mountains, the Blyde River Canyon, the Tsitsikamma
National Park and the Cape Peninsula (Table Mountain). South Africa
offers a myriad of scenic spots which offer the intrepid hiker unsurpassed
natural beauty.
Sports/spectator
South Africa is world famous in various sports such as cricket,
rugby & soccer. With South Africa's return to the international
arena after years of sporting isolation, the Rugby World Cup was
hosted in South Africa in 1995, with the Springboks winning the
coveted trophy on home soil! Thousands of visitors to South Africa
have also had the privilege of watching the Africa Cup and numerous
international cricket tests played in South Africa, with South Africa
taking the winners' trophy in the Africa Cup.
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