South Africa is located at the southernmost top of the continent and as a result besides ‘ordinary’ wildlife enjoys some hardly observed in Africa species, like penguins, seals and whales. The surrounding waters are full of sharks and if you dare to look directly into their eyes you can dive protected by the special cage, or visit the Two Oceans Aquarium Cape Town one of the biggest in the world.
Boulders Beach and African Penguin sanctuary, False Bay, Western Cape, South Africa
A bit longer journey into the waters of Indian Ocean can be awarded by meeting of spectacular whales. But staying on land is also interesting. The most wanted animals from ‘big five’ group ( lion, elephant, leopard,rhino and buffalo) are to watch inside natural parks, which are either public ( Kruger National Park) or private ( Maldikwe ). The latter usually feature exclusive five-star accommodation in the close neighbourhood of animals. Maldikwe and Pilanesburg reserves are located in malaria-free zone, which is popular for family holidays. But in South Africa it is not necessary to go for safari to see the wild animals. Two of the golf courses in Limpopo were built deliberately near animal reserves. As a result you can try to make a perfect stroke while disturbed by crossing zebras or antelopes.
The variety of country landscape invites to a large range of activities, the beaches are perfect for kitesurfing, the rivers for rafting and kayaking and the mountains for trekking and hiking, like the iconic Table Mountain near Cape Town. Going even more extreme, one can board a supersonic plane at Thunder City,the only civil airport offering such an experience.With the rope length of 216 m Bloukrans features one of the worlds highest bungee jumping.
South Africa offers also plenty of cultural activities, icluding visiting of former Shaka kingdom, archaeological sities with traces of humans about three mllion years old, the historical places of Zulu-British battlefields, or Soweto district and Robbins Island connected with Noble prixed Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu.
Many of internatinal carriers provide th flights to international airports in cape Town and Johannesburg. The third, new airport in Durban receives more an more flights, especially from Middle East countries.
[photo courtesy of Catherine Murray]
