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When it comes to African countries that people visit regularly, one of the most popular is South Africa. This country, aptly named due to its location at the very southern tip of the African continent, is one of the more popular choices for people making their first visit to the area. With a rich Dutch heritage, South Africa feels like a long, lost Dutch colony, rather than somewhere in Africa. While it does have its African influences in culture, art, music and food, it’s all combined extremely well with its European past to create the perfect jumping off point for people visiting Africa for the first time. Here’s a couple of the top things you can do in South Africa – and why you should check it out his year.
Cape Town – Table Mountain
Table Mountain is probably one of the most iconic images of Cape Town. Seen from throughout the city, the mountain is an impressive sight and can be climbed the good old fashioned way or you can take a cable car up to the top if you’re not fit enough or don’t have enough time to climb it yourself. Table Mountain offers some seriously stunning panoramic views of the surrounding area from the top, especially on days where your view is not obscured by mist. Other peaks that join Table Mountain such as Devil’s Peak and Lion’s Head can be viewed from the top of the mountain with Signal Hill, Robben Island and Table Bay also being visible from the top of Table Mountain. If you’re planning a trip to South Africa, book yourself a cheap flight to Cape Town and make sure to take in this impressive mountain and the stunning views it provides.
Wineries
We all know that one of the main things that South Africa is famous for is its wine. With numerous vineyards and wineries to be found in the vicinity of Cape Town, it’s easy to book a tour or three to really get a good feel for the life and times of South African wines. Some of the more prominent vineyards include Dieu Donne Vineyard, a beautiful expanse of land set in a valley in the Winelands, allowing truly unique and beautiful natural surroundings to accompany your wine tastings. Warwick Wine Estates is another fantastic vineyard for those who are discerning when it comes to their wines and offers a family friendly take on wine tasting with lots to entertain the kids while the parents enjoy wines in their beautiful garden areas.
Many of the vineyards in the Winelands offer accommodation options so you don’t need to worry about driving back to the city and can extend your wine tastings well into the evening to watch the sunset behind the high mountains and rolling hills of the countryside. Without a doubt, booking wine tours while in the area is something that you simply must do. Don’t miss out on sampling some of South Africa’s finest – you won’t regret it.
Spring Flower Tours
Each spring, the hills throughout the country come alive with different types of spring flowers blooming. There are absolute carpets strewn throughout the countryside, attracting tourists and visitors from not just other parts of South Africa but from around the world. If you want to see this impressive display for yourself, be sure to remember the changes in dates with South Africa being in the southern hemisphere and as a result, the spring season starts in September. If you like hiking, consider taking one of the popular hiking trails such as the Swart Tobie Trail near the town of Koekenapp or the Sevilla Rock Art Trail in the Cedarberg, both of which have impressive floral displays in the spring.
Kruger National Park
What’s a trip to an African nation without a safari? Most people would probably think you’re a bit funny if you go to Africa and don’t go on a safari. Luckily for you, Kruger National Park is an ideal place for safari and adventure enthusiasts who want to experience all the wonderful wildlife that Africa has to offer. Not only is Kruger National Park one of the best places in the country to go on safari, but it’s also got a huge array of different types of safari packages with safari companies that cater to budgets and tastes of all kinds. Whether you have money to burn and are looking for something extravagant or you are on a bit of a budget, Kruger National Park is the place for you.
So whether it’s your first time in Africa as a whole or you’ve travelled throughout it before, South Africa has a little something for everyone who is looking for adventure and excitement in a new, wonderful place where there’s something to experience at every turn.