Travel in South Africa – Hotels, South Africa Vacations, Lodging, Trips, Attractions and Travel Guide

South Africa: Traveling Amongst The Diversity

Taken in the Western Cape, South Africa

South Africa is located on the southern tip of Africa. The country borders both the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. South Africa has a long coastline that stretches 1,550 miles. The majority of the climate here is temperate because of bordering the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. South Africa is diverse in culture, religions, and languages.

The wine country of South Africa is world famous. Some of the best wines in the world are now being produced here. The areas of Stellenbosch, Paarl, and Franschoek are now being considered as a World Heritage Cultural Landscape. Wine has been produced in these regions for over 300 years. The beauty of the landscape welcomes visitors with the vines stretching across the green hills. Some of the grapes grown in the regions are Colombard, Cinsaut, and Pinotage. Tourists are welcome at all of the wineries. Guests can have a guided tour of the vineyards. The tours show visitors how the grapes are grown, harvested, and then aged at the peak of perfection. At the end of most tours, guests are treated to a sample of wine. This makes for a great side trip from the many national parks in South Africa.

Kruger National Park is the oldest park in South Africa. The park was first established in 1898 and is one of the best safari experiences in all of South Africa. The park is about five hours north of Johannesburg, but well worth the drive. Krueger National Park boasts the most wildlife in all of Africa. The animals seen most frequently in the park are elephants, cheetahs, hippos, lions, and crocodiles. There are 363 different types of trees, 147 species of mammals, and 507 varieties of birds that call the park home. The park is a world leader in conservation and techniques in park management. Kruger National Park houses many primitive rock paintings by bushman and archeological sites like, Thulamela and Masorini. A trip to South Africa would not be complete without touring Kruger National Park.

Boulder Beach is on the Cape Peninsula just outside of Cape Town. What makes this beach so unusual, is the penguins swimming in the waters and parading around on the sand. The penguin colony on Boulder Beach is about 3,000 birds. The waters are teeming with these black and white birds. A popular past time at the beach is swimming in the waters with the penguins. It is against the law to touch or feed the penguins, but visitors can get pretty close to these amazing creatures. During the months of November to December the birds are molting and look a little shabby. Boulder Beach is a one of a kind experience for natives and tourists alike.

Table Mountain is a huge sandstone slab right in the middle of Cape Town. The mountain is often shrouded with clouds commonly known as the mountain's tablecloth. Table Mountain is home to over 1,400 species of plants, some mammals, and 100 plus invertebrates. Visitors to the mountain can hike the trails up to the top or take a cable car. The views from the top of Table Mountain are amazing. On a clear day visitors can see all the way to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years. The mountain also has great views of the coastline and Cape Town. Table Mountain has much to offer visitors and is a great place to take some wonderful pictures.

The Cape Grace Hotel is located on the shores of Cape Town. The five star luxury hotel is close to shopping, restaurants, and nightlife. The rooms at the Cape Grace, offer views of the yacht marina and Signal Hill. Guests are made to feel at home in this opulent setting at the Cape Grace Hotel. The Frankschoek Country House and Villa is nestled in the valley of Frankschoek wine country. The country retreat is characterized by the personal service and eye for detail. The in-house restaurant is rated one of the best in South Africa. The Frankschoek Country House and Villas are just minutes from wineries and other Frankschoek attractions.

South Africa is as vast and unique as the culture that inhabits this country. The country has a wide variety of attractions and a diverse landscape for visitors to explore. Visitors will agree that South Africa is more than just a safari.