South Africa Travel World | Trip to South Africa | South Africa Holidays

The Republic of South Africa is located at the southernmost tip of Africa. It is also a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. In addition, it has the largest economy in Africa, primarily because of the number of important cities that it has; and is also reputed to be the 24th largest economy in the world. Needless to say, this Republic is the most developed commercially, infrastructure wise, and socially. Although South Africa too was colonized by Europeans, its colonization history starts a lot earlier, in the early 17th century; by the Dutch. Although, the apartheid system was born here, South Africa managed eventually to overcome the system and to move on as one.

The social beauty of this country lies in its ethnic diversity. Many African tribes, Asians notably Indians, Europeans, urban Africans and English live in harmony. Each group retains its ethnicity and culture in food, customs, music etc. South Africa takes great pride in its culture and has made many contributions in the field of music, namely jazz, and African folk music. One must appreciate the fact that the present day laws are made in keeping with changing times. South Africa was one of the few countries to legalize same sex marriages. That kind of tolerance is reflected throughout the land. There are eleven official languages including English and Afrikaans, whereas eight non-official languages are also recognized.  The country also in effect has three capitals- Pretoria, which is the executive capital, Bloemfontein, which is the judicial capital, and Cape Town, which is the legislative capital.

It is not uncommon to hear the name of South Africa, when it comes to many sporting events namely cricket, football and rugby.     However, this country has many world-class cities with much to offer, in addition to having some of the world’s most premium tourist destinations. Let us begin by taking a look at some of the prime cities-

1. Johannesburg- Often termed as the most populous city in SA, and is considered to be one among the forty metros in the world. This place is renowned for its diamond and gold trade, which is very important to the economy. However, tourists have a lot to see here. The Apartheid Museum, dedicated to apartheid, and cites the 20th century history of SA,     is considered a must see. Johannesburg is home to the largest game reserve in Africa, and one of the best in the world- the Kruger National Park. This park is divided into 6 ecosystems, and is home to more than 500 species of birds, more than 120 species of reptiles and amphibians and many species of mammals. The Johannesburg zoo where one can spot the rare white lion, is also a great place to visit. A number of limestone caves otherwise known as Sterkfontein, is important to archaeologists as a number of hominid remains have been excavated here. If you are a lover of art, then do not miss the art gallery with a wide range of paintings from all over the world.
2. Pretoria- Pretoria holds its distinction for being one of the capital cities, and more importantly for being the home of many academic institutions. It is a beautiful city with much flora all around, and with different ethnic groups staying here too. One can visit the National Zoological Gardens of SA, which is the national zoo of the continent, with its own varieties of flora and fauna. The Church Square is the historic center of the city. It has a few statues and is surrounded by other important buildings such as the Palace of Justice and the Tudor Chambers. Menlyn Park, which is the biggest shopping center here, is a good place to visit especially if you wish to pick up ethnic articles from here. Museums such as the Kruger House Museum, and the Transvaal Museum which is a natural history museum, are also worth visiting.
3. Cape Town- It has the third largest population in SA, and is arguably the most popular tourist destination in Africa. There are many natural and man-made spots to visit here. The Table Mountain National Park, which protects the Table Mountain chain is beautiful to see. One can either hike or take the cable car to reach the mountaintop. The lovely beaches in Cape Town are divided into three types based on the sand and location- False Bay, Atlantic Seaboard and West Coast. Each of them have atleast 10 beaches in each category. Water sports such as water skiing and surfing are very popular here. Since this city was an important stronghold of the Dutch, many such influences especially in architecture can also be seen. An annual carnival called the Klopse, where many musicians line the street and parade, is very popular here and is world famous.  A good way to end a day of activities is to relax at any of the pubs or restaurants here, for which Cape Town is famous.

The rest of SA besides these three cities also has much to offer. Port St Johns, located on the Wild Coast is a beautiful getaway for tourists interested in relaxing and enjoying natural settings. This little village also has many legends to tell. The Namaqualand in the northern cape, is unique as in spring time, the land which is otherwise a desert bursts into full bloom, earning its reputation for being one of the most unusual deserts in the world. Robben Island, which is visited by ferry from cape Town, is an important World Heritage Site. This place is famous for being the prison where Nelson Mandela, and a few other inmates were kept during the Apartheid era. A visit here unlocks many tales of the past.

To sum up, South Africa can best be described in one word- indescribable. It has something for everyone whether you are an archaeologist, a painter, a writer, a nature enthusiast or simply a person on a holiday. The fantastic hotels and other facilities here ensure that your trip is made complete in more than ways than one.

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