South Africa, a tourist’s dream

Travel writers and globetrotters agree: South Africa is one of the most beautiful and interesting countries in the world and well geared as any other as a major holiday destination. The multiple attractions the country offers have been well summarised in a slogan by South African tourism chiefs: “A world in one country”. Africa’s south, with the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Indian Ocean to the east, a coastline of more than 2,500 kilometres, deserts, mountains, plateaus, and cities of millions covering an area about three times the size of France, contain numerous climatic and scenery zones. Cape Town, the metropolis near the Cape of Good Hope and the southernmost tip of the continent, is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and is often mentioned in the same breath as Sydney, Vancouver and San Francisco because of its fantastic sea location.

The marvellous sandy beaches around Durban, one of the major cities on the Indian Ocean, are an attractive destination, as is the wine country where excellent, world-wide recognised grapes are pressed. Contrasting to this delightful landscape are the Drakens Mountains, rising to 3,800m, waterfalls and an almost untouched flora and fauna. Part of the mountain range has been turned into a national park. UNESCO even assesses it as a world nature and culture inheritance. The Kruger National Park is world famous. It extends from the Crocodile River, in South Africa’s north-east, to the Limpopo, the border river with Mozambique. The animal world in this park, which has survived for more than 100 years, is unequalled. “The Big Five” – lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffalos – can be seen living in the wild by safari tourists.

South Africa is home to more than 300 kinds of mammals, 500 kinds of birds and 100 kinds of reptiles, as well as countless sorts of insects. Kruger, however, is just one of the many nature parks and reservations. More than 25 are scattered around the country. More information you can find here. But not just South Africa’s fauna is breathtaking, as the flora is also extremely rich with about 20,000 types. The small Western Cape region is a great speciality, with approximately 8,000 different sorts of plants.

Routes along the coast, into the wine country and to the whales

South Africa is so diverse and rich that a visit to just one place would be a waste. Many travel packages include tours of several days, or several weeks, over particularly beautiful routes. One of the best known is the Garden Route, the section between Mossel Bay and Tsitsikamma National Park on the route from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth. From there, excursions to the wine cultivation areas around Stellenbosch, then on to Hermanus on the Overberg Coast where whales can be watched between August and December. More information you can find here. 

Such tourism also offers encounters with local people. Thanks to its inhabitants the country is multi-cultural, where cultures mix but also exist separately. Up till the beginning of the 1990s there was strict racial segregation. Apartheid is officially over, but is still playing a role today. The gap between rich and poor South Africans is wide. About 80 percent of the people are black Africans from various tribes. Approximately 10 percent of South Africa’s inhabitants have European roots. The remaining 10 percent are descendants of Asian immigrants. The rich culture is emphasised by the fact that there are eleven official languages, among them English and Afrikaans, akin to Dutch. 

“Joburg” the centre of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ during winter-time

English-speaking tourists have no difficulties making themselves understood in South Africa. Tourism is a branch of economy whose importance has consistently been increasing and now makes up 10 percent of the gross national product. About seven million tourists visit the country each year, with more than 500,000 of them being Germans. South Africa is thus Africa’s leading country with regards to tourism. A total of 1.2 million South Africans are directly or indirectly employed by tourism. Seven hundred hotels, 2,800 guest houses or lodges and more than 10,000 restaurants maintain a standard to satisfy tourists from all over the world. The price level is medium to low according to European and North American standards. There are, however, top luxury hotels. Many of the best quality hotels cater specially for golfers. In Sun City, a holiday retreat about 150 kilometres north-west of Johannesburg, that can be compared with the US entertainment capital, Las Vegas, the hotel complex enjoys a five star status and is visited by up to 25,000 people per day.

Johannesburg must be mentioned at all times in connection with the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ finals. Many tourists, however, steer clear of South Africa’s largest and economically most important city. Johannesburg has about 3.5 million inhabitants and is the centre of a conurbation of approximately eight million people. Safety is the biggest problem as Johannesburg has a very high crime rate. Two of the 10 stadiums where the 2010 World Cup finals will take place are located in “Joburg”. The city is situated at an altitude of about 1,800 metres. Many of the 32 participating teams will make their headquarters in this region during the World Cup. Football could be the main attraction for guests visiting the city. Those planning a visit to South Africa between June 11 and July 11, 2010, should realise this. They will be visiting the continent at winter-time, not the best season for travelling in South Africa. However, the weather is not too bad in the highlands around Johannesburg, compared to the Cape region where it can rain extensively. But darkness comes early everywhere. The best time for travelling is between December and March, but then the best accommodation can be fully booked. South Africa – certainly a dream country for tourists, but planning is important. Visitors who want to drive themselves, should particularly check all information. Please read also the following article: Give way to elephants.