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South Africa General Information |
- Area: 1 219 912km²
- Capital: There are three Capitals in South Africa: Pretoria is the administrative; Cape Town is the legislative and Bloemfontein is the judicial capital
- Currency: Rand
- Climate: Warm and sunny summers (October-April), getting warmer in the north - winter rainfall only in Cape Province (June to August).
- People: Black (75.2%), White (13.6%), Coloured (8.6%), Indian (2.6%)
- Official language: 11 official languages, including English
- Time: GMT plus two hours
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South Africa is situated on the southern tip of the African continent. South Africa has often been described as a world in one country... It has a wealth of natural beauty, pristine wilderness areas, warm and friendly people, cosmopolitan cities and excellent infrastructure - making South Africa a favorite safari destination. South Africa is bordered on the north by Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, and on the north-east by Mozambique and Swaziland. Lesotho is contained entirely inside the borders of South Africa.
History & Background: Europeans set up a halfway station for ships traveling to the East at the Cape of Good Hope in the 17th century. The Dutch were the first to govern this area until the English took over in the 18th century. In 1948 , the Afrikaner-dominated National Party came into power, implementing Apartheid - which was designed to segregate racial groups and repress the black population. South Africa is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in Africa, and has the largest white population on the African continent. Racial and ethnic strife have played a large role in much of the country's history and politics. Resistance led by the African National Congress (ANC) prompted the first democratic elections in 1994 . Under charismatic leader Nelson Mandela, the country then started its slow growing curve towards a better life for all its citizens.
Best Game Viewing and Travel Months: The northern regions are best enjoyed during winter from May through to September. The temperatures are mild, the bush is dry and less dense and the wildlife viewing is superb. This is where the Kruger National Park is situated which has fair game viewing from November to May, good game viewing in June and July and excellent game viewing in August to October. The southern parts are most pleasant during summer from October to March. The days are hot and sunny and you can’t beat the Cape Town weather in December through to March. The best time to see the flowers of the Cape is in Spring. Whales arrive to the Cape Town coast from July onwards – which the best place in the world to view the Southern Right whales from the Coastline.
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Main Attractions in South Africa |
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
World-famous wildlife haven - The Kruger National Park is home to 507 bird species, 147 kinds of mammal and many different species of other creatures great and small.
It is internationally known as one of the best game reserves in the world, due to excellent management, huge animal diversity and great infrastructure.
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GARDEN ROUTE
Beautiful scenery and many activities - The stunning Garden Route refers to the lovely towns, lakes and forests nestled on the southern coastline of this magnificant country. Fantastic beaches and great activities abound, such as: Africa's highest bungi jump at the 216m Bloukrans bridge; hiking and kloofing, shark diving at Gansbaai and a breathtaking underground world at the Cango Caves.
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CAPE TOWN
One of the most beautiful cities in the world - The cosmopolitan area of Cape Town offers a historic and vibrant city with lovely beaches and many scenic attractions like the Cape of Good Hope nature reserve, which features Cape Point - the dramatic south-westernmost point of the African continent.
Just outside Cape Town lies the Cedarberg Mountains which is a harsh, yet geologically impressive region.
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WINELANDS
Historic wine estates and award-winning wines - Just outside of Cape Town lies the picturesque Winelands with green rolling hills which are dotted with old vineyards and grand old manor houses in the Cape Dutch architectural style. This area is several hundred years old and many of these estates produce award-wining wines that are known throughout the world. Delightful Winelands towns like Stellenbosch and Franschhoek delight visitors time and again.
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KWAZULU-NATAL
A balmy climate and loads of attractions - KwaZulu-Natal is one of South Africa’s favourite holiday destinations due to the year-round pleasant climate, fantastic beaches and warm Indian Ocean. The capital city, Durban, is a bustling seaport and a cultural melting pot.
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KwaZulu-Natal also offers stunning game reserves, as well as, lush wetlands, historical sites and the Drakensberg Mountains - which are a World Heritage Site with loads of activities to enjoy...
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ADDO ELEPHANT NATIONAL PARK
The Addo Elephant National Park was founded in 1931 in the Eastern Cape, near Port Elizabeth, to protect the last eleven elephants that remained in the area. Since this time the park has expanded and is now home to numerous mammals, birds, fish and reptiles.
The herd of elephants has increased to 420 and the park is also sanctuary to over 40 of the endangered black rhinos.
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Besides the “big five” ( lion, buffalo, elephant, leopard, rhinos) this area also includes; antelopes, zebras, hyenas, warthogs, baboons, springboks... and many more other species can be spotted.
Bird-lovers can enjoy over 150 bird species including; ostriches, waterfowl, many raptors and smaller birds. Furthermore Addo also has various species of reptiles and amphibians, such as snakes, tortoises, lizards, frogs and toads.
This biodiversity is due to the unique natural variety of the Addo Elephant National Park which consists of five of South Africa’s seven major biomes. Grassland, nama-karoo in the arid north, fynbos around the Zuurberg mountain range, thicket mainly in the original Addo and forest near the coasts and at the Sundays River - comparatively Kruger National Park has only one biome.
But the success story of Addo Elephant Park hasn’t finished yet. There are plans to extend the park from 148 000 to 360 000 hectares into a marine protected area. This will bring new highlights into Addo, such as the world’s largest breeding colony of Cape Gannets and African Penguins, and extend the “big five” to the “ big seven” (including whales and great white sharks).
The park offers the best game viewing possibilities in a malaria-free area and additionally is in possession of a rich heritage of archaeological and historical sites.
Accommodations and activities for all tastes are offered as well as an a-la-cart restaurant.
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GREATER ST LUCIA
The St. Lucia Wetland Park is the union of thirteen neighboring protected areas including Lake St.Lucia, Maputaland Marine Reserve, the coastal Forest Reserve and the Kosi Bay Natural Reserve. This jewel of South Africa's coastline stretches along the Zululand coast from Mapelane in the south to Sodwana in the north. It is the third largest park in South Africa with 234,566 hectares in total and is the first park which was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1999.
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The Park overwhelms one with its natural diversity. This region is comprised of coral reefs, amazing sandy beaches, dunes, swamps, wetlands, woodlands, costal forests and Africa's largest estuarine system with the famous St. Lucia Lake. The lake runs parallel to the coast, separated from the Indian Ocean by the world's highest forested sand dunes. Due to the mixture of salt and fresh water, through a canal, and the combination of the subtropical and tropical Africa, the park was able to generate a unique variety of species including 521 bird species. The park supports more species of animals than Kruger National Park or the Okavango Delta. You can also spot leopards, antelopes, bush pigs, buffalos, black and white rhinos to mention just a few, and experience the highest crocodile and hippo population of all the animal parks in the country.
Another highlight is the endangered nestling Loggerhead and Leatherback turtles on the beaches. Visitors who prefer the underwater world can do one of the world's best scuba dives and keep an eye on giant Manta Rays, Ragged-Tooth or Whale Sharks and admire the coral garden. In addition, St. Lucia Wetland Park is South Africa's most popular fishing destination and offers wonderful hiking trails, stretching from a few hours to a few days in length. Other activities which can be done are whale watching, boating or horse-riding. The combination of a subtropical coastline and a classic African game park makes this park a unique adventure!
Accommodations can range from camping to private game lodges and have something for everybody.
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HLUHLUWE-UMFOLOZI NATIONAL PARK
Founded in 1895 , Hluhluwe Umfolozi National Park is the oldest game reserve in South Africa and covers 96000 hectares. Located in the heart of Zululand, KwaZulu Natal, the park is one of the most popular " big five" wildlife safari and tour destinations. Since the time that the Zulu kings hunted to the first conservation laws a lot has changed in the park but it's never lost his attraction.
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During the 1960 's 'operation rhino' took place and successfully relocated white rhinos into havens in South Africa and abroad. Today the reserve holds at least a fifth of the world's black and white rhino population. Due to its rich diversity of tree and plant life, over 300 species of birds and a large variety of game can be found! Viewing hides enable visitors to see the big five ( lion, buffalo, elephant, rhino and leopard), giraffes, hippos, wild dogs, cheetahs, nyala's, jackals, zebras and many more wandering through pans or drinking at the waterholes. You can explore the park via car, day walks, game drives, boat tours or wilderness trails - for which the park is seen as a bench mark throughout Africa. The Hluhluwe Umfolozi Park is able to offer its guests an unforgettable experience as it has one of the best conservation teams in the world!
Your stay is perfected with your choice of a wide range of accommodation, from bush camps to luxury lodges.
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OVERBERG
Lovely countryside and excellent whale watching - The Overberg region of South Africa is the picturesque and southernmost region of the African continent with rolling hills, scenic cottages and lovely seaside resorts.
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South Africa’s Overberg offers numerous attractions and activities: from whale watching and wine tasting to water sports, hiking, mountain biking and much more...When choosing to explore the Overberg, you have a choice of various establishments to use as a base - ranging from stylish hotels to comfortable guest lodges.
The main towns of the Overberg are Greyton, Arniston and Hermanus.
Greyton : Nestled in a fertile valley and flanked by awesome mountains - Greyton is a peaceful village with excellent mountain walks.
Arniston : A little fishing village less than 2 hours from Cape Town.
Hermanus : Hermanus also boasts unspoilt beaches and is South Africa’s top whale watching destination!
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PILANESBERG NATIONAL PARK
The Pilanesberg National Park is one of the largest parks in South Africa - located in a 1.200 million year old volcano crater, the Pilanesberg rates highly amongst the world's outstanding geological phenomena.
The park covers over 55 000 hectares and combines two vegetation zones, the dry Kalahari and wetter Lowveld vegetation.
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At the heart of the park is Lake Mankwe, which is found in the center of this alkaline ring complex and reflects the whole beauty of the park.
Besides the amazing and unique scenery, the park provides habitats for a huge amount of wildlife and birdlife! After its opening in 1979 , there was the largest game resettlement project in the history of South Africa. The operation "Genesis" was launched to rehabilitate the land and over 6 000 animals from other parks were settled here. Now the park is home to Africa's " Big Five" as well as giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, springboks, as well as for some endemic species such as the nocturnal brown hyena, the fleet-footed cheetah and the majestic sable to mention just a few. Bird-lovers are smitten by the over 300 bird species and the possibilities to watch them. There is an aviary and a self-guided trail to learn about all the animals you may see in this area. You can go for game viewing by foot or by car on the nearly 200 kilometers of excellent roads!
The best time to visit Pilanesberg National Park, as well as, for game viewing is in the dry cool winter period between May and August. There is a lot of accommodation available here, from up-market lodges to caravans and camping facilities. The Pilanesberg National Park is found close to the entertainment complex Sun City, many of the locals and overseas visitors make their way to this great African Park where they can experience real African wilderness.
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UKHAHLAMBA
The Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park is a two hour drive from Durban and a four hour drive from Gauteng and takes you to one of South Africa's most popular eco tourist destinations. The park covers 243,000 ha and impresses one with its remarkable and natural beauty.
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Enjoy Africa's highest mountain range which is south of Kilimanjaro, this area includes; amazing sandstone cliffs, descending waterfalls, flowing valleys, unspoiled forests and crystal clear rivers making their way through the park. This diverse scenery includes the famous Amphitheater at Royal Natal whose habitat includes some of the rarest animals in the world. You can spot black eagles, bearded vultures, herds of antelopes, mountain reedbuck or the endangered cranes and blue swallows. But the real highlight of this park are the 30,000 individually painted rock paintings! Ukhahlamba has the richest and most concentrated series of rock art in South Africa, made by the San over a period of 4,000 years. In 2000 the park was deservedly appointed as a natural and historical World Heritage site by UNESCO.
A wide range of activities are offered to explore the wildlife and scenery with all of its attractions. You can experience the area via self-guided trails, hiking, canoeing or riding. Enjoy this area with some fly-fishing, bird watching, swimming or painting, or experience the thrill of rock-climbing or mountain biking.
The same diversity can be found by the range of accommodations. The visitors have the choice of luxury lodges, cottages, chalets, rustic mountain huts and over night caves.
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WEST COAST
World famous display of spring flowers - When visiting the West Coast of South Africa, you will marvel at the contrasts to the other parts of the Western Cape. In spite of initially appearing stark and barren, the West Coast contains many hidden treasures!
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The West Coast of South Africa is probably most famous for its display of wild flowers during the spring season - drawing scores of tourists from all over the world to the see the carpets of colours across wide open plains. There are many quaint towns all along the coast that offer a welcome break from the bustle of the city.
The West Coast also offers the Cedarberg Mountain range where there is a wide selection of hiking and walking trails as well as San rock art.
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