South Africa is a nation of exceptional natural beauty with a rich cultural heritage. A world in one country, with a rolling panorama of tropical forests, lush green pastures, craggy mountains, golden beaches, arid deserts and perhaps the most spectacular wildlife in the world.
Top Highlights
Johannesburg & surrounds
This is the main gateway city in South Africa. Most travellers stay in the Sandton area, where most of the hotels and shopping centres are located. Gold Reef City (8 kms south) provides a sense of what the city was like after prospectors poured into the area in the late 19th century. Here you will find rides, a Victorian Fun Fair, and reconstructions of a bank, brewery, pub and newspaper office.
A tour of Soweto is an eye opener and a must if you have time.
Sun City is only two hours from Johannesburg and is a glittering international resort in the midst of the bush.
Madikwe Game Reserve is one of the country’s largest reserves, located on the edge of the Kalahari Desert. The “Big Five” plus the endangered wild dog are present in this malaria-free reserve. Madikwe is the ideal self-drive destination, only 4 hours from Johannesburg, or a 40 minute flight. An ideal combo is Sun City and Madikwe.
Kruger National Park
This world famous park offers some of the best game viewing in Africa. The park is a five hour drive from Johannesburg and is serviced by flights from Johannesburg (1 hour) and Cape Town to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) near Nelspruit, and also Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport (HDS). Skukuza Airport is now for charter flights only.
The park was established in 1898 to protect the wildlife in the Southern African Lowveld. It is nearly 2 million hectares, and is home to a large number of species (147 species of mammals, 507 bird species, 114 reptile species, 49 species of fish and 34 types of amphibians, plus 336 species of trees). Travellers can choose from escorted tours ex Johannesburg, accommodation within the park itself or there are a number of private concession areas adjoining the park, that offer completely flexible safaris by 4WD off road and walking tours.
Private Game Reserves:
Cape Town & Winelands region
Is dominated by the 1086 metre high Table Mountain and surrounded by vineyards, beaches and hiking trails. The cableway up Table Mountain is well worth the ride (doesn’t operate in windy conditions), and the views are magnificent.
The renowned Victoria & Alfred Waterfront (commonly known as the V&A or Waterfront) is packed with restaurants, bars and shops and is open daily until 9pm.
Robben Island, a UN World Heritage Site is where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, and your guide on the island will be a former inmate. The 2 1/2 hour tour takes you through the old prison, as well as a 45 minute bus ride around the island with commentary. NB: Tours to Robben Island must be booked direct in Cape Town (due to weather conditions), Adventure World can not book this tour.
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, are almost exclusively devoted to indigenous plants, and include a fragrance garden, a Braille Trail and a section of plants used for traditional medicines and by healers.
The Cape Peninsula is a 75 km promontory where tourists visit the meeting of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, although the true divide is at Cape Agulhas. You can walk up to the lighthouse at the top or take the funicular railway (at a cost).
Simon’s Town, a naval town and base since colonial times. This attractive Victorian town has a pretty harbour, some great art galleries and is near Boulders Beach. At Boulders Beach you will find a protected penguin colony, home to around 3000 African penguins.
The Winelands Region is within an hour’s drive of Cape Town, and is where you will find the small villages of Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek and a great place to spend a couple of days sampling the wine and food.
The Garden Route
The Garden Route stretches from Slangriver at Heidelberg to the Tsitsikamma forest and Storms River in the east. It is a picturesque area with golden beaches, indigenous forests with giant yellowwood trees, lakes and rivers.
Port Elizabeth (aka PE) on the Eastern Cape’s picturesque coastline is where many travellers fly into and pick up a rental car to explore the surrounding areas before heading down the Garden Route to Cape Town or staying at the nearby Game Reserves of Kwandwe and Shamwari. This is an ideal self-drive destination and the towns of Knysna, George, Mossel Bay, Jeffrey's Bay and the stunning Plettenberg Bay are well worth a visit. Cango Caves, Outeniqua range, Knysna National Lake Area, Cape Seal and Oudtshoorn’s ostrich farms are just some of the many things to see and do along the way.
Luxury Rail Journeys
The Blue Train
Take a journey into a timeless world of grace, elegance and romance where spectacular scenery combines with luxurious comfort. Train travels between Pretoria to Cape Town.
Rovos Rail
The Pride of Africa combines the opulence of pre-war travel with subtle modern innovations. Routes: Cape to George; Pretoria to Cape Town; Pretoria to Victoria Falls; Pretoria to Durban; Pretoria to Swakopmund (Namibia) and Cape Town to Dar de Salaam (Tanzania).
The Shongololo Express
Travel comfortably at night, awakening in a new place every morning. Three itineraries: Johannesburg to Cape Town; Windhoek to Cape Town; and Johannesburg to Victoria Falls.
More Highlights
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Pretoria
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Durban
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Kimberley
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Bloemfontein
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Lesotho
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Swaziland