South Africa Travel Guide

One of the world's most diverse countries, South Africa lies at the southernmost part of the African continent. It is bordered to the N by Botswana and Zimbabwe, to the NE by Mozambique and Swaziland and to the NW by Namibia.

The most popular tourist destination of the African nations, South Africa has everything a tourist could wish for from beaches to safaris, from majestic mountains to green winelands and a culture that has been shaped by political extremes, wealth and poverty. A holiday to South Africa can take you from one extreme to the other.

South Africa is a heady mix of third and first world cultures - along with the best and least crowded beaches in the world. Further inland this country offers a wealth of safari experiences, from verdant subtropical beach forests to the sublime isolation of the desert and the world famous Kruger National Park.

Notable cities and other destinations in South Africa include:

• Pretoria – The administrative capital of the country.
• Cape Town – The legislative capital and seat of Parliament. A world-class city named for its proximity to the Cape of Good Hope. Also within a stone's throw of South Africa's winelands. One of the most beautiful cities in the world, nestled between the sea and Table Mountain, it is a popular summer destination by both domestic tourists and those from abroad.
• Bloemfontein – Location of the Supreme Court of Appeal, the highest court in non-constitutional matters. The Constitutional Court in Johannesburg became the highest court in constitutional matters in 1994.
• Durban – Largest city in KwaZulu-Natal, third largest in South Africa and popular coastal holiday destination for South Africans.
• Johannesburg – The economic heart of Africa and the most common entry point into Southern Africa.
• Polokwane – Capital of Limpopo (formally known as Pietersburg) and a good jump off point for visits to the northern parts of the Kruger National Park and Zimbabwe.
• Port Elizabeth – Coastal city in the Eastern Cape with Addo Elephant National Park located close by.
• Kimberley -- Capital of the Northern Cape Province. Famous for its diamonds and "Big Hole".
• Upington – Located in the arid Northern Cape province, this city is a good base when exploring the Kalahari desert and the many national parks located in the Northern Cape.
• The Kruger National Park is exceptionally well managed and a favorite tourist destination.
• Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in the heart of the Kalahari desert with wide open spaces and hordes of games including the majestic 'Gemsbok'. This is the first park in Africa to cross political borders.
• The Cradle of Humankind, near Johannesburg is a must see for anyone interested in where it all started. A large collection of caves rich in hominid and advanced ape fossils.
• Robben Island just off the coast from Cape Town where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for many years.
• The Cape Floral Region in the Western Cape
• iSimangaliso Wetland Park
• Mapungubwe Kingdom, in the North-West
• Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park, for its landscape, biodiversity and rock art.
• Vredefort Dome, remnants of the largest and oldest meteorite impact crater.

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