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Top 10 things to do and see in South AfricaBY: Ben Moller-Butcher | Category: South Africa | Submitted: 2011-04-21 09:32:07
Boasting over 21 National Parks, numerous World Heritage Sites, a wonderful climate and some phenomenal adventure opportunities, South Africa is guaranteed to provide all those willing to seek adventure with an unforgettable journey of a lifetime. Having travelled through South Africa, I hope to sum up a few things I would recommend you do should you ever get the chance to visit. 1) Walk/horse safari Boasting the 'big five', there are fantastic opportunities to live out your African wildlife fantasy, but some of the best advice would be to go off the beaten track and experience a walk or horse-riding safari. Out of the safety of your 4x4 armoured vehicle the African bush takes on a whole new meaning. Exposed to the elements and wildlife, you will experience some heart stopping and thrilling encounters (which I found out the hard way when charged by rhinos while trekking on foot!) 2) Cradle of humankind As a world heritage site, the cradle of humankind offers you the opportunity to visit the world renowned Sterkfontein caves, the site where famous discoveries include a pre-human skull known as 'Mrs Ples' and an almost complete hominid skeleton called 'Little foot'. This region is a site of ongoing scientific discovery, and offers a fantastic educational experience, offering insight and allow you to reflect on who we are, our origins and where we are going. 3) God's window This site is situated in the Mpumulanga province which is aptly known as Paradise country and rightly so! Along this panoramic route that follows the Drakensburg mountain escarpment, you will see some magnificent views of canyons, waterfalls and rock formations. The majestic cliffs, ravines and panoramic views are truly breathtaking! 4) Sardine run I have been fortunate enough to witness this natural spectacle which hits the 'wild coast' of South Africa every year in June/July. The deep blue seas turn to glistening and undulating swathes of silver sardines in their millions, followed by unbelievable gatherings of hundreds of sharks, superpods of dolphins, whales and seals! It was an experience that I will never forget, and I am already planning my next trip to see this dazzling wildlife extravaganza once again. 5) Winelands There are a number of wine growing areas in South Africa, but the most scenic in my opinion are found in the Cape, including the areas of Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek. Not only is the setting beautiful, with uninterrupted stretches of vineyards, purple mountains and whitewashed gabled houses and coffee shops, but you also get the chance to sample some of the world's best wine! 6) Bloukrans bungy jump No self respecting adrenalin junkie should ever miss the opportunity to jump off the infamous Bloukraans bridge. It is the ultimate thrill, being the highest commercially operated bungy jump bridge in the world at 216m, and it goes without saying that this experience is not for those that are faint hearted! 7) Boulders beach South Africa often boasts of its 3000km of coastline with thousands of beaches for every reason. From beautiful endless stretches of white sand where you can walk for miles without bumping into others, to water sport and bustling beaches. With all this choice, I have to say that the most memorable beach for me was Boulders beach near Cape Town, the unlikely home for a colony of African Jackass penguins. From just two breeding pairs settling in 1982, the colony has grown to some 3000, and it is a truly odd but wonderful experience to share the beach and surrounding streets with these enigmatic penguins! 8) Cultural villages South Africa is a hotpot of different cultures and traditions, evident from the fact that there are twelve national languages! From the Shakaland, home to the infamous Zulu's, to the colourful Bosotho cultural villages, there are plenty of opportunities to immerse yourself in the cultural back bone of South Africa, with tribal dances and rituals that give South Africa some of its defining features. 9) Kalahari desert and Namaqualand Should you have any spare time I would highly recommend visiting this rugged and scenic region, so you can experience a whole other facet to South Africa. The region is situated in South Africa's biggest and least populated province, and you will be staggered by the open expanse and blue skies. In conjunction with the botanical and scenic beauty, there is the opportunity to take part in thrilling 4x4, quad-biking trails, or canoeing or white-water rafting trips down the Orange river, an adrenalin junkie and adventure lovers paradise. 10) Cape Floral Region This region is one of South Africa's seven world heritage sites, and is one of the hottest spots for plant diversity in the world! Over 8 500 plant species thrive in an area of 90 000 sq kilometres, and to put this into perspective, in the British Isles there are only 1492 species in 308 000 sq km land! Apart from its ecological importance, the sea of colours, smells and beauty of the region in flowering season is breathtaking! Article Source: http://articles.travelandtourisminfo.com/ About Author / Additional Info: Tabitha Jones was writing for Frontier who specialise in volunteer abroad projects (http://www.frontier.ac.uk) and gap year adventures (http://www.frontier.ac.uk/Volunteer/Gap-Year.aspx). Frontier was established in 1989 as a non-profit conservation and development NGO. Comments on this article: (0 comments so far)
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