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| South Africa Holidays - Destinations |
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| Temperature: |
Live Forecast |
Population: |
43.8 million |
| Time Zone: |
GMT/UTC +2 |
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Driving is on the left side of the road |
| Languages: |
Zulu
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Afrikaans
English
Tswan |
| Religion: |
Christian
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| Emergency #: |
Police Services: 10111
Ambulance: 10177
Fire and Rescue: 107
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Cape Town - This is without doubt the most beautiful city in South Africa. It has one of the most striking backdrops any city could have, the towering Table Mountain. Although the architecture is becoming more modern it still has some of the old unique buildings that were built in the early 1900’s. It has some really good beaches, although the water is cold especially on the Atlantic seaboard side and all the way to Bloubergstrand. The beaches along the False Bay coastal region are also excellent and the water is warmer and very safe for bathing. There are some exceptional vineyard estates that can be visited. Not only does Cape Town cater for the more energetic – there are some really great hikes and more leisurely walks in and around the city and up Table Mountain – there are some good parks and museums for those looking for a more relaxing holiday.
Durban – The city of Durban is situated in the north-eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal and its climate is sub-tropical. The city is definitely for the holiday-maker as the weather and the water stays warm through most of the year. It has long sandy beaches and the main attraction for surfers. The large port has been in operation since the 1850’s and is a major port for South Africa. Apart from the beaches the city has a lot to offer the visitor such as museums, an art gallery in the city hall, a huge aquarium and the Botanical Gardens. The Marine Parade on the beach front is where most of the night life is located, as are the hotels and restaurants.
The Victoria Indian Street Market in the Indian area is vibrant and has a buzz which is not found in most commercial districts in South Africa. A must see in this area is the oldest and biggest Alayam Hindu Temple and the Juma Mosque.
Johannesburg – Probably the most intriguing city of all, it is huge and full of many contrasts. Here you will find the really wealthy living next door the desperately poor, tall modern buildings surrounded by mine dumps. It is a multiracial city and most definitely the heart of South Africa. There is perhaps not has much to do here as in Cape Town and Durban but the city does have some lovely parks and walking areas. However, it is a dangerous city and crime is very high, but if you ask for advice from the locals and follow the advice given, you will find this a really fascinating place to visit.
Garden Route – This route runs along the coastline of the southern Western Cape and has some very spectacular scenery. This area is well forested and as the traveller drives through they will be assaulted by the heavily scent of fynbos (an indigenous plant species which is protected against destruction). From Mossel Bay almost all the way to Plettenberg Bay the traveller will be able to see the sea with its sandy white beaches on their right hand side. The Wilderness village is very popular and from about August to November is where you will see the whales as they travel up the coast. Around Sedgefield and Knysna you will find great tract of indigenous forests such as yellowwood trees and the commercially planted pine and eucalypt. Knysna is also famous for the Knysna elephants which are found in the forest just outside the town on the way to Plettenberg Bay. For the avid hiker there are many walking and hiking trails especially around the Tsitsikama forest reserve, especially the Otter Trail which has different types of hikes from a few hours to much longer.
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| Cape Overberg - by Vanessa from South Africa - 2005-05-30 | | The Overberg is an untouched haven of mountains, ocean, rivers and spectacular nature situated in the Western Cape, South Africa. This is a perfect holiday destination.
There are no cities in the Overberg - the region is dotted with villages and towns filled with character and hospitable locals. As you drive over the Hottentots-Holland mountains from Cape Town, the tranquility almost becomes tangible. The Overberg has an ethereal quality and is a relatively undiscovered travel destination. It lends itself to outdoor adventure as well as peaceful rejuvenation. There is much to see and do in this beautiful corner of South Africa. From diving with great white sharks to lazing on the pristine beaches or hiking through fynbos covered mountains. Just under 200 km from west to east and just over 100 km from north to south, contained in an arc of mountains, the Overberg has a myriad of contrasting landscapes that contradict its size.
Its accessibility from Cape Town and from within, along with the divergent experiences it has to offer makes the Overberg extremely explorable. Many festivals, fairs and sporting events are held in the Overberg and there is guest house, B&B, hotel and backpacker accommodation to suit every taste. |
| Cape Overberg - by Vanessa from South Africa - 2005-10-23 | | The Overberg is situated in the Western Cape, South Africa. This untouched haven of mountains, ocean, rivers and spectacular nature is a perfect holiday destination for those who travel, and a sanctuary loved by those who live here.
There are no cities in the Overberg - the region is dotted with villages and towns filled with character and hospitable locals. As you drive over the Hottentots-Holland Mountains from the Cape Peninsula, the tranquility almost becomes tangible.
The Overberg has an ethereal quality which is perhaps why so many artists have made it their home.
This region of the Western Cape is a relatively undiscovered travel destination and lends itself to outdoor adventure as well as peaceful rejuvenation. There is much to see and do in this beautiful corner of South Africa. Just under 200 km from west to east and just over 100 km from north to south, contained in an arc of mountains, the Overberg has a myriad of contrasting landscapes that contradict its size.
Its accessibility from Cape Town and from within, along with the divergent experiences it has to offer makes the Overberg extremely explore able.
Many festivals, fairs and sporting events are held in the Overberg and there is guest house, B&B, hotel and backpacker accommodation to suit every taste. |
| The Kruger National Park - by Margie from South Africa - 2006-01-18 | | This major international tourist draw card offers a wilderness experience which ranks with the best in Africa. The sight of elephant, lion, leopard, rhino and buffalo is always a thrill, especially at close range on a conducted wilderness trail. After an exciting day in the bush, sunset heralds the crackle of campfire, sundowners and shared anecdotes.
The South is part of the original Sabie Game reserve that was proclaimed in 1898 by then president Paul Kruger. It is home to some of the most popular camps in the park as the wildlife is prolific. The hippo pool with nearby bushmen paintings is a major draw card. Granite outcrops among the seringa, Marula, tamboti and wild olive trees provide scrambling platforms for klipspringer (small antelope) and viewing platforms for lions. White rhino, wild dog and leopard are common to this area. The Acacia trees provide shelter and food to the larger herbivores such as giraffe and elephant, while the Crocodile River provides twilight viewing of elephants, waterbuck, impala and the elusive predators quenching their thirst.
Summer temperatures sometimes exceed 40ş C but winters are generally mild and frost-free. The Malelane, Crocodile Bridge, Numbi and Paul Kruger gates to the park are easily reached from Nelspruit. There are daily flights from Johannesburg to the main camp, Skukuza, where cars can be hired. Your travel agent or tour operator can advise you about fly-drive packages, luxury coach tours and minibus safaris.
Best time to visit the Kruger Park: Each season has advantages. Between October and March, when summer rains have transformed the dry landscape into a flowering paradise, the park is alive with baby buck and migratory birds, but at the same time temperatures can soar above 40ş C dropping to 20ş C in the evenings. The dense foliage hides game, and the malaria risk is at its highest.
In the winter, when water is scarce and the plant life dies back, animals are easier to spot, especially at water holes and riverbeds. Because this is the most popular season, be prepared to share your sightings with other motorists. The days are warm, but temperatures can drop to almost freezing point at night. Try to avoid going during the school holidays particularly in winter, when the park is packed to capacity. |
| Colesberg, Hantam Karoo on the N1 - by Dave Lardner from South Africa - 2008-06-19 | | Colesberg, being situated in the middle of South Africa and on the N1, is the ideal stop over town for people touring the country by car. Colesberg has numerous accommodation establishments that cater for all requirements. The area is also rich in history and natural beauty and, if possible, overnight stops should be extended for a day or two. |
| Hermanus, Whales, Wine, Sharks and a huge load more.... - by Percy from South Africa - 2009-01-21 | | Hermanus is a delightfully pretty seaside town, only 1 1/2 hours from Cape Town, which is sandwiched between the very scenic horse-shoe coastline of Walker Bay and a high lofty mountain range, afew kms inland.
Hermanus offers so much to do and see; so many activities; so many restaurants and so many scenic locations, that you can be kept very busy exploring.
Regarded by WWF and Greenpeace as being one of the world's best locations to watch Whales, it holds the annual week long Whale Festival at the end of September, which attracts over 50,000 eager Whale watchers. Southern Right Whales, Humpbacks and Bryde Whales are spotted, with the highest number of 172 Whales ever being viewed in one day in October 2006 - supplied by the Hermanus Times newspaper; (the Whale watching season is from June to December each year.) 4 separate Whale Watching boat operators organise trips that will take you out to sea to meet them up very close, but cliff top viewing spots are everywhere, allowing you many great vantage points to witness these huge gentle creatures slowly swim by.
Another major attraction is Great White Shark cage diving, which is based 50 kms around the coast at Gansbaai. This is THE place in the world to do this once-in-a-lifetime activity and has attracted many famous Movie Stars, Royalty, Music Stars and nature film and TV crews. It is extremely safe and an exhilarating experience to be really so close up to these large creatures. The best visibility is during the South African winters (May to August) with the sea sometimes allowing you up to 10 to 20 metres of clear water to view them slowly glide by. The sighting “hit-rate” is about 99% all year long, with some trips having been known to witness up to 15 different individual great white sharks in only afew hours out at sea. The Great White Shark festival will be in it’s second year during late October 2008 – the only one held in the world.
Set in a World Heritage site, the Cape Floral Kingdom is amazingly colourful and has 1000’s of diverse plant species, collectively called Fynbos. Hiking and walking in the mountains and the Fernkloof Nature Reserve is also a high delight, especially during spring time – with the Hermanus Flower Festival being held in late Sept each year.
With over 70 restaurants, 2 night clubs, 2 band venues and many cafes in the town means that you will never go hungry, thirsty or bored. From - steaks, lobsters and prawns to sushi, Italian, French and many other culinary pleasures. Try Springbok steaks with chilli chocolate sauce, or Bobotie (a spicy Malay curry) and finish off your meal with a Dom Pedro alcoholic milkshake. Delicious!!
Hermanus also boasts its own Wine route in the valley called Hemel-en-Aarde (meaning “Heaven & Earth” – which is rightly named), where there are 9 amazing wineries to quoff well over 50 different wines, which range from soft white wines of Sauvignon Blanc, thro’ harsher whites like Chardonnay, to smooth Rose, to mellow reds like Pinotage and Pinot Noir and into “peppery” reds like Merlot and Shiraz. There is even one venue that has over 1,600 different types of wines, champagnes, ports, brandies and all manner of South African liquors available. Pinotage is a grape that is only grown in South Africa and is most definitely worth tasting, as it is a lovely mellow red that is easily quoff-able.
Hermanus offers so many other activities too, including - Sandboarding; Quad Biking; Micro-lighting over the Whales in Walker Bay and the spectacular tapestry of farmlands and open countryside; Paragliding off the mountains; Canoeing the vast lagoon areas; Kayaking in Walker Bay to meet up with Seals, Penguins, Whales and occasionally Dolphin; Horse riding into the mountains or along the long deserted Grotto Beach; Art and Craft Markets full of African crafts and souvenirs; Boat cruises on the sea or along rivers; Golf at our 2 large courses; Bird watching and a great Safari park is only a short distance away so that you get your African animal fix, plus many more activities.
Accommodation establishments are very good and ranges from 5 star hotels, Guest Houses, Lodges, B&B's and Backpacker Hostels.
For those wanting a scenic and relaxed (or action-packed) holiday in South Africa, Hermanus has alot to offer and is well worth a 3 to 7 day stay. |
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Drakensberg – This spectacular mountain range in KwaZulu-Natal borders eastern Lesotho and is awesome from the top and bottom. For the very energetic there are some excellent wilderness trails into the mountains and around the lower regions. There are also some good mountain-climbing opportunities. However, the best time to visit is the summer as there is plenty of snow in the winter and it is easy to get lost. The area is abundant with different types of plants for the nature lover.
Kruger National Park – For the less energetic with the only strain being to your eyes is a visit to this 105 year old national park. You will be able to see everything from ants to the ‘big five’. The park is about 60km wide and about 350km long and there is nothing to compare with seeing these wild animals in their natural habitat. Most people have probably seen African animals in zoos, but believe me, there is nothing to beat what you will experience when you visit this park. The park is very popular and booking is essential even up to a year in advance. The campsites are well developed and organised. The huts are well-organised and clean, but should you wish to rough it there are also well-maintained tent sites.
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The best way to travel in South Africa is by either hiring or buying a car, especially if you wish to cover vast distances. Public transport such as buses, trains and mini taxis are limited and can be very expensive. Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban all have international airports and there are regular local flights between them and to most of the bigger cities.
Although South Africa has some very good highways, public transport is limited and expensive. There are also two major national bus operators which are quite comfortable and travel to most of the main cities. |
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Festival of the Arts – This festival in the town of Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape, is held every year in July. You will find mainstream arts, opera and theatre performances held each day for the duration of the festival. There are also some exceptional productions performed in many of the languages which are spoken in South Africa.
Arts Alive Festival – This festival is held in Johannesburg during September and October and this is a great place to hear some extraordinary local music. There are also plenty of workshops which expose both South Africans and visitors to the rich cultures of the continent.
Pretoria Show – This show is very popular with the locals and is held in the third week of August. There is so much to see and do that it is best to take a full day so that the experience is not rushed but a relaxing day out with the family.
16 December - Day of Reconciliation
16 June Youth Day - celebrates the student uprising of 1976 which led to their liberation.
21 March - Human Rights Day – commemorates the massacre at Sharpeville
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| Hermanus Whale Festival - by Vanessa from South Africa - 2005-05-30 | | The Hermanus Whale Festival, the ultimate enviro-arts experience, is held during peak whale watching season from the 23nd – 26th September 2005. This year is the 14th Hermanus Whale Festival, and it promises to be as festive as ever! Come and enjoy an entertainment-packed festival in the town with the best land based whale watching in the world. http://www.whalefestival.co.za |
| The Grahamstown National Arts Festival - by Margie from South Africa - 2006-01-18 | | Africa's largest and most colorful cultural event offers a choice of the very best of both indigenous and imported talent. Every year for 11 days (June/July) Grahamstown's population almost doubles, as over 80 000 people flock to the city for a feast of arts, crafts and sheer entertainment.
Every hall or large room becomes a theatre, parks and sport fields become flea markets, normally quiet streets have to be managed by an army of temporary traffic wardens, and every available bed in the city is booked. The festival offers more than 500 shows from opera, cabaret, drama and jazz to stand-up comics and folk music.
From theatre to dance, opera to cabaret, fine art to craft art, classical music to jazz, poetry readings to lectures, every art form imaginable is represented in one of the most diverse festivals in the world. And there's something for every taste, with techno raves, mediaeval banquets, craft fairs, cyber cafes, carnivals, buskers and walking tours.
While many come to take in the arts, others simply want to be here for the spectacle or to market products ranging from tie-dyed T-shirts and woven rugs to handmade jewellery and customized telephones. The festival operates out of the 1820 Settlers National Monument and is organized by the Grahamstown Foundation. |
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