Tourist Places to Visit in South Africa, Africa

Tourist Places to Visit in South Africa, Africa

South Africa is an African country situated in the extreme south of the continent, having a total of 2,798 kilometers of coastline on the Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean. To the north, South Africa is bordered by Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia and to the east by Mozambique and Swaziland, while a small country, Lesotho, is located within the South African territory. Pretoria (administrative), Bloemfontein (judicial) and Cape Town (legislative) are the three capitals of South Africa.

South Africa is the 25^th largest country in the globe both in terms of population (around 53 million people) and area (around 1,221,037 sq. km.). The tourism industry of South Africa characterizes enthralling national parks, splendid historical sites and palatial festival celebrations.

History of South Africa:

According to several human fossil sites discovered in the different regions of the country, South Africa was first settled thousands of years ago. Although the Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias was the first European to visit South Africa, the Dutch initiated colonization in South Africa in 1652, led by Jan van Riebeeck. South Africa fell under the British rule at the end of the 18^th century, gained nominal independence in 1910, full sovereignty in 1931 and became a republic country in 1961.

Getting South Africa:

The Cape Town International in Cape Town and OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg are the two prime airports of South Africa, of which the latter is the most important, having direct flights from numerous global destinations, including London, Mumbai, Dubai and New York.

The road transportation of South Africa is well extended to all the major cities and towns, from south to north and east to west. South Africa also has intercity railway transportation.

The major bus companies serve South African cities include:

Greyhound
Intercape Mainliner
Translux

Culture, Food and Shopping in South Africa:

South Africa is ethnically diverse country, dominated by Black Africans, who covers almost 80% of the total population of the country.

The cuisine of South Africa is influenced by European and Asian cuisines. Some popular dishes in South Africa are braaivleis, potjiekos, boerewors and bobotie. Sottery, glass and embroidery products are the purchasable products in South Africa.

Must see in South Africa:

Kruger National Park:

With an area of 19,633 square kilometers, the Kruger National Park is Africa’s one of the largest game reserves, home to thousands of animals, including cheetahs and giraffes. Safari rides are organized by different tour operators and there are around 40 different accommodation centres in the park.

Table Mountain:

Overlooking the city of Cape Town, the Table Mountain measures an elevation of 1,085 meters. Viewing the city from the top of peak will be an unforgettable experience for visitors. Top can be reached either by hike or cableway. Shouldn’t be missed.

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden:

The Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is situated at the base of Table Mountain in Cape Town. The garden is widely famous among visitors not only for its plants but also for a wide range of exhibitions.

Cradle of Humankind:

UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Cradle of Humankind is a complex of a wide range of limestone caves, situated around 50 km away from the city of Johannesburg. Sterkfontein Caves are must see here.

Gold Reef City:

The Gold Reef City is a renowned amusement park in the city of Johannesburg. Other than water rides and roller coasters, the park is also home to museum dedicated to gold mining in the area. It will be a memorable whole day trip for visitors.

What else to see in South Africa?

Garden Route
Robben Island
Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
Table Mountain National Park
Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve
Cango Caves
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Tsitsikamma National Park
Constitution Hill

When to travel South Africa?

South Africa experiences 4 distinct seasons, autumn (March and April), winter (June and August), Spring (September and October) and summer (November and February). Generally from October to March is the best time to visit South Africa.

Accommodation options in South Africa:

South Africa is a paradise for tourists, holding a large number of top class tourist attractions and world class hotels, of which most recognized hotels are located in the city of Cape Town. Apart from the amenities, visitors can also enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities and mouthwatering delicacies provided by hotels in Cape Town. Some prominent hotels in Cape Town in South Africa include: