Camp Bay (South Africa)
An immense and impressive country with a coastline that borders two great oceans and a vast interior of rich farmland, game-rich plains, rugged mountains, cosmopolitan cities, traditional villages, a unique architectural heritage and Africa’s most diverse and stylish tourism industry.
An immense and impressive country with a coastline that borders two great oceans and a vast interior of rich farmland, game-rich plains, rugged mountains, cosmopolitan cities, traditional villages, a unique architectural heritage and Africa’s most diverse and stylish tourism industry.
South Africa has three major geographical regions, coastal belt, mountains and plateau. The coastline consists of sandy beaches and rocky coves whilst the high plateau has sharp escarpments rising above the veldt (plains). The mountainous region runs along the coastline from the Cape of Good Hope to the Limpopo valley in the north east of the country.
South Africa’s tourism by-line ‘a world in one country’ is certainly apt as here you can choose from wildlife safaris, hiking trails, gourmet extravaganzas, city-bright-lights, riding safaris, fishing and scuba diving expeditions or just lazing on a beach.
You may choose to travel by air, on a group tour, by coach or you can self-drive. When you reach your destination some of Africa’s finest lodges, hotels, country inns and private homes will offer you a standard of hospitality second to none and the surrounding countryside will be everything you could hope for.
Pretoria & Johannesburg, two neighbouring cities that form the powerhouse of South Africa: Johannesburg is the commercial metropolis where high-rise buildings cluster and suburbs sprawl outwards. Green and prosperous enclaves dotted with turquoise swimming pools contrast with dusty townships. Pretoria is the administrative capital of South Africa, a city of parks and gardens, quiet residential streets and imposing public buildings.
Cape Town & surrounds, are impossible to sum up in a short paragraph. There are miles of stunning coastline & Table Mountain; there are the historic & the cosmopolitan faces of the city with parks, historic buildings, stylish shopping malls, the vibrant waterfront district and beaches. Just off the coast is Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned. There is Cape Dutch architecture, the charm & beauty of the wine country and extending 50 km south from Cape Town, the Cape Peninsula – a scenic feast of tree-covered mountain slopes and a dramatic coastline.
Durban, – manages to combine the “fun” atmosphere of the nation’s premier beach resort with the restlessness of Africa’s busiest port. More Indians live in Durban than any other city outside India and they have brought the exotica of their homeland. Durban is the capital of KwaZulu-Natal and the province offers excellent game reserves, pristine beaches, the majestic Drakensberg Mountains and the temperate Midlands.
The Kruger National Park, is South Africa’s premier game sanctuary and has more species of wildlife than any other game park in Africa – 147 species of mammals, 114 species of reptiles, 49 species of fish, 34 amphibians and 507 species of bird. With a bit of luck you will see elephant, buffalo, zebra, kudu, giraffe, impala, white and black rhino, lion, leopard, cheetah and more!
The Garden Route, runs parallel to the coastline and features lakes, mountains, tall forests, rivers and pristine beaches. It offers spectacular scenery, a mild climate and is perfect for nature lovers and the adventurous. There are tantalizing beaches, nature reserves, picturesque towns, adventure activities, there are forest walks and beaches for lazing. Via spectacular mountain passes you reach the Little Karoo where there are the ostrich shows and the awe-inspiring Cango limestone caves.
Both SWAZILAND and LESOTHO are independent countries often included in a South African safari.
Swaziland, – the Southern Hemisphere’s smallest country, looks like a tiny drop in the expanse of Southern Africa and has just over a million inhabitants. In the case of Swaziland it is true to say – good things come in small packages – the country is very beautiful, abundant with exotic wildlife and boasts a rich traditional culture.
Lesotho, is called the “Kingdom in the Sky” as it has the highest, lowest altitude of any country in the world and most of Lesotho lies above 1820m (6000 feet). It is a rugged country with spectacular mountain scenery and one of the best ways to see the country is on pony treks.
SOUTH AFRICA FACTS
Country Republic of South Africa
Capital Pretoria however Cape Town is the legislative centre and Bloemfontein the judicial centre
Government type Republic
Independence From the UK on 31 May 1910, Freedom Day (from 1994) is celebrated on 27 April
Population 43,647,658 (July 2002 estimate)
Nationality South African (s)
Adjective South African (s)
Ethnic groups Black 75.2%, White 13.6%, Coloured 8.6%, Indian 2.6%
Religions Christian 68% (includes most whites and Coloured & about 60% of blacks and about 40% of Indians), Muslim 2%, Hindu 1.5% (60% of Indians), indigenous beliefs and animist 28.5%
Languages Eleven official languages, including Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu
Currency Rand (ZAR)
Area 1,219,912 sq kms, just slightly less than twice the state of Texas
Borders Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland & Zimbabwe and has both Indian Ocean & Atlantic Ocean coastline totaling 2,798 kms
Economic overview
South Africa is a middle-income, developing country with an abundant supply of resources, well-developed financial, legal, communications, energy, and transport sectors, a stock exchange that ranks among the 10 largest in the world, and a modern infrastructure supporting an efficient distribution of goods to major urban centres throughout the region. However, growth has not been strong enough to cut into high unemployment, and daunting economic problems remain from the apartheid era, especially the problems of poverty and lack of economic empowerment among the disadvantaged groups.
