South Africa

If we were given a choice of any place in the world to live in, aware and respectful of the uniqueness of other countries, each and every time we’d pick South Africa. Did you know that South Africa was declared one of 17 mega-diverse destinations in the world because of its rich biological diversity? From magnificent giants such as elephants and rhinos to small cuties like bush babies and meerkats, from fynbos, the tiniest floral kingdom in the world, to succulent Karoo biome – South Africa has it all!

The Kruger National Park

The largest game reserve in South Africa, Kruger National Park is home to the magnificent Big Five and many other wild animals. It was established as far back as 1926 and is visited by millions each year. The Park covers an area of nearly 20,000 square kilometres, with Limpopo province to the west and Mpumalanga on the south, the rivers Limpopo and Crocodile acting as its natural borders.

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Table Mountain - Majestic and Diverse

Table Mountain is the highest point of a 50 km long Cape Fold Mountain range, topped by a 3 km wide level plateau which is edged by steep cliffs. With Devil’s Peak and Lion’s Head on its east and west flanks respectively, the mountain creates a dramatic backdrop to the city of Cape Town and its beaches.

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Have fun at Boulders Beach and it's Penguins

The Beach got its name thanks to 540 million years old granite boulders which protect it from wind and large waves. Thus sheltered and featuring soft white sand, it presents an ideal place to go swimming. However, the real attraction of Boulders Beach is its fascinating non-human inhabitants.

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Fantastic Cape Town - Mother City

Affectionately called the Mother City, Cape Town was voted the best global city in 2013, and in 2014 named the best place in the world to visit – according to the British Daily Telegraph and American New York Times. Famous for its harbour, fabulous landscapes, mix of cultures, biodiversity and much, much more, Cape Town or Kaapstad is the most popular international tourist destination not only in South Africa, but Africa as a whole.

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Enjoy Garden Route in South Africa

Our tour of the breathtaking South Africa next takes us to Garden Route, a seductive proposition of the glorious natural beauty stretching over 200 km between the Eastern and Western Cape. Stunning scenery meets your eye as you drive down this magnificent piece of coastline, forested mountains following white-sand beaches, and stretches of wetlands giving space to picturesque little towns. The Route got its name thanks to the area’s diverse vegetation and numerous lakes and lagoons.

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Durban

Durban is our next stop on the South African marvels tour. The largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban is also the most populated urban area after Johannesburg and Cape Town. In 2015, it joined Havana, La Paz, Vigan, Beirut, Doha and Kuala Lumpur, having been named one of the New 7 Wonders Cities.

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The Heritage of Zululand

Three centuries ago the Zulu were a major clan in today’s Northern KwaZulu-Natal. The area which was initially occupied by numerous Nguni communities and clans, was in 1818 united under the rule of Shaka, the Zulu King.

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Cederberg Mountains - just beautiful

Taking a virtual journey across South Africa, we’ve already visited many of its natural beauties and culturally rich locations. Now we’re getting ready to climb the Cederberg mountains, located near Clanwilliam, about 300 km north of Cape Town. The mountain was named after the endangered Clanwilliam cedar which is endemic to this area. This unspoilt paradise is part of the Cape Floral Kingdom, offers a fascinating botanical diversity and is the place where rooibos tea is being cultivated among  the dramatic rock formations. 

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Hidden beaches at Llandudno

Driving south from Cape Town along the Atlantic Seaboard, only 18 km from the city centre you’ll find the Mother City’s most beautiful and most secluded beach. The Twelve Apostles guarding it from the left and Little Lion’s Head and the Karbonkelberg Mountain towering on the right, a peaceful crescent cove with white sand provides the most beautiful beach setting. The beach was named after the North Wales seaside resort, apparently due to striking similarities between the bay in which it nestles and Llandudno in Wales.

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Eastern Cape Coastline

Dubbed “South Africa’s wild province”, the Eastern Cape was once Nelson Mandela’s home. A cluster of villages known as Qunu is where the former president was born and has spent his early childhood years. Rich cultural heritage of the Eastern Cape is the result of this being one of the first areas to be settled by Portuguese in 15th century and by the British in 19th century. It has witnessed many wars between the local Xhosa’s and Khoisan, and the British, Dutch and Germans.

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Magaliesburg and Magaliesberg Mountains

South Africa takes us next to Magaliesburg, an enchanting small town situated in Gauteng bellow Witwatersrand mountain range. It takes only an hour drive west from the busy Johannesburg or Pretoria to discover this lovely place sitting at the heart of a beautiful region. Aiming to build a sustainable relationship between people and the environment, Magaliesberg has been declared a World Biosphere Reserve which focuses on safeguarding the natural ecosystem.

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