The Best Locations to Travel in South Africa

Driving on winding roads, sipping champagne on a sunset boat cruise, dining on excellent cuisine while a majestic mountain keeps an eye on massive waves hitting the cliffs and you know you have arrived in the Western Cape at the most Southern point of Africa. Cape Town, Stellenbosch and Hermanus are the areas not to be missed here.

A lonely elephant, history and magical forests transport visitors to the Garden Route area in the southern part of South Africa. Visitors can spend some quality time learning about Bartholomew Dias and his travels through stormy weather in Mossel Bay as well as head out on the quest to find the last elephant of Knysna forest. In Oudtshoorn, travels can visit and spend time with the beautiful and unique ostriches.

A wide open desert in Nambia holds all who peer upon her captivated with the silence of her vast desert. In Sossusvle, visitors can expect to see the world’s highest sand dunes and in the Dead Vlei, the skeletons of ancient Camel trees silhouette the orange blanketed beauty of the majestic sand dunes. Everyone should partake in a relaxing drive in Swakopmund. There, the beauty of the protective sand dunes will guide you to paradise.

Hidden in Africa is the wondrous splendor of an ancient waterfall, spilling its blanket of clear water into a gorge since the beginning of time. If waterfalls are your passion, you’ll definitely want to fly to Livingstone in Zambia and visit the beautiful Victoria waterfalls.

The Chobe National park is a must see when visiting Zambia as it holds more elephants than anyone could have ever imagined. A slow, calming boat ride across the Chobe River will leave you breathless and wanting more.

Paradise can be described as the tropical islands located in the Indian Ocean. Calm, warm waters, white beaches, colorful sea life and coral reefs will have you believing that there is no other paradise. Travelers will definitely want to put a visit to Mauritius on their list as well as snorkeling at Portuguese Island where you can learn of the times of the Sultans in Zanzibar. The tranquility is amazing. For a little bit of local flavor, stop by Inhaca.

The most dangerous of the animal kingdom, the Big Five, awaits visitors at Kruger National Park. Lazy drives down dust covered roads will lead you to nature as you witness lion’s on the hunt, hippos asleep in the water or elephants playing gleefully at a favorite watering hole.

While visiting these creatures take time to explore the other areas around the Kruger National Park. For panoramic views, potholes carved through the ages and canyons stretching for miles go to Graskop, Sabie and Pilgrims Rest.

Art lovers should make an effort to visit the little Town of Clarens in the Free State Province of South Africa. Feast your eyes on the work of some of the best artists in Southern Africa while sipping a glass of quality wine from a farm in Stellenbosch.

Every man’s holiday waits at Mozambique on the East Coast of Africa. There diving, fishing and unspoiled white beaches wait to mesmerize, tantalize and thrill its inquisitive visitors.

So, take in the splendors first, then come back for more.

Top Ten Traveling Locations in Southern Africa

Driving on winding roads, sipping champagne on a sunset boat cruise, dining on excellent cuisine while a majestic mountain keeps an eye on massive waves hitting the cliffs and you know you have arrived in the Western Cape at the most Southern point of Africa. Cape Town, Stellenbosch and Hermanus are the areas not to be missed here.

A lonely elephant, history and magical forests transport visitors to the Garden Route area in the southern part of South Africa. Visitors can spend some quality time learning about Bartholomew Dias and his travels through stormy weather in Mossel Bay as well as head out on the quest to find the last elephant of Knysna forest. In Oudtshoorn, travels can visit and spend time with the beautiful and unique ostriches.

Experience the ultimate silence of the vast open desert of Namibia. In Sossusvlei you will find the highest dunes in the world. Dead Vlei is a surreal experience with skeletons of ancient Camel Thorn Trees silhouetted against the golden orange sand dunes. Have your own pirate experience on the road to Swakopmund with the misty ocean, lined with ships, and the ever changing dunes protectively encircling you.

Somewhere in the middle of Africa is a waterfall that beckons with its massive veil of water tumbling into a gorge since the beginning of time. Fly to Livingstone in Zambia and make your way to the Victoria Waterfalls for a lifetime experience.

The Chobe National park is a must see when visiting Zambia as it holds more elephants than anyone could have ever imagined. A slow, calming boat ride across the Chobe River will leave you breathless and wanting more.

The tropical Islands in the Indian Ocean would surpass anybodys vision of paradise. Coral Reefs with sea creatures as colorful as the rainbow, right there for you to greet. Walk into the ocean with water so warm and calm that you will want to stay just a little longer. Let the white beaches lure you to believe nothing is impossible anymore. Dont miss the magic of Mauritius. Dive at Inhaca and meet the interesting locals. For absolute tranquility snorkel at Portuguese Island and relive the times of the Sultans in Zanzibar.

Kruger National Park offers up the Big five and most dangerous of the animal kingdom. A slow, drive down dusty roads can bring you face to face with lions hunting, hippos sleeping in water or elephants playing at a watering hole.

Make sure to partake in the other wonders offered by Kruger National Park as well as viewing panoramic landscapes, potholes carved through time and canyons that stretch for miles in Graskop, Sabie and Pilgrims Rest.

Art lovers are sure to be in heaven with a visit to the little Town of Clarens in the Free State Province of South Africa. There, a feast of Africa’s best artists will captivate you as you lazily explore all it has to offer while sipping wine from a farm in Stellenbosch.

Every man’s holiday waits at Mozambique on the East Coast of Africa. There diving, fishing and unspoiled white beaches wait to mesmerize, tantalize and thrill its inquisitive visitors.

So, take in the splendors first, then come back for more.

The Top Forms of Transportation in South Africa

South Africa offers many ways for its tourists to travel including the most popular, hiring a driver. This option is great because it allows you the versatility to travel where and when you wish.

Long distance trains are still reasonably safe and first class is relatively comfortable. The 2nd and 3rd class carriages are however packed and very uncomfortable. Intercity short distance trains have become a dangerous option. Train conductors dont seem to have control over the vagrants and thieves that make these trains their playground.

A few privately run trains like the Outenikwa Choo-tjoe and the Magalies Express are completely safe and a great experience. They only run in certain areas and not too regularly. They are more focused on day trip outings than on transport from one area to another.

Bus services in South Africa are mostly reliable and safe. Inter City bus and Greyhound service most major towns. It is important to stick with the well known services even if they are more expensive. Many fly by night companies have tried to offer cheap bus trips with un-roadworthy buses which resulted in horrific accidents throughout the country. The Baz bus is aimed at tourists and has stops at many hotels across the country. Tourists normally report good experiences with this service.

Johannesburg and Cape Town offer short distance travel buses to most major areas. These buses are reliable and generally safe. However, they tend to be a little crowded first thing in the morning and late afternoon as many workers are traveling home.

A metered taxi is another option for travel. These cars are readily available and generally safe; however they can be quite expensive.

Mini “bus or van taxis are very cheap but they are more than often overloaded. The drivers are fearless and using them is not for the faint hearted.

Using a private transfer line is another option for travel in South Africa. While this mode of transportation is a little expensive, they will pick you up at the airport and take you to your hotel, or pick you up and take you safely home after enjoying a fun night out on the town.

A rental is another fabulous option for traveling in South Africa. There are many rental agencies at hotels, airports and across the country. However, it is important to again remind you that sticking with reputable companies is the best way to go. Agencies such as Hertz, Avis and Budget are all readily available and offer customers the satisfaction of knowing if any problems arise while they are on the road, they wall immediately rectify the situation with a car exchange. All of these agencies have

How to Get Around In South Africa

There are a number of ways to get around in South Africa of which hiring a car would give you the most freedom to travel where and when you want.

For long trips, the long distance train is still relatively reasonable and sage. The first class carriage is very comfortable; however the second and third class carriages are usually packed and very uncomfortable. The short distance, inner-city trains have become a dangerous place to be. No longer do conductors of these trains have control over the seedy thieves and vagrants who stalk riders on a regular basis.

There is the option of privately owned trains such as the Outenikwa Choo-tjoe and the Magalies Express. These trains are extremely safe and offer an enjoyable experience. However, they are not focused on travel to other areas. Instead they are geared mostly towards day trips and only run at certain times and only in certain areas.

Bus services are another great way to travel in South Africa as long as you stick with well known companies such as Inter City and Greyhound. Too many fly by night companies offering cheap prices have lead to tragedy as their mediocore buses resulted in many accidents throughout the country. Baz is another bus line geared more towards tourists and receives a thumbs u from most visitors as it has many stops at hotels across the country and is reliable and safe.

Johannesburg and Cape Town offer short distance travel buses to most major areas. These buses are reliable and generally safe. However, they tend to be a little crowded first thing in the morning and late afternoon as many workers are traveling home.

A metered taxi is another option for travel. These cars are readily available and generally safe; however they can be quite expensive.

A cheap mode of transportation would be a mini-bus or van. However, it is important to keep in mind that these vehicles are generally overcrowded and the driver’s have no sense of fear.

A pricey, but convenient option for travel is a private transfer line. These will not only pick you up at the airport and take you to your hotel; they will also pick you up and take you safely home when you have enjoyed an evening out on the town.

The other and easiest option is to hire a car. There are a variety of car rental agencies at all airports and most hotels. Internet bookings are also available for most. Again it is better to go with the reputable agencies like Avis, Hertz and Budget. If you plan to only hire a car to drive around in a specific city where the agency has an office, cheaper options can be considered. For longer distances Avis, Budget and Hertz are better as they have offices all over the country and if you experience any problems along the road they will assist you immediately by exchanging the car. They all have websites with information regarding international license requirements and documentation needed to book a car.

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