Safari Travel in South Africa
South Africa is one of the most interesting countries in the world and one of the most varied on the African continent. The “Rainbow Nation”, as it’s known, enjoys a natural and cultural heritage second to none. It’s national parks, rich in wildlife, its vibrant cities filled with history and striking testimonies of a young nation, its globally-renowned vineyards and the splendid, sometimes isolated, but always breathtaking beaches, is all uniquely fascinating.
| Its wild territories extend from the fertile plains of the Highveld and the large savannas of the Transvaal to the Kalahari Desert and the Drakensberg Mountains. In these great outdoors, a multitude of activities are available to visitors, including diving, rafting, climbing and hiking… Safari travel, however, is the most popular, and the many national parks, including the famous Kruger National Park and its private reserves, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi in Kwazulu Natal Parks, and the Addo Elephant Park are favourites amogst visitors. Along with these parks, other parks like the Cape of Good Hope and the Tsitsikamma park, both in the south of the country, and the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, an area of arid beauty with shifting dunes and large herds of Springbok and Gemsbok, are must-sees. |
South Africa has around 3 000km of coastline with countless beaches. It’s bordered by the cold Atlantic Ocean to the West and the warm Indian ocean to the South and East. Along its northern border, from West to East, is Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Swaziland and Lesotho, two independent kingdoms, are situated within the country.
While demonstrating a clear national identity, South Africa is made up of a diverse group of people. They’re mainly grouped in the South and East of the country, especially on the east coast. The country itself is made up of nine provinces, the most populated being Gauteng with the cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria, and Kwazulu Natal with the city of Durban. Cape Town, known as the Mother City, Port Elizabeth, known as Madiba Bay, and Bloemfontein, are less populated.
With its hospitality, abundance and quality of accommodation in all price-ranges, excellent road network and the diversity of interests it offers, South Africa is a gem worth visiting. It’s an amazing destination open to visitors, and because it lies at the tip of Africa, it allows for various extensions to your itinerary. For instance, while in southern Africa, why not visit the fabulous Victoria Falls, or the beautiful beaches of Mozambique. Maybe the towering dunes of the Namib Desert in Namibia is more your thing, or an adventure in the lush wilderness of Botswana.
CLIMAT
South Africa has a subtropical climate with hot and temperate conditions and seasons are reversed to that of Europe. Summer (mid-November to mid-February) is defined by sunny weather, with sometimes short thunderstorms in the afternoons. Autumn (mid-February / April) has very pleasant temperatures with very little rainfall. Winter (May /August) is characterized in the highest regions by dry days and cold nights. The coast is hot and humid, while Kwazulu Natal, Mpumalanga and the Limpopo provinces offer magnificent winter weather with sunny days. The Western Cape province is in strict contrast and in this Mediterranean climate, in winter, it’s cloudy with frequent rain, interspersed with beautiful days. In spring (September / mid-October) it’s spectacular, with arid plains that are transformed and covered with multi-colored blossoming flowers. This is particularly true for the north-western Cape area known as Namaqualand.