south africa city tours

“The Mother City". The Dutch East India Company under the leadership of Jan van Riebeeck together with 90 men, women and children, established Cape Town in 1652. Originally set up as a stop for fresh food and water for ships enroute between Holland and Indonesia, modern Cape Town has developed into what is arguably one of the beautiful cities in world. It is set on a sweeping bay with Table Mountain as a backdrop. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, located on the slopes of the mountain boasts over 5000 species of indigenous plants. The oldest building in South Africa, The Castle of Good Hope is in Cape Town. One of South Africa’s most significant historical sites is Robben Island, which is reached by boat from the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. The Waterfront is the social hub of the city with shops, pubs, craft markets and restaurants, museums, theaters and an outdoor amphitheater for live entertainment. Cape Town is the Legislative Capital of South Africa, a major African port city, and the jumping off place for any tour of South Africa.

"The City of Gold" The "Place of Gold" as the Sotho word "Gauteng" suggests, harbors the gold fields of South Africa. Prior to the discovery of gold in 1886, the area was barren farmland. Then along came the discovery of gold and Johannes Joubert and Johannes Rissik commissioned the city, hence its name Johannesburg. People came from far and wide and the pastoral landscape changed almost overnight. Where once was a shanty mining town today’s Johannesburg has come to life. Although gold is no longer mined in Johannesburg, evidence is visible when you see the yellowish flat topped hills between the skyscrapers, houses, freeways, swimming pools and golf courses. Johannesburg is the financial center of South Africa, it is a culturally diverse city with many historic places of interest.

"Where the Fun Never Sets". Durban is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city, boasting wide sandy beaches, great nightlife and a year-round climate. Built around the busiest port in Africa, Durban is a pleasant fusion of European, Indian and Zulu cultures. The "Golden Mile" boasts luxury hotels, a wide range of restaurants and pubs, across from splendid beaches where one can surf, swim or simply soak up the rays. The Indian culture abounds. The area around Grey Street is alive with stalls selling brass, spices, saris and jewelry. Historic buildings include the Durban City Hall, built in 1910 of Edwardian neo baroque style. The Valley of a Thousand Hills is a region where visitors can experience the Zulu way of life in various cultural villages.

Sun City is South Africa's answer to Las Vegas. Casinos abound, but the resort's most outrageous sight is The Lost City, an enormous complex that includes a water park. Statues of gazelles leap from towers crowned with palm fronds, and pools, stone bridges, wave ponds, mock ruins and artificial grottos fill the grounds. There's a golf course, too. Nearby, Pilansberg National Park covers 200 sq mi/500 sq km of extinct volcanic craters. Wildlife includes cheetah, giraffes and many varieties of birds. 80 mi/125 km northwest of Johannesburg.

This park is unquestionably one of the world's great wildlife reserves. Kruger has the "big five" animals - rhino, buffalo, lion, leopard and elephant - as well as plenty of others. An untouched wilderness of scrubland broken by acacia and mopane trees, its waterholes and riverbeds are home to more than 500 varieties of birds and nearly 140 species of mammals. Make reservations as early as possible, especially if you're visiting during high season or over a holiday. Scattered through this gigantic park are 18 rest camps, which range from basic camping sites to luxury lodges. Something we love about Kruger is that hikers can trek (with rangers) on wilderness trails (one to five days in length - advance reservations are strongly recommended, as these treks are very popular).

The Garden Route region runs along a scenic stretch of coastline beginning in Cape Town and ending in Port Elizabeth, a small coastal city on South Africa’s south east coast. The region has become South Africa’s most popular tourist destination after Cape Town, and it’s not hard to see why. Visitors are drawn year-round to its indigenous forests, freshwater lakes, wetlands, hidden coves and long beaches. The narrow coastal plain is well forested and is mostly bordered by extensive lagoons that run behind a barrier of sand dunes and superb white beaches. The region has some of the largest patches of indigenous forest in the country - giant yellowwood trees and wildflowers - as well as commercial plantations of eucalyptus and pine.

Highlights of the Garden Route include the Wilderness coastal stretch, the whale watchers paradise of Hermanus, Knysna's lagoon and forest-based activities, as well as Plettenberg Bay, a location that combines some of South Africa's best swimming beaches with beautiful forest and indigenous vegetation. Near Plettenberg Bay is the unspoilt Tsitsikamma National Park, where dense indigenous forests are punctuated by streams and tumbling waterfalls flowing towards the coast.

The Garden Route is ideal for watersports and outdoor activities, and the region’s Mediterranean Maritime climate is ideal for these activities.

South Africa is a heady mix of third and first world cultures - along with the best and least crowded beaches in the world.

South Africa travel is full of safari experiences, from verdant subtropical beach forests to the sublime isolation of the desert and the world famous Kruger National Park.

South Africa has great infrastructure, natural scenery and a stable post apartheid environment all ensuring that you have a holiday of a lifetime!