South Africa: Introduction

A world in one country is how South Africa is often described. South Africa is a huge and diverse country representing one of the great cultural meeting points of the African continent. With extraordinary contrasts: a wild coastline, a vast desert, teeming game parks, fascinating tribal culture and the Mother City, Cape Town make South Africa an ideal all round destination. As an increasing number of activities continue to pander to the visitor’s appetite for adventure and ethnic culture, it has become one of the twenty first centuries top tourist destinations in the world. The west, best visited in the warmer months from November to April, boasts a vast amount of outstanding attractions. A good start is Cape Town where its unrivalled scenery beneath Table Mountain makes it one of the most beautiful cities in the world. With its distinctive yet diverse character, you’ll find an abundance of activities and places to visit for both the tame and adventurous, the young and old and singles and families.

Activities in South Africa

Hiking and mountain biking are extremely popular with some amazing trails stretched out throughout the country. In addition you can go mountaineering, abseiling and rock climbing in any of the mountain areas. In the Winelands, airborne sports such as ballooning, paragliding and hang gliding are very popular. Water lovers will adore South Africa as its expansive coast line means that it is hubs for all forms of water sports such as windsurfing, surfing, scuba diving, fishing, canoeing and even white water rafting. Finally, you will also find horse riding, golfing and bird watching prevalent throughout the country.

Crime in South Africa

While crime remains a common deterrent to tourists, it is important to note that it isn’t the indiscriminate phenomenon that the international media suggests. While some cities, particularly Johannesburg, do present a slight risk, similar to parts of the US or the UK, many local tourist destinations remain safe by worldwide standards.