South Africa Places to Visit

Places to Visit in South Africa
by Susie Jones 

Sodwana Bay
Situated in the Greater St Lucia wetlands this World Heritage Site is one of the worlds top dive sites. Throughout the year almost every seaside wish will be granted as you can see loggerhead and leatherback turtles, rays, dolphins and a multitude of underwater seascapes. Do note it is in a malaria area.

The Drakensberg or uKhahlamba (the Barrier of Spears)
The “Dragons Mountain”, in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, is a 200-kilometre long mountainous world heritage site. It has been entertaining visitors for a million plus years! So it is only to be expected that the highest mountain range in Southern Africa knows how to do it in style. It offers the world second higest waterfall, golf courses, horse riding and fishing and of course natural beauty. Accommodation ranges from luxury restorts to caravan parks.

Kruger Park & other Game reserves
Almost as big as Wales and the second oldest wildlife conservancy in Africa. From having the elephants join you on the Skukuza golf course to spotting some of the 507 bird species the 12 major rest camps and various luxury lodges will cater to every budget and taste. Major James Stevenson-Hamilton brought this park into its own with his forward thinking anti poaching ** which was very unpopular with both the black and white populations who called him Skukuza which means “the one who turns things upside down”

Table Mountain
The mountain guarding the Cape of Good Hope with its two sentinels - Devils Peak and Lions head - is one of the most recognizable landmarks in South Africa. The mountain was named and entered into European consciousness by Antonio de Saldanha in 1503 when he climbed the mountain and carved a great cross into the rock of Lions head.

The main vegetation is the very unique fynbos that comprises the world’s smallest floral kingdom. Choose between one of the many walks up the mountain or take the cable car (costs R130 return) – the top of the mountain will offer sights of Cape Town, Signal Hill, Table Bay and Robben Island. www.sa-venues.com/attractionswc/table-mountain.htm

Robben Island
Although this island (only 12 kilometers from Cape Town) has been a place of imprisonment for almost 400 years it is most famous for the role it played during apartheid years of the last century. The most notable freedom fighter incarcerated here is of course the legendary Nelson Mandela. Reached via a short boat trip, the Robben Island Museum is a must see for history and especially human rights enthusiasts. Tickets for a three and a half hour tour are ZAR 150 per adult and include the return boat trip a visit to the Prison, interaction with an ex-political prisoner and a 45 minute bus tour.
www.robben-island.org.za/
 
Cradle of Humankind
Covering almost 50 000 hectares of mostly privately owned land, the Cradle of Humankind, a World Heritage Site, boasts over 200 caves and a dozen dolomitic limestone caves which originated around two and a half billion years ago. Today they exhibit fossilized remains not only of animals and plants but also 850 hominids. It is one of the worlds most prolific hominid fossil bearing sites. Research at these sites is proving particularly useful in determining the exact course of evolution. The Cradle of Humankind is situated only 45 mintues from Johannesburg and Pretoria and only 10 mintues from Lanseria Airport.

Note: For places to stay the search the web with HotelsCombined

30 March 2008