DESTINATION
Plenty to love about
South Africa
Popular spots include the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma ranges; Hermanus for whale watching; Knysna lagoon, Oudtshoorn; the ‘ostrich capital of the world’; Cango Caves for some of the world’s largest stalagmite formations; and Bloukrans Bridge, the world’s highest commercial bungee jump. Dragon Mountain in the Drakensberg Ranges is the highest mountain in South Africa and said to be the inspiration behind J.R.R Tolkien’s Misty Mountains in his Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Cape Town is the #1 tourist spot because it has it all – stunning beaches, spectacular scenery, great food and wine, and close-up wildlife encounters. Take a five-minute cable car to the top of Table Mountain. Hike Platteklip Gorge. Sight-see in Bo-Kaap or on Robben Island. Cape of Good Hope is Africa’s southwesternmost point. It’s where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet and is regarded as one of the most treacherous stretches of water in the world. Tour the Cape Peninsula and visit the seaside villages of Scarborough and Simons Towns and Boulders Beach.
Safaris are a major drawcard. Everyone wants to spot the ‘Big Five’ - elephant, lion, leopard, rhinoceros and buffalo. Kruger National Park is world-famous. Addo Elephant National Park was set up to protect the last of the elephant herds and adds Great White sharks and Southern Right whales to make up the ‘Big Seven’. Drive the Garden Route from Port Elizabeth to Mossel Bay along the south-western tip.
Add to the list these slightly lesser known adventures: Cradle of Humankind is a UNESCO World Heritage site just 50km outside of Johannesburg, where 15 fossil sites with a huge collection of Hominin fossils and stone tools document the times of nearly four million years. Go horse-riding in Namaqualand National Park. In August, ride through wildflowers alongside zebras and other mammals during the day and camp under the stars at night. If sharks are your thing, do a cage dive with great white sharks in Gansbaai, visit the Cathedral dive site at Aliwal Shaol during ragged tooth shark season or visit around mid-June to mid-July for the legendary sardine run. Finally, not to be overlooked are the friendly folk of South Africa who will greet you warmly and the wonderful diversity and affordability of South Africa’s food and wine. The Cape Winelands region, just north of Cape Town, is home to historic wine estates and beautiful old architecture, or Stellenbosch, the birthplace of Pinotage.
34
VIEW PROPERTY MAGAZINE
