http://www.southafrica.net/sat/content/en/za/home
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Africa
About South Africa
Land Rover Defender 110 Td5 - Malula
South Africa is a “World in One Country” filled with immense beauty and diversity; it has great geographical contrasts and cultural diversity. A self-drive holiday should include a visit to Cape Town and then travel east towards Port Elizabeth along the world-famous Garden Route, through beautiful holiday towns like Knysna, and all the way up to the warm city of Durban in the Zulu Kingdom with its golden beaches and warm sea. These areas have long been a favourite holiday escape for the landlocked residents of Pretoria and Johannesburg in the Gauteng Province.
Some of South Africa’s major destinations:-
- Cape Town
- Kruger National Park
- Durban
- Garden Route
- Sun City
- Drakensberg
- Cape Winelands
- Addo Elephant Park
- Midlands
- Battlefields
- Namaqualand
- Wild Coast
- Maputaland
- Kalahari
- Karoo
- Golden Gate
The Republic of South Africa (also referred to as South Africa, SA or RSA) is a state in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with 2,798 kilometres (1,739 mi) of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans. To the north of the country lie the neighbouring territories of Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe; to the east are Mozambique and Swaziland; while Lesotho is an enclave surrounded by South African territory.
South Africa is multi-ethnic and has diverse cultures and languages. Eleven official languages are recognised in the constitution. Two of these languages are of European origin: Afrikaans, a language which originated mainly from Dutch that is spoken by the majority of white and Coloured South Africans, and South African English. Though English is commonly used in public and commercial life, it is only the fifth most-spoken home language. All ethnic and language groups have political representation in the country’s constitutional democracy comprising a parliamentary republic; unlike most parliamentary republics, the positions of head of state and head of government are merged in a parliament-dependent President.
About 79.5% of the South African population is of black African ancestry, divided among a variety of ethnic groups speaking different Bantu languages, nine of which have official status. South Africa also contains the largest communities of European, Asian, and racially mixed ancestry in Africa. About a quarter of the population is unemployed and lives on less than US $1.25 a day.
National Parks & Game Reserves
A game reserve is an area of land set aside for maintenance of wildlife for tourism and/or hunting purposes. Many game reserves are located in Africa. Most are open to the public, and tourists commonly take sightseeing safaris or hunt wild game.
A game reserve is more than just a piece of land or a place to keep wildlife; it is a place where ecosystems are protected and conservation is a key. Indigenous wildlife in its natural habitat makes for an ideal situation as this helps in providing an environment where growth in numbers at a natural rate can occur.
Some game reserves boast more than one ecosystem, sometimes even five, ranging from valley bushveld, savannah grassland and fynbos to riverine forest and acacia woodland; this provides a dramatic improvement on the types of wildlife that are present and the numerous species of birds that thrive on in these environments.
The biggest attraction is the Big Five game (Africa) – rhinoceros, elephant, buffalo, leopard and lion, named so because of the difficulty in hunting them and not their size, which is why the leopard is on the list and the hippopotamus is not.
South Africa is one of the most popular safari destinations in the world today. Photo Safari is the term more commonly used for game reserves as it makes a point that no hunting is involved.
The Kruger National Park remains South Africa’s most iconic game reserve and is a national park. It is the largest. The Addo Elephant Park is the second largest game reserve in South Africa and is also a national park.
A few top experiences in South Africa:-
- A Big Five Safari
- Whale Watching
- Wine Tasting
- Beaches & Oceans
- Golf at Sun City
- Spectacular Diving
- Motorcycle Tour
- Climb Table Mountain
A few major South African attractions:-
- Cape Town
- Kruger National Park
- Durban
- Garden Route
- Sun City
- Drakensberg
- Cape Winelands
- Addo Elephant Park
The top 10 reasons to visit South Africa:-
Affordable
During these tough times, who doesn’t want an affordable holiday? In SA, you can even afford luxury and have spending money for shopping and other treats!
Natural Beauty
South Africa’s scenic wonders are legendary. From Table Mountain to God’s Window, our mountains, forests, coasts and deserts will feast your eye and lift your spirit…
World-class facilities
Whether you opt for Afro-chic or authentic Africa, you’ll find it easy to get around, find a comfortable place to stay, have a great meal, connect.
Adventure
South Africa is the adventure capital of the world. With over 130 adventures and counting, there is something for everyone from mountain walks to shark cage-diving!
Good Weather
In sunny South Africa, our great weather invites you to enjoy the outdoors, play golf year-round and take advantage of the nearly 3000km coastline…
Rainbow Nation
The Rainbow Nation celebrates all its African and immigrant cultures. Find out how friendly our people are whilst you try your tongue at 11 official languages!
Diverse Experiences
Go almost anywhere in SA and experience the ultimate combo of nature, wildlife, culture, adventure, heritage and vibe – you’re spoilt for choice, so pack it in!
Wildlife
Warning! Watching wildlife is addictive. First you start with the Big Five in so many ways, then whales, penguins, meerkats, wild dogs, birds, dung beetles…
Freedom Struggle
Discover a nation’s struggle for freedom whilst following the footsteps of Mandela, Hector Pieterson and many other celebrated revolutionaries. It will touch and inspire you.
Responsible Tourism
In SA you can travel with care as you explore our protected areas, contribute to social and conservation projects, buy recycle art and stay green.