South Africa is affordable
South Africa is not a cheap destination. We are far from the major tourist markets such as America, Europe and Asia. Flights therefore tend to be expensive. Lately the country has begun to build a reputation as a rather expensive destination. One must never forget that with a country such as South Africa where safaris are part of most tours, they become quite labour intensive ventures. In contrast with international visitors most South Africans believe that the country is cheap compared to the Industrial West. We as South Africans, know and understand how to avoid those places which exploit tourists and Temba Travel will gladly offer you our service in this regard.
South Africa’s breath-taking natural beauty
South Africa’s scenic wonders are legendary. From Table Mountain to God’s Window, our mountains, forests, coasts and deserts are a feast to the eye and will lift your spirit…
South Africa is divided into nine provinces namely Gauteng, North West, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape. Each of these provinces has their own legislature and is responsible for marketing tourism in their own province.
The North West is perhaps best known for the Pilanesberg National Park and Sun City Resort. This resort is Africa’s most famous gambling Mecca and is often called the Las Vegas of South Africa.
Limpopo is the most northerly province and, together with Mpumalanga, this is safari country. The Kruger National Park falls in these two provinces as do numerous smaller private game reserves. In addition, the so called escarpment with its beautiful waterfalls, forest and canyons make it a very spectacular region.
KwaZulu-Natal is home to the mighty Zulu nation. It is South Africa’s largest wetland area, has the highest rhino population in the world and is home to the magnificent Drakensberg Mountains. The province is known as the Garden Province of South Africa due to its green valleys and sugar plantations. Its capital is Ulundi and the biggest city is Durban which is also Africa’s largest port
For a wide selection of Durban tours – visit the website of Southern Circle Tours & Safaris.
Gauteng is the country’s economic heartland. The provincial capital city, Johannesburg, is literally built on gold. South Africa was for many years the world’s largest gold producer and is nowadays third on the exclusive list.
Soweto, a township to the south of Johannesburg started as a shanty town, but is today a massive city with a very unique atmosphere. The world became aware of this city during the 1976 uprisings against apartheid. Vulakazi Street is less than a km long and is the only street in the world where you will find the homes of two Nobel Peace prize winners. Bishop Desmond Tutu was awarded the prize in 1984 and Mr. Nelson Mandela in 1996. Neither of the two gentlemen lives there anymore. The new residents in Mr Mandela’s home together with the Hector Peterson Memorial have become Soweto’s best known museums.
For the best Soweto Tours visit the website of Mashalas Travel
For the time-strapped traveler – Soweto half day tours from Mashalas Travel
The Free State is South Africa’s most central province and its capital, Bloemfontein, is a very popular overnight stop between coastal towns such as Cape Town and Port Elizabeth and Gauteng. Accommodation ranges from self-catering to five star hotels.
The Northern Cape is by far South Africa’s largest province with the lowest population. The province is known for diamonds, flowers and wildlife. Diamonds are still mined in places such as Barkly West near Kimberley and on the coast around Port Nolloth.
During August, Namaqualand which is part of the Southern Namib desert turns into a kaleidoscope of colours during the annual flower season which starts around 20 August and ends by the first week of September.
Two trans-frontier Parks can be found in the Northern Cape. The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is in the far north of the province and crosses into Botswana. This massive park includes three types of Kalahari biomes and is home to large numbers of game including all the big cats, but no buffalo or elephants. Sightings of lion and cheetah are rather common in this park
The Richtersveld-Ais Ais Transfrontier Park is on both sides of the border between South Africa and Namibia. This park is best known for its rare vegetation and rock formations. The Tankwa-karoo and the Namaqualand National Park are smaller National Parks and the Augrabies National Park is known for the largest waterfall in South Africa. The two main centres in the province are Kimberley, which is the capital of the province, and Upington which is along the Orange River and famous for quality grapes and other fruit.
The Eastern Cape with Bisho as its capital is known as the home of the Xhosa, South Africa’s second largest population group. The three biggest towns are Port Elizabeth, East London and Mthatha. The first two are both harbour towns and known for their motor industries while the latter was the capital of the former Transkei.
The Wild Coast of South Africa is to be found in this province and it is known for its magnificent beaches and unspoilt beauty. Lodges in this region include famous places such as Umngazi River Lodge and Kob Inn to name just a few. The Addo Elephant National Park is also in this province.
The Western Cape with its capital Cape Town, the famous Winelands and Table Mountain National Park is South Africa’s most popular tourist destination. Add to this the Beauty of the Tsitsikamma coast and it is understandable why so many tourists visit the Western Cape. The province has a very mild Mediterranean climate and is known for its wine and fruit production.
South Africa the African country with 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 and connect with the locals.
The road infrastructure is extensive and generally good. South Africa’s air-transport system is as good as it gets. The best might be to fly between tourist destinations and to hire a car.
Unfortunately, the transport systems in the bigger cities are still in their developing stages. The Gautrain is a luxury fast train from Johannesburg OR Tambo airport to Pretoria and Sandton. Most cities have a city bus system.
Hotels and lodges are plentiful in all provinces. It ranges from very basic self-catering accommodation to five star hotels and guesthouses. Excellent conference facilities are available in all big cities with Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg as the leaders in this regard.
South and Southern Africa is the adventure destination of the world
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!
South Africa offers excellent weather year round.
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…
South Africa is a true Rainbow Nation
The Rainbow Nation celebrates all its African and immigrant cultures. Find out how friendly our people are whilst you try twisting your tongue around 11 official languages! The counties people are known to be colourful in both their clothing and the way they decorated their houses. In addition the South Africans are often described as been rather loud. We certainly do not hesitate to make our voices and instruments heard. This was perhaps most apparent during the FIFA World Cup in 2010
South Africa country of responsible tourism.
In SA you can travel with care as you explore our protected areas, contribute to social and conservation projects, buy recycled art and stay green.
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