South Africa is an amazing country with endless possibilities for things to do. If you are planning on visiting the country, here is a list of things to consider while in the aptly nicknamed Rainbow Nation.
1) Johannesburg – On the top of the list is Johannesburg. The largest city in South Africa, Johannesburg is also one of the largest cities in the world, similar in population to the City of Los Angeles. One of the top attractions in this culturally diverse city is the Apartheid Museum, which displays exhibits, photos and many other historical artifacts during South Africa’s era of racial segregation. There is also a good deal of information on Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa, who was imprisoned for 27 years for his anti-apartheid activism. While in Johannesburg, it might be worth visiting the Soweto section of the town, where many of the black African residents lived in the small, cheaply built government houses. The Apartheid Museum isn’t the only museum worth visiting, just as you would expect in a major international city. Among the other notable museums are the Johannesburg Art Gallery, the James Hall Transport Museum, which is the largest and most comprehensive land transport museum in South Africa, and Constitution Hill.
2) Cape Town – The 2nd largest city in South Africa is Cape Town, which was originally developed by the Dutch East India Company. First on the list of things to do in the city is taking a walk or cable car up to the top of Table Mountain and visiting the Cape of Good Hope. At the top is a breathtaking and panoramic view of the city and both the South Atlantic and Southern Oceans. Another interesting site to visit is the Robbens Islands, where many of South Africa’s political prisoners were held during the apartheid era. This site is on the World Heritage List of places of historical, cultural or physical significance. Obviously in Cape Town as well as in Johannesburg, there are plenty of great hotels, fine dining, sports and entertainment throughout the two major cities. In fact both cities have a large assortment of theatres and live music venues. Among Cape Town’s notable theatres is the Nico performing arts center and the Maynardville Open Air Theatre. Lastly, it is worth mentioning that Cape Town’s beaches are very popular, in particular the areas around False Bay, the Atlantic Seaboard and the West Coast.
3) Kruger National Park, South Africa – Along the Mozambique and Zimbabwe border, Kruger is the country’s largest game reserve at over 7,500 square miles. Kruger is home to many different species of birds, reptiles, fish and mammals. If you are thinking of taking an African safari, this is one of the top sites in all of Africa. There are regularly scheduled safari tours that will enable to you see lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, buffalo, cormorants, hawks, eagles and many more in their own natural habitat.
4) Durban – The City of Durban is another great South African city and the largest container port in Africa. Durban is known for its incredible beaches and trendy nightlife. The International Convention Center is located in Durban as is the Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World.
5) The Winelands, South Africa – The Winelands is the last of this list of things to do in South Africa. South Africa is well known for producing some of the world’s finest wines and there are numerous vineyards throughout this region. Here at the Winelands, you can enjoy fine wine tasting, embark on a wine tour or even receive pampering similar to a relaxing spa treatment.
Heather Johnson writes for Honeymoon Destinations, the best honeymoon research and planning website. Discover some great honeymoon ideas today!