Chitika

Sunday, March 31, 2013

South Africa, the Perfect Location for Incredible Vacations

By Shawn Schmidt


When you are thinking about where to go and are really undecided, visit South Africa! Truthfully, it is a land which offers lots of vacations in one. You can appreciate nature and safaris for a few days, clubbing and concerts for a few more days, and then end off with Hawaiian style beaches, surfing or other water sports. Not many countries offer this sort of variety.

The typical thing that travelers do when they arrive in South Africa is that they book a safari in the North Western area of the country, perhaps go off to the Durban coastline and then take an airplane to Cape Town. It's not really important if you begin in Cape Town or if you begin in the Kruger, however it is a good idea to make a reservation for a domestic flight at some point.

Also, if you skip Jo'burg completely, you are not missing out on much. In the summertime, all most Jo'burgers come on vacation to Cape Town, which is a clear indication of which city is worth checking out! The only reason you would drop in on Johannesburg, is to rent a car and drive off to "safari land".

South Africa tours generally start in Stellenbosch, a gorgeous University Town with Cape Dutch Architecture. From there you could possibly do some wine tasting at one of the many vineyards in the area and then head off to Spier Wine Farm for lunch or tea. Spier is the location of an unique wildlife program and it is possible to accompany the guides that work there right into the cheetah cages to stroke them! The cheetah's that live at Spier are rather tame but they are still wild animals and so it is essential to take suitable precautions. Only a few people go in at once and the guide is constantly present. If the cats are looking restless, no-one is allowed in. Petting a live cheetah is really an extraordinary experience.

After your day in Stellenbosch, you can take pleasure in a walk in the city center. It is advised you do this whilst all the shops are open, which is till around 5.00 pm. The main road is called Adderly Street and you will appreciate the flower market and the numerous shops. You could additionally visit St. Georg's Mal and Long Street, which are full of markets and coffeehouses.

The people you will come across are either the original African populaces, such as the Xhosa and the Zulu, or the fair skinned descendants of the Dutch and English colonialists. You will additionally meet a very large community of Muslim people, which are the descendants of the Indian servants. South Africans are generally friendly, welcoming and helpful to vacationers.

The airplane journey from Cape Town to Johannesburg is 2.5 hours long. From there it's a four hour drive into safari the territory. The 5 star safari lodges in South Africa are definitely sensational. Many lodges provide SPA treatments, and outdoor jacuzzis overlooking "the bush", which is quite common. Even if you are sleeping in a tent, it will most likely have a wonderfully comfy bed and sumptuous bed linen.

South Africa is a land full of things to do, from the marvelous charm of the arid Karoo, to the historical charm of the rolling wine lands, to the untamed charm of the gusty beaches. Make sure you plan an itinerary that allows you to enjoy South Africa for all it has to offer.




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