South Africa
South Africa is a country on the southernmost tip of the African continent, marked by several distinct ecosystems. Inland safari destination Kruger National Park covers vast shrublands populated by big game; the Western Cape encompasses lush winelands around Stellenbosch and Paarl, wild beaches, craggy cliffs at the Cape of Good Hope, forest and lagoons along the Garden Route, and the city of Cape Town, beneath flat-topped Table Mountain.
Capitals: Pretoria, Cape Town, Bloemfontein
Dialing Code: +27
ISO Code: ZAF
Currency: South African rand
President: Jacob Zuma
Official languages: English, Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa, Tswana, Northern Sotho, Venda, Tsonga, Swati, Ndebele
Tourist Attractions
Boulders Beach
Boulders Beach, near Simon’s Town in False Bay, is famed for its resident penguin colony and clean, white sand beach. It is home to at least 3000 African penguins, the Foxy Beach boardwalk being an excellent viewpoint. Your kids will enjoy getting up close and personal with the penguins (taking care not to disturb them unduly as they may bite). The park is also home to other birds and small mammals, while dolphins and whales swim off shore. Entrance fee: adults R55, children under the age of 12, R25 (which goes towards protecting these endangered penguins).
Table Mountain
Table Mountain, standing at 3560ft high, is one of the world’s most recognisable natural icons, with its distinctive flat top (which gives it its name). Popular with tourists and locals alike, it offers a choice of either the five minute cable car ride or a day’s hike up to the top. Riding up, you can appreciate the spectacular views as the cableway has rotating floors and enormous windows. Enjoy the magnificent panorama from the top, where you will also find a self-service restaurant. Prices for a return ticket are as follows: R205 for adults and R100 for children aged 4 – 17 – under 4’s ride free. Please be aware that the cableway will be closed for maintenance between Monday 28 July and Sunday 10 August, 2014.
Franschhoek Motor Museum
For lovers of vintage and modern cars the Franschhoek Motor Museum is definitely the place for you! It houses a fantastic collection of vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles and fascinating memorabilia, ranging from an 1898 Beeston motor tricycle to a high performance 2003 Enzo Ferrari supercar. The museum is home to a range of antique, veteran, vintage, post-vintage, post-45 and post-60 automobiles housed in four de-humidified halls and presented in chronological order, portraying the evolution of the motor car. Entry prices: adults R60, motor club members R50 and children aged 3 – 12 R30.
Groot Constantia
Groot Constantia is noted for its high quality Shiraz, Merlot and Grand Constance, the celebrated Constantia dessert wine. Its history extends back 300 years to 1685, when the farm land was assigned to Simon van der Stel. One of the oldest South African wine farms, its history is well documented, with carriages on show in the Coach House and the Wine Museum displaying drinking vessels and wine storage methods from days gone by. Price: Adult R30, SA students R15, kids aged 6 – 18 R15. Under 5’s free and families (two adults and 2 kids) R75.
Addo Elephant National Park
The Addo Elephant National Park is home to more than 550 elephants, various lions, black rhinos, buffaloes, hyenas, leopards, zebras and a plentiful variety of antelopes. It is the third largest park in South Africa and also concentrates on preserving a wide variety of flora. Entrance fee is R50 per adult, R25 per child for South Africans plus a Standard Conservation Fee for foreign visitors at R200 per adult and R100 per child. There is also a main camp for tourists featuring a swimming pool, restaurant, floodlit water hole and different types of accommodation.
HOTELS
1.Lawhill Luxury Apartments
Address:Marina
V&A Waterfront
Cape Town
South Africa
2.Crowne Plaza Johannesburg – The Rosebank
Address:Cnr Tyrwhitt & Sturdee Avenues
Rosebank
Johannesburg 2132
Gauteng
South Africa
3.City Lodge Umhlanga
Address:2 Palm Boulevard
Umhlanga Ridge
Durban North Coast
KwaZulu-Natal
South Africa
