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Travel to South Africa
Author: Robin Darch
One of the most mysterious and alluring places to put on your
world travel itinerary, is Africa. There are 43 countries to
choose from in Africa, but for this article we will focus on
traveling to
South Africa.
Before you take your trip to South
Africa, you will need a visa.
Most nationalities get up to 3 months entry on arrival. Check
with your travel agent if you need to pre-arrange a visa. South
Africa's two major international airports are at Cape Town and
Johannesburg. There are direct major flights from most major
cities.
According to WikiTravel, you need to make sure you have 2 blank
pages back to back in your passport and that it is valid for at
least six more months or you will be sent back! Make sure you
have a return ticket available or they will send you back. If
you need to pick up a ticket at the airport have the flight
number and details handy and speak with the customs guy, they
should check your story out and let you in (be firm). Be wary of
arriving with a damaged passport as new security measures might
trip up your entry.
Of course South Africa is located on the southern tip of the
Continent of Africa. It has borders with the countries of
Namibia, Swaziland, Mozambique, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. An
interesting note is that Lesotho is a country that is entirely
surrounded by South Africa.
South Africa also borders on the South Atlantic and Indian
Oceans. There are many beach areas for tourists, with camps and
outings planned for you and your family. There is always the
option of just relaxing on the beach with great services from a
wide variety of hotels.
The warm waters of the East Coast of Africa where the Indian
Ocean lies, there are excellent fishing and diving
opportunities. On the West Coast where you find the South
Atlantic, you may be surprised to find penguins, whales, and
seals. One big attraction if you're really brave is being
lowered into the ocean inside of a cage where great white sharks
can get a good look at you. I don't know anything about this
from personal experience.
Most of the interior of South Africa is mountainous or
scrubland. In the northwest you find the Kalahari Desert. Going
from these areas into the southern portions of the country are
like going from night to day. The southeast has a tropical
climate and has lush fauna and flora. It's beautiful there. The
southwest is more of a Mediterranean Climate. Expect to get wet
during winter months and to be hot and dry all summer. Prepare
for a windy climate in the extreme southwest. Bring clothing
like windbreakers in the summer and rain gear in the winter.
Another site to see while you are traveling in South Africa is
the Kaapval Craton. This rock has been around for a long, long
time. Scientists have dated this rock formation at over 2.6
billion years old. It also contains some of the richest minerals
of anyplace in the world. Asbestos, gold, platinum, and of
course diamonds come from Kaapval Craton.
A hiking trip up to Table Mountain is a great experience if you
visit Capetown. The hike takes about two and a half hours. There
are also several paths that are easier than the hike up Table
Mountain, that can reward you with great views as well. Then
there is always the ever-popular cable-car that avoids the
hiking and walking altogether. I know my choice.
If you like to learn about history, you can take one of the
township tours that take you into areas where blacks were forced
to live under Apartheid. It is advised that you take a tour to
visit any of the townships. The tours are safe. Driving through
them alone may not be.
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens is on the other side of Table
Mountain and is a great place to visit if you like beautiful
plants and flowers. This is one of the most unforgettable and
beautiful botanical gardens in the world. The rich plant life of
this continent gives them the advantage of being close to many
plants you may never see elsewhere.
Okay, forget the sightseeing tour, what about the food? If you
are a meat lover, you will love South Africa. They use meat
heavily in their dishes here. South African wines are another
sumptuous taste you can enjoy while traveling in South Africa.
What about the languages? English is widely used here. Afikaans,
Xhosa, Zulu, Venda, Swati, Tswana, Ndebele, Tsonga, and Southern
and Northern Sotho are all official languages in Africa in
addition to English. In addition to that, depending on who you
ask, you may begin to think you are lost. Each language also has
it's own name for the country.
We hope we have added some useful information and ideas for your
trip to South Africa.
Robin Darch, has a website, Worldwide Travel to
help you
find all the information you need about world travel
related
topics such as choosing a good travel agency, how to
get
good rates on airline travel, cruise line deals.
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