South Africa
Overview
South Africa is rightly famous for its natural beauty - witness the diversity of its many mountains, forests, coastal flora and fauna as well as its deserts. Yet although at one with nature, South Africa also offers a high level of comfort and luxury to the traveller whether they are taking a safari, climbing a mountain or coming face to face with sharks whilst cage-diving.
The weather is also one of South Africa's chief attractions - with its warm sunny climate and great beaches strung along almost 3000kms of coastline.
Weather
Even though South Africa is at a similar latitude to Australia, its temperatures are considerably lower. This is primarily because South African temperatures are moderated by the stretches of ocean on three of its sides, but it's also because of South Africa's altitude.
South Africa is a subtropical country and rightly famous for the number of sunshine hours it gets. The Western Cape gets much of its rain during its winter season, however the rest of South Africa typically gets most rain in the summer.
On the interior plateau, for instance in Johannesburg, temperatures are kept below 30°C by the altitude. There is, however, a shark contrast between temperatures on South Africa's east and west coasts. This is due to the different currents that occur in either ocean.
South Africa's seasons are the opposite of those in Europe - ie the South African winter occurs during Europe's summer months, and vice versa.
Main resorts & attractions
- Cape Town: climb South Africa's famous flat-topped mountain range - Table Mountain - and take it the stunning vistas. Take the cable car or do it the hard way.
- The Garden Route - drive 200kms along South Africa's stunning Western Cape verdant coast, passing through Mossel Bay, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay.
- Wine-tasting - South Africa boasts 13 wine-growing areas, and there is ample opportunity to sample the wines in each region.
- Visit Hermanus's Whale Festival at the end of September, to witness these huge creatures migrate along the South African coast.
- Join a guided tour around South Africa's townships.
- Spend the day on the beach - chose between Plettenberg Bay; the Golden Mile; Amanzimtoti; Scottsburgh; Port Shepstone; Margate; and Camps Bay. Opportunities for diving - including diving with sharks - and surfing abound.
- Visit the Kruger National Park, South Africa's most famous Park, rightly famous for its wildlife and scenery.
- Visit the island-prison of Robben Island, where the first President of the new South Africa, Nelson Mandela, was incarcerated.
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